Pool Table Refelting: Knowing the Options
Did you know that pool tables don’t use felt? It is common for people to refer to pool cloth as felt due to its nappy or fuzzy feel and the perceived similarity to felt. However, pool table cloth is a very specific type of woven wool textile that is engineered for use on your pool table.
Whether you’re refelting your pool table due to significant damage, general wear, or just for a change of color, you now have a decision ahead of you: “what should I recover my pool table with, now?” Pool table cloth comes in a rainbow of colors. But when it’s time to choose a new cloth, there’s more to consider than just the color.
A quality cloth should not only look good, but it should also enhance the consistency and accuracy of your game. So, when it comes time to refelt your pool table, what are your options? Read more about the two different types of pool table cloth below.
Types of Pool Table Cloth
In today’s billiards world, there are two kinds of pool table cloth which dominate the game:
- Worsted Cloth – fine, faster play, smooth and napless
- Woolen Cloth – coarser, a little fuzzy nap, slower play
Worsted Cloth
Worsted cloth’s smooth feel and fast playing experience have led many to refer to it as “performance cloth.” In fact, worsted cloth is the preferred choice of many tournaments because it is so strongly constructed, and offers consistent speed and accuracy over the life of the cloth.
What is Worsted Cloth Made of?
Worsted cloth is made primarily from natural long-fiber merino sheep’s wool. However, most kinds available on the market also contain a small percentage of staple nylon. The Simonis 860 is comprised of 87% wool 13% nylon.
Our Preferred Worsted Cloth: Iwan Simonis 860
Monarch Billiards is a proud supplier of Iwan Simonis 860, available in 28 colors. Producing superior cloths since 1680, Simonis is the trusted choice for tournaments worldwide because of its accuracy, consistency and durability. Simonis worsted cloth has the following advantages:
- Has an optimal high thread count: 127 threads per inch
- Has a high wool content
- No short fibers = no pilling, fluffing, or shedding
- A smooth, accurate, consistent playing surface
It’s also worth noting that the popular tables made by Diamond Billiards use Simonis cloth on their tournament-grade tables. This cloth holds up better over time, making it a great choice for commercial and residential use.
Additional Advantage of Worsted Cloth
Worsted cloth has other advantages:
- It doesn’t need to be broken in before the first pool game or tournament
- It has long-lasting durability and is low maintenance.
- Chalk remains on the surface of the cloth, making it easy to clean the table after each game
Woolen Cloth
Woolen cloth is used on millions of tables across the country and may be the type of cloth you’re more familiar with. It’s very commonly used in both households and commercial environments because of its lower cost and the fact that in many cases it is supplied at no additional cost with the table.
What is Woolen Cloth Made of?
The cloth is woven from yarn with shorter wool fibers which results in a fuzzy nap surface that you can feel with your hand. The discernible nap may release some short fibers during brushing so maintenance is key.
Woolen cloth can also hide damage, while worsted cloth does not. This is not to say that worsted cloth is better because of that, but it will be easier to see if there is on the cloth and the ball will always find it, whether you can see it or not. It’s a simple matter of whether that damage is visible to the eye, or not and how the roll of the ball will be affected by it.
Our Preferred Woolen Cloth
Monarch Billiards is a proud supplier of ProLine 404 woolen cloth. ProLine 404 is a top-of-the-line woolen cloth, available in 20 colors and boasts the following advantages:
- A higher quality woolen blend than other woolen cloths
- High wool content – 75% woolen, 25% polyamide
- Higher thread count for better speed and durability
Pool Table Refelting Experts – With 70 Years of Experience
Whether your current cloth is damaged, worn out, or you’d like a change of color to match a new room design, we can guide you through making an informed decision.
Monarch Billiards is a family-owned and operated business that has been proudly serving Philadelphia and the surrounding areas since 1948. Not only do we supply and service pool tables and accessories, but we also design and create beautiful custom tables. When it comes time to have your pool table refelted, we encourage you to give us a call at 610-833-5100, stop by our store in Crum Lynne, PA, or contact us online!
