What Makes Championship Valley Teflon® Ultra Different From Every Other Pool Table Cloth
Championship Valley Teflon® Ultra is a 75% wool / 25% nylon hybrid cloth that undergoes a process no other billiard fabric can claim: it is bathed in DuPont™ Teflon™ before weaving, not coated afterward. That distinction matters more than most buyers realize, and the sections below explain exactly why.
This is the factory-installed cloth on Valley pool tables and bar boxes across the United States. If you have played league pool at your local bar, you have almost certainly played on it. That OEM status gives Valley Teflon Ultra instant credibility with league players and venue owners alike.
Three core benefits set this cloth apart: genuine liquid resistance built into every fiber, commercial-grade durability that outlasts standard woolen cloths, and a hybrid speed profile that bridges the gap between recreational and competitive play. Each one is covered in detail below.
The DuPont™ Teflon™ Treatment: Why Before-Weaving Changes Everything
Most "stain-resistant" fabrics receive a topical coating after the cloth is finished. That coating sits on the surface and gradually wears away with play, chalk friction, and cleaning. Championship takes a fundamentally different approach with Valley Teflon Ultra: the Teflon is applied to the raw fibers before they are woven together.
The result is that every individual strand of wool and nylon carries Teflon protection throughout its structure. Liquid cannot penetrate the cloth the way it does with a surface-only treatment. When beer, soda, or water hits the playing surface, it beads up instead of soaking through. Blot it away, and the cloth is fine.
This is a practical advantage, not just a technical spec. Billiard rooms are social spaces. Bars serve drinks within arm's reach of the table. Home game rooms double as entertainment areas where friends gather. Spill-resistant cloth removes one of the biggest anxieties of owning or operating a pool table.
It is worth noting that Valley Teflon Ultra and Championship Mercury Ultra are identical cloths in every respect except one: the Teflon bathing process. If you already know and trust Mercury Ultra, Valley Teflon Ultra is the same cloth with built-in liquid resistance, making the upgrade decision straightforward.
Championship's staff collectively holds 342 years of combined experience with the game and the industry. The before-weaving Teflon process is a product of that depth of manufacturing knowledge, refined over decades of working with commercial venues and competitive players.
Championship's Finishing Process: Active Shearing and Vacuum Decating
The Teflon treatment gets the headlines, but Championship's two-stage finishing process is equally important to the cloth's performance. The first stage is active shearing, which trims the fabric surface so precisely that it practically eliminates pilling. If you have ever seen a worn cloth covered in tiny fiber balls, you know how much pilling degrades both appearance and playability.
The second stage is vacuum decating. In plain terms: the steamed fabric passes through a machine where a 2,000-pound cylinder presses it flat. The result is the hardest playing surface of any woolen billiard cloth manufactured today.
That hard finish translates directly to the table. Greater puncture resistance means less ball deflection and a truer roll, not just when the cloth is new, but throughout its entire lifespan. The surface also resists miscue damage and heavy chalk buildup better than softer woolen alternatives.
Speed-wise, Valley Teflon Ultra plays approximately 8% slower than Championship Tour Edition and about 16% slower than Simonis 860. That places it in an ideal middle ground: fast enough for skilled play, forgiving enough for recreational and league games. It is the hybrid sweet spot many players are looking for.
Cloth Speed and Your Game: How Valley Teflon Ultra Affects Cue Setup
Speed numbers only matter if you know how to use them. At roughly 8% slower than Tour Edition and 16% slower than Simonis 860, Valley Teflon Ultra rewards a slightly firmer stroke. You do not need to muscle the cue ball, but a confident follow-through produces better results than a tentative hit.
This speed profile pairs especially well with softer cue tips. Softer tips generate more spin and grip on a slower cloth surface, helping you maintain English and draw control without over-striking. If you have been playing on faster worsted cloth and are switching to Valley Teflon Ultra, consider moving down one tip hardness level.
Heavier cues in the 19 to 21 oz range also complement this cloth nicely. The additional mass maintains momentum through the shot without requiring excessive force, keeping your stroke smooth and controlled.
A compelling detail for league players: Championship Mercury Ultra (the non-Teflon sibling of Valley Teflon Ultra) is used at Amateur National Tournaments. Practicing on Valley Teflon Ultra at home means you are training on a cloth that mirrors those competitive conditions, so your muscle memory and stroke calibration carry over directly to tournament play.
When you are ready to pair a new cue or tip with your cloth, Billiard City carries authorized McDermott and Longoni cues along with a full range of tips and accessories to match your setup.
Specs, Sizes, Colors, and the Backed vs. Unbacked Decision
Here is the full spec profile at a glance:
- Composition: 75% wool / 25% nylon
- Weight: 19 oz (approx. 10.4 oz/yd² / 355 g/m²)
- Manufactured in: Mexico
- Included: 2 table spots per kit
Each kit includes bed cloth plus 6 pre-cut rail cloths, making installation straightforward. Available sizes are 7 ft, 8 ft, 8 ft Oversized, 9 ft, and 10 ft, covering virtually every table on the market.
You can choose from 7 colors: Championship Green, Championship Blue, Electric Blue, Navy, Burgundy, Steel Grey, and Black. Non-traditional options like Electric Blue and Burgundy have grown increasingly popular for home game rooms where the table serves as a centerpiece, not just a piece of equipment.
Backed vs. Unbacked: Which Should You Choose?
The backed version is available only in Championship Green. It features no seams in the backing and a soft fold with pre-cut beds and rails, making it the easier installation choice for coin-op machines and home slate tables where you want a straightforward, adhesive-free process.
All other colors are unbacked only, which is the standard for most home slate table installations. Professional installers generally prefer unbacked cloth because they apply their own adhesive for a custom fit.
One critical installation detail that rarely appears in competitor content: a black or yellow line at the edge of the cloth identifies the face side. Always install the cloth face-up. Getting this wrong affects playability and can lead to premature wear. Check for that line before starting your installation.
Care and Maintenance: Making Your Valley Teflon Ultra Last
Even with Teflon protection, routine care extends cloth life significantly. Brush the cloth after every session using a dedicated billiard brush, always stroking from the head of the table toward the foot. This preserves the nap direction and keeps the playing surface consistent.
For deeper cleaning, especially in high-traffic bar or club environments, vacuum the cloth lightly with a soft brush attachment. Avoid using a standard vacuum head directly on the surface, as the suction can stretch the fabric over time.
Under-rail cleaning is a commonly overlooked step. Use a soft-bristled tapered brush to remove chalk dust and debris from under the rails where a standard brush cannot reach. This prevents buildup that eventually migrates onto the playing surface.
When spills happen, blot immediately. Never rub. The Teflon treatment gives you time to respond, but prompt blotting prevents residue from settling into the weave. A clean, dry cloth or paper towel works perfectly.
Finally, avoid placing your table in direct sunlight or excessively humid areas. Both conditions degrade cloth color and compromise the Teflon treatment over time. For home game rooms near windows, UV-blocking curtains or blinds are a worthwhile investment.
Who Should Choose Championship Valley Teflon® Ultra?
Recreational home players and game room owners: If you want commercial-grade durability and spill resistance without paying the premium price of worsted cloths like Simonis 860, Valley Teflon Ultra is the clear choice. It performs well, it lasts, and it protects your investment.
Bar owners and billiard club operators: This is the OEM cloth on Valley bar boxes for a reason. It is proven in high-traffic commercial environments. The Teflon protection reduces damage from accidental spills and extends re-felting cycles, lowering your long-term operating costs.
APA and bar league players: Practicing on the same cloth used at APA Nationals-level play builds consistent muscle memory and stroke calibration, a compelling reason to install Valley Teflon Ultra on your home table.
Wholesale buyers and billiard club owners can explore Billiard City's dealer program for authorized access to Championship cloth and over 2,000 billiard products from 40+ trusted brands, with free shipping on US orders over $99.
Billiard City is an authorized Championship dealer, so every cloth ships with guaranteed product authenticity and dedicated customer support. Our 4.7-star rating across 78 verified reviews reflects the long-term customer relationships we build with every order.
Final Verdict: Is Valley Teflon® Ultra the Right Cloth for Your Table?
Valley Teflon Ultra occupies a hybrid sweet spot that no other billiard cloth matches: woolen durability, a speed profile that bridges recreational and competitive play, and genuine liquid resistance built into every fiber. It is not a gimmick. It is a manufacturing reality backed by Championship's 342 years of combined industry experience.
The three buyer profiles who benefit most are home game room owners who entertain around their table, bar and club operators managing high-traffic environments, and league players who want to practice on competition-familiar cloth. If you fall into any of those categories, this cloth belongs on your table.
The DuPont Teflon-before-weaving process, the 2,000-pound vacuum decating finish, and the OEM status on Valley bar boxes are verifiable facts, not marketing fluff. When you are ready to re-felt or upgrade, Billiard City stocks Championship Valley Teflon Ultra in every size and color. Shop with confidence knowing you are buying from an authorized dealer with free US shipping on orders over $99.
