Simonis Pool Table Cloth Colors & Cleaning: A Facility Buyer’s FAQ

I've been managing purchasing for a mid-sized company since 2020. That includes the table in our game room and—unexpectedly—a small gym area we added in 2023. So I've fielded a lot of questions about Simonis cloth and about cleaning equipment in general. Here are the ones that come up most, with answers based on what's actually worked for us.

What makes Simonis cloth different from other billiard cloth?

Simonis is a worsted wool cloth, not the napped felt you find on cheaper tables. That means the balls roll more consistently and the cloth resists wear better. I have mixed feelings about the price—on one hand, it's noticeably more expensive than budget options. On the other, we've had our 860 cloth in play since 2021 and it still plays like the day it was installed. That's not something I can say about the cloth we bought for a different location back in 2016 (which we replaced after 18 months).

I can only speak to our experience with commercial use—a bar and game room that gets maybe 40 hours of play a week. If you're building tables for home customers who play a few hours a month, the value proposition might be different.

Should I get Simonis 760 or 860?

If your customers expect tournament-level play, go with 860. It's the cloth you'll see at pro events, and it has a tighter weave that gives that predictable, fast roll. The 760 is still good quality but it's a bit more forgiving on the budget—it's what we use on recreational tables in shared spaces.

Actually, let me rephrase that. The 760 isn't a downgrade for every situation. It's lighter and less stiff, which makes it easier to install. So if you're a table repair company doing quick turnarounds, 760 might be the better call for your standard jobs. We keep both in stock for different customer needs.

What Simonis cloth colors are available?

The most popular is Tournament Blue—that's the classic TV blue you see on tournament tables. But Simonis makes several other colors like tournament green, black, and red. For custom jobs, you can match a client's branding if you use a Pantone reference. Keep in mind that the dye process needs to hit strict tolerances; the industry standard is Delta E < 2 for brand-critical colors. That sounds technical, but it basically means the cloth you install matches the color swatch the client approved.

This was accurate as of mid-2024. Simonis updates their color catalog occasionally, so verify current options before quoting a job.

How do I clean Simonis cloth without wrecking it?

First, brush the cloth with a soft brush—not a vacuum, not a damp rag—to lift chalk dust and debris. Then use a dedicated billiard cloth cleaner like Simonis X1. Spray it lightly onto a clean cloth and wipe the surface. Don't spray directly onto the felt, because overspray can soak into the backing.

That's the method I learned from our installer back in 2020. I've seen people use water or glass cleaner on cloth, and it always ends badly. The wool starts to distort, and you get bumps under the ball path.

How do I clean gym equipment? (And why it's not the same)

People often assume that if a cleaner is safe for one thing, it's safe for everything. I've had to learn that the hard way. For gym equipment, the routine is different: use a mild disinfectant spray or wipes on hard surfaces, let it air dry, and wipe down benches after each use. This is a lot like the difference between dumbbell bench press and overhead press—the movement patterns require different setups, and so do different surfaces.

For dumbbells specifically, wipe the handles after every session. We use a solution that's mostly water with a bit of dish soap in a spray bottle. We don't use our Simonis X1 on gym gear, and we don't use gym disinfectant on the billiard cloth. They're not interchangeable, no matter how convenient that would be.

When buying Simonis cloth, what should I look for in a supplier?

The biggest lesson I've learned as a buyer is to ask what's not included before I ask about price. I once found a vendor offering Simonis 860 at a great price—about 12% below our regular supplier. But they couldn't produce a proper invoice, only handwritten receipts. Finance rejected that expense report, and I ended up scrambling to cover the cost. Now I verify invoicing capability and shipping terms before I order.

I'd rather pay a little more and see the total cost upfront. That's been the most reliable way to avoid surprises, especially since I'm managing a budget that gets audited.

This works for us because we have a steady, predictable ordering pattern. If you're a dealer doing large volumes or seasonal projects, your buying criteria might look different.