Three-layer forming fabric

A single-ply forming fabric comprising an endless belt having opposed side edges, said forming fabric having a lateral direction extending between the side edges thereof and a longitudinal direction extending perpendicular to said lateral direction, said forming fabric being a backing fabric for use in combination with a conveying fabric with which it converges on a twin-wire paper making machine wherein a flat jet-stream of pulp is injected between said conveying backing and conveying fabrics for applying opposed pressure to said pulp for removing water therefrom to form a sheet of paper, said single-ply forming fabric having a plurality of monofilament polymeric warp strands extending in the longitudinal direction and interwoven, with approximately 100% warp fill, with monofilament polymeric weft strands extending in the lateral direction, said weft strands disposed in vertically aligned groups of at least three to obtain greater stiffness in the lateral direction whereby to substantially re-distribute pulp laterally when it is sandwiched between said fabrics.