Bumper Pool Basics
For those that want home entertainment but don’t have an extra room to devote just to this endeavor, you might want to consider the advantages of owning a bumper pool table.
Let’s face it, we all want a gorgeous full size pool table in our house, but who has the room. Traditional pool tables take up a lot more space than most of us have and they cost more than most people want to spend. Plus, unless you have a large room to play in, taking shots can become difficult in a cramped room. Many busted windows have happened from in-home pool tables.
With a bumper pool table, you eliminate the need to have an extra room while still getting in the fun and excitement of billiards. Regulation tables are typically two feet shorter and about a foot thinner than your typical pool table and the octagonal bumper table is even more convenient for saving space.
Bumper pool is played with two to four players with the latter being team play. There are five balls per side and these are usually red and white with one ball of each color labeled as the cue ball. The object of this sport is to just sink your balls before your opponents. Sounds simple?
Well, in bumper pool there are these little mushroom-looking bumpers that want to stop you from getting your balls in to the cup. Standard tables come with twelve of these bumpers while other versions can have up to sixteen of them on a table. These little bumpers are the whole challenge to the game as you have to get your balls back into your own cup.
There are rules to playing bumper pool despite the fact that most people just play by their own version of house rules.
To begin, both players take a shot of their marked cue ball at the same time. Whoever gets closest to their cup, or even gets it in first, gets to shoot again. The cue ball has to go in first. If it doesn’t then your opponent has the option of dropping two of his balls in his cup. Also, if your ball goes into his pocket, he can also drop another two balls. This game can end quickly if you don’t watch what you’re doing as your fouls can help your opponent win.
From there, it continues much like regular billiards where if you get a ball in a cup, you get another shot and players take turns until someone wins.
When deciding on purchasing bumper pool tables for your house, there are two variations to consider- rectangular or octagonal tables. The rectangular tables are mostly regulation size and are great if you have the extra space. This table works well with an overall recreation room and you can include a foosball table, darts, and an entertainment center without sacrificing too much space.
For those that have less space, the octagonal table is the right choice. Most versions come in the 3 in 1 bumper pool table version which includes a poker table and a dining table. These tables come in a range of prices and variations with the high end ones costing a few thousand dollars, but they are great space savers and add a nice bit a classy elegance to your home. These fit well in small houses or apartments and can be bought in many designs to match the décor of your living space. These tables can take the place of a kitchen table and double as a great source of entertainment when hosting friends for that big game or pay-per-view event.
If you are looking for something to spice up your home, then a bumper pool table is great fun for all ages and social gatherings. These tables keep their value for years and never go out of style as quickly as expensive video game systems and can easily be passed down from generation to generation.
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