Note: only a table with a real slate bed and good supporting cross-beams should be considered by any player, regardless of skill.
Advantages:
More practice time. Just step into the pool room, grab a stick and a piece of chalk, throw some balls on the table and away you go.
Cheaper per hour of use. You don’t need to pay pool hall rates while using your own table. You can take breaks (take out the garbage, check the mail, etc.), come back a half hour later and pick up where you left off.
All night pool parties with friends. (spouse permitting) Get your buddies together, charge them a case of beer to get into the room, and party hearty.
Disadvantages:
Room use limitations. Once converted to a pool room, there usually isn’t much room left for other activities such as foosball, ping pong, even table games (Monopoly, Risk, etc.).
Environmental and table condition differences between home and competitive locations. Unless you purchase a pool hall quality, name brand table (Brunswick, Diamond, Connelly, etc.), your table won’t play the same as the pool hall. You can develop awesome banking skills on your table which will not translate to the pool hall. There will be some differences is table roll also.
Less competition available. Unless you have three or four immediate neighbors who are just as dedicated to the Green Game, it will not be easy to locate and schedule gaming times. Not everyone in the world lives to your schedule.
Table burnout. Over time, the table might get less and less use and finally end up being a laundry folding table. When that happens, it won’t be very long before your spouse will be demanding that you get rid of that silly space hog.
Balancing Act
There’s a lot of considerations to consider before you commit to putting out hard-earned money. Have an exit plan in place. Focus on how you will use the table for three-four years. That will justify the cost.
But when the table becomes a clothes sorting surface for wash day or a place to drop things onto before putting them away (maybe tomorrow, maybe next week) – then start giving serious thought to selling the table.
But if your passion for the sport increases during that time-frame, you’ve got a keeper – maybe even upgrade to a pro quality table.
Good luck.
Get the Book!
 | Get the Book!!  PDF book (good for smart devices)(Includes my Money-back Guarantee)  Printed book |
(FAQ) How can you play a better bar table game?
(About the Author) In the process of becoming a better shooter over your lifetime, you will find yourself exposed to the ...
(BSC) Billiard Skills Challenge - Stun Cue Ball (Intermediate) Test Group
(About the Author) Here is Today's Test Group Challenge from the book. This progressive set develops personal confidence when similar shots ...
(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool - Chapter 9 - troops march
(About the author) At it's most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from "The Art of War" ...(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool - Chapter 3 - five essentials for victory
(About the author) At it's most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from "The Art of War" ...
(CBC) Cue Ball Control (half table patterns) - Group 4, Set 2
This is today's set of Cue Ball Cheats. These practice setups (and others in the book and blog) help you ...