Blue felt ? Where , how and why its taking over....

Personally, I think the blue cloth makes it easier to see the edge of the balls.

Some say it's easier to see the edges of the balls but I can't really tell the difference while playing. It is, however, slightly easier to tell which ball is which while watching a match on tv/stream. If I had to bet, my money would be that tv/viewership was the primary driver initially and now a lot of people just prefer it over green. Not sure when the transition happened or started but it's been a little while ago now, I think.

Bob Jewett said:

I think the first major use of blue cloth (technically, it's not felt) was by the BWA which was a professional 3-cushion organization around the 1990s. That blue was more towards a royal blue and I think it was for marketing. I think they also promoted use of the spotted cue balls for TV.

Greg Sullivan is behind the current blue used in most tournaments. He looked into what would give the best visibility. It is a lighter blue which is why standard blue chalk seems to leave dark marks on it.

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That's the story I've read on here before. Personally I like playing on the Tournament Blue Simonis, but for viewing purposes nothing pops on tv like that bright green snooker baize.

I'm a traditionalist, so green is what I use. Just 'cause Johnny wants to be different is no reason for me to change my ways.

They have blue covered Diamonds where I play. It makes no difference to me, it's their tables.

Some things shouldn't ever be changed...like going from green to blue on a pool table. The color of the balls shouldn't be changed either. "The Blue Felt Jungle" even sounds wrong. Johnnyt

I can't speak to the original reasons, but blue cloth gives better visibility because it is more light-reflective than green. I suspect you need about 20-30% more wattage to light a green cloth table to the equivilent visibility of a blue cloth table. (talking specifically Simonis Tournament Blue, here).

I'd like to read how they came up with that conclusion.

The old green in a darkend room with good lighting is pool. You can play all day and night on it. If there really is a difference with the Blue I bet it's next to nothing. Johnnyt

I've always preferred green cloth.

Willi Makaball said:

Ok, The other day a player was ranting about the blue felt on a table wondering when ,where and why the use it. Im looking for answers to the question.
I heard once before that "Diamond" tables have it because it is easier on the eyes, but cant validate it.
Can anyone give some back ground as to why there is a big shift to blue felt over the traditional green?

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Greg Sullivan - Diamond Billiards Founder.

IIRC, he talked with an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist to find the best color for ball contrast and whatever else he thought is important to play one's best pool. The result is the blue cloth now standard on Diamond Table tournament play known as Tournament Blue.

Blue felt?

krupa said:

Personally, I think the blue cloth makes it easier to see the edge of the balls.

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Tournament blue does make it easier to see the edge of the balls. The lighter the color the more light that is reflected off the cloth. Thus it is easier to see the sides of the balls and also is better for broadcasting. Tan or a sand color reflects even more light ... Mosconis' color of choice. Many players prefer tan but since it is not used in tournaments they practice on what is ... green and tournament blue.

Worst are dark colors like ... Red & Black

I think the blue makes the ball colors really stand out more and brightens the room up a bit. I don't like playing on green at all anymore.

Selling cloth.

I have an OLD friend that has a beautiful OLD table with gold cloth on it.

He told me that he was told (probably in the 1970's) , that way back in time, that was going to THE COLOR for professional tables. So naturally when he had his recovered he had in the GOLD.

On my Gold Crown, I have the traditional standard green and have a few folks make comments about it.

Before that I had a Olhausen table with Marlborough RED, cloth. The wife liked the color.

Ken

Ken_4fun said:

Selling cloth.

I have an OLD friend that has a beautiful OLD table with gold cloth on it.

He told me that he was told (probably in the 1970's) , that way back in time, that was going to THE COLOR for professional tables. So naturally when he had his recovered he had in the GOLD.

On my Gold Crown, I have the traditional standard green and have a few folks make comments about it.

Before that I had a Olhausen table with Marlborough RED, cloth. The wife liked the color.

Ken

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Yeah, red has got to be the worst ever....especially than having to use red chalk...yuk

From the Diamond website...

Why choose the Simonis Tournament Blue color?
The most favored consumer color preference universally is blue.
As a shade of the sky, the sea, and one of the colors of the flag, blue symbolizes security.
Blue steadies the emotions.
Higher energies such as communication and creativity are enhanced under blue light.
Word associations with blue: calm, tranquil, constancy, patience, and perseverance.
Personality descriptors relating to blue: dignified, poised, rational, relaxed, and balanced.
The most commonly used color of chalk is blue; therefore, chalk doesn't mark this cloth
as much.
Tournament Blue Simonis 860 is designed for MAXIMUM contrast; making it easier to
see the balls.
Tournament Blue Simonis 860 is designed for MINIMUM eye-fatigue; allowing you to
play longer.
Tournament Blue Simonis 860 is designed to be the best color under bright filming lights
of televised tournaments.
Tournament Blue Simonis 860 is now available. Let your league operator, bar owner and favorite poolhall owner know.

I like the Blue because it is brighter and easier to see the balls, (not because higher energies such as communication and creativity are enhanced under blue light)

I have it on my home table and I install more of it by far than any other color, especially among actual pool players.

For a while, I thought the tourney blue was a bit odd. Having put a few in a little hole-in-the-wall bar that had no windows until recently, the blue really brightens up the place, attracts the eyes and brings the focus to what is on the table, not the entire table itself. Now that there's a window to the bar, people walk by and, again, the baby blue color just pops. I'd say it's becoming synonymous with Diamond and quality tables.

I always put green on my table. Strange as it may sound, the Tournament Blue is a little too harsh on my eyes.

I guess everyone is different.

When it started gaining popularity everyone was calling it the TV cloth. So I am guessing it is better for filming than green.