WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Many pool table owners are recovering or installing their own pool table and the selection of the type
of pool table felt to use is usually the most important decision to make. The most frequent question our customers
have is "which style of pool table felt to buy?
The first thing to know is that billiard fabric is called by many different names such as
pool table felt, pool table cloth, billiard felt, pool felt, billiard cloth, a green, a cover, etc. These names all
refer to the same type of product much the same as whether you call your table a pool table
or billiard table. The sport itself is properly called billiards but call it whatever you want.
WHICH IS THE BEST?
That depends on your needs. If you have an inexpensive table that gets limited or casual use then you
might not want to spend a lot of money for a tournament grade fabric. If spills or stains are a
concern then one of the Teflon fabrics is a good choice. If you are a pro or a wannabee with a higher end table and
want to duplicate professional tournament conditions then a worsted fabric by Simonis is the way to go.
Some times it comes down to a color need and your choice will be limited to the style that
offers the color you want. So if you want Purple your choices are limited. If you are absolutely tired of the
little fuzzies on your table (called pilling) you can eliminate that problem by using one of the worsted fabrics (Simonis 860, 760, 300, Velocity Pro or Tour Edition).
DURABILITY
Generally speaking, the more wool content - the more durable the fabric. There is no way to predict
how long any style of fabric will hold up because of the differences in the quality of installation and amount of play on the table.
A table in your home does not get the amount of play as a table in a commercial pool room so any style
of fabric should last longer before it needs to be replaced due to wear if used in a home environment.
The tightness of the fabric weave is also a factor. A looser weave will wear down faster because there
is less material used in the weave. One indicator of durability is the ounce weight per yard of fabric
such as 21oz, 19oz, etc. Better quality fabric will be a minimum of 19oz.
SPEED
There is a definite difference in the roll and speed of the ball between worsted and napped woolen billiard cloths. The
finishing process and quality of wool used by the manufacturer also makes a big difference. In general,
wool and nylon are combined to make billiard cloth. The proportion of wool to nylon affects the
durability of the fabric. The quality of the wool (fine, coarse, etc.) affects the speed of the finished product.
In "worsted" products such as Simonis, Velocity and Tour Edition additional manufacturing processes
are used to ensure all fibers are of equal size. As a result you do not get the "pilling" or "fuzzies" and there is no nap to the
fabric. The finishing process produces a smoother and more precise fabric which allows for faster ball speed and increased accuracy.
ABOUT EACH BRAND
IWAN SIMONIS
This is THE premier worsted billiard cloth used by more pros and in more pro tournaments then any other brand of cloth. Top of the line for quality, speed and accuracy.
VELOCITY PRO
A new, worsted cloth at a price point slightly higher then our regular woolen blends. Velocity is a step up to tournament quality worsted cloth at prices lower then better known tournament grade brands.
MALI
The W.T. Mali Company has been involved in the manufacture of billiard cloth since 1826 and offers several styles of cloth. We recently added their
newer 865 style as a slightly more durable alternative to Championship Titan at a better value price. 865 is the standard blend and 865T has DuPont Teflon added for increased stain and spill resistance.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Makes several styles to fit a range of budgets. The Titan, Ultra, Ultra Teflon, Invitational and Invitational Teflon styles are woolen blends that are good for the casual
home table without denting your wallet. The Tour Edition style is a higher priced worsted tournament grade cloth.
SO WHAT SHOULD I BUY?
For casual play on 7' or 8' home tables we suggest Mali 865. If you want a little
more speed then Championship Ultra is a good choice. If speed and precision are the most
important then go with Velocity Pro or Simonis 860. If spills
and stains are a concern try Mali Teflon 865T, Invitational Teflon or Ultra Teflon
For more serious play on 8', 8' Oversize or 9' tables we recommend Simonis 860, Tour Edition 3030 or Velocity Pro.
which are all very durable, have a good selection of color choices and provide high speed and more accuracy.
For 10' and 12' pool tables we recommend Simonis 760 for the faster speed and precision.
For Carom tables we suggest Simonis 300 - the ultimate in high speed cloth used in Pro Carom tournys.
Although limited in color choices this style is the fastest billiard cloth available.
By game preference for serious players we recommend:
Straight Pool (14.1), 8 Ball and 1 Pocket - Simonis 760 or Championship Tour Edition
9 Ball - Simonis 860
QUICK PICKS
Tired of the little fuzzies? Any of our "worsted" cloths. Simonis, Velocity Pro or Tour Edition
On a budget but want good quality? Mali 865 Standard or Championship Ultra
Have little tykes playing and worried about spills and stains? Mali 865T Teflon, Invitational Teflon or Ultra Teflon
Want better then a woolen without the high price for tournament grade cloth? Velocity Pro
Looking for the same cloth used in the pro tournaments? Simonis 860 or 760
Want the ultimate in fast speed? Simonis 300
For non-teflon styles you can order Fabricoate from our billiard supplies page for fabric protection.
Have more questions? Call us at 888-563-2787
