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The best pool table felts
Are your billiards games starting to feel different?
If so, it might not be your playing, but it could be your pool felt. While it remains largely unnoticed, it’s very important for players and enthusiasts to change their pool felt every couple of years.
Remember, the pool felt is the surface where the balls spend the most time. And if you notice that the balls aren’t gliding as smoothly and your games don’t feel as good as when you first got the table, these might be signs that you need to replace your pool felt.
And while pool table felt is important, it can be hard to find the right options. Since you only have to replace it every couple of years, not too many people know the difference between good and bad billiards table cloth.
But if you have a good pool felt, then the games will feel much faster and smoother. Balls will glide over the table better, and it will also be much easier for you to aim and take your shots.
So, that’s why we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to the best pool table felt options on the market today. We selected these picks based on their quality, durability, features, and their price.
We also made sure to include the good AND bad characteristics of this option, so it will be much easier to find the right one for you!
Best overall
ISZY Billiards Accuplay 20 oz Pre Cut Pool Table Felt
ISZY Billiards Accuplay 20 oz Pre Cut Pool Table Felt
This pool felt is the best of both worlds, which is why we found it to be the best option on the market. It ticks all the boxes by providing fast gameplay, a durable material, and also comes in a variety of different sizes. All in all, if you have a pool table at home in need of new felt, this is a great option for you.
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Features:
- Value for money:
We kick off our list with our favorite pool felt option on the market today. To start, this is a medium-speed felt. So, it will be a bit more durable than standard speed cloth, but it allows for faster gameplay than standard grade felt.
This makes this felt great for home use. While it may not be the best for bar setups and public places since it isn’t as durable, it makes for really fast and accurate gameplay.
On top of that, it comes in a variety of sizes. So, whether you have a pub, standard, or tournament-sized pool table, there’s a size for you.
This option comes in a variety of colors like classic green and English blue. But if you’re looking for something a bit more modern and unique, it also comes in tan, black, and gray.
The one downside to this model is that it doesn’t come with specific instructions for installation. Luckily, pool table felt is relatively easy to install, especially if you’ve done it before.
But if this is your first time changing the felt on your pool table, you can expect some trouble since this doesn’t have an instruction manual.
Best easy to install
Championship Saturn II Billiards Cloth Pool Felt
Championship Saturn II Billiards Cloth Pool Felt
By far, the highlight of this felt is installation. The thing about many other pools felt on the market is that if you’ve never done it before, you’re bound to have an incredibly hard time installing the felt. But because of the quality in manufacturing, you can have this felt installed and ready for games much quicker than a lot of other options on the market.
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Features:
- Value for money:
Nothing can be more annoying than spending hours on end replacing your pool table felt. And if you aren’t keen on putting in a lot of time to install your billiards cloth, this is the right model for you.
This felt is made of the standard wool and nylon blend that you’ll find on most American tables. So, you can expect faster gameplay than traditional all-wool felt that you might find in pubs in the UK.
This model comes in a variety of classic billiards colors. So, you can find just the right option to suit both your taste and needs when playing the game.
On top of all of that, installing this cloth is really easy. Even if you’ve never done it before, all it would take is a bit of internet research to figure out how to apply the felt. However, keep in mind that it still takes some effort to install this felt, so make sure to take the task seriously.
If you’re itching to replace the felt on your pool table and give yourself a better playing experience, this is a great pick for you. Especially since you don’t need to put in hours of work just to install it.
Best for home use
ISZY Billiards 21 Ounce Pool Table Felt
ISZY Billiards 21 Ounce Pool Table Felt
This felt is designed to give you a fast and proper billiards experience even if you’re at home. With this option, you won’t have to bust the bank to replace the felt on your pool table. On top of that, it’s still made of high-quality materials, which is why it ranks as one of the best pool table felt options available today.
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Features:
- Value for money:
It’s important to use high-quality felt whether you’re setting up a public table or home table. But if you’re changing the felt of the pool table at home, you probably don’t want to end up busting the bank, which is why this could be just the right option to suit your needs.
To start, it comes in three sizes: 7’, 8’, and 9’. That way, you can get the right size regardless of whether you have a standard, tournament, or bar pool table. Since different households use different-sized pool tables, this is a huge plus.
Additionally, the felt is made of a wool and nylon blend. While this may not be as durable as the thick felt you might find on UK pool tables, it makes for much faster gameplay. That way, your shots will travel fast and accurately, which makes for a better overall experience.
One downside to this model though is that it only comes in one color. Granted, green is the ideal option for most pool tables, regardless of where you’re playing, but it would have been nice to have burgundy, red, or even camel options.
Best affordable
Boshen Billiard Cloth Pool Table Felt
Boshen Billiard Cloth Pool Table Felt
The best part of this model is the price point. Granted, it doesn’t use the best materials on the market today. However, it does make for a very decent gameplay experience at an affordable price, which is a great option for any home and casual billiards player.
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Features:
- Value for money:
Pool tables are premium game tables to have at home. But just because you spent a fair amount of money on the table itself, that doesn’t mean you have to bust the bank for the cloth as well. So, if you’re in need of an affordable billiard cloth that does the job very well, look no further than this Boshen option.
It only comes in one color, which is fairly limiting. However, if you’re only going to have one color pool felt, then green is usually the safest option. That means you won’t have to deal with visibility issues when using this cloth.
Since this is an affordable option, it isn’t made of wool. Instead, it’s completely made of nylon. This makes for much faster gameplay, but keep in mind that it isn’t the highest-quality option on the market.
Nylon tables aren’t ideal for heavy use since they aren’t as durable. However, for casual games in the basement or the game room, this cloth definitely does the job without burning a hole in your pocket.
What to look for in a good pool table felt
The pool has been around for a long time. It is a staple in many bars, pubs, and garages all over the world. And with that popularity comes innovation.
To make for a better gameplay experience for amateurs and professionals alike, pool technology has come a long way. Nowadays, people have many different options when it comes to pool table felt, each of them with its own set of advantages.
But to make it easier to find the best option for your table or game room, we’ve made a quick guide to certain things you should look out for when buying pool felt, and how you can tell good options from bad options.
Color
Most people think that the color of the pool table felt is purely aesthetic.
It isn’t.
Remember, the felt on your pool table serves as the background for all the balls. So, while you may want to get a modern piece of black felt that looks sleek and suave, keep in mind that you might have a hard time seeing and aiming at the black and dark-colored balls.
And on the flip side, if you opt for very bright and vibrant felt colors, you might end up blinded by the pool table. When you shine the pool lights on a bright-colored pool table, the light reflects, which can end up either hurting or straining your eyes.
For these reasons, we highly recommend opting for muted colors instead. If you’re in doubt, try looking for pool games on the internet. That way, you can see what colors the professionals use for a fair playing field.
With that said, we highly recommend going for muted colors like green and burgundy as it makes it easier to play the game without sacrificing aesthetics.
Material
Depending on your location, you may be used to different pool cloth materials. In the UK, the most common pool cloth is standard-grade felt. These are hairs woven in a single direction.
This material can last you a bit longer since it’s a bit thinner than the other options on the market. However, keep in mind that this also means the balls travel slower and less accurately. This won’t be too big of a deal for casual basement games, but if you’re a serious player, this might not be the right option for you.
In the US, the most common pool cloth is called worsted, or speed wool. This fabric is woven together much more tightly, which means less friction. Since the balls have less friction when traveling over this material, they travel faster and more accurately.
If you have your pool table outside, this might not be the best idea since it is very susceptible to the environment. But if you keep your table in an enclosed space that’s safe from wind and moisture, then you can opt for faster wool, just remember that it won’t last you as long.
Size
The next thing to consider is the size of the felt. You have to make sure that it will fit snugly across your table. So, it’s best to always measure your table before getting felt for it.
With that said, if you have a standard table, you can easily just by standard felt. However, if you have a 3/4th or half-size pool table, you need a different type of felt.
Price
Another great way to narrow down your options is by choosing a specific price range. That way, you can easily weed out options that are too expensive or too cheap.
The right price for pool felt largely depends on you and your own means. So, before hitting the market, we recommend deciding how much you’re willing to spend on pool felt and staying within the price range so you don’t end up bombarded by options you probably won’t buy anyway.
FAQ
What’s the best color for pool table felt?
It’s best to stick to muted colors when getting pool table felt. That way, you can easily see the balls without straining your eyes. With that in mind, we recommend colors like green and burgundy. If you’re having a hard time selecting the right color for you, try watching professional pool games online as they usually select the best colors for their pool felt.
What size pool table is used for tournaments?
Tournament-sized tables are a bit larger than the ones you might find at your local bar or rec center. Typically, professionals use 9 x 4-foot tables for their games. This means tighter pockets and harder shots, which pros take years of practice perfecting. However, at your local pub, the pool table is likely around 7 feet long, which makes it easier to play. And in most US homes, pool tables are 8 feet long, which is considered standard size and offers the best of both worlds.
How tight should my pool felt be?
The pool felt should be tight enough to eliminate any and all wrinkles on the table. Underneath the rail, the felt can wrinkle as much as it likes. However, you want a smooth playing surface all the time, so that means the felt shouldn’t have any wrinkles on top, meaning you can easily run your finger on it without feeling any bumps.
Final verdict
Pool tables are always great fun in just about any household. But after some time, the pool felt gets worn, which is a sign you need to replace it.
And to make sure the gameplay experience isn’t compromised after changing the pool felt, it’s important to choose a high-quality option. There are tons of options out there, so you need to make sure to choose the right one for you.
Any of the models we featured today would serve you well. However, you need to make sure to take your own needs and preferences into consideration, that way you end up choosing a model that is a perfect fit for your billiards table.
