Sorry, but FELT is NOT used in making ANY pool cloth!!so for all you cloth snobs read this. shame on you pt109 canada has corrupted you.
The Billiard Congress of America recommends a wool/nylon blend felt for 8-Ball and 9-Ball, and worsted cloth for Snooker and Billiards. Worsted cloths use long wool fibers that are twisted into very thin threads, while felt uses short wool and nylon blended fibers that create more of a “fuzzy” nap. Higher wool contents (90% and above) last longer, but they expand and contract with humidity changes. They should be kept in a room with good humidity control. Best would be with a humidifier and a dehumidifier. Lower wool contents (70% – 80%) are less likely to bow or wrinkle on some days. Many European tournament tables actually have heaters built into the slate to keep their high-wool cloth dry.
Worsted cloths will give you faster play on dry days, but slower play on humid days. Not having a nap, they do not require much brushing. They are generally faster and more accurate, though difficult to play on; as the ball will slide for a longer time before “English” takes over when the ball starts rolling. For this reason, professional players generally prefer the worsted cloth. They are more used to dealing with many cloth types, and difficult cloth gives them an advantage over less experienced players. That doesn’t mean that professional tournaments are generally played on worsted cloth, however. They are generally played on whatever cloth is already on the table, unless a cloth manufacturer has paid to switch the cloth as part of a sponsorship.
Normal felt (which comes in many different qualities) requires regular brushing to maintain a consistent direction of the nap – particularly during the first month or two of use. It is the most widely used cloth on American pool tables. It is a bit slower and can be a bit less accurate, but it gives the average player better ball control. “Players Cloth” is a pre-broken-in version of regular felt that is shaved slightly to make the fibers shorter. It requires less of a “break-in” period and it’s great for setting up a tournament table that will be played right away.
There are several coatings available on billiard felt now. They are generally designed to reduce damage from spilled drinks, etc. Just remember that “reduced” does not mean “prevent”. That means beer and wine.
Billiard cloth is often erroneously called "felt," but felt is never used because it would tear to readily. The finest cloths are made of 100% worsted wool, similar to the type used in men's suits. The firm of Iwan Simonis of Verviers, Belgium, is probably the most famous manufacturer of billiard cloth. The company is approximately as old as billiards itself, a predecessor having been formed in 1453. Its preferred source of wool is the Australian Merino sheep. Spinning and weaving wool is a complex process requiring many steps and chemical treatments.