For most UK beginners, the best pool table is a 6ft or 7ft English slate-bed table, because a stone bed gives you a true roll that rewards a good shot. If your table is mainly for children or occasional family games, a cheaper MDF table is fine. Only learn on American pool if that's the game you'll play. If space is tight, our 6ft pool tables are a good place to start.
That's the short answer, so you can stop here if it's all you needed. If you want to match one to your own situation, read on.
Which pool table suits your situation?
Start with who will play and how often, because that decides almost everything else. Here's how the four most common beginner situations work out.
| Your situation | What to buy | From our range | The honest note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids and occasional games | A lighter MDF or folding pool table | We don't stock these | Often the right call |
| Adult learning English pool | A 7ft English table | DPT Omega Classic, £1,449.00 | Plays like the pub |
| Adult learning American pool | A 7ft table with 2¼in balls | Buffalo Eliminator II 7ft, £2,675.00 | Bigger balls, bigger room |
| Tight space | A 6ft English table | Omega Classic 6ft, 186 x 109cm | Better than a cramped 7ft |
Does a beginner need a slate pool table?
Not always, but slate helps if you want to improve. When the bed rolls true, a missed pot is your fault, so you learn from it.
The British pub-table standards from BAPTO, the British Association of Pool Table Operators, say the bed is normally slate. They also accept 15 to 25mm MDF as a good substitute, which matters if money is tight.
Experienced players say you can learn on something basic. In an AzBilliards thread on buying a first table, a long-time player said he learned on a cheap table with a hardboard bed and fold-up legs.
He played 10 hours a week for six months and said it was fine. Another poster added that once you catch the pool bug, it's a different story.
I'll be honest: we don't sell MDF tables, but that doesn't make them wrong for you. If you mainly want something for the kids, or you rent and expect to move, a lighter, cheaper table may serve you perfectly well. You can upgrade to slate once you know you'll play every week. For a side-by-side comparison, see slate vs MDF pool tables.
Slate does have a real downside. Our 6ft Omega Classic weighs about 230kg, so once it's installed, it stays put.
Should you learn on an English or American pool table?
Learn on the game you'll actually play. If your friends and your local league play English pool, buy an English pool table.
The two games use different equipment. Under the IEPF by-laws, English pool uses 2in (50.8mm) object balls with a smaller 1⅞in (47.6mm) cue ball, on a playing surface that runs from 6ft x 3ft up to 7ft x 3ft 6in. The WPA equipment specifications set American balls at 2¼in (57.15mm), on a 9ft playing surface of 100 x 50in.
Switching later takes time. On a YouTube comparison of UK pool tables, one commenter who usually plays 8-ball with spots and stripes said moving to English takes him a long time, mostly to control the cue ball.
Pocket size matters too. Commenters on that video, like the AzBilliards posters, warn that a home table with generous pockets can flatter you and leave you struggling on tighter tables elsewhere.
One commenter disagreed and said easier pockets made him play with more confidence. If you plan to join a league, choose pockets that are close to the ones you'll meet there. The guide to pub vs home pool tables explains how the two usually differ.
What size pool table should a beginner get?
Get the biggest table you can cue around comfortably, and no bigger. A 7ft English pool table is the familiar pub size, while 6ft suits smaller rooms.
The figures for our Omega Classic show the difference. The 6ft needs about 14ft x 11ft of floor space, while the 7ft needs about 16.5ft x 13.5ft. That extra 2.5ft each way is often the deciding factor in a spare room or garage. For the full comparison, see 6ft vs 7ft pool tables.
What about 5ft tables? They work well for younger children. But if you're an adult learning the game, remember that the IEPF minimum playing area is 6ft x 3ft, so a 5ft table is smaller than anything you'll find in a league. For full measurements, see the guide to UK pool table sizes.
Picture a Saturday evening with friends round and the cue ball tight against the wall. In a cramped room, someone grabs a short cue and the shot feels wrong. A 6ft table with full clearance plays better than a 7ft where you can't take a full cueing action.
Questions about your pool table? Message Rossa on WhatsApp → +44 7348 956 222
Or email support@premiumpooltables.co.uk. Send me your room measurements and I'll tell you honestly which size works.
How much should you spend on your first pool table?
Spend on how it plays, not on how it looks. A plain design with a flat bed and lively cushions will teach you more than a beautiful one that rolls off line.
Our lowest-priced English table, the Omega Classic at £1,449.00, comes with two cues, a ball set, a triangle and chalk. Those cues are matched to the table size, so there's no need to buy a better cue on day one. Upgrade your cue once you know how you like to play. For a breakdown of where the money goes, see why pool tables are so expensive.
Before you buy, test the rails. One AzBilliards poster suggests bouncing a ball off every part of every rail to check it rebounds evenly. For the other checks, see the guide on what to know before buying.
So, the best pool table for a beginner depends on you. For kids and occasional games, buy cheap and light. For adults who want to improve, a 6ft or 7ft English slate pool table is the one to aim for, and it will still be giving you games nights years from now.