A quality pool towel is one of those accessories that players don’t think much about until they have one — and then wonder how they played without it. The right towel keeps your hands clean and dry at the table, keeps your shaft free of chalk and oil buildup, and does both without leaving lint on the cloth or
contaminating the table surface.
This guide covers the best pool towels in 2026, what to look for, and why the Cue Armour Dual-Sided
Microfiber Pool Towel is our top recommendation.
A pool towel serves multiple purposes during a session:
The towel in your pocket or clipped to your gear is used constantly throughout a session. Its quality affects every interaction.
Microfiber has become the standard for quality pool towels for good reason. The ultra-fine fiber
construction:
Cotton towels leave lint, absorb moisture less efficiently, and can transfer chalk dust back to surfaces
rather than removing it. For shaft maintenance specifically, lint from cotton can affect shaft feel and clog
up surface texture. For the full microfiber explanation, see Microfiber Towels Explained.
The Cue Armour Dual-Sided Microfiber Pool Towel is purpose-built for competitive pool use. The
dual-sided design is the key differentiator: one side is optimized for hand cleaning (slightly coarser texture that removes chalk, moisture, and oils effectively from skin) and the other side is optimized for shaft and surface care (softer texture that won’t scratch polished shaft surfaces).
This dual-sided functionality means one towel handles every cleaning task at the table without switching
between tools. The microfiber construction provides the lint-free performance that cotton alternatives can’t match. Compact enough to keep in a case pocket or on the side rail during play.
Cue Armour’s towel is designed to work as part of the overall equipment care system — alongside their
pool glove — with the understanding of what competitive play demands from accessories.
Generic microfiber cloths from retail stores can work as pool towels. The trade-off: they’re not designed for pool’s specific cleaning requirements, and single-sided construction means you’re using the same surface for hands and shaft. This transfers hand oils and chalk back to the shaft rather than removing them.
Cotton shop rags, t-shirt material, and paper towels all leave lint, absorb poorly, and aren’t appropriate for shaft cleaning. If you’re currently using any of these at the table, the upgrade to a quality microfiber towel is immediate and noticeable.
Some players use the same surface for everything — hand, shaft, rail — which defeats the purpose of a
dual-sided towel. Use the coarser side for hands (primary function) and the softer side for shaft and rail
cleaning. Replace or wash the towel when it stops absorbing effectively or when it’s visibly saturated with
chalk and oils.
Machine wash in cool or warm water — not hot, which can damage microfiber structure. No fabric
softener, which clogs microfiber fibers and reduces absorption. Air dry or tumble dry low. Wash separately
from other laundry to prevent lint from other fabrics transferring to the towel.
Cue Armour Dual-Sided Microfiber Pool Towel
Generic microfiber alternatives
Expert Recommendation
The Cue Armour Dual-Sided Microfiber Pool Towel is the recommendation for any player who
wants to take equipment care seriously. The dual-sided design, lint-free microfiber construction,
and purpose-built size make it the best tool for the table-side maintenance that keeps hands
clean and shafts performing consistently.
A quality pool towel is a small investment with constant payoff — used on every shot, every session, every
tournament. The Cue Armour Dual-Sided Microfiber Pool Towel is the right tool: purpose-built for
competitive pool, dual-sided for different cleaning needs, and lint-free microfiber construction that protects shaft surfaces. It belongs in every serious player’s case pocket.
Q: What towel should I use for pool?
The Cue Armour Dual-Sided Microfiber Pool Towel is our top recommendation — dual-sided design
optimized for hands on one side and shaft cleaning on the other, with lint-free microfiber construction.
Q: Why microfiber for pool towels?
Microfiber doesn’t leave lint on shaft surfaces, absorbs moisture more effectively than cotton, and traps
chalk and oils rather than pushing them around.
Q: Can I use a regular towel for pool?
A cotton towel leaves lint on the shaft and absorbs less effectively than microfiber. For shaft
maintenance specifically, lint from cotton affects the shaft’s surface and can interfere with stroke feel.
Q: How often should I replace my pool towel?
When it stops absorbing effectively or when it’s visibly saturated with chalk and oils. Washing regularly
extends life significantly.
Q: What’s the difference between the two sides of a dual-sided towel?
One side is slightly coarser for effective hand cleaning — removing chalk, moisture, and skin oils. The
other side is softer for shaft and surface care without scratching.
Q: Can I machine wash a microfiber pool towel?
Yes — cool or warm water, no fabric softener, air dry or tumble dry low. No hot water, which damages
microfiber structure.
Microfiber Towels Explained
Why Clean Your Hands Before Playing?
Best Pool Gloves (2026)
Cue Case Accessories
Essential Pool Accessories Every Player Needs
How to Clean a Pool Cue
The joint is one of the least talked-about components of a pool cue — and one of the most important. It’s the connection point between your shaft and butt, and it affects hit feel, vibration, and whether you can swap third-party shafts onto your cue without a machinist.
The joint is one of the least talked-about components of a pool cue — and one of the most important. It’s the connection point between your shaft and butt, and it affects hit feel, vibration, and whether you can swap third-party shafts onto your cue without a machinist.
