Some pool tables have a slate base while some are made with another material. On one hand, slate is a durable material that is widely favored by many professional pool players. It is made from a hard material and perfectly leveled and prevents the balls from randomly rolling. Likewise, slate especially thicker ones, are also said to be damage-resistant over time.
On the other hand, non-slated pool tables are available as a cheaper alternative to slated ones. Furthermore, non-slated pool tables are lighter than slated tables which are more used in professional purposes. On the downside, non-slate tables cannot be leveled as compared to slated pool tables. It may look flat visually, but not really accurately flat as seen by the naked eye. Hence, the balls may tend to roll off randomly which can ruin a game.