3 Alternatives To Owning A Pool Table

Alternatives To Buying A Pool Table

Not everyone has the room or money to buy a pool table. I was recently looking at picking up a professional level option for my garage, especially since my goal in this next phase of my life is to become a professional pool player. The cost of a professional solution is going to be several thousand dollars. I’m talking official, regulation size, and for training purposes. I want to recreate the tables that I’m going to have to play on in order to qualify and win the big tournaments. Now, you can emulate what I’m doing, or you could focus on some alternatives to owning a pool table. The following are just 3 alternatives that I’ve looked at right now, since I can’t just go out and buy a professional level solution.

Find A Pool Hall

Living in Southern California, I was able to join a pool hall near my home. It was a Latin American hall where a lot of nefarious characters hung out. The only reason why I was able to join them was because I was Latin American, and I paid my dues. No, not beat downs, simply a monthly fee and a signup fee. It’s like going to join a gym, only this was about pool. Now, I wasn’t entering tournaments or getting hustled, because I made it clear that I wasn’t going to jump in. However, there were some idiots that got played a lot. My goal was to learn, and that’s it. If you want to learn how to play pool, you can find a pool hall and join. Just be careful, there are sharks out there.

Take Lessons From A Professional

If you’re serious about learning how to play pool, look at the classifieds section of any major newspaper for lessons. Sometimes, you’ll see pros offering lessons. If you can’t find anything there, then you can always look online for pool lessons. This is going to cost you a lot less than going out to buy a pool table, that’s for sure. I found lessons near me for ten bucks a lesson. It was at a professional pool player’s home, and it wasn’t that bad. I only took a few lessons, due to scheduling constraints, but I was able to gain a few tips for how to break, and how to hit the right run of any table.

Go To A Bar

The next thing that you can do, and perhaps the easiest alternative to just buying a pool table is to go to a bar. If you’re an alcoholic, I don’t recommend this. However, if you have no problem with alcohol, and don’t mind going into bars, then by all means, make sure that you find local bars that have a pool table or multiple options. Near me, for instance, if you look online for buy a pool table, or any search term, you’ll find 100 locations that have pool tables. Some are large corporate offerings, and some are small. You may have to pay for the privilege to play the table, and you may have to bring your own stick. Sometimes, you’ll have to buy a couple of drinks too. Bars usually have ok tables, but compared to buying a pool table, you’ll find that it’s cheap.

As I said to open this article, not everyone can buy a pool table. I couldn’t get a pro level options this time around, but am now looking at a few options overall. If you’re going to get moving forward with any pool table solution, make sure that you take your time to look at alternatives. If your alternatives don’t pan out, then you can always buy a pool table online, and get to work learning.

Should You Build A Pool Table Instead of Buying One?

Should You Build A Pool Table?

In recent discussions, I’ve had about buying a pool table, I’ve run into a lot of people that say that I should build one instead. Now there are some upsides to this, no doubt. But compared to buying a pool table, is it worth it? At first glance, yes, it is definitely worth going forward. But there are some serious downsides as well. As you look into possibly buying a pool table versus building your own, consider a few notes on whether or not you should drop some cash on an existing solution or you should get into the garage and start putting things together on your own.

How Good Are You With Construction and Building From Plans?

The first thing that you should consider before buying a pool table or building one, rather, is to consider how savvy you are. Are you good at working with wood? Do you already work with construction or carpentry on any level? Now, you don’t have to be Jesus of Nazareth, but you should be well versed in carpentry if you’re going to take on the build of a solid, level, and professional era pool table. If you’re not good with building things, are not constantly tinkering in your garage and producing good things, then don’t do this. Now, there’s one caveat here. What if you were to hire someone? Well, the cost of hiring an expert to help you build a pool table, could very well cost you more than just buying a pool table. That’s something that you have to really consider when you’re looking at pool tables for your home in general.

The Variety of Existing Models

I mentioned in a previous post, you could go about buying a pool table on amazon.com. That’s not the only site you can use, but I have found that their selection is legendary. There are a lot of existing models that go from small scale to professional level, and even those sponsored by the professional circuit. Whether you’re a novice or a professional, there’s a variety of models that you can take advantage of today, and can order them online. Now, pool tables in my area are usually sold on Craigslist or through other classified advertisements. I sometimes see them at Goodwill, but there is no showroom for pool tables. You could go about buying a pool table from Sears, as I was recently one locally and they had a few professional sized options in their store. But with big box retailers shutting down, you may find that the variety of existing pool tables may be found best online.

Buying A Custom Pool Table Is Just As Good

Overall, you may want to still build your own pool table. There’s nothing wrong with that. But before you decide on building one on your own, perhaps you should look at buying a pool table from a custom manufacturer. Look online for custom pool tables for sale, and you’ll find that there’s a lot of companies in the United States that do this. If you want something grand, and something that you cannot buy in stores, buy a custom solution from a professional billiards craftsman. The downside here, however, is the cost could very well be triple or even quadruple the price of a mass-produced option. Remember, custom work is going to cost you a lot more, simple as that.

Should you build a pool table instead of buying one? That’s the real question that you may want to consider. I for one can’t do it. I can barely build an Ikea shelf without it wobbling and falling apart. Now, you could go about buying a pool table online, and that will most likely come in parts that you have to put together, but you still have to do some minor building. That’s a big difference from building one from scratch. I think the answer is simple, you should look into buying a pool table instead of building one. That is, unless it’s a project that you know you can do, or you have money to spend on the pieces.

Should You Buy A New Pool Table in 2017?

Should You Buy A Pool Table?

Go to any dive bar and you’re going to find that there is a pool table in the middle of the room. It’s rare not to see pool tables in bars, as it’s one game that seems to attract a wide array of people. You’ll find that around the world, the game of billiards is very popular. There are even pool halls that are dedicated to the game in a regional and international setting. It’s not uncommon to see pool halls that are Latin American, Asian, or European in nature. There are also illegal hustling dens where pool sharks hang out and steal all your money. Whether you’re a novice, or you are an experienced player, you may question whether or not you should buy a new pool table for 2017. It’s easy to just tell you yes, and point you towards amazon.com to order a new pool table. But I’m not going to do that. Instead, consider the following 3 major points of consideration that you should go through before spending any money on new pool table.

Do You Own A Pool Table Now?

First and foremost, do you own a pool table? Seriously, do you own one? If you don’t already have one in your house, perhaps it’s time to purchase a new pool table. I mean, you’re reading this, and you’re considering whether or not it’s a good idea for 2017 and beyond. If you have been mulling it over for some time, then perhaps it’s time to work through your budget and see what you can afford in terms of this purchase. Owning a pool table is a good thing, it gives you a slew of benefits, and could very well become a centerpiece for entertainment in your home or office. If you don’t own a pool table right now, and you want one, why not buy a new one? Of course, this is a simple question to ask, but one that could very well help you moving forward.

Do You Have The Space For A Pool Table?

The next thing that you need to consider about buying a new pool table is whether or not you have the space. There are several types of pool tables, some of which are very large. If you have a lot of room, then by all means get a professional level option. However, if you do not have the room for a full table, don’t get a new pool table, look for something a bit smaller. There are several gaming tables out there, and some allow you to play more than just pool. If you’re going to play a variety of games, then by all means make sure that you look into the space that you have. The average pool table size is: 10 x 5 for regulation table sizes. That’s measured through the noses and of course the cushions. Now, if you have at least a room that is 10 x 5, then you can get moving forward with a smaller table. If you want regulation size, then you’re going to need to have a lot more space available.

Do You Want To Play Pool Often?

The next question to consider before you buy a new pool table is simple, do you even want to play pool that often? There’s nothing worse than spending money on something that you are not going to use. Many people spend thousands of dollars on regulation size pool tables and don’t use them. Others buy it and end up just putting a cover on it, and that’s it. If you love the game of pool, then by all means, go forward with the idea of purchasing a new pool table. If you’re not a fan, however, then the game is going to be boring to you and you’ll end up leaving it behind. Do not buy a new pool table if you don’t like the game enough to play at least once a week.

At the end of the day, the above 3 questions to consider before you get a new pool table for 2017 are important. They are by no means the only questions to ask or consider, but it should get you started. If you’re interested in buying a new pool table, then check out the deals on Amazon.com by clicking here. That’s where I picked one up for around $400, and it’s serving me well. Of course, you may want to look at other options, but that’s up to you.

3 Reasons You May Need Pool Table Felt Installation

Custom Pool Table Felt Installation 

Millions of people own a pool table. Some have it in their homes, others have it in their garage, and some own a pool hall in which they have all of their tables ready to play. Over time, even the most immaculate of tables is going to need to get replaced. The replacement of a pool table can be quite costly. If you have invested in a custom solution, then you’re going to spend another thousand or so dollars on a good table. If you’re not a novice, and you want to ensure that your table is in fact an investment, then you will want to look into pool table felt installation. This could save you money, and there’s a few reasons why you may need it, more than just want it.

Someone Is Scratching Far Too Much

Amateur pool players are going to scratch. Children, amateurs, novices, and even you will find yourself scratching the felt on a pool table. Now multiply that hundreds of times, and you’re going to find that the felt is going to be bad. That’s going to lead to a lot of your shots going the wrong direction, and no matter how good you are, you’ll find that the table will not flow with the same precision that it once did. With that in mind, you’ll have to consider pool table felt installation. This is a good thing, as it is going to cost a fraction of what you would expect to pay for a new one. If you’ve scratched too much at first, and your game has improved significantly, it’s time to replace the pool table felt, simple as that.

The Felt Is Bumpy

Feel the felt on your pool table. If you find that it’s bumpy, rough, and is less than perfect, it’s time to get professional pool table felt installation. Professionals that do this type of work strip the old felt, preserve the integrity of your table, and put new felt in place. You could do this yourself, but you run the risk of ruining your table, or breaking it. Don’t rely on DIY here, let a professional that works with pool table design and felt replacement get to work. That way your pool table is in fact restored to brand new.

You Want To Protect Your Investment

The last reason why you may need pool table felt installation is because you want to protect your investment. A pool table, aside from basic options is an investment in the entertainment options you have in your home. This is why some of the best tables are going to run you several thousand dollars. If you’re not a hobbyist of sorts, but rather a serious billiards player, then you want to protect your investment in case of resale, or just so that you have the best possible arena to play and learn. Whatever the case may be, you’ll want to pursue pool table felt installation instead of just buying a new option or playing on a table that leads your ball astray. Playing on a good felt is just part of championship pool, whether you’re a novice or a professional. Look into pool table felt installation and see how you can save money, and get a better shot every time.

3 Places To Find Used Pool Tables For Sale

Used Pool Tables Abound Online

When it comes to playing pool you have a few options to consider. The first is obvious, you can find a good bar that has a table or several tables. When you look online for, pool tables near me, you’ll get a long listing of options near your area. For me, here in Indianapolis, there are a lot of different bars to consider. For instance, I live near one spot that has 11 tables, and is frequented by “hustlers”, and novices alike. It’s inexpensive, but the dark bar mixed with spilled beer and bad odors is not my favorite place to play pool. Upon looking online for, pool tables near me, it’s one of the main search results, but the reviews are terrible, because of course, it’s a dive. If you’re like me, and you don’t want to get stuck at a place you don’t like, perhaps the best option to consider is going forward with used pool tables for sale, and therefore the following tips may help you procure your next favorite entertainment piece for the home.

Goodwill and Thrift Stores

The first major option that you should consider when looking for used pool tables for sale is that of Goodwill and Thrift stores. I know, this may sound insane, but I’ve managed to find a variety of different solutions by simply looking for pool tables near me, and finding them. Ok, so the Google search results aren’t going to give you pool tables, but they will list all the thrift stores in your area. Now, the place that I found a few good tables in Indianapolis was Goodwill’s clearance thrift store solution. There are outlets for these stores, and you may find a variety of solutions there. Now, you may not see them every time you go, but it’s good to go by often and see what’s up. The last visit to a Goodwill near me netted me 4 awesome chairs from the Westin in Indianapolis. They redid their lobby and the chairs came from there! For five bucks each, I have chairs in my home from the Westin. Not bad. They aren’t pool tables, but still.

Closing Down Pool Halls

Like any other business, poll halls are hard businesses to run. I have written about Pool Hall Business Plans before, but few people take advantage of them. Even though there’s a lot of work that needs to get done in order for these to start, maintaining them is where things get really difficult. With that said, there are a lot of pool halls that open and shut within their first year of opening. Your goal is to look for options that are new, and keep an eye on them. If at any point these places have a problem paying the rent, you could swoop in and buy old pool tables. They may be used, abused, and burned, but you can fix them up a little. Pool halls that close down may not be listed in the results for your search, pool tables near me, but hey, it’s an option to consider outright.

Classified Ads For Used Pool Tables

The biggest site for ads like these is of course, Craigslist. You could use “Search Tempest” to look for pool tables near me, and see what you find. Otherwise, you can look in your local area and see if there is anyone selling used pool tables in your area. Your goal here is to find options that are cheap. Some you can rehab, others are like new, and some are in bad shape. Whatever the case may be, you could buy a cheap table, get good at the game, or just play normally. Whatever your goals are in purchasing a pool table, classified ads are never a bad idea.

There you have it, there are 3 options that you can consider when you’re looking at pool tables near me, or other search terms. Now, you could always go online and buy new tables, but why spend the money if you just want something functional? Sometimes lightly used tables are going to cost you less than one hundred dollars, and that’s all you need. That is, unless you’re a professional and you want something nice. But that’s for another day and time, no doubt.

Lies You May Believe About Owning A Pool Table

Owning A Pool Table Is Fun

There are a lot of investments that you can pursue for your home. Entertainment is one of the solutions that you need to consider. Entertainment solutions range from high tech to low tech, and perhaps everything in between. Pool table options are amidst the low-tech solutions that can bring about a lot of fun. Regardless of your age, you can have a great deal of fun if you go with a pool table for your home. Even if you don’t think that you have pool table space, you’ll be able to get a lot of mileage out of purchasing a table today. Before you purchase anything, you may find that there are a few lies that you may be believing about owning a basic or even expensive pool table.

You Need A Lot of Pool Table Space

The first thing that you need to consider is the amount of pool table space that you have. Chances are, you have more space than you think. Not only that, you don’t have to put in a regulation, professional player’s table into your home or garage. Measure the square footage that you have, and consider the space that is available. If you have a lot of space, then by all means, go with a tournament style option since you’ll have pool table space. You don’t always need a lot of space, that’s the main thing here.

Pool Tables Cost A Lot of Money

The next thing that you may believe is the fact that pool tables cost a lot of money. While this may be true at first glance, it doesn’t mean that you have to spend a few thousand dollars. You can purchase this in a sporting goods store, a big box retailer, or go online and look for different table options. You could also have them custom made if you’d like. Custom made options can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Whatever the case may be, you can dictate the overall cost of any pool table you want to purchase. Of course, the fancier your taste, the higher the cost.

Maintaining Pool Tables Are Expensive

The last major lie that you may believe about owning a pool table is that it costs a lot of money. Maintaining pool tables is not going to cost you a lot of money. You need to understand that the cost of maintenance is a matter of how you treat the table, and whether or not you have a lot of pool table space. Recall the famed show “Seinfeld” for a moment. In an episode, George’s father has a pool table in an extra room in the home. There’s not enough pool table space to play with full cues. If you caught the show, you noticed that Kramer and Frank were scratching up the table. That’s where your expenses are going to come from. The felt can cost a lot if you’re scratching and causing damage to it.

At the end of the day, if you’re going to utilize any pool table space that you have, don’t believe the lies above. Having a pool table in your home is a matter of planning, and a few hundred bucks minimum. Sometimes a lot less, if you take your time working it all.