"Maintenance" Read, Listen and Do it.....

You will surely find some folks who don't agree with everything I have explained here. Anything where there is a melding of art, science and style is bound to be that way. But, after many years in the business I have noticed one thing that is always true: Players will flock to a good table. How many times have I walked into an establishment to do a recovery and had people drooling around me in anticipation of playing a newly tuned piece of equipment? To maximize your cashbox income, have consistent playing rails, high quality cloth and a clean and level table.

I suppose that any article about table maintenance is not complete without a word about the playing surface. I have already explained how a proper recovery with a minimum of adhesive and fasteners, as well as good service schedule of the table and accessories, will prolong the life of the cloth. There are so many different aspects to consider when choosing they type of cloth that recommending one over the other here would not be appropriate. You really need to consider the type of play and personality of you clientele. The basic things to remember are to choose something with minimum shedding, that does not loosen up after a few weeks play and use anything but rubber backed if you have league/pro players. Rubber backed causes the table to play inconsistently and slowly and contributes to fewer games per hour. It can suck the life out of your game. If you keep your cues in good shape you shouldn't need the extra backing of rubber. Finally, don't choose a worsted wool unless you understand it's tendencies first. It wears a lot differently than other cloths and can fool you if you don't know what to look for.