Pool tables are pretty solid, right? They should be able to take a good chunk of weight, yes? Well, not exactly. However, there are still a ton of people that wonder whether they can put themselves on top of a pool table.
It is bad to sit on a pool table. If you sit on a pool table, you risk damaging the pool table’s slate. This can make the pool table virtually impossible to play on. Of course, sitting at a pool table is also against the rules!
Let’s go into a bit of depth on this. We know that some people are confused because pool tables tend to be fairly hefty in size but can’t take a ton of weight on top of them.
Can You Sit Or Stand On a Pool Table?
No. If you sit or stand on a pool table, then you run the risk of damaging the slate on the table.
In the best-case scenario, the excessive weight placed on the top of the table will cause the slate to crack a bit. This means you have a huge crack on the table, and the slate no longer sits level. This means that your balls will move oddly and in an unpredictable way.
Worst case scenario? That extra weight causes the pool table’s slate to break completely. It is sent crashing to the floor. Of course, pool tables are heavy, and slate falling from that sort of distance runs the risk of destroying the floor underneath it. This means that you will have no pool table to enjoy, but you will also have a severely damaged floor.
Basically, don’t sit or stand on a pool table.
Can You Get On The Table In Pool?
In theory, the issues will only happen if you sit or stand on the pool table’s slate. If you get on the side of the table (i.e. the bumpers), then you will probably not cause any damage to the table. After all, if there were the risk of damage just by leaning on the side of the pool table, you probably wouldn’t be able to play the game at all!
In our opinion, you should only be leaning on the sides of the pool table when you are playing the game. Remember, if you are playing pool, you need to have one foot on the floor at all times. If you don’t, then it is an illegal shot.
If you plan on climbing on the side of the table, then don’t do it. While the risk of getting on the side of the pool table is much lower than if you stood in the center of the table (i.e., on the slate), it still isn’t worth it.
A small shift in weight could still cause the slate to crack and completely shatter in the worst case. Honestly, there is no reason why you should be hanging around on the side of the table unless you are playing the game.
How Fragile Is Pool Table Slate?
Many people live under the false belief that a pool table’s slate is nice and sturdy. We can see how people believe that, to be honest. The pool table slate is incredibly heavy. It is the reason why you often need 4-5 people moving a decent pool table.
The problem is that while the pool table slate is heavy, it isn’t all that tough. Most pool table slates are made only a few inches thick. This means that it doesn’t take a huge amount of pressure on the slate to shatter completely.
Obviously, if you opt for the more expensive tables, the chances are that there will be a thicker piece of slate in place. However, even on the big tables, you still risk damaging the slate if you get on top of it or bump it around too much.
Remember, if your slate gets damaged, there is no proper way to fix it. You can’t buff out cracks on the slate, and you certainly can’t glue it back together. You will have to replace the entire pool table, and you really don’t want to be doing that.
Pool Table Etiquette
There are a lot of rules that you will need to pay attention to when around a pool table, for example:
- Never put your drinks on the table
- Always ensure that you give your opponent space to make their shot
- Don’t jab the cue into the table (this can damage the cloth and the slate)
Of course, we are focusing on ensuring that you do not damage the slate on a pool table here. This means that you need to follow proper etiquette and not sit or stand on a table. In fact, you should try and avoid leaning on the side of a table altogether.
The only time that you should even be touching that table is if you are:
- Setting up the balls
- Taking a shot
If you are taking a shot, then you can lean on the table. However, at all times, you should keep at least one foot rooted to the floor. Not only is this going to be a rule when you are playing pool, but it also helps to ensure that you are not putting too much weight on the table. You are putting the weight on your foot instead.
Final Thoughts
It is bad to sit on a pool table. You absolutely should never stand on a pool table.
You have to remember that the slate of a pool table is incredibly weak. Even the smallest amount of weight can cause a pool table’s slate to crack. Excessive weight can cause the slate to shatter.
If you have damaged the pool table’s slate, then there is no proper way to repair it. While it may be patched up a little bit, the pool table’s slate is never going to be completely smooth again. Therefore, don’t even think about leaning on that table, sitting on that table, or standing on the table.