Best Pool Tables Under $1000: Top 3

Want to turn your house into a fun pool parlor without spending a fortune? If you answered yes, you are in the right place. These are the tables we found to be the best under 1000 dollars in 2019 during our research:

1. Fat Cat 7-Foot Frisco II Billiard Table

This is the billiard table we recommend the most to all pool players who want a good playing field for less than $1000. The surface being Accuslate, this table looks like a real slate table. Thus, at first glance it looks like a table that costs twice as much as its actual price. Its elegant aura is further enhanced by the presence of brown wood cloth and veneer mahogany legs. The set comes with 2.57-inch cues, 1 set of balls, 2 chalk pieces, a brush and a triangle. The assembly process is fairly easy, mostly due to the clear instructions. Overall, this 84-inch table offers very smooth playing sessions, and is well worth the money you pay for it. In addition, it is clearly more popular than most of its direct rivals. Also, it is worth noting that the 1-inch Accuslate surface comes with 7-year warranty.

 

2. Mizerak Dynasty Space Saver 6.5-Foot Billiard Table

This 6.5-feet pool table costs less than the above model, and it is like a blessing for those who want to set up a table in a compact setting. It gets featured on the 100 bestselling billiard tables list on a regular basis. At present, this table is the fastest selling billiard table below 1000 dollars. Despite being priced very modestly, the manufacturer has put incredible attention to the little details. For example, the surface has a green nylon cloth finish to bestow game parlor look, there are rubber cushions around the perimeter, leg levelers are present to make the surface perfectly even etc. The Automatic Ball Return feature is great for resetting a game. The package includes 2 cues, a set of balls, 2 chalks, a triangle and a brush. In addition, the bamboo laminated finish looks excellent. Setting the table up is quite an easy process, too. All things considered, this is an excellent bargain that we recommend fully without reservations.

 

3. Atomic Classic Bumper Pool Table

We do not like this table as much as we like the above two, but it is a good option in its own right. Those who love simplicity of design and good construction quality are going to fall in love with this billiard surface pretty quickly. It has internal ball return system, and the 5-inch square legs are well-made to satisfy most people. Inside the package, you get 1 bumper ball set, 2 48-inch cues, 1 brush and 2 chalk pieces. The MDF playfield has been specially designed to resist warping, which we think is a very good thing. Overall, it is a remarkably good option considering the amount it costs. The assembly is good and it can fit in many compact places, too.

 

(After carefully analyzing over 15 of the most popular tables in this price range, we came to the conclusion that the above three are the best bets. The only other option that came close was the Hathaway Hustler Pool Table.)

Pool Table Buying Guide

Buying a pool table is no small feat. There are a lot of factors that need to be observed especially considering that the price can range from between $900 to up to $5000. Different pool tables come with varying options when it comes to the slate, cloth, felt or wood.

While finding a high-quality pool table is not an issue as most manufacturers will design good quality products, there are still a few cheap priced tables that won’t last as long as you would like. This buyers guide will teach you everything you need to know to help you make the best buying decision.

Elements of a Pool Table

There are basically six points of consideration that you need to observe when buying a pool table. These include:

Slate

Pool tables may be made from fiberboard, slatine, honeycomb, permaslate, plywood or slatron. However, none of these materials compare to slate.

Slate is a rock that comes from hardened volcanic ash which is thousands of years old. It is mined, cut to size and polished to provide a smooth even surface. This makes it perfect for pool tables.

The slate on the pool table can be categorized into 3 based on the thickness. ¾ inches, 1 ¼ inches and 1-inch thick slates. Most manufacturers will consider the 1-inch slate to be the most accurate.

The Legs

The pool table is a heavy construction. 90% of the weight is contained on the cabinet and this explains why there is need for strong and sturdy legs. Players will often lean or sit on the side of the pool table. It needs to be able to take the weight without bending.

Pool tables generally come with two types of legs, post legs also known as perfect legs and two-piece legs. The post legs are made from wood. They are thick and sturdy and generally take the weight of the pool table well.

The two-piece legs are also referred to as industry standard. There are two types of two-piece legs. One uses a single bolt and nut to attach to the slate and utilizes a single anchor system. The downside of this system is that over time it tends to loosen.

The second type of industry standard legs uses four nuts and bolts to attach to the slate in a quad anchor system. This is much better and stronger compared to the single anchor system.

The Frame

Without the right tough and sturdy frame, the slate will not be efficient as over time the weight will cause it to sag. The pool table needs to have a thick frame. The slate needs to sit on a frame that has the bottom glued to it and offers cross beams to support it at the center.

The Felt

This is the cloth on top of the slate. It is normally made from wool mixed with nylon and Teflon to create a thick and durable material. The best felt should have a weight of between 18 to 22 ounces for every yard of material.

A concern of many players is whether the thickness will affect the speed of the ball. To ensure the speed is not affected, the materials used to make the felt will usually be combed right before spinning.

Cushions

Also known as the rails, these are made of natural gum or synthetic material.  The synthetic cushions use a filler made of clay to create the rails. When the clay dries out, it is known as a dead rail.

When the rails are made of the natural gum, they do not lose the bounce and last for as long as the table lasts. Thus, the bets type of rails are those made from natural gum.

Pool Table Accessories

You cannot use the pool table alone. Indeed, it is the main factor that determines how the you are going to experience the game; however, you also need other accessories to be able to play the game. These include:

• Cue stick-this is a type of wood which the player uses to hit the ball. Traditional cue sticks are constructed from wood, however modern times has seen the introduction of fiberglass cue sticks, carbon fiber as well as synthetic material. Cue sticks may be between 48 inches to 58 inches long.
• Bridge sticks-when the shot is too far for the player to reach without lying on the table, the bridge sticks comes in handy. Pool often requires one to have at least a single foot on the ground. This makes it possible for the player to place the cue stick on the bridge in order to take the shot.
• Billiard balls-these are the balls that you see on the pool table and are used to play the game. They include a total of 15 balls which could either be spotted or striped and also one pure white ball. Traditional billiard balls were constructed from either ivory, bone or clay. This later changed to celluloid originally called nitrocellulose. After this was the introduction of balls made from plastic compounds which included crystallite and Bakelite. The modern balls are now made from a blend of acrylics, polyester, phenolic resins and plastics.
• Racks-These are used when the game is starting to set the billiard balls. They are made from wood or plastic.

Some other accessories that come with the pool table include rail brushes, table covers, tally balls, table brushes, talcum powder, training balls etc.

Pool tables are heavy objects. This explains why they are delivered in pieces to be joined together at the premises of the buyer. It is recommended that you use an expert to install the pool table as the process can be a bit daunting and achieving the right balance might be an issue.

However, some people still choose to connect the various pieces themselves. There is nothing wrong with this provided you follow certain set guidelines. After the pool table is successfully installed, you can enjoy a fun game with family and friends.