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Billiard Felt

Billiard felt is the final surface between the slate and the balls. It provides a consistent surface, with enough friction, for billiards to be played on. Without the felt, billiard balls would roll around the table erratically and much more quickly, making the game hectic and unpleasant. There are different thicknesses of felt that can be used depending on the size of the table, or the style of play.

Billiard felt is traditionally green. Ancient billiards was originally played on large grassy fields. The green surface was kept to emulate that in an indoor setting. Now billiard tables come with many different colors of felt, but green is still the most popular.

Extra care must be taken to preserve billiard felt. It must be free of dirt, water, hair, basically anything that can slow down or change the course of a billiard ball. Even while striking the ball care must be taken. If a cue tip hits the felt, it leaves a unsightly mark, or even worse, it can leave a small groove in the felt that could change the course of a ball. As a felt gets older, it can be removed and the billiard table can be re-felted.

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