usually light enough and small enough to take home in an SUV or mini-van and do not require professional installation. Finally, entertainment pool tables will often come as part of a multi-game package that allows you to convert the pool table into an air hockey table, table tennis, foosball, or other games.

In contrast to entertainment pool tables, traditional pool tables are larger (8' to 9' long), heavier, more expensive, and more durable. Traditional pool tables usually start at around $1500.00, most are within the $2,000.00-$3,000.00 range, and you can even spend upwards of $6,000.00 for customized or luxury pool tables. Traditional pool tables are sold through specialty pool table retail stores and online and may require delivery and installation by trained professionals. Because buying a traditional pool table is more of an investment, you should consider the specific features of the traditional pool table more carefully. Here are some of the main features and components to consider:

Size- the proper size for your pool table is determined both by the size of the room or area the pool table will be in and the length of the pool cues that will be used. You want to make sure that the players have enough room to comfortably make shots from all sides of the pool table. Below is a chart that cross-references the recommended pool table size with the minimum recommended room size:

Construction material- the vast majority of traditional pool tables are built with wood, but some use metal or a hard and durable plastic frame. For those that use wood, you want to find out if the wood is solid wood, or if any veneer, particleboard or laminate is used. Many wood pool tables will also use heavy gauge metal brackets to provide additional support. Generally, solid wood pool tables are more expensive than those that use veneer or laminate, and some pool table makers will build a pool table in any number of exotic woods.

Color/Finish- for traditional wood pool tables (and some metal or plastic pool tables), you will often get your choice of wood stain finish (cherry, oak, honey, etc.) to complement the room that the pool table will be in. You can also choose the color of the felt that will be used on the playing surface. Often, the choices for finish and felt are quite extensive, so if there are exact matches you want to make, you might want to get samples instead of relying on the color as it appears on your computer monitor.