If you're setting up a table, here's the short version: rack the balls with the apex ball on the foot spot, and buy Simonis 860 Tournament Blue if your budget allows. On an eight-ball rack, the 8-ball sits in the center and the two rear corners get one solid and one stripe. The cloth is the most important purchase after the table itself. That's not a marketing line—it came from watching our office table play two very different years.
I manage purchasing for an 80-person company. Our 9-foot table gets five or six hours of play a day. In 2020, I inherited a tired-looking cloth that everyone blamed for slow rolls. I bought a generic "felt" in 2021, didn't ask about installation, and ended up paying almost as much in add-ons as the cloth cost. The next year I ordered Simonis pool cloth, learned how to rack the balls correctly, and stopped getting complaints.
Why Simonis Pool Cloth (and Not Just "Felt")
First, terminology matters. "Felt" is not the same as worsted wool table cloth. Simonis pool felt is a worsted wool cloth: the yarns are combed and tightly spun before weaving, so the surface is denser and smoother than a brushed wool-nylon blend. In practice, that means the ball rolls truer and the cloth doesn't develop the nappy pile that slows shots down. According to Simonis' product documentation, the 860 line is the same type of worsted wool used in professional tournament tables.
I don't know how to make this sound more interesting than it is: a good cloth installation is about tiny fibers. But the difference is measurable. After the re-cloth in 2024, the break speed on our table changed enough that players started attempting shots they'd stopped trying.
And if you're wondering about the color, Tournament Blue is not just a color. The contrast against the red and yellow balls makes spin and direction easier to read under bright light. That's why many tournament tables use it. If you've ever played on a cloth that blended into the balls under bad lighting, you know the difference.
Simonis also makes 760, which is a lighter fabric often used when you need a different budget point. I won't pretend to know the exact engineering differences; I've ordered 860 for our high-use table. If someone quotes you 760, ask to feel a sample. The weave is different, and it should be less expensive.
How to Rack a Pool Table on a Simonis Cloth
Why does racking matter? Because the break is the only time you control all fifteen balls at once. If the rack is loose, the break scatters instead of driving. On a dense Simonis cloth, this is especially true because the cloth doesn't grip the balls the way a brushed cloth does. You can't hide a sloppy rack—the smooth surface makes it obvious.
Eight-ball rack
- Place the triangle so the leading ball is on the foot spot.
- Put the 8-ball in the center of the rack.
- Put one solid and one stripe in the two rear corners.
- Pack the balls tightly, press them into the table, then lift the triangle carefully.
The remaining balls go anywhere. According to WPA rules, the apex ball sits on the foot spot and the 8-ball stays in the center. The "random" placement is part of the rules, not an invitation to build a tricky rack for your friend.
Nine-ball rack
If you're playing nine-ball, use a diamond rack. The 1-ball goes at the foot spot and the 9-ball goes in the center of the diamond. The other balls can go anywhere. This is less about house style and more about standard equipment setup.
What I Learned the Hard Way
I'll be honest about the mistake. In my first year, I made the classic specification error: assumed "standard" meant the same thing to every vendor. I ordered "standard cloth" without specifying weave, weight, backing, or installation. Eight months later, it had a shiny path between the rack and the side pockets, and the ball reaction was inconsistent. We paid $600 to redo it. That number stays in my head whenever someone says their quote is lower because I didn't ask what wasn't included.
I also assumed the old cloth needed replacing because it was slow. Didn't verify. A table tech cleaned it thoroughly with Simonis X1 cleaner, brushed the cloth, and the speed came back more than I expected. So now I clean before condemning cloth. Once a cloth is genuinely worn, replacing it with Simonis 860 is the better long-term move—but not every worn-looking cloth is actually dead.
What the Initial Quote Doesn't Tell You
I have mixed feelings about premium pricing. Part of me wants to put the lowest number in the spreadsheet. Another part remembers the redo. The compromise I've landed on is simple: ask "what's NOT included" before "what's the price."
"The vendor who lists all fees upfront—even if the total looks higher—usually costs less in the end."
For our table, the add-ons included:
- Removing and disposing of the old cloth
- Re-padding the rails if needed
- In-home delivery instead of curb drop
- Stenciling a logo on the cloth, if that's part of your setup
By comparison, the full re-cloth on our 9-foot table ran $840 in March 2024, including labor and removing the old cloth. That's one data point, not a price list—but it's why I don't look at cloth quotes in isolation. Get three itemized quotes, and ask each vendor what happens if the underlayment needs repair.
Same Rule, Different Products: Sony Earbuds and a Foldable Treadmill
This may seem off-topic, but it's the part I want you to remember. The same week I ordered Simonis pool cloth, my boss asked me to source Sony earbuds for the video room and a foldable treadmill for the wellness corner. Different products, same trap. The first Sony earbuds quote looked fine until I noticed it excluded a warranty that covered the charging case. The treadmill quote excluded in-home delivery and assembly, which meant a $150 freight cost or two non-experts trying to carry a 150-pound box up stairs.
I'm not saying any of those products are the only answer. I'm saying the visible price is not the final price unless the seller tells you otherwise. I've worked with vendors who add fees upfront and it's fine—what I can't accept is finding out after the purchase order is signed.
Where I'd Save Money Instead
Simonis cloth isn't the right choice for every table. If your table is in a damp basement, outside under a cover, or used a few times a year, a less expensive cloth will serve you fine. There's no shame in that. For a high-use table, the cost per hour of better cloth is lower—but only if you also maintain it.
One more thing: no cloth survives bad maintenance. Simonis recommends brushing before play and spot-cleaning spills instead of dragging a wet towel over the whole surface. We use X1 cleaner for marks. You don't need to baby it, but a 30-second brush can save a re-cloth.
And don't put new cloth on a broken table. If the slate is cracked or the cushions are dead, a premium cloth won't fix it. Check the table first, then decide.
I keep a sticky note above our table. It says: "Clean first, rack tight, and always ask what the quote doesn't say."