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Pool glossary · Table & Equipment

Cloth

Also called: Felt, Baize, Worsted cloth, Napped cloth

What cloth is used on pool tables?

Pool tables are covered in cloth (often wrongly called felt). Tournament tables use smooth worsted wool cloth, which is fast and has no nap; cheaper napped wool cloth is slower and makes balls roll off line more.

In more detail

Cloth speed changes everything about touch: on fast worsted cloth a ball rolls further, draw 'grabs' less quickly and you need less power for the same position. Spin also lasts longer on a clean, fast cloth.

New cloth and freshly cleaned cloth play faster and slicker than old, chalky cloth — so recalibrate your speed in the first racks on any unfamiliar table.

People also ask

Is it called felt or cloth?

Cloth. Felt is a non-woven material; pool table cloth is woven wool or wool-nylon, even though 'felt' is common slang.

Train it at the table

More guides on cloth