Billiard Cloth

Choosing the Right Cloth for Your Pool Table

Pool table cloth is a very important part of a pool table. It not only plays a role in the look, but also on the feel, the performance, and most importantly, the durability you’ll get out of your table.

Below are some points to take into consideration.

Look

Billiards cloth comes in several different colors, you have a large selection to choose from. Note that the cloth will take a large, if not the largest, space on your table, so the color you choose will be very prominent. You may want to consider the overall room décor including tones of furniture and wall colors, in addition to the color and finish of the pool table itself when deciding what will look best in your game room or living room.

Feel and Performance

The feel and consistency of the cloth actually affect how the balls roll and react during play.

• Recreational-grade cloth has a higher nap (feels fuzzy and softer), and typically plays slower, which makes it more forgiving for amateur and inexperienced players, or children.
• Intermediate grade cloth typically plays faster and is more durable than the recreational-grade cloth. Usually a Teflon layer is added to it for durability.
• Professional-grade cloth is what you may have seen in pool halls, high-end pool rooms or even tournaments. Professional-grade cloth has very high wool content and a very tight weave, making the cloth very smooth, and for instance a very fast play. This is an excellent option for home use when more experienced players want the best performance out of their table. The math is simple, if you want your table to perform like a professional table, get professional cloth.

Durability

The durability of cloth will mainly depend on who is using the table, how they play on the table, and how the cloth is maintained. Buying the most expensive and professional-grade cloth won't be lasting long enough if it is played on carelessly, and or not maintained. This is very important to take into consideration.

The higher grades of cloth are heavier, have a tighter weave, typically a higher percentage of wool, and often include chemical treatments like Teflon that make them more resistant to spills and stains, making them more durable overall. These types of cloth are often recommended for home use.