Simonis Cloth FAQ: 7 Questions Every Billiard Pro (and Hobbyist) Should Ask

I've been handling billiard cloth orders for 11 years. Made exactly 9 significant mistakes—costing about $18,000 in wasted budget. That last number? I documented every penny. Now I run our team's checklist. Here are the questions I wish someone had walked me through from day one.

1. What is Simonis cloth and why is 860 Tournament Blue such a big deal?

If you walk into any serious pool hall, odds are the tables are covered in Simonis 860 Tournament Blue. It's the industry standard for competition. The fabric is a wool-nylon blend (70/30) woven tight enough to give consistent ball roll but with a nap that slows things down just enough for precision play.

Why Tournament Blue? It's not just a color—it's a specific shade that reduces eye fatigue during long matches. “Most buyers focus on the brand and miss the weave density,” I learned the hard way. In 2019 I ordered 860 in a non-tournament color for a client tournament. Everything looked fine under shop lights. In the actual hall? The green clashed with the walls. $3,200 order, restocked at a loss. So if you're buying 860, pay attention to the color code.

2. How do I clean Simonis cloth properly? (And does X1 cleaner actually work?)

The conventional wisdom is: never use liquid cleaners on billiard cloth. I believed that for years. Then in 2022 I got a customer who insisted on using Simonis X1 Pool Table Cleaner on his 860. I told him it would ruin the cloth. Two months later he sent photos—the table looked pristine. No residue, no fraying.

Turns out Simonis specially formulated X1 for their own fabric. It's a water-based spray that evaporates fast. I tested it on a test swatch myself. Now I recommend it for routine maintenance—but only for Simonis cloth. Don't use it on cheap felts. Also: never spray directly on the cloth. Spray into a microfiber cloth, then wipe. Small tweak, big difference.

I want to say about 70% of the damage I've seen on Simonis tables came from improper cleaning. X1 cleaner is a no-brainer for pro shops.

3. Simonis 760 vs 860 – what's the real difference?

I get this question every week. The short answer: 760 is slower, thicker, and more durable. 860 is the tournament standard—faster, thinner, better ball control. The long answer? It depends on who plays on your tables.

For a commercial hall with heavy play (8+ hours a day), 760 will outlast 860 by about 30%—but your customers might complain the table feels “dead.” For a private home or a competition venue, 860 is the right call. I've seen operators buy 860 to impress clients, then re-cover in 18 months because it wore out. That's a $900 mistake plus downtime. Match the cloth to the usage, not the prestige.

4. Can I install Simonis cloth on a table that converts to dining?

Yes. But here's the catch—you have to treat the convertible top carefully. I made this error in 2020: a client wanted a dining-convertible table with Simonis 760. I advised them to leave the cloth exposed under the dining top. Bad idea. Spills, crumbs, chairs sliding—the cloth looked trashed in six months.

What I should have said: get a protective vinyl cover that goes over the cloth when the dining top is on. Or use a thicker felt like Simonis 760 (which handles abrasion better). Lesson: the cloth isn't the weak point—the interface between the table and its secondary use is. Now I include that advice in every convertible table order.

5. Wait, what about “Morning Blues Speaker”? Is that a Simonis product?

No, it's not. But I've had three customers in the last year ask me if Simonis makes a “morning blues speaker.” I'm guessing they heard the phrase somewhere and thought it was a pool product. Actually, “Morning Blues Speaker” is a piece of audio equipment—a Bluetooth speaker with a vintage blue design. Not related to billiards at all.

But here's why I mention it: customers confuse terminology all the time. If you're looking for a table cloth, ignore the music gear. Focus on the weave and the care routine. And if you do want a morning blues speaker, I can't help you there—but I can tell you Simonis 860 Tournament Blue cloth will make your table look as good as that speaker sounds. Fair trade.

6. Someone mentioned “Akira Slide” – is that a pool trick?

Another one that pops up in search terms. “Akira slide” is a snowboarding move—a steep, carved turn named after the manga artist. Nothing to do with pool. But I get why someone might link them: both involve sliding on a surface, and “slide” in pool refers to how smoothly the cue ball glides.

If you want a good slide on your table, you need clean Simonis cloth and proper leveling. I once had a customer complain the balls “slid funny.” Turns out the table wasn't level by just 2mm. That cost me a service call—$150 I could have saved if I'd checked the installation. Moral of the story: the “slide” you want is from the cloth, not from snow. Stick with Simonis 860 and a level surface.

7. Since we're on sports: what is the best table tennis paddle?

Alright, this question comes up because many game room owners carry both pool and table tennis. I'm not a paddle expert, but I've processed enough orders to tell you this: there is no single best paddle. It depends on your playing style. A beginner needs control; an advanced player needs speed and spin.

Based on feedback from the customers I've worked with: for all-around play, the Butterfly Timo Boll ZLF is a favorite. For budget, the STIGA Pro Table Tennis Set is a solid entry point. But here's the key—just like with Simonis cloth, the surface material matters more than the brand. Look for ITTF-approved rubber, and replace the rubber every 6-12 months if you play regularly. I won't pretend to be a table tennis pro, but I know that buying a cheap paddle with a fancy handle is like buying Simonis 860 and never cleaning it—waste of potential.

Bottom line: if you're outfitting a game room, focus on the big items first: quality Simonis cloth on your pool table, and a decent table tennis table. Paddles are easy to upgrade later.