Which Pool Table Rail Cushion Profile Should I Purchase?
Which Pool Table Rail Cushion Profile Should I Purchase?
How do I choose the correct pool table rail cushion? That’s a question we hear all the time. You must first determine the size of your pool table. Once you know your pool table size, you can determine the profile shape of your pool table rubber cushions.
K66 Profile Pool Table Rail Cushions
The industry standard and BCA-approved cushion is a full profile K-66 cushion. K-66 refers to the shape of the cushion. Full profile means that it is a full-size cushion. K66 rail cushions are the most common rail cushions today. It is the standard rail cushion we send out in all of our complete pool table refelting kits.
K55 Profile Pool Table Rail Cushions
Commercial coin-operated pool tables mostly use the K-55 profile rail cushion. At one time or another, commercial pool tables use most of the rubber cushion profile shapes. The K-55 cushion has the same general profile shape of the K-66 cushions but is larger in size.
U23 Profile Pool Table Rail Cushions
The U-23 profile cushions are not as widely used and are a smaller profile than the K-66 cushion. Some lower-priced pool tables.
When choosing a pool table rubber cushion you want to make sure it is pure gum rubber. It should also have canvas cloth reinforcement on both the top and back sides of the cushion. The canvas on the top of the cushion helps maintain its shape and controls the action of the rubber. This provides more accurate and consistent gameplay. The canvas on the backside of the rubber helps maintain shape. It also allows the rubber cushion to bond tightly to the wood rail. As a result, it ensures that it will not separate and come loose.
Make sure you have the correct rail rubber cushion profile. This ensures the cushion height or the rail strike point is in the proper position in relation to the ball. The rail height or strike point should be 63 1/2% of the ball diameter. (ex. standard pool ball is 2 1/4″ in diameter, rail height should be .635 x 2.25 or 1.43″ in height.)
Pool Table Rail Cushion Profile Shapes
Compare the profile of your rail cushions to those below to determine the rubber cushion profile type that you have. Contact us at 985-845-7146 with any other questions you may have. We will be happy to help you.
K66 Profile cushions have a dimensional height of 1 3/16″ and a top angle width of 1 1/8″ or slightly over.
K55 profile cushions have a dimensional height of 1 5/16″ and a top angle width of 1 1/4″. It could be slightly over.
U23 profile cushions have a dimensional height of 1 1/8″ and a top angle width of 1″ or slightly over.
Centennial or Century profile cushions have a dimensional height about 1 1/4″ and a top angle width of about 3/4″.
