How to Choose Pool Table Felt? A Comprehensive Guide
Choosing the right felt for your pool table is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your gameplay and the aesthetic appeal of your pool table.
This comprehensive guide is designed to help you navigate through the various aspects of selecting pool table felt, ensuring that you make an informed decision that enhances your playing experience.
Key Takeaways
- The quality of the felt affects the speed and accuracy of the balls.
- Higher wool content in the felt leads to better playability and durability.
- Choose a color that complements your room and reduces eye strain.
- Opt for a felt that is easy to clean and maintain.
Budget and Premium Pool Table Felt – Quick Comparison
Budget and premium pool table felts cater to different needs and preferences.
Budget Pool Table Brand Comparison
Budget felts are a cost-effective playing cloth that’s ideal for casual/recreational players, on a tight budget.
They usually require more maintenance in the form of regular brushing and vacuuming.
| Brand | Material | Durability |
|---|---|---|
| Championship | Wool Blend | High |
| Accuplay | Wool Blend | Moderate |
Budget Pool Table Brand Comparison
Premium felts are typically crafted from worsted wool are the professional choice, boasting longevity along with superior performance, making them a great choice for serious/competitve/professional players.
Low maintenance in comparisn to budget felts, and are easier cleaned and maintained.
| Brand | Material | Durability |
|---|---|---|
| Simonis | 100% Worsted Wool | Very High |
| ProForm | Worsted Wool Blend | High |
| Brunswick | Wool/Nylon Blend | High |
What Is the Difference in Pool Table Felt?
The difference in pool table felt primarily lies in the type of material used and its texture, which significantly affects the gameplay experience.
The two main types of felt are worsted and woolen.
| Feature | Worsted Felt | Woolen Felt |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Smooth | Fuzzy |
| Speed | Faster | Slower |
| Maintenance | Lower | Higher |
| Durability | Higher | Lower |
The choice between these felts depends on the type of play (competitive vs. casual), budget considerations, and the level of maintenance one is willing to undertake.
Worsted Pool Table Felt
Worsted felt, made from tightly woven wool, offers a smooth and fast surface, making it the only choice for professional and competitive play due to its consistency and durability.
This type of felt is mostly associated with American pool tables and is known as a speed cloth because it plays significantly faster because of the smoothed fibers.
Worsted pool table felt, aka premium cloth, is more expensive because it uses the highest quality of wool and manufacturing processes that delivers a higher performance overall
Woolen Pool Table Felt
Woolen cloth, plays a lot slower and requires slightly more maintenance than worsted, due to its ability to develop fuzz balls and pilling.
It is a thicker playing felt, often referred to as ‘napped cloth’ because of the fuzzy texture, and is usually made with at least 60% wool.
Woolen pool table felt, aka budget cloth and less expensive than worsted, making it more common in recreational and home settings.
Budget Pool Table Felts vs Premium Pool Table Felts!
Cost
The cost of pool table felt varies significantly among brands.
The cost of refelting your pool table aries on different factors, however obviously higher quality is more expensive.
While premium brands like Simonis may come with a higher price tag, they offer superior quality and durability. More affordable options like some of Championship’s blends provide a balance between quality and budget.
Most premium pool table felts usually have a higher wool content than budget pool table felt.
The fibers in high quality worsted cloth are combed before spinning, resulting in a smoother, finer thread that performs to a higher level.
- This process creates a cloth that is denser, more uniform, but more expensive than other types of felt.
- Budget pool table felts, are more affordable, and popular among recreational players.
Durability
The longevity and playability of the felt are directly influenced by its quality.
Premium brands like Simonis and Brunswick are known for their high-quality materials that ensure a longer lifespan, consistent play, and offer better resistant to wear and tear, than budget felts.
The weight of the cloth per yard of fabric can be used as an indicator of the felt’s durability.
- The heavier the weight, the more durable the playing cloth is.
- The best premium felts are typically between 21-23 oz.
Lifespan
Premium felts not only offer better playability but are also more durable, reducing the need for frequent replacements and thus being more sustainable in the long run.
- Budget felts typically last 1–3 years, depending on usage.
- Premium felts can last 5 years or more with proper care.
Maintenance and Performance
While budget felts are good for casual play, they tend to wear out faster, especially in areas of high use, such as along the break line and rails.
Premium felts, like for instance Simonis nap free cloth, are much faster and lead to more precise shots and accurate ball roll.
- Budget felts are also more prone to pilling and can lose their aesthetic appeal more quickly.
- Minimal friction is created in nap free premium playing cloth, helping to keep the cloths aesthetics for longer.
Budget friendly pool table cloth are thicker than premium felts because of their higher nap (the fuzzy texture on the surface of the cloth).
Regular maintenance, like brushing and occasional vacuuming, is required more frequently to keep them in good condition.
The smooth surface on premium felts, in comparison to budget cloth, provides a more consistent playing surface, more suited to professionals and popular among serious players.
Brand Selection and Quality
When selecting pool table felt, the brand is a significant factor that can influence the quality, durability, and overall playing experience.
Understanding the nuances of different brands and what they offer is crucial in making an informed decision.
Simonis
Established over 200 years ago, Simonis is a premier brand known for its worsted billiard cloth.
- It’s a top choice in professional tournaments due to its exceptional quality, accuracy, and speed.
- Simonis felt is produced in Belgium and is revered for its consistency and longevity.
- Their worsted cloth is smooth, allowing for faster ball speed and increased accuracy, making it a favorite among professional players.
Championship
This brand offers a wide range of felt styles, catering to various budgets and needs.
- Championship’s offerings include woolen blends like Ultra Teflon, The Ultra, and Invitational styles, which are excellent for casual home tables.
- They also provide the Tour Edition, a higher-priced worsted tournament-grade billiard cloth.
- Championship felts are known for their balance of quality and affordability, making them a popular choice for both casual and serious players.
Brunswick
Another notable brand, Brunswick, has been synonymous with quality billiard products for decades.
Their pool table felts are known for durability and come in a variety of colors and styles, suitable for both casual play and more serious, competitive environments.
Best Budget Pool Table Felt – Championship Saturn II Billiards Cloth
The Championship Saturn II Billiards Cloth stands out as an excellent budget-friendly option for pool table felt due to its impressive balance of quality and affordability.
It is crafted from a durable wool blend, offering a playing experience that exceeds expectations for its price range.
This cloth is particularly appealing to casual and intermediate players who seek a reliable and resilient surface without the hefty price tag of premium brands.
Its availability in various colors and its ease of installation further enhance its appeal, making it a practical and cost-effective choice for enhancing your pool table without compromising significantly on quality and playability.
Alternative Budget Pool Table Felt – Accuplay 20 oz Pre Cut Pool Table Felt
Accuplay 20 oz Pre Cut Pool Table Felt is a popular choice among pool table owners for several reasons, particularly for those looking for a balance between affordability and decent quality.
One the primary advantages of the Accuplay 20 oz Pre Cut Pool Table Felt is its affordability.
- The price is catered towards budget-conscious players who are looking for a functional and decent-quality felt without the cost associated with premium brands.
- For the price, it is also quite durable and can stand up to regular play from casual players quite well.
The cloth also comes pre cut, in a range of different colors, making installation and matching room decor much easier to do.
Some brands and colors can sometimes be hard to find in stock, but this felt from Iszy Billiards is usually widely available.
Best Premium Pool Table Felt – Simonis Worsted Cloth
Simonis Worsted Blend Pool Cloth is highly regarded as a top-tier premium option, renowned for its exceptional quality and performance, favored by professional players, along with serious billiards enthusiasts.
The high quality worsted cloth ensures a smoother, faster, and more consistent playing surface, significantly enhancing accuracy and speed of the game.
The Simonis 860, is slightly slower than the 760 cloth, however it is still one of the fastest cloths, has higher ball burn resistance, due to the high wool content and is very popular among home users.
This cloth is known for its longevity and high resistance to pilling and wear, making it a great investment.
Alternative Premium Pool Table Felts
Brunswick Centennial Pool Table Cloth
Brunswick Centennial Cloth pool table cloth stands out due to its unique blend of wool and Teflon coated fabric, offering exceptional stain resistance, durability and a playing surface that is both fast and accurate.
Brunswick is a well-established and respected name in the billiards industry, known for producing high-quality pool tables and accessories.
- The cloth comes in a variety of colors, allowing for customization to match room aesthetics or personal preferences.
- Suitable for both seriously competitive players, beginners and keen recreational players.
ProForm Pool Table Cloth
ProForm Pool Table Cloth is a superb premium choice due to its high-quality worsted wool material, offering exceptional durability and a smooth, consistent playing surface.
ProForm cloth is designed to offer a superior playing experience in almostany color, however it’s durabaility is also one of it’s key advantages.
- The quality of the materials and the manufacturing process make this cloth resistant to wear and tear, ensuring that it maintains its integrity and appearance over extended periods of heavy use.
- This makes it an ideal choice for both commercial settings, like pool halls and bars, and home users who play frequently.
The Color Choice
Usually, the choice in the color of pool table felt comes down to one of two things:
- Performance
- Aesthetic
Performance
The color of the pool table felt can impact your gameplay, which is often the concern of serious players.
Green is the traditional pool table color and, along with blue, is the best cloth color in terms of gameplay and performance.
Aesthetics
Causal players are typically are less concerned with the playability and more so the aesthetic appeal.
Traditional green or blue felts are popular, but there are many colors available to match your personal style, room decor and table design etc.
Final Thoughts on How to Choose Pool Table Felt?
Choosing the right pool table felt is a decision that significantly impacts both the aesthetics and the functionality of your pool table.
It’s a blend of personal preference, play style, and practical considerations like durability and maintenance. Renowned brands like Simonis, Championship, and Brunswick offer a range of options that cater to various needs, from casual play to professional standards.
The color choice can also be a factor and some brands offer more choice than others, however within this article, the brands highlighted offer a wide range of popular colors to cover your table with.
References
https://www.pooltablefeltcloth.com/billiard-felt-cloth/proform.html
https://www.brunswickbilliards.com/collections/brunswick-cloth
