Game Room

When choosing a pool table, there seems like there are too many options to select from. You can break down the style of a furniture style pool table by using the process of elimination. First, figure out what color stain you would like, then which type of wood and finally the design of the leg. Let's go over these in more detail.

Stain Color

The stain color of a table is one of the most important things to decide when choosing a pool table. Many customers decide the stain color based on the other furniture or trim in the room that the pool table is going into. Usually most furniture style tables are going in finished basements. Most of these basements have been recently finished and there is no other existing furniture so that allows you to let the pool table be the center piece of the room and you can then choose which ever color you like the most. So this step usually is a matter of opinion. Some different stain color choices that are available from Legacy Billiards are Tradition Mahogany, Traditional Oak, Black Cherry, Black Onyx, Nutmeg, Burnished Mahogany and Distressed Walnut. American Sale also carries tables that are 2-toned with a mix of Black Onyx and Traditional Mahogany which have been a very popular choice among pool table shoppers.

Wood Grain

Deciding the wood grain of a pool table goes hand in hand with deciding the stain color. It is a matter of personal opinion and is usually matched with wood trim and other furniture in the room the pool table is going into. There are three main types of wood grain that you can choose from. Most pool tables are made of oak, maple, or Asian Maple (Hevea brasiliensis). Oak is a popular choice because of the heavy grains found in the wood gives it a classic look. Maple has increase in popularity every year as many people like the clean, smooth look that maple offers. The Hevea tree which is most commonly grown in Southeast Asia has the look of oak and maple. It has a light grain but is most common to maple, hence the nickname of Asian Maple. Hevea wood is used to build many household furniture pieces like coffee tables, end tables, and dressers. Most people have pieces of furniture in their home made of Hevea and don't even know it. Some companies even offer giving the table a distressed look. That may be something that is standard on some tables or a special order option for others.

Leg Design

There are many different designs of legs out there. Some of the more common ones are Ball in Claw, Rams Head, Queen Anne, and Box leg designs. The Ball in Claw is the most common because it is also a common look on the legs of dining room chairs and tables. It has the look of a claw of a bird that has a sphere in its grasp. The Rams Head leg gets its name from the ram's horn design carved on each side of the legs on the pool table. The Queen Anne leg is also very common on other household furniture like the ball in claw leg. It gets its name from Queen Anne herself who preferred this style of architecture back in the late 1800's. Although the interpretation of the design of the leg was very vague it has taken on many different variations. This style of leg is getting more and more popular because of its clean look and smooth lines. Another style of leg that is gaining in popularity is the box leg. The box leg gives the pool table a very masculine look. Most tables that have the box leg have straight lines and right angles. Trends show that pool table buyers are staying away from very ornate tables. Pool table companies are always trying to come out with something new so they can be on the cutting edge of the industry, but these four styles of legs never go away.

Now after you have gone through these three steps you should have narrowed down your choice of tables to just two or three if not one. The last piece of the puzzle is picking out the cloth for the table. This is a very important decision because sometimes the cloth can change the appearance of the table drastically. The color choice can lighten or darken the look of the stain color on your table so be sure to lay a sample of the cloth on the wood to make sure you are happy with it.

The most important factor when purchasing a pool table is the area where the pool table will be placed. If there is insufficient room around the table to maneuver a cue, play will be hampered. Below is a size chart laying out the area needed for three popular table sizes. Always place the pool table in the center for maximum play area. Room Dimension Chart

• A - Room size for 57" Cues
• B - Room size for 52" Cues
• C - Room size for 48" Cues
  

Trouble Shooter cues are always an option. These are perfect for tight areas around a wall or support beam. What makes a Trouble Shooter cue such a great choice is they are weighted in a way that gives them the weight of a normal cue and can be used in awkward areas. The Trouble Shooter is available in lengths of 24", 36", 42", 48" and 52".