The green felt on a pool table is a relic of a game that was once played outdoors.

Centuries ago, the ancestors of billiards were lawn games played on grass. When the game moved indoors in Europe during the 1400s and 1500s, table makers covered wooden playing surfaces with green cloth to recreate the look of a grassy field.

The outdoor game gradually evolved into modern billiards. The grass became green felt, boundaries became rails, and curved wooden maces eventually gave way to cue sticks.

Green also turned out to be a practical choice. It is easy on the eyes during long games and provides strong contrast with the balls, making them easier to track across the table.

Today, pool tables come in many colors, but green remains the traditional choice because it reflects the sport's origins on the lawn hundreds of years ago.

Did You Know?
The cloth covering a billiard table is still sometimes called "baize," a term that dates back centuries to the woolen fabric originally used on billiard tables.