Is Mercury Ultra OK?

J

JReuter21

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ive been trying to figure out what cloth to use. From looking on here I see the overwhelming verdict is Simonis 860. I havent ruled it out by any means. Just not sure if I can afford it. This is my first pool table ever therefor I have a lot of things I need to purchase for the table (plus in the middle of finishing my basement in the mean time).

I bought a near new 7' valley bar box in great shape. Just needs some felt. I talked to the most well respected and best known installer around my area. He does nearly every bar in town.(id say about 30-40 bars).

He said everyone in town uses Championship Mercury Ultra. Thats what he recommended I use since thats what everyone in town uses, and obviously thats what all league around here is played on. He said for the price, playability, and durabilty its tough to beat. He asked how many tournaments I was planning on having in my basement (in a joking manner) and said that Mercury is plenty good enough for your average home player. He said he would charge me $200 for material install on the Mercury.

I know how it plays since thats all we have around here. I have very limited experience on quality worsted cloths like 3030 and simonis, so I dont know how to compare them.

My biggest reason I dont know if I should go with the Mercury is the color choices. My wife doesnt care what I put on it brand wise but does somewhat care about the color. Mercury only offers Black and 2 shades of green. She said she DOES NOT want green no matter what. She can live with the black. Im nervous though. Never seen or played on black cloth so dont know how it will look on the table and if it will matter for game play. Anyone have experience with black cloth?

Anyone know anything comparable to Mercury that is available in more colors? I was looking at the Titan but from what Ive read Mercury for the price is the closest things speed and quality wise to a worsted?

Thanks
 
JReuter21 said:
...........My biggest reason I dont know if I should go with the Mercury is the color choices. My wife doesnt care what I put on it brand wise but does somewhat care about the color. Mercury only offers Black and 2 shades of green. ........
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Mercury Ultra actually comes in four colors according to the ad at billiard.com

Champianship Green, Burgundy, Black, and Electric Blue.

I've got the Electric Blue on my table and am satisfied with the way it plays.
 
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I can tell you from experience that black cloth is a bit more difficult to play on, for one reason: the "blackness" of the pocket's "maw" (aperture) DISAPPEARS into the blackness of the cloth itself. In other words, it's easier to lose track of where the pocket is -- i.e. as you're down on the shot, if you've any fine-tuning adjustments you need to make, you'll notice that the "maw" of the pocket does not contrast with the cloth anymore -- it "disappears" into the blackness of the cloth.

While this may be a good thing if you want to train yourself not to rely upon always knowing where the pocket is (e.g. certain aiming systems), it can be a bad thing if you already do.

There are other non-green colors that work much better than black (e.g. camel, tan) -- because the blackness of the pocket's maw stands out against those colors.

Have you checked into Mali cloth? It's a common reasonably-priced cloth used on many barboxes. I'm not sure if they have a "durable" version treated with a stain guard -- you'll have to check.

Hope this helps,
-Sean
 
thanks for the quick replies. Yes, there is 4 colors, i forgot. They do have the electric blue. Im assuming it is similar to the tournament blue. She wasnt liking that either. She is wanting something not bright and semi neutral. Actually the camel is one that she really liked. Camel, Slate, Grey, or even something like Navy. Just nothing bright or green apparently. Like I said were finishing our basement, its going to have a bar, and little home theatre area. She doesnt want it to look like a "bar". Little nicer I guess and she just doesnt like the look of bright colors.

I have heard a lot about mali actually. Usually on here everytime it gets brought up it seems like everyone just says NO, SIMONIS ONLY lol.

Is there different qualities of Mali, which is best or most comparable for the similar price?
 
JReuter21 said:
thanks for the quick replies. Yes, there is 4 colors, i forgot. They do have the electric blue. Im assuming it is similar to the tournament blue. She wasnt liking that either. She is wanting something not bright and semi neutral. Actually the camel is one that she really liked. Camel, Slate, Grey, or even something like Navy. Just nothing bright or green apparently. Like I said were finishing our basement, its going to have a bar, and little home theatre area. She doesnt want it to look like a "bar". Little nicer I guess and she just doesnt like the look of bright colors.

I have heard a lot about mali actually. Usually on here everytime it gets brought up it seems like everyone just says NO, SIMONIS ONLY lol.

Is there different qualities of Mali, which is best or most comparable for the similar price?
Click to expand...

I'd get the same cloth that every bar in town has.... and even the same color. Your wife is the first wife I've ever heard that gave two shits about what color the cloth is.... id' say, she can pick the colors of the entire house, but the pool table is yours.

Pretty simple, tell her the cost of the other brand to get "camel" is $450, or you can get green, with the cheaper brand for $200, and that if you get the green, she gets to buy $250 worth of shoes... but her choice of course :)
 
Go green or blue only, the other colors are too rough to play on, especially black! Black is terrible, you will regret putting it on there. :(
 
If you are a poolplayer it's has to be green or blue. Period. And If youre just gonna bang balls around on birthdays or holidays to entertain your guests then get whatever but I still can't recommend black.

I have a feeling the wife will be making the decision for you though. Lol.
 
no comment on how the cloth plays. My teammate had this same issue with his wife about the cloth color. The wife wanted it to match the rest of the decor which meant black. He does not like it and I understand why. He is getting a like new diamond put in in 2 weeks and is going with tourny blue this time. I told him to get a table cover for the table to satisfy the wife and it seemed to have worked. Buy a cover and it will keep it looking nicer instead of looking like a "bar" and will save the table from stuff.
 
Wife gets to pick

This is what I tell my customer for an easy solution

the pool players pick the cloth color, hopefully electric blue or green, not black

then the decorator picks the color of the table cover

then when your playing pool the table is perfect and when your not the cover is on and the room looks perfect!!!

Good Luck,
Gordon

Ive had good luck with mercury ultra, that is the cloth they use at the APA championships in Las Vegas. I like playing at home on the same cloth they use wherever you play your tournaments at.
 
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I agree, get the blue and tell her that she can pick the color of the cover that goes on top of it when you aren't playing. Mercury Ultra is a decent cloth and it makes sense to get it if that is what is in use on all the tables you will be playing on anyways.

Enjoy your table!
 
I actually like that idea of the cover. I think that'll go over good. I have never played on blue before, but it seems like a lot of people recommend it. I've never even seen it in person. In your opinions, does it look better than green? Between the 2 greens and blur that mercury offers would you guys tell me your top recommendations?
 
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