For example, Finish for the Mackenzie – an $8,000 model – says “Deep Madeira” and under Slate, 1”.Įven going to Brunswick’s Customized page for most of the tables, there were no options for wood, hand-rubbed staining, upgraded woven woolen cloth or choice of rail sights. Every one of the models that we checked out gave specs on finish, pockets, legs, slate, color and cloth type in generalities only. We spent some time exploring and comparing different tables to each other. They have a large display of tables and prices on their website. With our education underway, I wanted to find a Brunswick table like the one I saw at the store to show my very own next-great-pool-player.įirst stop: The official Brunswick site. We learned the importance of solid hardwood frames, what kind of slate is best and why, the difference between woolen felt cloth and woven, woolen cloth and why the cushions should be 100% rubber. In showing my wife the questions that the salesman needed answered, we did some research online. Since I couldn’t even begin to answer his many questions, I left without buying anything and felt confident that we would probably get the Brunswick model I saw after measuring the space and deciding on styling – felt colors, leg carving, ect. The salesman told me that Brunswick was top-of-the-line and I had no reason to doubt his word. When I left the store, I decided it looked like a pool table. The only thing I noticed were the metal brackets near the legs. I pushed against the sides and crouched down to look at the underside of the table. ( I had seen one of the players in the tournament do that so I thought it looked like I knew something.)
I took one of the balls and rolled it across the table. The model I was inspecting was priced on sale at $4500. I nodded along like a bobbing-headed pup in a rear window of a hip car donning my best “I’m impressed” face and pretending I knew what cushions and slate were. The Brunswick label proudly announced “Authentic American” and the salesman pointed out these tables are made of solid wood with 100% rubber cushions and 1” slate. The only name I recognized was Brunswick. I headed off to a sporting goods store down the street from our house and lo-and-behold! Pool tables! They carried several different makers – Brunswick, Valley, American Heritage and Pharaoh. My first hurdle was finding out where to buy one. I had heard the name Brunswick associated with pool tables before I started the big search.