Slate vs MDF pool table honest review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ธ.ค. 2022
- Let's compare slate and MDF pool tables. I play on both so u can expect to get an honest review. We compare the main parts of a pool table. The playfield , the rubber cushions and the type of cloth. I remember when I bought my first MDF table and I was disappointed. I didn't had a clue what to look out for when I bought it. In this video I will also talk about my first and last MDF table (the one u see in the video behind me) and tell u what U need to know to buy a high quality MDF table.
If u got any questions , feel free to ask them in the comments below.
Take care and have a nice day !
#howtoplaypool #slatepooltable#mdfpooltable - กีฬา
Thank you VERY much for an objective, cool, rational commentary, based on real world experience with both. This helps in my search and will certainly help others. Will pass this video along.
Always glad to help when I can !
I'd like to play on one of these types of 6 ft tables. I don't think I ever have. Cool video buddy 👍🎱
Hey mate. I can only recommend these type of tables. Great fun and looking at the price vs what u get , really good value. And , u can practice all fundamentals on this size of table.
Thanks a lot for your honest review! May I ask you if you have any video on the table mounting? I have seen that you even have to install the cloth. Thanks again ;)
Good video!
Thank you dude. This is the best opinion ever!
I was looking something like this.
You're right about mobility, space, money and, over all, sometimes we forget our heavy daily routine .
After this I'll look for a good MDF pool table.
Thank you for your xp on MDF. : )
No problem :-)
Can't seem to find any Buckshot tables available in the UK. Do you know any other brands that offer the same kind of thick MDF and quality tables as a Buckshot table for UK pool players?
I can get a Buckshot folding table from Amazon. Would you recommend it?
Thanks for the very helpful video - what brand did you say you recommend for mdf ? The cloth and cushion quality is my biggest concern, but you seem to rate yours pretty highly !
The brand = Buckshot. By far the best MDF I ever played on. The cloth is English pool cloth so slower compared to American pool cloth. The cushions react correct but ofcourse not the same bounce as a good slate table. For what I payed for for this table I am happy with it. I mainly use it to maintain my cue action etc , so it is a good practice table.
i owned 6 feet mdf table once....it was playable for beginners but it was warping, once knew its warping areas you needed to shoot harder to minimize unwanted ball curves. also mdf tables if you do jump shots it will soon get ruined. You probaly can get smaller mdf tables pretty much in level without serious warping if its well built under playing surface but sooner or later it will do that...slate tables are way more stable to keep their level, harder to move and alot more work to get it assembled etc but if you dont have to move it from its place, then its best option to get.
No doubt slate is always the best quality but for those who cant have a slate table for whatever reason , there are good mdf tables these days that can give years of fun for a low price. My table still didnt warp a single mm. As for jump shots , they will ruin a mdf table ofcourse. Luckely I am a snooker player so I dont need jump shots ;-)
if it was warping - humidity mate. unless you were perma jump shotting/cueing the felt.
The other day at the gas station, I heard two old grannies getting heated. One was yelling, SLATE!. The other one was yelling, MDF! Pretty soon punches were being thrown, purses became weapons. The whole station was in a fist fight out into the streets. The police came, riot gas was fired, tasers were deployed. I'm lucky to be alive to even write this comment.
🤣
I always advise anybody with an MDF table to get themselves a set of Aramith pool balls, especially the Pro Cup Aramith dotted cue ball. That cue ball brought my table to life, it moves and spins around the table so much better than the heavy cue ball that comes with those tables. 👍
Aramith balls make a huge difference indeed. The first weeks I played with the standard (cheap) balls that came with the table. I wish I hadn't done that. Somewhere next week I try to make a short video about this topic.
@@ErikOnlineDarts did you make this video
@@ThisWorldisCorrupt00 had a very busy work month so had 0 time. It will still come tho ;-)
@@ErikOnlineDarts much appreciated bro. I'm thinking of getting some aramith balls for my MDF table but not sure if there's much of a difference. Would be good if you showed a comparison. 👍🏽
I think the Pro Cups by Aramith only comes in standard 2 1/4" sizes though? I would think a table this size would be better suited for smaller balls like 2 1/16" or 2" ?
this table looks great, considering getting one for myself in the future also, how good is the split on the break when playing 8 ball?
Hey Chazz. Playing 8 ball is quite a challenge on a 6ft pool table. U can break good but u need to be able to play position well for the next ball. Else u will get in trouble with clusters. But if u manage to break those , u are good to go ! Most of the times I break with 10 balls and practice my positional playing. If u can do that well on a small table , u will kick ass on larger tables !
0:44 My feelings exactly. I was one of 4 people that carried the slates of my first pool table, 2 stories up the stairs. I said I will never do it again. And when I changed the table, I looked for people to help. I didn't even want to touch any of the slate pieces. And I was one of four. You were just 2 people.
Ye , moving slates is not easy , I wish we had 4 people to do that job 🙂
BTW, knowing that you must mount the table completely, I understand that you can update at a later time, the cloth, the rubbers and even the MDF base if needed... That's interesting!
The table comes with the cloth already fixed. But if the cloth would be damaged too much from playing , u can unscrew the rails and put on another cloth. Altho the table is strong and stable , I would not recommend to put a slate on it ;-)
@@ErikOnlineDarts So you got the BuckShot BlackMagic Pro model? I thought you had the Manhattan model, and that one comes completely dismantled afaik. Thanks a lot for your answer! 😉
@@jrdlbrt No problem , always glad to help 🙂
@@ErikOnlineDarts Hi Erik! Last weekend, we mounted a Manhattan 8ft, and we are very happy with the result. The cloth is a bit on the slow side but maybe in a year or two, I will invest in a Simonis. All in all, a great quality/price value! Thank you so much for your invaluable criterion!😉
@@jrdlbrt Oh that's from the same brand as I got ! I'm happy the video was helpfull for u ! The cloth gets faster as u play on it. After 3 months , u will feel the difference for sure ! If u use the balls that came with the table , be carefull so u don't damage the cloth with burn marks ! U can see more about that in this video : th-cam.com/video/tHxpsVnwfek/w-d-xo.html
Great news. Thanks for making the video. You mentioned a break of 50. Is that in snooker or straight pool? I play mostly snooker, but I still enjoy straight pool, even though I have a lot of trouble running 1, or 2, racks. What size balls do you use on your MDF table? Snooker size, or the bigger, 9 ball size? I hope you review some other pool products, like carbon fiber cues vs wood, or different tips, and chalk. You can show us what you practiced to get to 50 points in 3 months, too.
Hi Vancouver Rain. I play snooker in a club so snooker is my main game. So the 50 breaks are on full size snooker tables (12ft). I can proud say that I had a 62 break last week hehe. For this table , I use full size American pool balls (the big balls) and official size snooker balls. Both sets are high quality Aramith balls. I started recording a video (wich will come next week) about snooker and pool balls. After that , I start with a few lessons videos to show what and how I practice on this small table to improve on any size table. Im very excited to start those videos because I am sure alot people will find those helpfull. I always take note of viewer questions so I will do a review of the chalks I used and what I currenlty use + my experiences with different tips etc.
Oh I forgot to ask , how long have u been playing snooker for ?
@@ErikOnlineDarts I played snooker for 40 years. Your 60 run is very good, since you've only been playing a few months. I think, if you keep practicing, by the end of 1 year, not many people in your club, or town, will be able to beat you in snooker.
If anyone knows I would really appreciate an answer on this question. Can this buckshot table be easily carried up two flights of steep dutch stairs?
I just noticed on your table which is 6ft, you seem to be playing with 2 1/4 inch balls. Am I right? If that's the case how do they react when hitting a rail? Do they kinda bounce off the surface a little? I know the pocket size is perfectly ok to run those, but how do they play off the rails and wouldn't it get a little packed, especially if you are playing with a full rack?
Hi Jack. I use 2 1/4 balls indeed. The rails work realy well with these balls. They react good and correct , wich allows me to use the rails for position play. I also play with full size snooker balls ( alot smaller than the pool balls) and altho I was worried that they wouldn't react good with the rails , I have to say , they also work ! The table however is indeed too packed with the pool balls. 8 ball is a no go for me. 9 ball works , but I would suggest to buy a set of smaller balls such as english pool balls.
I actually got more information of this video then I thought I would have my wife for some reason wants a pool table in the middle of rdn and I'm not going to argue with it I would love that but I would not expect my wife to want that either but I've also thought you have to have a slate pool table and they're heavy and once there there there there but I also don't want to spend $2,000 so looks like I'm going to MDF I just got to shop around and find a good one that's built quality
Im glad the video gave u alot information Jason. I have seen alot cheap slate tables on the second hand market in Europe and America. But , u have to be able to take it appart , put it back together , getting the slates level etc .. And u need manpower depending how thick the slate is ! We lifted slates to a first floor , it was ...not.....fun.... If u have any more questions , let me know , always glad to help !
Really informative.
Could you elaborate on the exact thickness of the MDF? Also, would you be able to add a link to the table model? Thanks.
This a link to the table : www.strayshop.nl/buckshot-pooltafel-winner-6-ft-zwart.html . The thickness of the playfield is exact 2.50 cm wich is as good as 1 inch.
@@ErikOnlineDarts Thanks for the swift response. One more question - did you manage to reduce the noise from the pockets? It's what's stopping me from buying a table seeing as I have small children, and you know how that goes :)
I sure know how it is with children hehe. The pockets are noisy but can be greatly reduced by placing something in them. U can use those things u tape under chair legs to stop them from scratching the floor , just in bigger size. It works great in the corner pockets but for the middle pockets u should use something more thin or it could stop the balls from running throught the return system proper. I'm always glad to help , that's what the channel is for :-)
Dank je voor deze video. Denk je dat het mogelijk zou zijn om een 'worsted' doek aan te brengen op een mdf tafel? Het doel op mdf tafels is vaak meer wollig, niet zoals de grote leistenen tafels. Maar dat professionele 'worsted' doek is ook gewoon los verkrijgbaar.
Vraag me af of de keuze voor een meer wollig doek bij mdf tafels puur te maken heeft met kosten (goedkopere tafel, goedkopere materialen) of dat het echt met de tafel zelf.te maken heeft.
In principe , mits de handigheid , kan je de meeste mdf tafels uit elkaar halen en een ander doek spannen. Ik heb het 1 keer gedaan en was niet makkelijk. De reden dat ze een meer wollig doek spannen is dat deze langer meegaan dan een "worsted" doek zodat je langer plezier kan hebben van de mdf pooltafel. De meeste mdf tafels zijn niet gemaakt om een ander laken op te leggen. Dus laken stuk = nieuwe tafel.
Does the sound of a break change based on the table construction? I would think that the slate would be louder/crisper...
I never noticed any difference in the sound of the break.
Thanks for the comparison where can I buy the buckshot model in the UK?
That's what I was asking, but OP of this video doesn't seem to know. By the looks of it, Buckshot doesn't seem to sell in the UK. The closest equivalent would be Home Leisure Direct.
I bought it from a site in The Netherlands and they don't sell this model anymore. I have no idea where u can buy this model / brand these days.
I don't understand why they don't do a hybrid of the two? an MDF base with a thinner piece of slate on top
Maybe the slate would break too easy.
@@ErikOnlineDarts Yeah that's a good point. I'm interested in buying a pool table one day, or possibly building one.
I'm curious what material properties people look for in the bed, if it's either uniformity, smoothness, hardness, or weight.
Hi Erik, never had a pool table at home.. I can only put it in a 3m by 7m véranda at my home, do you think practicing in such a tight space can work? It also gets hot and cold inside, would such temperature variations of say +5 in the winter to +40 in the summer destroy this table?
7m lengt is enough for a 6ft table. 3m width might be a little tight. U can however use a cue that is a little shorter. Heat and cold itself won't destroy the table. The biggest danger is humidity. If the humidity is realy high where u live , u have more chance that the table will wear down faster.
@@ErikOnlineDarts thank you so much! Could you recommend a length and brand of shorter cues and also a brand and size of better balls? I am beginner🥹 and searched for 4 hours for a table. Found yr video and now am so happy don’t need to search anymore! Will order that table tomorrow :). Subscribed to yr channel!
@@maxbyk5072 For balls , the brand "Aramith" is the way to go. I use 2 & 1/4 inch (57 mm) pool balls wich are full size balls. The snooker balls I use are full size snooker balls. If u want to play 8 or 9 ball pool , I would recommend 2 inch balls. The cue size is hard to tell. it depends on your room. Any cue around the 100 dollar or 100 euro price is good for practice.
Your advise is priceless, thank u so much! Do you have experience with outdoor pool tables? As the biggest indoor piece I have is only 3 meters wide, I am contemplating to shell out 2-3 k euros for an outdoor table for my terrasse which is 7m by 5m.. but the terrasse has no roof, so the table will be open to rain and snow in belgium. Any experience or advise if it’s worth it? I am beginner, but am passionate about practicing
@@maxbyk5072 I played on an outdoor table when I was on hollidays. The table was well build but it felt a little bit different to play on. The cloth they use on those tables is something special because it stands outside. Most people who never played pool before or only play it every now and than won't feel this , but someone who plays pool alot can feel it plays different. Balls "slide" more over the table I would say. If u got no ambition to play in a competition , I would say it won't matter if it feels a little different. If however u do plan on playing in a competition , I would not buy an outdoor table for practice as it might throw youre game off on indoor tables.
What is the range that you recommend for the mdf board?
I would not go larger than a 7 ft
Hi! What you can say about dining pool table is there any good?
They are good quality but when I was researching tables , I found that dining pool tables where very expansive. In my opinion overpriced . They know it is the only solution for alot of people to have a pool/dining table combination so they charge alot.
@ErikOnlineDarts Thanks for your answer. Yeah, they are not cheap I been used to slate bed over summer with been stored in conservatory, but now coming winter time specially in United Kingdom there is rain over 90% till next summer so looking for something to keep in the house. Found one on a good deal, just around 500 euros on sale, but I'm not sure how good it is. Signature Newman pool dining table.
I assume the 500 euro table has a wood bed ? I have never seen slate pool dining tables that cheap@@KingStyle2012
If we all had the money and room we would always go with slate. But that’s just not possible for most of us.
Amen to that. Nice profile pic btw , I own one of those :-)
do you now is there a place that sell in the USA couldn't find
I don't think they get sold in the US. I also noticed that they dont make this model anymore in 6ft size. They got another 6ft model now.
Is there any MDF tables that are made in the US that you would recommend I see you I watched your video and seen all the research you're done on them I'm looking for like 7 ft thanks Eric
@@ErikOnlineDarts do you know of one that you would I see you did a lot of research looking for a 7 foot MDF not to Pricey around the price you paid
Is yours foldable?
No , this table is not foldable.
It's funny that there only seems to be one of the worst options, or one of the best options lol. Nothing in between usually. Mdf is the worst option for a pool table. Literally anything would be better. Any kind of hard wood. One time I made a pool table from 1 inch thick ply wood and a thin sheet of aluminum on top, and that rolled way better than mdf. Why don't companies think outside the box and try different stuff? Anyone know? I know some have try hard plastics, but not many.
This table has mdf with a hard plastic on top , thats why the table plays so well.
Lmfao, would never play on that. I have a bigger table😂 a real mans table, want to over? I live in NY
U sound like a real man indeed.
That looks smaller than 6 feet
That's what she said.
u cant recover mdf ... slate all the way