How to Level a Pool Table (and Check If It Rolls Off)
A table that is not level makes slow shots roll off line, and no amount of skill fixes that. The good news: checking is easy, and small fixes are often simple. Here is how.
Test it: the rolling ball
- Roll a ball very slowly down the middle of the table from the head rail toward the foot rail, then back.
- Roll balls slowly across the table at the head, the middle and the foot.
- If a slow ball curves the same way every time, the table leans that way. A ball that wanders differently in different spots usually means the slate or cloth is uneven, not just the legs.
Measure it with a level
Use a good machinist level (a cheap bubble level is not precise enough). Lay it on the cloth across the width and along the length, near each corner and in the middle. Note which way and how much each spot is off.
Fix it
- Adjustable legs: many tables have leveling feet or screws at the bottom of each leg. Raise the low side a little at a time, re-checking with the level after each change.
- Shims: on tables without adjustable feet, slide thin hardwood or plastic shims under the low legs. Work in small amounts.
- Check the floor: a sagging floor or a thick rug under one end is often the real problem. On carpet, legs can sink over time, so re-check after a week.
- Work end to end, then side to side: level the length first, then the width, then check the length again.
When to call a pro
Slate tables are leveled at the slate itself, using shims between the slate and the frame, and the seams between the slate pieces are filled and leveled too. If the slate is off, the seams are raised, or the table was just moved, a table mechanic can level it properly, usually while recovering or tightening the cloth. Non-slate tables that sag in the middle usually can't be fixed by leveling.
Keep it playing well with how to clean a pool table. Shopping? See the home pool table buying guide.