You can find many pool table buyers guides on the internet. Here is a good one.

While deciding on a billiards or pool table, several questions should be answered first. The following topics will break pool tables down into different categories.

Size of the Pool Table

You should first determine what size pool table you wish to buy. Many times, this is determined by your pool room's dimensions, and on occasion it is determined by the intended use of the table. Even though the pool or billiard tables are usually referred to as 4' x 8' or as 4.5' x 9'. The pool table itself will not measure to those dimensions. Billiard tables come in four different common sizes.

Pool Table Sizes                         Playing Surface                     Tables outer dimensions

3.5' x 7'                                          39" x 78"                                  52" x 91"

4' x 8'                                             44" x 88"                                  57" x 101"

4' x 8' oversize                               46" x 92"                                 59" x 105"

4.5' x 9'                                           50" x 100"                               63" x 113"

In attempting to determine the dimensions, many people will want to know the outer dimensions of the table. This is not correct. It doesn't hurt to have this information, but you should be more concerned with the playing surface dimensions. This is more important because you know that the ball will not travel beyond this point and you can tell what your worse case scenario shots will be. You will have ample room to walk around the table if you have enough room for your shots. Here are a few questions that may help you.

What is the size of the room that you want the pool table in? This question is very important in determining which size pool table you need. In many cases, people think that they have ample room for a pool table only to learn, after the table is set up, that they do not have enough space for the pool table.

What size pool table do I have space for? See ---Room Size Requirements---

What size pool table do I want to have? Now that you have an idea of what size table you can get, you need to ask yourself, what size table do I want? Generally, you would like to get the biggest table that the room can afford. Many people go with 8 foot tables if the room will fit it. There are more options with an 8 foot and you can resell the table more easily.

Pool Table style and Type of Wood

Many factors come into play when deciding which style of pool table you want to buy. You might ask yourself the following.

Is the table mainly for the kids entertainment? If so, than the style of the table might not be as important as the quality.

Is the pool table mostly for adult use? If so, you might get a larger table that plays well and looks more like a nice piece of furniture.

Is the pool table mostly for decoration in the home? You would probably just get the most appealing table that you want to afford. In most cases your answer to these question will be a combination. You should just determine a happy medium that fits well with what you want.

You may now want to ask yourself about which wood type and color finish that you would like.

Many pool tables Use the following four materials:

Solid wood- For the most part, solid wood is the best material to use. Solid wood pool tables range in style from very simple to very ornate and can be made with a variety of wood types. Common wood types used in tables are maple, oak, cherry, mahogany, ash, poplar, and teak. There are also many different finishes available for pool table. Many times the names of the type of wood are used to tell the color of the finish. The slate can come in different thicknesses. 3/4" and 1" are very common. 1" slate is the best option. It is also best to have slate that utilizes a wood backing.

Veneer- Veneer is a thin layer of wood that is laying on top of another type of wood. Many times tables have MDF, particle board, or plywood behind the veneer. If plywood is behind the veneer, you don't have to worry about bubbling or peeling. Many times a table that uses veneer has a little less quality, however exotic veneers on top of solid wood can be very expensive and be good.

Mica laminate- This is generally the least expensive type of material and signifies a pool table with lesser quality. Mica laminate is made to resemble wood, but is not actually made out of wood. These tables generally use thinner slate or slatron with plastic pockets and a simple style. You would not expect a table made with a lesser quality to last as long as some of the others.

Construction and Quality of Pool Tables

You should now know which size, and wood type that suits your needs. Now would probably be a good time to look a little closer at the pool table's quality and construction standards. Many factors contribute to the quality of a pool table. If your table is built well, it will play well. You should look at the bumpers, frame construction, slate, pockets, aprons, and rail construction.

The Slate

Pool table slate can come in 1 or 3 piece configurations.

1 piece slate is very large and hard to move. The cost of a 1 piece slate is more because of the extra shipping charges. It is also more difficult to level one because is covers such a large area. 1 piece slate is usually thinner to overcome the enormous weight. Coin operated tables are usually 1 piece slate tables. The advantage of a 1 piece slate table would be that it is much easier to level for the average person. As I stated, professional installers can actually get a 3 piece slate table more level.

3 piece slate would be the best option for your pool table. It can be leveled more precisely, is cheaper, and is easier to move. It is especially easier to move up and down stairs. 3 piece slate tables will come in a variety of thicknesses.

How thick is the slate of the pool table?

This question is extremely important when talking about the pool tables slate. The BCA (Billiard congress of America) requires slat that is in 3 pieces and 1"thick.

3/4 inch slate will give you the flat surface of slate, while in 3 pieces. It is lighter and easier to carry. These are usually used to cut costs on the pool table and in turn are usually found on less expensive tables.

7/8 inch slate is used as a substitute for 1 inch slate. These tables come in 3 piece slate configurations. It is hard to tell the difference between 7/8 inch and 1 inch slate just by looking. You can figure that the difference is for the company to save a little money on the construction of the pool table. Generally they will cut corners in other areas of the quality of the table.

As stated earlier 1 inch slate is recognized by the Billiard Congress of America as slate used for tournament play. 1 inch slate will provide you with a true surface that is less likely to warp than thinner slate. It will also increase the pool tables weight. The ball will roll with less friction and the table will be less likely to move when bumped into.

Should the slate have a wood backing or not?

Slate can come bare or it can come with a wood backing connected the underside of the slate. The Billiard Congress of America requires that slate have a wood backing for a table to be tournament ready. You can also staple the cloth to the sides of the wood backing in order to stretch the felt tightly. The alternative is gluing the felt to the slate on the outer edges of the slate. This can alter the playing surface of the table after being recovered or moved.

Slate that has no wood backing will sit on the frame of the table directly. Some pool tables have a slate frame liner that is attached to the top of the frame of the table. The slate will line up directly on the liner and the felt can be stapled onto the liner itself. The biggest problem is that the shims that are used to level the table will separate the slate from the slate liner.

How is the slate connected to the pool table?

The slate should be screwed into the frame or frame liner of the table. There may also be screws that line up down the middle of the table. This can help if the slate has any warp, but slate that is more true will not need them. Professional pool table installers can also drill holes with carbide bits if they need to pull the slate down.

Many variations of slate can be found when looking to purchase a pool table. You would probably be best off by going by the standards set by the Billiard congress of America. If you are looking for a less expensive table, then these advantages might not be as important to you.

Construction of the Rails

The rails of a pool table play an important role in how you pool table plays. The rails consist of the bumpers, the rail cap, and the sub rail.

Types of Bumpers or Cushions

K66 bumpers are the required profile used by the Billiard Congress of America for tournament pool play. They are tested for accuracy and speed.

Live Gum Rubber Bumpers- You should look for live gum rubber bumpers. They allow for the best reaction of the pool balls and are less likely to dry rot over the years. The higher percentage of live gum rubber, the better and more consistent the rebound will be.

Many pool table manufacturers also use control fabric on the top side of the bumpers. The control fabric allows the balls to rebound with consistent bounce on any part of the bumper.

Live air space is another thing you should look for on a bumper. It is on the back side of the bumper. It also helps control the accuracy and speed of the rebound. It also gives the bumper the ability to breathe throughout and maintain its consistency. Without the space, the cushions are more likely to harden over time because it cannot breathe.

The rail liner or sub rail is a part of the rail that is not visible when the pool table is assembled. The sub rail attaches to the bottom of the visible top rail or rail cap. It is also where the rubber bumpers attach to the rail of the table. The sub rail also attaches to the slate when bolted down. You should look for a solid wood sub rail. Solid wood will give you the best support. Some less expensive tables will use particle board or MDF.

What kind of washers are used between the rail bolts and the slate? The rail bolts hold the rails onto the slate of the pool table by going through the large holes in the slate from underneath. Lock or dome washers are the best type to use because the washer flattens slightly when the bolts are tight. This creates the friction needed to keep the bolt from becoming loose over time.

Another thing to ask is how is the cloth connected to the bottom side of the rail? There should be a recessed edge along the bottom side of the rail so that once the cloth is stapled to the rail, the rail will sit flush on the slate of the pool table as it is tightened. Without the recessed edge, the rail could change the angle of the bumper and mess up the play of the pool table.

The Rail Cap

The rail cap is the exposed top of the rail on the pool table. It should be made from solid hard wood so that it may resist the scratching and hitting of pool cues and balls. Some less expensive tables will have veneer or laminate on the rails and you should stay away from those if possible. You should also consider that the rails need to have the aesthetic value that you are looking for. Mica laminate can be a very durable substance to resist scratches just like laminate floors. This might be acceptable, just keep in mind that mica laminate will be used on a table that is cutting corners in other areas.

The actual shape of the rail cap is called Rail Profiles.

Standard profile rails are a common type of rail found on pool tables. These rails usually have leather pockets that are exposed to the outside of the table. Most of these have rail caps that are about 4 3/4 inches.

Wide profile rails are a little wider than that of the standard profile rails. They measure around 6 inches wide, give you a larger area to place your bridging hand during play, and give the table a nicer look as it is a piece of furniture.

Commercial profile rails are usually made with a veneer or laminate. On the less expensive tables, there will be plastic pockets, which can actually last longer than leather, but are not as nice.

Rail Sights

Rail sights are used to mark the top side of the pool tables rails. While playing pool, many players use the sights for reference points on bank shots. These sights do not structucturally affect the play of the table, but are used for shooting, and help the table look nice. Pool tables come with round or diamond sights. Diamond sights are a little more difficult to place in the rail, but that is about the only difference. Some sights on pool tables are pre finished and some are post finished. Pre finished sights are put into the rails before the finish has been applied. Post finished sights are put in the rails after the finish of the table is applied. Pre finished sights feel smooth on the tops of the tables. It is a nicer way of putting the sights in the rails.

Construction of the Frame of the Pool Table

Of the furniture style pool tables, there are two common ways that the frames are constructed. Tapered style is obviously when the frame comes down from the slate in a tapered fashion to the legs. Straight style has the frame in a straight up and down manner. Straight construction can give the table a little more rigidity, especially when it is on a table with floor to slate legs.

Corner Brackets- How are they constructed?

Metal brackets used much of the time. It is usually the least expensive way to support the pool table on top of the legs of a tapered frame table. This can be affective if the metal is not too thin. All too often manufacturers that use metal corner brackets, use a thinner material to save on money.

Solid wood corner brackets are used much of the time as well. Plywood can be just as affective on the corner brackets. These are brackets built into the corner of the pool table and provide a strong and consistent base to set on the legs. If the frame of the table is to ever be taken apart for moving into tight spaces, it is recommended that you use metal brackets because the wooden brackets are usually screwed and glued to the frame.

Pool Table Legs- How are they connected to the frame?

Three different methods are normally used to fasten the legs to the corner brackets.

T-nut design will have holes drilled into the top of the leg and inserting a plug with a T-nut on the bottom side of that plug. That plug is glued into the leg of the table and held into position with dowels to let the legs become bolted to the frame with bolts.

Lag bolts will involve putting a wood screw into the leg with the end that is threaded protruding from the leg. The frame is fastened to the leg with a nut.

Threaded inserts involves drilling a hole into the top portion of the leg of the table. An aluminum barrel is then inserted into the hole. The insert is screwed and glued in the opposite direction of the threaded bolts.

Cross beams- How thick are they?

The beams can vary in thickness from half of an inch thick to a couple of inches. A good and common form is 2 x 6 inch solid wood beams. Plywood is also a good alternative support for the pool table.