Which pool table felt should I buy? This billiard cloth buying guide will help you choose the correct cloth for your needs. Knowing how to choose pool table felt involves knowing several things about your pool table and what you expect out of it. Pool table feli is available in two styles. This billiard cloth buying guide will explain these types and recommend cloth for each type.
Woolen Pool Table Felt
Woolen napped felt is the most common cloth for home and recreation pool tables. These cloths are less expensive, provide good durability and come in several weights from 18 to 24 ounces. Generally, the heavier the weight of these billiard cloths the longer they will last; however, this comes at the price of slower ball speed and gameplay. Pool table cloths are becoming more and more available with Teflon treatment for extra protection against stains and spills.
Woolen napped cloth’s weakness is that they lose fibers in fuzzy pills that form from play. They require more brushing and maintenance and they provide slower play. These cloths can also form ball tracks and gullies affecting ball tracking and precision. These conventional felt like cloths trap dirt and chalk more within the fibers and wear quicker. They are inexpensive and work well for home pool tables and other non-professional tables.
Coin-operated pool tables almost always use Woolen napped felt because of its extra durability but the gameplay is much slower and it is not appropriate for home or professional tables.
Worsted Or Woven Billiard Cloth
Worsted or woven cloth is the other common style of billiard cloth. These are more expensive to manufacture but produce the flattest, fastest and longest-lasting playing surface. They make worsted cloths by twisting strands of wool and nylon fiber. They weave them into a very smooth material. These cloths provide the most accurate and consistent play surface. These tightly woven fibers naturally resist dirt, chalk and spills so the cloth last longer. Because of this, they don’t normally Teflon treat worsted. Woven cloth such as Simonis and Velocity Pro are perfect for avid pool players wanting gameplay similar to professional tournament play.
Billiard Cloth Buying Guide Recommendations
Most all pool table felt is available in many colors and sizes. For lower price and best value, we recommend Proline Classic pool table felt for most home and recreational pool tables. If you are concerned about spills and stains or kids are involved, our Proline Classic Cloth with Teflon treatment is a good choice. For the best professional-grade worsted cloth we recommend Simonis Cloth. If price matters, a good lower-priced cloth is Velocity Pro Cloth.
