You, sir, should really write an advice column…
Haha, I got curious about the old house with the pool table so I looked it up on Zillow and whaddaya know? Thumb through the pics and yup, there’s the pool table, and also the big window facing the front that we brought it in through. Man, that house has sure changed a LOT since it was built–there was no pool back then and they fenced off the steep slope at the back of the yard we used to climb and fall down on.
Stone deal though, only 1.5 million couple years ago.
I bought a (new) pool table in 1991, and have had it since. My use of it has been cyclical, but I’ve always been glad that I have it.
If you get a table with a three-piece slate, instead of a single piece, you should be able to move it yourself, with the help of a strong buddy. I moved in 2001 and I moved it myself, but I hired a mechanic to set it back up. Also I took that opportunity to upgrade the cloth (not felt) to Simonis 860, which makes a huge difference vs. the standard stuff. Championship also makes nice cloth, but I highly recommend something that’s high-end.
Last summer, with the kids grown enough that I have more free time, I joined a pool league and am enjoying the hell out of it. It’s nice to be able to practice at home. My wife has no interest in it, but just playing by myself is great stress relief.
When practicing by yourself, it’s easy to lose interest if you’re just knocking balls around, so long ago I started playing the game “Bowlliards” where you rack ten balls and score just like in bowling. That gives you something to focus on so that you’re working to get better and not just knocking them around. I shot a 243 a couple of weeks ago, which is my high score.
How does that work? Break off, then have 2 visits in which to pot as many as possible?
My Dad had a professional-grade 8-foot Brunswick table (not unlike this one) since I was a baby. It was a great memory of my childhood. When Mom and Dad moved out of state, the table became mine.
The thing was an absolute beast, but my Dad, my brother, and I were able to disassemble, transport, and re-assemble it without professional assistance.
I had it for 12 years, and it got used whenever my father-in-law and/or brother-in-law were over - maybe once every 1 to 3 months. YMMV, of course, but I very much enjoyed having it and was glad I did.
Sadly, when I eventually moved across the country, I found zero takers for it. Craigslist, eBay, asking everyone I knew to spread the word; somebody could have had it for a song. But no bites. I was fortunate that the family that bought my house agreed to keep it, or I would have had to pay to have it hauled away.
So, based on my experience, if you can afford it, have room for it, and think you’ll use it even once in a while - go for it! But also consider what might become of it if you move or decide to get rid of it down the line.
In case anybody cares about the details, mine wasn’t a Brunswick after all; it was a Rozel Gold Cup, pretty much exactly this one. It was similar to the Brunswick Gold Crown, of which the Black Wolf appears to be an updated version.
I must say that if I did have room to waste on a pool table I would 100% have one because knocking balls around and setting up weird shots is way more soothing than meditation and a whole lot easier too. I might have been influenced more by that childhood exposure to pool tables than I’d previously thought. 
I am the former owner of 2 Poolhalls andI would suggest not to buy one.My customers that did so , after a few months, just used it as a laundry table.Unless you are VERY serious about the game do not do it…but if you do, buy a good one.
From where I sit, pool tables and swimming pools both occupy the same space on a Venn Diagram: the space where “Seems Really Cool” and “The Novelty Wears Off Almost Immediately” intersect.
Perhaps, but maintaining a swimming pool is costly and labor-intensive. Not so of a pool table; if you walk away for a while, it’ll be waiting in the exact same condition when you come back.
(Regarding the game Bowlliards)
Yes, exactly. You break a rack of ten balls, then spot any balls that go in, and start with cue ball in hand. The break is just to scatter them. You get two turns to make as many as you can. And the way I play, every shot is a called shot, so slop wouldn’t count.
And you can’t use a swimming pool to fold laundry, wrap presents, or lay out the stacks of papers at income tax time.
I had an uncle who bought a well-used pool table. He did a really nice job fixing it up. New felt, pockets, etc. It was great looking.
And it got used. Every time I went over there we played pool. (And we had a cheapo table at home.) The local kids came over and played pool with my goofy cousin and I think it really helped him socially.
My uncle had a few friends that would come over and play pool and drink beers in the evening.
Definitely not a white elephant kind of thing.
But then again this was many decades ago before the Internet, smart phones, etc. I don’t think the end result would necessarily be the same now.
(This uncle also bought a busted pinball game which never worked, soooo …)
If you get tired of billiards, don’t forget it’s also useful as a fancy eatin’ table.
mmm
Not true. Pool tables need attention.
The Thickness of the felt, the heat of the lights, the talc on the table(which amateurs use for some reason) are all considered
Not quite at the same level though. Get them both in great shape and put a cover on each and don’t touch them for a year. Pull the covers off and tell me which one you would rather spend a day playing in/on.
My point exactly, people buy tables and go swimming.
Leave Pool to those of us that are good at it.
I was a lifeguard so I am pretty good at that kind of pool :).
My Dad bought a pool table when I was about 10. We played two to three times per week until I left for college. I found some good pool halls there and even got college credit for a “Billiards” course (I believe they had one billiards table and the rest were pool tables). I won the finals in both 8 ball and 9 ball and got an A for doing what I loved. It was also nice when I got to teach my girlfriend (now wife of 31 years) how to make some difficult shots by reaching around from behind to help her aim.
There was a gap when starting a career and a family got in the way, but when we got settled into our second home and decided to finish the basement, the first thing we got was a good starter high quality table. My kids have been playing since they needed stools. They are now in college and med school and have told me that they still often play and usually win.
When the boys were home over Christmas my youngest actually beat me on a semi regular basis. One of the proudest times in my life.
I may be old and rusty but I’d say I’m still considered “good” at that type of pool too.
I played a few hours(almost) every day for about 20 years, so I am " good" myself.