How to choose a cloth for a billiard table?

How to choose a cloth for a billiard table?

The cloth is one of the most important elements of a billiard table, which is often overlooked. But the comfort of the entire game of billiards directly depends on the correct choice of cloth and its quality. The high quality of the felt will allow the player to concentrate only on the execution of the strokes, and not on how the ball glides on the playing surface of the table. Only an absolutely flat and smooth surface will ensure that the ball moves in a given direction as accurately and quickly as possible. The choice of this element of a billiard table should be given maximum attention, since its quality directly affects the entire process of the game. In addition, the cloth is a very expensive consumable material, so its frequent replacement leads to a waste of time and money. In addition, the cloth is the first thing that catches the eye when examining the table. If the cloth is in good condition, the table looks neat and tidy. In this case, the player understands that in this institution they respect themselves, respect the game, and, accordingly, respect the player.

The requirements for the quality of billiard cloth are quite stringent. The most important of these are strength, elasticity and durability. High quality cloth does not tear from contact with the cue, it does not form stripes, grooves and pits from billiard balls. Only cloth, which has excellent elastic properties, does not roll or stretch over a long period of time, which means that it guarantees a durable and comfortable use of the billiard table. Regular woolen cloth is not suitable for use on a pool table. It is made from wool fibers of different lengths by piling on special machines. Therefore, the surface of such a cloth is too fleecy and is not suitable for use in billiards. The production of modern billiard cloth is carried out using a special technology. It involves manually selecting fibers of the same length, and then felting from the longest fibers. This technology makes it possible to obtain a very durable cloth with an absolutely smooth surface.

Billiard cloth is distinguished by density, by the content of nylon and wool, and, finally, by the manufacturer. It can be universal, that is, it can be used on tables designed for both the pool and the pyramid, and special, for example, only for snooker. The universal cloth is especially important for establishments with different types of tables. Today the number of factories for the production of billiard cloth has increased significantly. It is produced in England, Belgium, Spain, China, Turkey, USA, etc. The most famous trade marks are Elit Pro (England), Iwan Simonis (Belgium), Gorina (Spain), Mali and Championship ”(USA). It is the cloth of these brands that is used to equip billiard tables for professional billiard sports competitions and various billiard tournaments. A variety of colors makes it possible to choose a cloth for every taste and for various interiors. Although the most common and traditional hues are greens, blues and reds.

Choosing the right cloth is a delicate matter. On the modern market there is a huge variety of fabrics that are designed for billiard tables. But high-quality billiard cloth has some peculiarities that involve the use of high-strength thread for the cloth and its special processing. The cloth consists of wool and nylon, and the more wool in its composition, the denser it is and, accordingly, is more durable and durable.The presence of nylon in the composition of the cloth gives it smoothness, elasticity and greatly facilitates cleaning. Improving the elasticity greatly facilitates the tightness of the billiard table and allows you to achieve a more tight fit of the fabric to its playing surface (plate).

It is best to select cloth from a manufacturer that has proven itself in the market. Such well-known cloth manufacturers as the Belgian company "Iwan Simonis" or the English concern "Hainsworth" strictly adhere to the manufacturing technology and pay great attention to the qualities that the billiard cloth has.

The determining parameter for the selection of the required amount of cloth is the size of the billiard table. The table shows the minimum required amount of cloth (in running meters) for various billiard tables. The standard width of the felt is defined as 1650 or 1980 mm.

Decreasing the set parameters is not recommended due to possible problems when pulling the felt. Excessive overestimation of its size will lead to unnecessary costs. Maximum attention should be paid to the literacy of the felt tension. The stretching of the felt should be carried out by a real professional, since incorrect stretching often leads to a breakthrough of the coating upon impact. When holding billiard competitions of the highest category, the quality of the stretching of the cloth is checked not only with the help of special technical devices, but also with the involvement of specialists who are professionally involved in stretching the billiard cloth. It is quite possible to check the quality of the stretching of the felt at home. Firstly, when moving the hand over the playing surface, the felt should not move in any way. The second sign of the quality of the stretching of the felt is the absence of threads sticking out from under the sides of the table. You can also roll the ball to any side of the table - if the tension is incorrect, it will change its trajectory.

The cloth is one of the most worn out elements of a billiard table. Its service life depends on the intensity of use of the table, as well as on the correctness and frequency of its maintenance. Regular care of the playing surface of a billiard table will significantly extend its life and save significant money on the purchase of a new billiard cloth. The most important thing is not to allow the felt to break through at the corners of the pocket opening. This will lead to premature wear of the bead rubber. As a rule, in billiard establishments, the cloth on the boards is replaced twice a year, and on the playing field - once. At home, it will last from 3 to 5 years. Of course, this depends on the intensity of the use of the table and the manner of the game. One of the main enemies of cloth is dust. Dust from players' clothing, chalk dust, ash particles, etc. - all this leads to a change in the physical properties and appearance of the cloth. Therefore, when buying a billiard cloth, rhinestones should pay attention to special brushes for cleaning it, which will prolong the life of this material for a long time. They are made of horsehair and allow you to effectively clean the playing surface from dust, dirt and billiard chalk residues. The cloth is cleaned along the grain to prevent them from unraveling. Ordinary vacuum cleaners are also used to remove dust. It should be noted that these cleaning methods are not ideal - brushes drive dust into corners and wipe the cloth, and using a vacuum cleaner causes it to stretch. The best solution would be to use special cleaning devices that use static electricity. They remove dust from the base of the felt and keep it in a special device. The curved shape of such devices allows them to be effectively used along the sides of the table without risking damaging the rubber. And to clean the device itself from dust, just pat it with your hand.

It is recommended to use a special protective cover to increase the service life of the billiard felt. It will prevent excessive dust settling on the billiard table and protect the cloth from burning out.

Description of the most common cloth on the market.

«Simonetto 920». Inexpensive billiard cloth, which has proven itself well due to its rich color and fairly good workmanship. But for professional players and billiard tables used for tournaments, it will not work. The reason for this is the relatively low density, so the cloth does not give as much control over the cue ball as Belgian or English cloth. But if increased requirements are not imposed on the playing characteristics of the fabric, or such a cloth is intended to constrict an amateur table with a playground made of chipboard, then this budget option is perfect.

«Ignatsons 760». The Chinese analogue of the billiard cloth "Iwan Simonis 760" turned out to be quite decent - to the touch and in appearance it is very similar. Of course, those who are not by hearsay familiar with the Belgian cloth will immediately feel the difference in the quality of the game. These Chinese manufacturers have more work to do. Chinese cloth "Ignatsons 760" is perfect for a table set in a bar, cafe or club where professional tournaments are not planned and the main emphasis is on the entertainment component of the billiard game. The average level of this cloth will perfectly suit the customers of the billiard establishment, and the significant savings in time and money on the hauling of the cloth will please the owner of the billiard table.

«ElitePro 700». Excellent professional grade billiard cloth produced by the renowned English clothmaker Hainsworth. Such cloth is the best suited for use and is recommended for use at tournaments of the highest level by the "International Pyramid Committee". Elite Pro 700 cloth is guaranteed to have the same density throughout the entire surface and provides an optimal coefficient of friction-rolling and rolling of balls. In addition to excellent playing characteristics, this cloth is versatile, which is very convenient for owners of large billiard clubs. Its high reliability and long service life at a relatively low cost make it ideal for use.

«IwanSimonis 930». Solid and economical cloth from the legendary Belgian manufacturer. Designed and manufactured specifically for the "Russian pyramid" game. Such cloth is an inexpensive analogue of the professional cloth "Iwan Simonis 950 Rus Pro". A very strong worsted yarn is used in its manufacture. Thanks to this, Iwan Simonis 930 has excellent wear resistance, does not roll and perfectly resists the appearance of burn spots. Has a uniform density and provides precise control of the cue ball.

«IwanSimonis760». Universal cloth for professional billiards. Perfect for both "American pool" and "Russian pyramid". Possesses high wear resistance due to durable worsted wool used in its production. This cloth provides a completely flat and smooth playing field surface. Professional craftsmen use it to wrap the finest billiard tables. Iwan Simonis 760 cloth does not require frequent replacement and lasts much longer than other brands using lower quality cloth. With such a felt, excellent roll and precise control of the cue ball are guaranteed.

«IwanSimonis860». Compared to other brands of cloth "Iwan Simonis" has the highest density and, therefore, provides the most precise control of the cue ball. Designed specifically for the American Pool. This cloth passes the strictest multi-stage control at all stages of production and has an absolutely flat and smooth playing surface with high wear resistance. Due to the highest wool content, it has the best resistance to the formation of burn spots.It is the “Iwan Simonis 860” cloth that is used during the billiard tournaments of the highest level - the World Championships, Europe, Asia, the US Open, etc. Unmatched playing qualities and extreme durability - it is for these properties that the “Iwan Simonis 860” cloth is chosen by professionals all over the world. ...

«IwanSimonis950 RusPro». Top-class professional cloth, which is specially designed for the "Russian pyramid". In contrast to the Iwan Simonis 930 cloth, it undergoes additional processing steps - ironing and shaving. Thanks to this, its surface is extremely smooth and provides the best rolling. Like all Iwan Simonis billiard felts, it is made from high tenacity worsted yarn, so it has unrivaled strength and wear resistance. The cloth "Iwan Simonis 950 Rus Pro" has received official recognition and is recommended for use at the most prestigious billiard championships by the International Pyramid Committee and the European Pyramid Committee.

The main characteristics of the described cloth are presented in the table.

Happy choice!