Cup holder or no cup holder in rail? (1 Viewer)

NiceShot

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Hello,

I'm at a crossroads and trying to figure out if I should go with cup holders or no cup holders in the rail.... After reading many comments, I'm convinced to get rid of the cup holders on the playing surface.

Pro's and Cons welcome.

Thanks,
-NS-
 
I like the pure look of an uninterrupted rail (or felt) and prefer the beverages away from the chips and cards. I'll probably always side with small movable tables similar to casinos.

I feel the same way, especially if it's a self-dealt game you're playing in.
 
I've built both and would say most players prefer no cupholders in the rail. Seems to inconvenience or annoy some players because of the fixed location. Slide-under cupholders or side tables are preferred by most, although perhaps not by a huge margin. The worst by far are cupholders in the playing surface or racetrack, collection cups for chips and anything else on the table.
 
Yes, agree with others, no cupholders in the rail. Reduces seating flexibility. Also, on the felt is just rediculous. I created side tables with cup holders built in.
 
For me it depends on how much space you have available. I host a self-dealt friendly game where drinking is common so cup holders are needed. I don't have enough space for side tables, so that option was out. My options were put them in the rail or slide under style. I choose to put them in the rail and it works great for my group. I have a raised rail and I don't think slide under style would work on my table. I also think if everybody had one in front of them it would clutter the playing surface. Bottom line I put mine in the rail and love it, I would not change a thing.
 
I prefer slide under cup holders to cup holders in the rail. Drink carts/tables are also nice too. I don't like cup holders in the rail mainly because there isn't an option to move them.
 
I'll put forward the dissenting view that I prefer cup holders in the rail, but I think it's because the vast majority of my playing time has been in casinos and the vast majority of casinos I've played in have them in the rail.
 
I like cup holders in the rail. If it is annoying or in the way then you can always choose not to use it but I find it is useful more times than not.
 
If people drink at your game, and lord knows they really should, you're going to want those cup holders. If you've got some sort of teatotal, shudder, serious poker thing going on I'm sure you can dispense with the drink holders.
 
I prefer slide under cup holders to cup holders in the rail. Drink carts/tables are also nice too. I don't like cup holders in the rail mainly because there isn't an option to move them.

same here

20150314_191714_zpseohidpov.jpg


If you go with the slide under cup holders. Get the smaller ones that only fits cans and bottles. This keeps the 1 liter giant bottles of soda off the table.

I got mine from OWG. Couldn't be happier with them.
 

Are you letting her eat at the table?!? Just kidding...that's a whole other discussion. And judging by her chips, she may have already checked out.;)

I've accepted that drinking will always be a part of the game so I am all for having the cup holders in the rail. But I don't really have the room for drink carts so that's not even an option.
 
That's a sad looking table. ... Honestly, barely any chips at all...?
 
Thanks guys for the feedback. There is always drinking so I can see where having the cup holders in the rail would be convenient.

There has been the ocassion on my old table where fixed seating with the cup holders were annoying but we just squeezed in anyways... anyone have any good diy side tables they have built? Please post if you do.

I would like something that could be easily folded away into my Harry Potter closet. I am almost thinking of getting some wooden fold away TV tray tables from target and drilling holes for cup holders in them.
 
6th: pouring drinks directly into the installed cupholders and distributing straws to all players

Haha jbutler! I did get a go ahead from the wife to build a bar and install a kegerator. I could just take it a step further and run a tap directly to the cupholders. Straw and you're done! However drinking beer from a straw is not my preferred method for consuming beer...

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same here

20150314_191714_zpseohidpov.jpg


If you go with the slide under cup holders. Get the smaller ones that only fits cans and bottles. This keeps the 1 liter giant bottles of soda off the table.

I got mine from OWG. Couldn't be happier with them.

Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately that won't work in my case since I will have a raised lighted rail.

Looks like the guy taking that picture has skills because he took everyone's chips! :)
 
I'm really torn on this - side trays are, without a doubt, the best for the poker and the table - but least convenient and comfortable for drinking.

Meanwhile, cupholders in the felt or racetrack are undoubtedly the most convenient for drinking - but the worst for the poker and the table.

All the other options are various levels of compromise; it depends on what's more important to you.
 
I'm really torn on this - side trays are, without a doubt, the best for the poker and the table - but least convenient and comfortable for drinking.

Meanwhile, cupholders in the felt or racetrack are undoubtedly the most convenient for drinking - but the worst for the poker and the table.

All the other options are various levels of compromise; it depends on what's more important to you.

Yeah that is the dilemma I am having as well... the only option to get it all is to make two rails, one with cup holders and one without and also make side tables but I am limited in cost and time... hence the decision to go with one versus the other.
 
I'll put forward the dissenting view that I prefer cup holders in the rail, but I think it's because the vast majority of my playing time has been in casinos and the vast majority of casinos I've played in have them in the rail.

Jbutler, at the tables you have played at with cupholders in the rail, do people sit with the cup holders at their center or to one side? It seems you might knock your drink with your elbow if to the side.
 
Jbutler, at the tables you have played at with cupholders in the rail, do people sit with the cup holders at their center or to one side? It seems you might knock your drink with your elbow if to the side.

it depends. for instance:

borgata $1/2 and $2/5: there are 10 cupholders and 10 players when the table is full a good dealer will instruct players to "square up" meaning sit directly behind your cupholder.

borgata $5/10: there are 10 cupholders and 9 players when the table is full, so you kind of establish parameters as to where exactly you're trying to sit. it's rarely an issue, but there is evidently no "rule" as to where people should square up given the off-balance cupholder:player ratio.

borgata stud games: when not on a stud table (smaller and with 8 cupholder) there are 10 cupholders and 8 players when the table is full. you pretty much just want to slit your wrists if anyone demands a square up because every one of the guys at the table was living when the magna carta was signed and they all insist that it contains the square up rule but none can agree on what it is.

parx (all games): there are 10 cupholders and 9 players when the table is full and when told to square up the rule is that the person in the 5 seat gets between the two center cupholders and everyone else gets right behind their own.

tl;dr: people should sit directly behind their cupholder.
 
Krafty had a couple of tables with cup-holders in the rail, and had a couple with slide-in cupholders, and as a player I much preferred the cup-holders in the rail. It was more difficult to make, though.
 
If you do the cups in the rail (which IMHO is the best option), you position them so you "belly up" to the cup. This way your drink is sitting directly in front of you, it's out of the way of elbows, and it's out of the way when you're dealing cards. Both of my tables have them in the rail, in front of players, and in 8 years we've only had a few close calls (mostly from a few fairly intoxicated folks) but zero spills.

I know a lot of folks like the drink carts, I personally find them a pain in the ass. Maybe I'm lazy, but turning around every time I want a sip of whiskey is distracting.
 
Before I started making side carts, I did what you mentioned: I bought those TV trays and made holes in them to fit the cup holders. I hate having anything besides chips and cards on the table.
 
I know a lot of folks like the drink carts, I personally find them a pain in the ass. Maybe I'm lazy, but turning around every time I want a sip of whiskey is distracting.

There's a LOT of drink cart love around here, but I've always felt the same way. I stop drinking my drink because it's such a pain in the ass.
 
I currently use the slide-under cupholders, and it works pretty well, especially since I use a mix of sizes. Since the bottle is on the table, you do have to work around it, especially if you are dealing. If I get a table with cupholders built-in, they'll be in the rail.
 

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