Let's be honest: there's no 'best' Simonis cloth for everyone
I manage procurement for a mid-sized billiard table manufacturer—we produce about 150 tables a year, mostly for commercial clients (bars, clubs, a few high-end home setups). We've been using Simonis for years, but I still get asked by new dealers: "Which Simonis should I stock?" And the honest answer? It depends.
I can only speak to our experience (mid-range to tournament-grade tables, mostly in North America, circa 2024). If you're making budget recreational tables or luxury custom pieces, your calculus might be different. But after processing about 200 cloth orders a year across 8 vendors, here's what I've learned about when Simonis 860 makes sense—and when it doesn't.
Three common scenarios (pick yours)
Scenario A: You're a dealer stocking for a wide range of customers
You carry entry-level cloth (say, a wool-nylon blend at $40-60/sheet) up through Simonis 860 Tournament Blue. Your customers are mixed: some want the cheapest table, others want 'the best.'
My take: Stock Simonis 860 as your premium option, but don't expect it to be your volume mover. For us, 860 represents about 20% of our cloth sales (mostly to serious players or commercial venues hosting leagues). The rest is our mid-range option (we use a 100% worsted wool from a different supplier at about $70/sheet—not Simonis, but solid for recreational play).
What I'd avoid: treating 860 as your only option. I made that mistake early on (circa 2021) and ended up with a pile of Tournament Blue that no one buying a $1,500 home table wanted to pay for. Know your customer base before you commit to a big 860 order.
Scenario B: You manufacture tournament-grade tables for clubs or league play
Your customers demand consistency, speed, and durability. They're willing to pay for Simonis 860 because they know it's the standard for professional play (World Pool-Billiard Association approved, used at the Mosconi Cup, etc.).
Here's where 860 shines. In our experience, the 860 Tournament Blue (or Tournament Green) has the tightest weave and most consistent finish of any cloth we've tested. We use it on all our competition tables—about 40 units per year. The feedback? Customers notice the difference. One club manager told us (paraphrasing): "The Simonis table gets played 3x more than our other one." That's anecdotal, but it's consistent with what we hear.
But a word of caution: Simonis 860 is not invincible. We had a batch (2023) that showed minor pilling after about 6 months of heavy use. We chased it down with Simonis and it turned out to be a production variance from one factory run. They replaced the cloth (yes, they did), but it took 3 weeks. That's a risk you need to plan for if you're stocking exclusively 860. More on that in a minute.
Scenario C: You're a repair service or small dealer looking for a versatile stock cloth
You don't have the volume to justify multiple SKUs. You want one cloth that works for most resurfacing jobs—recreational tables, home tables, maybe the occasional commercial job.
Honestly? Simonis 760 might be a better fit. It's still a high-quality worsted wool (not as dense as 860, but smoother than most blends). We tested 760 for about 6 months on a few customer tables. The speed is close (within 5-10%), but it's about 15-20% cheaper per sheet. For a repair shop doing 10-15 resurfacings a month, that margin difference adds up—roughly $200-300 savings per month on cloth cost.
I know a dealer upstate who solely stocks Simonis 760 and has been doing fine for years (since 2018, I think). He says: "For home tables, no one can tell the difference." He's right, for most recreational players. But if you market to serious league players? They'll know.
Bottom line: 760 is a smart choice if you want Simonis quality without the premium price. Just be ready to explain the difference to customers who ask about "the Tournament Blue they saw at the pool hall."
How to decide which scenario you're in
Ask yourself these three questions:
- What's the average price point of the tables you sell or service? Under $2,000? Stick with mid-range cloth (like Simonis 760 or a quality wool blend). Above $4,000? 860 becomes a strong option. In between? Go with your customer's preference and your margin goals.
- How many commercial vs. residential resurfacing jobs do you do per month? If commercial exceeds 30%, 860's durability pays for itself. If it's mostly residential (80%+), 760 or a good blend will likely suffice.
- Do you have the cash flow to hold premium inventory? 860 costs about $120-150 per sheet wholesale (as of early 2025, based on our supplier quotes). A full roll (10 sheets) is a $1,200+ commitment. If you're cash-strapped, start with 760 or a mid-range alternative.
And one more thing: don't be afraid to stock both. We keep a small inventory of 860 (for orders and as a premium upsell) alongside our main cloth. It's not the most efficient, but it lets us serve different segments without overcommitting. Your mileage may vary (our situation is predictable orders—if you're seasonal, you might need a different balance).
The 'hidden' cost of 860 (and why I almost stopped stocking it)
I mentioned that production issue earlier. Here's the real lesson: relying on a single premium product creates risk. In 2023, we had a run of 860 cloth that wasn't up to our standard. Simonis fixed it, but the replacement process took weeks. Meanwhile, we had 4 commercial orders waiting. That's a problem if your customers expect quick turnover.
The fix? Identify a backup supplier. We now keep 10 sheets of a competitive worsted wool (from a different mill) on hand—not as good as 860, but good enough to bridge a gap. It's insurance against stockouts or quality issues. I'd suggest you do the same, even if you never use it. It saved us once already (thankfully).
Final thought: know your expertise boundary
I once had a vendor try to sell me a 'one-size-fits-all' cloth solution. He claimed his product was "better than Simonis for every table." That's a red flag. Good suppliers know their limits. Simonis is excellent at what it does (tournament-grade worsted wool cloth), but it's not for every customer or every budget.
Same applies to you: if a customer asks for the cheapest possible cloth, don't push them toward 860. They'll be unhappy with the price, and you'll look like you don't understand their needs. Recommend a mid-range or budget option instead. That honesty builds trust, and it'll pay off when they upgrade later.
Bottom line? Choose Simonis 860 if you serve serious players or commercial accounts who value consistency and speed above cost. For everyone else, 760 or a quality blend might actually be the smarter choice. No single cloth fits all—and that's okay.