Pool Table Felt Simonis 860: The Installation Pro’s FAQ for Table Manufacturers & Dealers

What you'll find here

I'm an installation coordinator for a mid-sized billiard supply company. I've personally overseen the installation of Simonis cloth on about 1,200 tables over the last 7 years — including a memorable 2023 incident where we had to strip and recover eight tournament tables in 36 hours because the venue's HVAC failed and the rubber got warped. (That story involves a lot of coffee, a very understanding Simonis distributor, and a lesson about climate control I will never forget.)

This FAQ is built from questions I get from manufacturers, dealers, and repair services every single week. If you sell, install, or service pool tables, you've probably heard most of these. Some answers might surprise you.

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1. Why is Simonis 860 the tournament standard, and is it always the right choice?

Simonis 860 Tournament Blue has been the WPA (World Pool Association) championship cloth for decades. The short answer is consistency. The 860 is a worsted wool-nylon blend (about 70/30) that provides a fast, predictable roll with very little grain interaction. Compared to cheaper blended cloths, it resists pilling and maintains consistent speed over years of play, not months.

But here's the thing: I only believed this after seeing it side by side. In Q1 2024, we had a customer who insisted on a budget wool-nylon blend for a commercial center. Six months later, the cloth had developed uneven wear patterns around the pockets — a classic case of inconsistent tensioning from lower-grade weave. The replacement cost them more than if they had just started with Simonis 860.

Is it always the right choice? No. If you're dealing with a home table that sees light use (like once a month), a Simonis 760 is perfectly adequate and costs less. The 860 is overkill — and I've told clients that. One vendor who said 'this isn't the right cloth for your situation — here's what to use instead' earned my trust for everything else.

2. Simonis 860 vs. 760 — What's the actual difference?

This is the most common question I get. Here's the breakdown:

• Weight: 860 is 21 oz, 760 is 19 oz. The 860 is slightly heavier and denser.
• Speed: 860 is faster — the ball travels about 5-7% quicker than on 760. This matters for tournament play.
• Durability: In my experience, 860 lasts about 25-30% longer in commercial settings. We've seen 860 last 3 years in a busy pool hall; 760 started showing wear at around 2 years under the same conditions.
• Cost: 860 runs about 20-30% more per yard (based on Q4 2024 distributor pricing).

My recommendation: Commercial and tournament use = 860. Home tables, light commercial, or budget-conscious clients = 760. Don't upsell someone who doesn't need it.

3. How do I clean Simonis pool table felt without damaging it?

I cannot count how many tables I've seen ruined by people using generic household cleaners. Do not use: Windex, furniture polish, bleach-based sprays, or any vacuum with a rotating brush head. That brush will pull the fibers and create uneven wear within months.

The safe method:

1. Use a Simonis X1 cleaner — it's pH-neutral and specifically formulated for worsted wool cloth. A 16oz bottle costs about $18 (as of January 2025; prices vary by distributor) and lasts for about 10 full-table cleaning cycles.
2. Spray lightly onto a microfiber cloth (not directly on the felt).
3. Wipe in the direction of the grain — this is critical. Going against the grain lifts the fibers and can cause visible streaks.
4. Let it dry completely — about 15 minutes — before play.

What happened when I didn't listen: A client in 2022 used a generic cleaning spray on an 860 table. They said the cloth felt 'rough' after two cleanings. I had to explain that the cleaner's chemical composition had broken down the wool fibers. The cloth was 14 months old — still had plenty of life — but I had to warranty replace it on our dime because we hadn't explicitly told them not to use it. That mistake cost us $450. Now, every single cloth installation includes a Simonis X1 bottle and a printed cleaning guide. Problem solved.

4. How often should pool table felt be replaced?

It depends entirely on usage. Here's what I've seen across hundreds of installations:

• Home table (1-2x/week play): 5-8 years with Simonis 860.
• Commercial pool hall (daily play, 8+ hours): 2-3 years for 860, 1.5-2 years for 760.
• Tournament/recreational club (weekly events + daily practice): 1-2 years for 860.

But there's a catch. In March 2024, we had a client with a new club installation where the cloth showed wear at 14 months. I inspected it and found the table had been installed under direct sunlight for part of the day. UV exposure accelerates fiber degradation — even with Simonis cloth. We moved the table, replaced the felt (under warranty negotiation — my mistake for not checking the environment), and now every proposal includes a note about avoiding direct sunlight.

Signs you need a replacement: Visible wear near the pockets, uneven ball roll across the table, or a 'bald' spot from a specific area of frequent break shots. Also: if the cloth feels rough or feels 'fuzzy' instead of smooth, the nap is gone.

5. What installation mistakes do you see most often?

I've seen hundreds of installations — both good and bad. Here are the three most common mistakes I've seen from less experienced installers (and even a few who should have known better):

• Over-stretching the cloth. This is number one. If you pull too tight, the cloth will 'shrink' over the first few weeks and leave visible gaps at the rails. Simonis 860 has some give, but not infinite. You want the cloth taut but not guitar-string tight.
• Not accounting for grain direction. Every roll of Simonis cloth has a grain direction (like a carpet). Installing the cloth with the grain running in the wrong direction — or worse, two pieces with different grains — creates a noticeable difference in ball speed across the table. I've seen installers do this and then claim 'all cloth plays the same.' No. It does not.
• Using a staple gun instead of a tack strip. I know some installs use staples. But for commercial tables, tack strips are far more reliable and allow for truer tension. Staples can pull through the cloth over time, especially near the pockets where tension is highest.

What the warranty says: Simonis recommends installation by a certified professional. Unofficially? If you're going to install it yourself, use a tack strip, check grain, and do not over-stretch. You'll save yourself a call to me later.

6. What's the best way to store Simonis cloth before installation?

This is a question I get from dealers who buy in bulk. Two years ago, we had a batch of Simonis 860 that showed slight moisture damage during storage. The cloth had been stored in a damp warehouse for about four months. The delamination was subtle but visible under installation light. We had to throw out 4 rolls — about $1,200 lost.

Storage guidelines I now follow:

• Store rolls in a climate-controlled environment (55-75°F, 40-60% humidity).
• Keep rolls off the floor — use pallets or racks.
• Do not store near HVAC vents, direct sunlight, or moisture sources.
• If the cloth is rolled for more than 6 months, consider re-rolling it to prevent permanent creases. (Yes, this is a thing. I've seen it.)

My rule of thumb: Treat Simonis cloth the way you would treat a high-quality wool suit. You would not store a suit in a damp basement. Same principle applies.

7. When should I recommend a different cloth instead of Simonis?

I'll tell you what I tell my clients: Simonis is excellent, but it is not the only option. There are situations where I'd suggest something else:

• Extreme budget constraints: If a client's budget is under $300 total for cloth and installation, Simonis is not going to fit. I'd rather recommend a reputable mid-range felt (like an 85% wool blend) than sell them Simonis at a discount and cut corners on installation quality.
• Table for children or very casual home use: If the table is going to see once-a-month use by kids, the 860 is overkill. A Simonis 760 is fine, or even a quality 8-ball felt at half the price.
• Rental/communal tables in high-traffic spaces: I've seen a bar that replaced Simonis cloth three times in a year because of vandalism. That's not a cloth problem — that's an environment problem. In that case, I recommended a heavy-duty industrial cloth that's more damage-resistant. The client was skeptical, but they came back and thanked me after a year with no issues.

The vendor who told me that story taught me something: being honest about what you don't do well (or what a product isn't suited for) builds more trust than claiming you can solve every problem. Simonis is the best cloth for tournament play and most commercial tables. But it's not a universal solution — and that's okay.

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Pricing noted above is for reference only. Verify current rates with your distributor. My experience is based on installations in North America (2018-2025). If you're operating in a different climate or regulatory environment, some moisture and storage considerations may not apply.