Which Pool Table Cloth Is Best For Me?

Pool table cloth is normally made from a combination of wool and nylon or polyester.  What separates the different brands and styles of cloth are the way the cloth is woven, the wool quality and the manufacturing process.

Woolen cloth is the most common type of pool table cloth.  Its “felt” appearance is made of at least 60% wool and has that felt feel.  It is most commonly used on home pool tables and coin-operated tables found in recreational areas and bars due to the lower cost.  Pool table balls will roll slower on this surface.  The shedding of the cloth is common with this type of cloth.  For this reason, it is not allowed in any WPA sanctioned tournament.  This is the recommended cloth type for the casual home player.

The second type of cloth is woolen cloth.  This cloth does not have the appearance of felt and more resembles a woven suit.  Worsted cloth is the cloth used in professional tournaments and home players looking for a high quality pool table experience.  The billiard balls will roll much faster on worsted cloth and will often be called “speed cloth”.  The materials and manufacturing process is a much higher quality and this will translate into a cloth that is much more expensive.  This cloth will will deliver a much more consistent and accurate playing surface.

It basically comes down to your budget and playing goals.  If you are a serious pool player, we recommend purchasing a worsted cloth as it will mimic the playing surface you will encounter in league and tournament play.  Simonis offers many types of worsted cloth.  We recommend the Simonis 760© or Simonis 860© when choosing Simonis.  Championshp Billiards offers the Tour Edition as their tournament grade fabric.  Simonis and Championship Billiards offer a premium product and are highly recommended.

Casual players should select a woolen blend.  There is a large variety of colors available and the cost is affordable.  Championship Billiards offers cloth with Teflon woven into the fabric to provide an additional layer of protection.

If a custom logo or design is requested, there are many options to choose from ranging from NFL licensed products to familiar icons such as Harley Davidson and Jack Daniels.  The process of applying the custom design may or may not affect the playing surface of your table.  Some companies will dye the color directly into the cloth while others will apply a silk screen to the felt.  This may create uneven speed zones on your felt.  There is nothing better than a custom designed pool table as the centerpiece in your room to show your team pride.