Shadows on felt

pescadoman

pescadoman

Randy
Silver Member
What causes this?
 

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Use a scrap piece of cloth under the cue ball when breaking or you'll wear a hole in the bed cloth.
 
garczar said:
Is the op referring to the burn-marks or what looks like shadows coming off side pocket? Those can be caused by cloth improperly stretched.
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Not sure but he's going to burn a hole in the bed cloth, so I thought I'd mention it.
 
Stretch shadows on a pool table are caused by uneven tension in the cloth during installation, which distorts the weave pattern of the fabric. When the cloth is stretched too tightly in some areas or not smoothly across the slate, the fibers align differently, creating visible light and dark patches that look like shadows.

Why they happen​

  • Overstretching: Pulling the cloth beyond its optimal tension stretches the weave unevenly, especially common with worsted cloths like Simonis. This creates triangular or “road-like” patterns where the fibers bend and turn.
  • Improper stretch technique: If the cloth doesn’t slide smoothly during installation—especially around pocket cutouts—it can bunch or distort locally, leaving shadowed areas.
 
Sheldon said:
Stretch shadows on a pool table are caused by uneven tension in the cloth during installation, which distorts the weave pattern of the fabric. When the cloth is stretched too tightly in some areas or not smoothly across the slate, the fibers align differently, creating visible light and dark patches that look like shadows.

Why they happen​

  • Overstretching: Pulling the cloth beyond its optimal tension stretches the weave unevenly, especially common with worsted cloths like Simonis. This creates triangular or “road-like” patterns where the fibers bend and turn.
  • Improper stretch technique: If the cloth doesn’t slide smoothly during installation—especially around pocket cutouts—it can bunch or distort locally, leaving shadowed areas.
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Thank you...
 
Then first time I saw those marks on earlier tables I thought it was a from the lighting.
 
There are two types of slate shape. One with cut corners is nice and i can stretch cloth tight. Second one is without cut corners and when you stretch cloth tight corners overstretch it and leaving those lines. So loose cloth without stretch marks or tight cloth with them. Or cut them off of slate. I have not figured out how to get tight stretch for slate without cut corners.
 
EinarsZ said:
There are two types of slate shape. One with cut corners is nice and i can stretch cloth tight. Second one is without cut corners and when you stretch cloth tight corners overstretch it and leaving those lines. So loose cloth without stretch marks or tight cloth with them. Or cut them off of slate. I have not figured out how to get tight stretch for slate without cut corners.
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