1. Measure for the cue, not just the table
The table itself is only part of the footprint. Sources start from the same rule: room length equals the playing surface length plus two cue lengths, and room width the same way. Dr. Dave Alciatore adds about 6 inches of backswing per side on top of a 58-inch cue, which is one reason his figures run larger than some manufacturers'. Trick Shot Tim's worked example: an 8-foot table (44 x 88 inch playing surface) with 58-inch cues needs about 13 feet 4 inches by 17 feet.
Use the room size calculator to compare your room with several sources. If you are short, 52-inch and 48-inch cues reduce the requirement.
2. Plan around obstacles
Trick Shot Tim says to plan for pillars, mantels and shelves, not just walls. A single post in the wrong spot can make one shot impossible. For reference, WPA tournament specifications want at least 6 feet from the outside of the rail to any obstacle.
3. Check the floor and the route in
Slate tables are heavy; Triangle Billiards warns that the weight can damage some floors over long periods. Three-piece slate fits through doorways and up stairs more easily than one-piece slate, which is the hardest to move.
4. Install and level it properly
Pro Billiards recommends professional installation and leveling for slate tables. Built-in levelers are one of Sawyer Twain's quality markers. If the table is ever moved, even a short distance, it needs to be fully re-leveled.
5. Light it
Home height recommendations vary: Classic Home Billiards says 30 to 36 inches above the playing surface, Blatt Billiards 31 to 36 inches, and Pool Table Portfolio says to follow the fixture maker's range. (WPA tournament rules set a higher minimum of 40 inches for movable fixtures.) Center the fixture over the middle of the table and adjust an inch at a time if you see glare or shadows. Blatt suggests a three-shade fixture for 7 and 8 foot tables, a four-shade fixture for 9 foot tables, and a color temperature of 4000 to 6500 K.
6. Store the cues
McDermott recommends keeping cues at about 70°F and 40 to 50 percent humidity, straight on a rack that is not on an outside wall.
The starter kit
Accessory kits
Contents vary from kit to kit, so compare what is included with what your table already ships with before you order.
Best for: New table owners who want the basics in one order
Pool table lights
Sized to the table, centered over the playing surface.
Best for: Every game room
Cue racks
Keeps cues straight and off the floor.
Best for: Rooms with house cues
Table covers
Protects the cloth between games.
Best for: Every home table
Sources
- Triangle Billiards, table dimensions and sizes
- Sawyer Twain, pool table size guide
- Dr. Dave Alciatore, table and room sizes
- Brunswick, room size requirements
- Trick Shot Tim, pool table room size
- WPA tournament table specifications (poolroom.com copy)
- Triangle Billiards, slate versus non-slate
- Pro Billiards, slate versus everything
- Sawyer Twain, shopping for slate tables
- Blatt Billiards, pool table lighting
- Classic Home Billiards, pool table lighting position
- Pool Table Portfolio, light height
- McDermott, cue maintenance
- Seybert's, how to move a pool table