News — shuffleboard table

Olhuasen Game Room delivered to Thurmont Maryland 0

Plank and Hide Shuffleboard delivered to Mount Airy Maryland 0

Plank and Hide Gaston Shuffleboard installed in Tysons Corner VA 0

Olhausen York Shuffleboard Table Review 0

Today we take a look at Olhausen Billiards best selling home shuffleboard table, the York.  The Olhausen York Shuffleboard is featured in our Maryland showrooms if you want to "kick the tires" and see why this is such a popular model.  Olhausen Billiards in Tennessee is the largest US based manufacturer of Pool Tables, Shuffleboard Tables, and other quality Made in the USA home entertainment goods. 

Olhausen products are available through a trusted network of local established authorized factory retailers, like Robbies Billiards & Patio. The York is a transitional style shuffleboard table made in Tennessee with hundreds of custom options.  Sizes range from 9' to 22' tournament length and recreational 16" wide to full 20" wide finger joined rock maple play surfaces.  The cabinets can be custom made in a variety of wood species and finish stains, just like every custom made Olhausen game table.  In Maryland Shuffleboard Tables tend to sell well in Maple Wood with a Dark Cherry, Mahogany, or Black Onyx finishes.  The most popular size shuffleboard for homes in Maryland, Virginia, and DC is the 12' Length.

 
Style:  The York Shuffleboard Table features a transitional solid leg with a square tapered cabinet similar to the style of the Olhausen York Pool Table.  There is a subtle routing on the "blind" or side of the play surface cradle.  The overall balance and style blend well with most traditional or even modern style game rooms.  The popularity of the York Shuffleboard Table comes from its versatility in any home.  It is not a trendy or old school design, rather it falls somewhere in between.  Some customers are indifferent to the York style, but no one absolutely hates the look of this table making it a very good design chameleon.

Grade:  A-

 
Construction:  Like all Olhausen Game Tables, the York Shuffleboard is custom made to order in Tennessee out of select hardwoods.  The main component of any Shuffleboard Table is the play surface, and Olhausen knows their boards.  With a virtually indestructible poured lacquer over finger joined Canadian Rock Maple, this play surface will last for decades in either 16" or full 20" tournament size.  Olhausen has developed their own patented "leveling" system made up of wooden climatizers to adjust the play surface as room conditions change.  Our experience is these boards are on par with the industry standard by Champion Shuffleboard.  The real difference is in the cabinet:  No one builds a better looking better quality cabinet than Olhausen.  With the stain and wood options the York can be build just about any way you like.  The kicker is that Olhausen is the only shuffleboard manufacturer in the industry with a full Lifetime Factory Warranty on the Play Surface AND the Cabinet.  That is an unbeatable guarantee and sets the Olhausen York Shuffleboard apart from the competition.

Grade:  A

Value:  The York Shuffleboard table has so many custom size, wood, and finish options we have a tough time putting it in a specific price range.  Even fully decked out, however, this table seldom exceeds $6,000 other than in tournament sizes.  Combined with the customization options, bullet proof play surface, and lifetime warranty on all wood components (something no other manufacturer currently offers!) the York is a solid value however you speck it out.  If you can live with the 16" wide recreational play surface option the York is priced competitively with many imported and off brand tables.  That makes this Shuffleboard table a great Made in the USA alternative for any value seeking buyer.

Grade:  A-

Overall:  The Olhausen York Shuffleboard Table is a best selling at Robbies Billiards & Patio in Maryland, Virginia, and DC for a reason.  The transitional "go anywhere" style, the personalized custom wood, size, and finish options, and the unbeatable Olhausen Lifetime Warranty on the entire board (not just the play surface) make the York our 1st choice for home entertainment.

Game Room Ideas for Kids 0

Most of the people we talk to in Maryland, Virginia, or DC about putting together a game room have children that will also use the space.  We love the traditional "man cave", but most families have a mixture of adult and children's activities in their basement or bonus room.  Today we are going to break down the most popular and user friendly game room games by age group.  This is a good way to future proof game room purchases and get more years of fun out of your investments.

Under Five Years of Age:  If you have young children at home the game room is often either a place to go to escape for more adult activities while the kids are asleep or a giant toy filled rumpus room.  It is difficult to keep small kids occupied for long but there are a couple of exceptions.  If you don't have one already get a small to mid size flat screen TV on the wall and buy a game system like the Nintendo Wii.  Not only can you and your not so grown up friends have fun playing Video Games, it is a great way to keep the kids occupied if you want to have a poker night or squeeze in a few games of billiards.  At this age most kids will not be able to grasp the "point" of traditional table games, but they still like to be part of the action.

Five to Eight Years:  This is the golden time where you get to influence your children's interests for possible the rest of their lives.  Most kids have developed sufficient motor skills to start participating in games like Table Shuffleboard, Billiards, Air Hockey, or even Darts!  The key at this age is to start them slow, usually on a stool or with help from mom or dad to hold the Puck or Pool Cue.  Shuffleboard Tables are easier for most kids to get the hang of because all they have to do at first is whip the pucks from one end to the other.  A set of Bowling Pins will help this quickly become a favorite activity!  Don't get discouraged if the kids still want to veg out in front of the Video Game System.  If you take the time to show them how to play traditional games correctly and take breaks when they get frustrated you might be surprised how quickly they get hooked.

Nine to Twelve Years of Age (Tweeners):  At a time where we begin to loose our kids undivided attention to the glut of media and outside peer influence there is still a place to go for real family time:  the Game Room!  If you spent time when they were younger including them in games and teaching the basics this can be the most fun you ever have in your recreation space.  Think about it, now they are old enough to play ping pong, shoot a game of pool, even throw darts and even win once in a while.  In a couple of years they will be teenagers and much less interested in hanging out with Mom and Dad on a Saturday night.  This is the period where many parents invest in a real lifetime game room activity like a nice slate pool table or hardwood shuffleboard table if they have not already.  Once kids are hooked on these games the tables will see a ton of use over the next ten years.

The Black Wolf Pool Table by Brunswick is a Best Seller for Parents who what 
a slick looking modern table that is also very durable and will not scratch.

Teenage Years:  This can be a tough time to get kids to hang out at home, especially with you!  Parents who always had a game room at the house often find that their teenagers end up spending time with Friends at home, especially if the years have added plenty of fun activities.  You might be left out sometimes, but as one father told me recently, "It is worth every penny knowing exactly where they are, even if I can't use my own Pool Table"!  This is the time to add more skilled games to your space, especially Foosball, Darts, Poker, and Arcade Machines.  The key to keeping the game room fresh over the years is adding more challenging and competitive games.  Remember to invite yourself in once in a while to show those kids that Dad and Mom can still kick some butt in their old age.

Pool Table vs Shuffleboard Table: What should I get? 1

 The two largest and most expensive games you can add to your game room are either a Pool Table or a Shuffleboard Table.  While many families have both games, for most it is a decision of one or the other.  In Maryland Pool Tables are still king, but Table Shuffleboard is catching up quickly.  In Northern Virginia Shuffleboard Tables have a slight edge in popularity, possibly reflecting a southern influence.  Here is a quick break down of pros and cons of both owning a Pool Table or a Shuffleboard Table.

What kind of space do I need?

A pool table will take up most of even a large room because you need to try and allow 5' or more around the play surface.  The smallest home slate pool table we recomend is 7', or 78" by 39" on the play surface.  This means your room should be at least 16 1/2' by 13' for just the pool table and surrounding area.  For many this means taking up an entire room in the basement or losing other entertainment activities like a big walk behind home bar or full size home theater setup.  Table shuffleboard has a definite advantage in space because nice quality tables can be as little as 12' long and 3' wide.  Unlike a pool table, table shuffleboard can be put right up against a wall, in a hallway, or even up against the back of a sectional couch.  You just need a couple of feet at each end to stand.  The exception to this is a full 22' shuffleboard table.  If that is your desire you had better have a huge room and most importantly, a way to get the thing in! 

What is the family going to be happiest with?

If at least two adults in the house enjoy playing pool then if makes sense to get a pool table because they can introduce the game to everyone else.  The problem with pool is that there is a bit of a learning curve for beginners, so if Dad is a shark and no one else has played before it is not going to be fun for everyone.  One big advantage shuffleboard has over billiards is that almost anyone of any age or ability level can start playing right away.  Unless there is an extreamly skilled player in the house, shuffleboard is a very beginer friendly game.  This fact alone is pushing many buyers into getting a shuffleboard table because not everyone wants to spend time practicing so they can beat "dad" on a regular basis. 

What is going to get the most use over the years?

Both a quality home pool table or a shuffleboard table will be around for decades.  These are extreamly long term purchases, unlike almost anything else you can get for home entertainment.  Most of us are concerned, however, that after we buy one of these games it will just sit around and collect dust because the family has grown tired of it.  The key to avoiding this schenario is setting up our entertainmnet spaces for multiple activities and using the equipment we already have in new and interesting ways.  Shuffleboard tables can be converted easily to shuffle-bowling tables with a simple set of wood bowling pins.  Pool tables have a definite advantage for multiple use because there are so many differnt games that can be played on an American Pocket Billiards Table.  Here in Maryland Billiards is dominated by 8 ball and 9 ball games.  Some players are shooting hybrid games like 7 ball, one pocket, or even straight pool.  There are even special ball sets that can be used to create all new versions of pocket billiards.  Over all, the most popular alternative use of a pool table remains putting a ping pong conversion top on the table and getting two games in one!

 Finally, what is going to be the best value for the money?

This is the big question: should I spend all of this money on a pool table or a shuffleboard table and what is this thing going to cost me up front and in maintanance over the years.  Pool Tables have the advantage in up front cost as a decent quality three peice slate major manufacturer pool table can be purchased new or used for under $2,000.  After that expect to spend around $300 to $500 every ten years in Maryland or Virginia on Pool Table recovers.  Good quality cues, balls, and accessories are only a few hundred dollars and should last at least 15 years.  Shuffleboard Tables are a larger up front investment.  Expect to pay at least $3,000 for a good quality 12' home table, and at least $5,000 for a 20' wide tournament play surface table 16' or larger.  There are cheaper tables out there but the warranties are shady and the manufacturers have no credibility.  After the initial purchase a shuffleboard table requires no maintanance and only a few dollars worth of shuffleboard powder and silicon spray every year.

In the end most people are going to get the game that they played growing up and think friends and family will enjoy the most.  While both of these games represent a major investment in dollars and space, as long as they get used it is always worth it over time.  That is why generation after generation families in Maryland and Virginia have been passing on the tradition of entertaining around home pool tables and shuffleboard tables.