Score points with the family: How to shop for a pool table

Feel like you’re behind the 8- ball with work pressures and home- quarantining doldrums? Got the staycation blues?

Rack up some appreciation points from your family and partake in an addictive new pastime, all without leaving home, by adding a pool table to your abode — provided you have the room and budget to accommodate this large and handsome piece of fun furniture.

Chris Turner, the owner of Sawyer Twain, a supplier of game room furniture in Chino ( San Bernardino County), says a room equipped with the right- size pool table and accessories can be a great place for friends and relatives to gather for hours of good- natured competition and enjoyment.

“A pool table allows you to spend time with housemates while disconnecting from distracting devices. You can also hone your focus and hand-eye coordination as you work on perfecting your aim. Plus, it will make you a big hit with your kids,” he says.

Unlike many board games and sports, you can even play pool games by yourself — like 15 in a row or solo 8-ball — or practice your skills alone. But chances are you’ll likely be hosting an assortment of visitors following a pool table purchase, as your home will probably be a more popular destination.

“While coronavirus lingers, you can play pool with others while still social distancing, so long as participants wear a mask, remain on the other side of the table, and don’t share a pool cue,” notes Chris Repetowski, editor of TheGamesGuy. com.

Additionally, you can pick up a pingpong conversion top that fits your table for double the fun.

But this isn’t like buying a portable basketball hoop or backyard volleyball net. A lot of careful planning, measuring and dollars are required to prevent pool table buyer’s remorse.

“A good candidate is a homeowner with or without kids, especially someone with a lower level or basement where you’re likely going to have a lot more space for a table,” explains James Grimaldi, partner/ owner of Century Billiards & Game Room in East Northport, New York. “Many people are also placing pool tables in their dining room or formal living room, as not many homeowners use these rooms very often. Whichever area you designate, it has to have minimum spatial dimensions in which to comfortably play.”

Most pool tables come in three sizes:

1. 7- foot pool tables ( spanning a 38- inch by 78- inch field of play), which requires a minimum room size of approximately 13 feet by 16.5 feet if you use standard- size 58- inch cues.

2. 8- foot pool tables ( 44 inches by 88 inches field of play), in which you need a 13.5foot by 17.5- foot room or larger.

3. 9-foot professional pool tables (50-inch by 100-inch playfield), for which at least a 14.5-foot by 18.5foot space is needed.

“A larger table allows for a bigger space to play, but typically requires more skill as pockets are further apart. Smaller tables are better for beginners and kids, as the table is much more confined and the space between the pockets is shorter and less challenging,” notes Repetowski, who says that any size table is always rectangular at a 2- to-1 ratio ( for example, a 9- foot table measures 9’ x 4.5’).

“Pool tables are primarily made of wood or metal and often designed for either a more modern style or a distinctly antique style, with a variety of felt colors to fit your decor,” Turner says.

“Pay attention to the quality and strength of the felt and pocket materials as well as the build quality and frame materials.”

It’s best if you can visit a brick- andmortar store that sells tables so that you can view it in person, inspect the quality and test the gameplay. But even if you select an online retailer, “look for companies that offer free delivery and installation, as this will make getting a heavy pool table in your home much simpler,” Turner advises.

Expect a pool table to weigh around 700 pounds or more; count on spending at least $ 2,000 for a good table that should last 10 years or longer.

Remember to also save room in the area for all the recommended accessories — including several cues, a wall rack to store them, bridge stick, 8- ball triangle, 9- ball diamond, table brush, under- rail brush, a box of chalk and ample overhead lighting.