When purchasing a pool table for the first time, this is one of the most often asked questions. Let’s start by stating that most slate pool tables, including those of the professional caliber, feature a three-piece slate design. This is because three-piece slate tables are typically much easier and more precisely to be leveled and planned than one-piece slate tables. Slate tables that are one piece tend to slump over time in the middle, where there’s very little support. A three-piece slate pool table allows the installer to level and align each piece individually. After doing this, the seams will be covered with beeswax or water putty, making them invisible.