How to Protect a Pool Table From Gouges by Children

A high-quality pool table can be destroyed in a matter of minutes by kids who decide they want to play pool; gouges, tears and scratches in the felt of your pool table will alter the way the balls roll and seriously interfere with the game. There are some easy things you can do, however, to prevent kids from gouging the felt of your pool table.



Anytime children are using the pool table, they need to be supervised by you or another adult. No matter what rules you set down, kids will be kids, and the simplest rules will sometimes be broken.

Things You'll Need

  • "Granny stick," or mechanical bridge
  • Custom pool table cover
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Instructions

    • 1

      Establish ground rules with any children who may be using your pool table. Whether you explain how they are to use the pool table verbally or place a sign, kids need to be told what the rules are.

    • 2

      Teach kids how to hold a pool stick properly. This information can go a long way in helping a child avoid puncturing the felt and improving his game.

    • 3

      Give the kids the mechanical bridge to use; this is also called a "granny stick." The mechanical bridge is a stick with a ridged metal plate at the end that holds up a pool cue for difficult shots.

      Show children how to place the mechanical bridge so that it keeps the ends of their pool sticks away from the felt.

    • 4

      Use a customized pool table cover. These can be purchased from many retailers; they can be used for card games as well as pool, since they do not cover the holes. They are thick enough to prevent a clumsy strike from puncturing the felt but smooth enough that you and your children can enjoy a game of pool.