Things to Look Out For When Buying An Outdoor Pool Table
Pool tables are great to have around the house. They are a source of good clean fun everyone can enjoy, but most people are now opting for an outdoor pool table. An indoor pool table takes up a considerable amount of space. When setting up a pool table you must consider the size of the table and add room for the cue. The total size needed for the pool table ends up taking most of the room it is placed in. This is one of the reasons people opt for an outdoor table.
When choosing a pool table to place outdoors, you need to ensure that it has been designed to withstand the effects of moisture, snow and rain. An indoor pool table placed outside will not do even if it is placed under a shed. When the weather fluctuates from hot to cold the bed of the table will start to warp over a period of time. Exposure to moisture and heat will quickly ruin the pool table.
The felt on top of the table is made of soft material that is very delicate and will get ruined when placed outside. The felt determines the speed the ball moves on the table. If it is ruined playing pool will no longer be a good experience. An outdoor table on the other hand, is made of water proof felt. This felt is made of materials that are not as smooth and of good quality an indoor pool table. Professional players would rather play with an indoor table because it has a better felt. It is however important to note that this difference is only noticed by professionals but may not make any difference to an ordinary player at home or at the bar.
The material that is used under this felt is also important. Wood is not a good option since it warps easily when exposed to moisture. The best material for this would be slate. Slate is used for making proffessional pool tables because it improves to the quality of the game. Slate is used for outdoor tables because unlike wood, it can withstand the harsh outdoor conditions. It is however expensive and the pool table may end up costing over a 1000 dollars. There are also pool table beds made of concrete and may last just as long as slate, but are significantly cheaper.
Before ordering a table it is important to check on a number of things. The return mechanism for the balls is important. Some tables have a simple where balls are simply deposited in pockets at the corners of the table. There is also the automatic ball mechanism that deposits all the balls in one pocket except the cue ball which is directed to a different pocket to allow for easy accessibility.
When shopping for an outdoor table, you may also consider a table that can be converted into a tennis table. This could make it more fun since you can always switch to table tennis to break the monotony of playing pool,
