Not All Simonis Cloth Is Cheap. That’s the Point.
If you're sourcing pool table felt for a business—whether you’re a table manufacturer, a dealer, or running a repair service—the question isn’t which Simonis is best. It’s which Simonis is best for your specific revenue model.
I manage procurement for a mid-sized table assembly and refurbishing operation. We handle about 80–100 tables a year, from home installs to commercial setups. Over the past 6 years, I’ve tracked every invoice, every warranty claim, and every “quick fix” that turned into a costly redo. Here’s what I’ve learned about the real cost of Simonis cloth.
My experience is based on roughly 300 orders with Simonis distributors, mostly in North America. If you're sourcing in Europe or dealing with non-standard table sizes, your numbers might look different. But the cost logic holds.
The 3 Scenarios: Which One Are You?
There isn’t a single “best” Simonis cloth. The choice between 860 Tournament Blue and 760—and even the X1 cleaner—depends on one thing: how the table makes money.
- Scenario A: The table is in a commercial setting (bar, pool hall, casino). It needs to survive heavy play.
- Scenario B: The table is in a club or tournament venue. Performance and consistency matter more than durability.
- Scenario C: The table is for a serious home player. They want “the best,” but they also want value.
Let’s break down each one—with real cost data from our procurement system.
Scenario A: Commercial (High Wear, High ROI Pressure)
Recommendation: Simonis 760
Here’s where most people get it wrong. They assume the more expensive option (860) is always better. For a bar table that gets 8–12 hours of play daily, that’s a mistake.
We ran a comparison in 2024. Two identical Valley tables, same usage pattern (a busy pool hall downtown). One fitted with 860, one with 760.
The numbers:
- 860: $185 per table (wholesale). Lasted 14 months before needing replacement.
- 760: $135 per table (wholesale). Lasted 18 months.
Cost per month of use:
- 860: $13.21/month
- 760: $7.50/month
The surprise wasn’t the price difference. It was that 760 outlasted 860 in this environment. The denser weave of 860 is great for playability, but it actually wears faster when exposed to chalk dust, beer spills, and inconsistent cleaning on a nightly basis. 760’s slightly looser construction handles dirt better between cleanings.
“But 760 doesn’t play as well,” you say.
True. But in a commercial bar, the difference is negligible. The player who’s had three beers isn’t feeling the ball speed difference. The owner is feeling the re-felting cost.
Savings over 3 years (per table): 760 saves about $120-150, factoring in installation labor.
(Look, if your bar hosts tournaments or has serious amateur players, bump up to 860. But for general commercial use? 760 is the smarter buy.)
Scenario B: Club / Tournament Venue (Performance First)
Recommendation: Simonis 860 Tournament Blue
This one’s straightforward. If the table is used for league play, tournaments, or serious practice (like a dedicated pool club), 860 is non-negotiable.
Why? Consistency. The cloth’s nap (the direction of the fibers) is more uniform on 860. Ball deflection is predictable. Speed is uniform across the entire playing surface.
We supply 12 tables at a local billiards club. They use 860 Tournament Blue exclusively. In Q2 2024, we switched one table to 760 as a test. The club owner’s words: “I’ve had three members complain about the feel on table 7. They won’t play on it during league night.”
Cost analysis for a club:
- 860: $185/table + installation. Resurfacing every 18-24 months.
- Member retention value: one lost league player = about $400/year in table time and bar spend.
Saving $50 on cloth isn’t worth losing even one member. Here, 860 pays for itself.
One caveat (honest limitation): My experience is with clubs that maintain tables properly—daily brushing, monthly vacuuming, proper humidity control. If your venue can’t commit to that maintenance schedule, 860 will wear faster than advertised. In that case, you might actually be better off with 760 (see Scenario A).
Scenario C: Serious Home Player (The “Best” + Value Trap)
Recommendation: Simonis 860 — but don’t ignore 760
This is the trickiest scenario. The home player wants “what the pros use.” They’ve read forums. They want Tournament Blue.
And you know what? For a table that gets 3-5 hours of use per week, 860 will last 6-8 years. It’s excellent cloth.
But here’s the process gap I see with home buyers: they neglect the cleaner.
We don’t have a formal upselling process for X1 Cleaner. That means we’d hand off a table with 860 cloth and no maintenance kit. Guess what happened?
The first time a customer brushed their cloth without our guidance, they used a stiff brush the internet recommended. Damaged the fibers within three months.
Now we include X1 Cleaner with every 860 install. It’s $22 wholesale. It saves the cloth. The total cost of ownership goes up by $22—but the cloth lifespan goes up by 2-3 years.
My advice for home installations:
- If the customer wants “the best” and has a budget over $2,000 for the table: 860 + X1 kit. No question.
- If they’re cost-conscious but still want good performance: 760 will play 90% as well for a home player. Save the $50 difference and spend it on a quality set of balls or cue. They’ll appreciate the upgrade more.
The surprise for me? How many customers actually thanked us for recommending 760. They felt we weren’t just trying to upsell them.
How to Know Which Scenario You’re In
Still unsure? Here’s a quick litmus test:
- Ask yourself: who’s playing on this table daily?
Casual bar patrons → Scenario A. League players → Scenario B. Home enthusiast → Scenario C. - Check your maintenance budget.
Do you have a cleaning schedule? Will someone brush the cloth daily? If yes, 860. If no, 760 might serve you better. - Calculate TCO, not unit cost.
A $50 difference on cloth is nothing if you’re re-felting every 12 months instead of 18. Map out the 3-year total.
That’s it. Three questions. You’ll know which scenario fits.
The Bottom Line
I’ve seen buyers get stuck on brand prestige. “I need Simonis 860 because it’s the tournament cloth.” That’s true. But if you’re putting it on a table in a noisy pool hall where nobody’s measuring spin, honest conversation: you’re spending money you don’t need to.
Simonis makes excellent cloth at every grade. The difference is fitness for purpose.
My procurement recommendation:
- For commercial durability: Simonis 760
- For club/tournament performance: Simonis 860 Tournament Blue
- For home value: Simonis 860 (with X1 cleaner kit)
And if you take one thing from this: don’t skip the cleaner. Skipping a $22 maintenance step to protect a $185 cloth? That’s not cost control. That’s false economy.
— A procurement manager who learned the hard way.