Simonis Cloth Pool Table Buying Checklist: 6 Steps to Avoid Costly Felt Mistakes

Use This Before Your Next Simonis Cloth Order

If you're buying Simonis cloth for a pool table, this checklist should be part of your ordering routine. In my experience, routine is exactly when mistakes happen. I've been handling Simonis cloth orders for eight years—maybe nine, I'd have to count. In that time, I've personally made (and documented) 11 significant buying mistakes, totaling roughly $14,000 in wasted budget. This checklist is what our shop now uses for every single Simonis order. It takes about ten minutes to go through, and it's saved us more than I care to admit.

Here's the six-step checklist, along with the mistakes that taught me each one.

The Simonis Cloth Checklist

Step 1: Specify the exact model and dimensions

Don't just write "Simonis 860" on the PO. You need the model, the color, and the exact table size. I once quoted a customer for a 9-foot table but ordered 8-foot cloth because I mixed up the notation. $400 of material, gone. Now we confirm three things:

• Model: 860 (tournament-grade worsted wool-nylon blend) or 760 (a slightly thinner wool-nylon blend often used for home tables).
• Color: Tournament Blue is the default for competition, but also choose the exact slate colorway if the customer has a preference.
• Dimensions: write down the actual playing surface in feet, not just "7-foot" or "8-foot." Those names are nominal, not always exact.

(Should mention: if you're ordering for multiple tables, separate the line items by table size. Don't combine them and hope the crew sorts it out.)

Step 2: Verify the distributor is authorized

Fake Simonis is real. In 2023, I bought what looked like a great deal on "Simonis 860 Tournament Blue" from an online marketplace. Looked fine on the pallet. Then the cloth started pilling after two months. The lot number didn't check out, and the seller disappeared. Per FTC guidelines (ftc.gov), performance claims must be substantiated—so ask for proof of authorization or a certificate of authenticity before you wire money. If the price is 30% below everyone else, that's a red flag, not a win. Two minutes of verification can save you a 30-day dispute. That's efficiency where it counts.

Step 3: Check the lot numbers and edge markings on every roll

This is the step most buyers skip, but it's the one that catches counterfeits and quality control issues. Genuine Simonis cloth has model and lot numbers printed on the selvedge edge. We once caught a batch of 760 that was actually a lower grade because the edge marking didn't match our order record. Now our receiving checklist includes: model printed on edge matches the packing slip; lot number matches the carton; and the cloth feels consistent across the roll. Oh, and if the ends look rough or the roll feels uneven, send photos to the supplier before you cut anything. It's easier to reject a roll intact than after it's been cut.

Step 4: Confirm color requirements for tournament play

If your customer's event calls for tournament blue, 860 Tournament Blue is the safe pick—it's the color you see at serious competitions, not just a blue that looks nice. I went back and forth between 760 and 860 for a recreational order once, and 760 was honestly fine. But for competition, don't guess. Ask the organizer for the color standard. In some venues, the room's lighting changes how the table reads, and a non-standard blue can cause the same visual issue. The customer won't thank you for saving them $50 if the cloth looks different under the tournament lights.

Step 5: Order a little extra—and don't forget the cleaner

You'll want at least 10% extra cloth to account for stretching, trimming, and rail wrapping mistakes. We once ordered exactly to the spec and ended up three inches short after the bolts stretched the cloth. That turned into a second roll via expedited shipping—no fun (surprise, surprise). Also, add Simonis X1 cleaner to the same order. It's a separate line item that people often forget, and you don't want your customer staining a $300 cloth because they didn't have the right product. A bottle of X1 is cheap insurance compared to replacing felt.

Step 6: Lay the cloth out for inspection before you cut

This step I never did in the early years: unroll the cloth and lay it out next to the table frame or the old cloth before cutting. It catches color discrepancies and subtle manufacturing marks. In 2024, this inspection saved us from installing a roll with a slight dye streak across the middle. We sent it back before cutting, and the supplier replaced it free. Looking back, I should have done this from day one. Also, write the lot number on the customer invoice. If there's a warranty claim later, you'll need it.

What Else to Watch For

Don't buy on price alone. Shipping, lead time, and return policy matter more. The cheapest quote can end up costing 30% more in rush fees and returns. In my experience, a slightly higher per-yard price from an authorized source often comes with better service and a traceable lot.

Avoid grey market listings. Stick to known Simonis distributors or direct dealer channels. Some sellers use names that sound like Simonis or mention "pool table cloth" without being official. If a deal looks too good, it probably is. I'm not 100% sure of current lead times across all suppliers, but give yourself at least a week for authorization and delivery—don't leave it to the last minute.

Be clear on the return policy before you order. Even authorized distributors have different policies for cut cloth. A roll that's been cut to size is usually non-returnable, so double-check everything before you make that first cut. And keep your lot numbers and invoices together—future-you will thank you.

That's it. Six steps, ten minutes, and a whole lot less rework. It isn't glamorous, but it keeps orders moving and customers happy—which is what this industry runs on.