Why Are (Many) Pool Tables Green?

If you have been playing pool for a while, or are just getting into it, there are some unique things about this sport that are worth knowing about.

One of those things has to do with the color of a pool table. Have you ever wondered why so many pool tables are green? The reason why pool tables are usually this color is quite an interesting one, so let’s take a closer look right now.

Why Are Pool Tables Green Most of the Time?

The main reason why pool table felt is usually green in color actually doesn’t have anything to do with the way the game is played at all. In the beginning, when pool was first invented, all the way back in the 14th century, the game was actually more like croquet than anything else.

This is the case because in the beginning, pool was not played on tables at all, but was actually played on grass, on some really well-manicured lawns. Balls were hit around a series of pegs or arches, and generally, there was some sort of target to direct the ball towards.

This was a game of the rich, something usually only played by nobility. Therefore, seeing as people generally don’t like getting wet in the rain, the game of pool slowly evolved and was moved indoors. The game was raised up onto a table, bumpers and pockets were added, and this is how the game of pool as we know it today came to be.

Now, the available information is not very vast, but that said, it is thought that the green color is nothing more than nostalgia, a way for those who played pool on lawns to remember where it came from, the green grass.

With all of that being said, objectively speaking, the color of the pool table you get is not going to make much of a difference in terms of your playing style or ability. Realistically, unless you have vision problems, it’s not going to make a difference, not in the slightest.

That said, the green pool table does provide for good contrast with the balls, so the balls are easy to see. Moreover, anything much darker than green may absorb too much light, thus making the tables and balls hard to see. A pool table that is much lighter in color than that classic green may be too bright, and this can end up causing visual issues as well.

However, once again, in the grand scheme of things, the color of a pool table is generally irrelevant to the overall gameplay.

What Other Colors of Pool Table Cloth Exist?

Ok, so green is not the only color you will find when choosing a pool table. You may also find blue, red, and even purple pool table felt. Generally speaking, though, blue, green, and red are the most common options, with purple being very rare.

Now, this is not to say that pink, yellow, black, and other color pool tables don’t exist, but these are usually just for show, nothing more than a novelty, not the real thing. If you ask experts, particularly those that repair or build pool tables, they will tell you that pool tables technically come in all sorts of colors.

What Color Pool Table Cloth Is the Most Often Used Professionally?

Alright, so pool tables can technically come in all sorts of colors. However, the most used colors in pool are blue and green, and yes, this true for professional use and for basic tables alike. Although exactly why blue and green are the colors of choices is not known 100%.

However, it is thought that green is used so often simply to pay homage to the origins of the game. Moreover, blue and green, especially the darker shades used for pool tables, are not too bright and they won’t distract the players from the game.

However, recent studies have shown that the color blue puts less strain on the human eye than green, and therefore, many modern-day professional pool tournaments use a specific type of blue for their pool tables known as Tournament Blue, otherwise known as Electric Blue.

It is also said that this color provides a better background for all the different colored pool balls in a set.

What Color Pool Table Cloth Should You Get?

If you are looking to buy just a normal pool table, one that will help you get ready for tournaments, you want to use the same color as they use in the tournaments, which in this case is either Tournament Blue or that classic green color.

However, if you are just playing for fun, and you want something that looks cool, you are at liberty to go for any color that you want.

Just keep in mind that the classic blues and greens are more plentiful, so if you ever need to replace the felt or cloth on your pool table, those colors will be more readily available and less expensive too.

Summary

The bottom line is that most pool tables are either green or blue, with green being the original color, and blue being the more modern option that is said to be less straining on the eyes, although proof of this seems to be limited.

All that said, if you are just looking to buy a pool table as one of the many games in your rec room, feel free to choose the color that you like the best – whether that’s one of the typical one or a rarer one like pink.