No. Pool table felt is a specialized felt designed specifically for pool tables. There are many variations of table felt and each will react differently with the balls, and each has a differnt lifespan on the table. Use of felt not designed for pool table use will result in poor play at best, and will quickly be destroyed at worst.
Installing felt on a pool table has steps that have to be taken before felting. If the seams, screw holes, imperfections, and the leveling has not been performed properly, prior to installing felt, the table cannot be played on properly. Installing the felt on the surface is easy afterwards, requiring brads or staple gun. Lay the felt across the table and secure one side using staple gun to the slate wood. pull tight on other side (tight but do not stretch) and staple. Go to one end and pull tight to center and staple, then to other end pull tight and staple. then go to a corner, then opposing corner, and repeat for other corners. Each pocket area must be cut carefully into small triangle to fold into pocket and staple. If the rails need felt, that is more complex than can be described here and is much more important that the surface felt - get a professional to do it and watch them.
Yes. Like everything else in this world, pool table felt is finite. Eventually after years of having wooden cues grinding against them causing friction, the felt will wear down and eventually rip. A professional can replace the felt on a pool table.
it probably won't rip the felt but it could put dents in the table depending on whether you have a wood or slate table
Felt covering
Most likely the felt is permanently damaged. Go to your local billiards pro shop, or online, and purchase pool table cleaner. If the marks are superficial, a proper cleaning may get rid of them. However, pool table felt is not woven like the fabric used in clothing and can be damaged easily - how easily depends upon the brand and type of felt.
Linking or action verb
Friction. The movement of the rolling pool balls does no damage to the pool felt. However, the pool balls accumulate pool chalk that is very abrasive. The pool chalk accumulated on the balls and dropping on to the felt both result in tearing of the felt fibers as balls are struck or slide on the table. Occasionally balls bounce or are jumped on the table, resulting in even more damage. Damaged felt is a part of playing pool.
Yes. Instead of laying the glass on it - get little green felt pads for each corner of the glass. These are only about 1/4" round circles. You buy them at a hardware store.
Felt Rescue
Replacing the surface felt is fairly easy. First the rails need to be removed - this can be done as one large assembly on most tables by removeing only the bolts that hold the rails to the frame. If there is a ball return, these must be unbolted first. After removing old felt and brads and staples, lay the new felt in place, proper side up. go to the center at one end and secure the felt to the slate board under the slate. Go to the other end of the table and pull the felt taut, but not tight (no wrinkles should form when pulling). Secure the felt to the board. Go to a corner and pull taut and secure. Go to the diagonally opposite corner, pull taut and secure. Repeat for the other 2 corners. Look at the felt and be sure it is square and not pulled in any direction - if it is, start over. Secure the felt around the table between the points you have secure. Go to a pocket and trim slowly with a razor or hobby knife to get small triangles that you now secure in the pocket area, pulling taut. Repeat with each pocket. Be careful to not create wrinkles. Trim all excess felt, re-install the rail assembly. If you have a new foot spot, locate the instersection at the foot and apply.
Could cost anywhere between $150 -$850 depending on the table. I contacted DMAOnline and they managed to send me felt which was pretty good quality. They don't sell it on their website but managed to help me out with my pool table ๐