In cue sports like pool, snooker, and billiards, billiard balls, usually referred to as pool balls, are crucial pieces of equipment. In terms of size, weight, and performance, these balls have been meticulously made to adhere to strict guidelines. Billiard balls are still made of one of two materials, phenolic resin or polyester, although the materials used to create them have changed throughout time. In this article, we will discover the argument of what are billiard balls made of.
What Are Billiard Balls Made Of?
Always prepared to hold our shots when they dance across the table, bounce off the cushions, and land in our pockets. A pool ball’s fate is always in our hands and in our cues, so this is how it goes. The focus of today’s post is on these immaculate, durable, and endlessly rolling spheres because every pool player should be aware of their composition.
The original pool balls were made of ivory. Only three or four balls could be made from an elephant tusk over the course of a lengthy procedure, making them exceedingly expensive. The need to find a more economical material was caused by the balls’ high price, fragility, and lack of homogeneity. In 1860, an American inventor named John Hyatt discovered nitrocellulose, a fantastic alternative for ivory. It was possible to create a plastic material to make balls much more affordably by mixing it with alcohol. The substance was problematic since it was flammable and explosive force may set it off.
A half-century later, chemist Leo Baekeland created bakelite, a form of phenolic resin still used today to make the majority of pool balls due to its affordability, high heat resistance, and ability to produce perfectly round, highly impact-resistant, and less-dirty balls. The standard in pool balls is the Belgian company Aramith. Whether playing pool, snooker, or carom, high-quality balls manufactured of phenolic resin are typically used in professional tournaments. If you’ve never looked inside a pool ball, you might be surprised to learn that they are entirely solid and, in the case of Saluc (Aramith), that colors and numbers are not only visible but also implanted throughout the entire ball.
People can treat them better or worse depending on their attitude. Others haven’t cleaned them since they bought them, while some constantly clean them after a performance. However, they consistently follow the commands that are sent to them by our shots, color or not. They always roll, bounce, and land in pockets, but they immediately escape and head back to the box or triangle where they feel safe.
Selection of Billiard Balls: Important Considerations
A billiard ball’s quality is primarily influenced by three things. The manufacturer’s diameter tolerance is the first. The perfect round shape depends on the diameter tolerance. The diameter of a ball is fixed as it is being machined. Variations are not accepted since high-quality balls are held to a stringent tolerance. These balls will be as close to being precisely round as possible, so you can depend on that.
Lower-quality balls can’t say the same. In its place, a diameter tolerance is established. These balls are manufactured to have a round appearance and to come close to being perfectly round. But the roundness of their shape is not a given. In order to save costs during manufacturing, there is an error tolerance that is permitted.
Consistency of density is the second factor. A pool ball with a constant density rolls straight and true. No matter where the cue is struck, the ball will roll uniformly due to the evenly distributed weight. Play is chaotic for pool balls with varying densities. They do improper banking. Because of the uneven distribution of weight, they occasionally zigzag when rolling. Despite the fact that table roll is frequently to blame when a ball appears to be rolling oddly, this may not always be the case. Unpredictable ball behavior is more commonly caused by unequal weight distribution.
Elasticity is the third consideration. The energy that is transferred from the strike ball to the object balls during play is known as elasticity. During a stop shot, a ball should ideally transfer all of its energy to the following ball. In fact, this elasticity component is where a stop shot gets its name. You can tell there is a lack of elasticity if your strike ball keeps moving after evenly striking another ball. This can happen due to wear and tear, although it happens more frequently with billiard balls of inferior quality.
Complete 16-piece set of GoSports Regulation Billiards Balls
- Sizing: One Size
- Athletics: pool
- Name: GoSports
- Plastic is a material.
- Shades of color
A full set of regulation size and weight billiards balls, including 15 balls and a cue ball, is included. Enjoy the 8-ball and 9-ball classics! Rack ’em up! The gosports billiards table and other comparable tables can use balls that are 57mm in diameter and weigh 6 oz apiece as extras and replacements. Purple build: a refined appearance and endless pool matches with friends and family are achieved by using premium resin.
Regulation Size Aramith 2-1/4″ Pool Ball Or Billiards
Product Weight: 6 Ounces Brand: Aramith
Pool is a sport.
2.25 inches is the item’s diameter.
1 items were included.
The finest phenolic resin, which is used to create the training cue ball, offers great scratch and impact resistance. The measles pattern, which is represented by six red dots on the ball’s surface, makes it simple to see how the ball will rotate after a shot.
gives you the opportunity to practice evaluating the impacts of extremely specific quantities of sidespin, topspin, backspin, and other cue ball control.
Adheres to the industry’s strictest requirements to guarantee that each ball has the proper density, balance, diameter, roundness, glossiness, hardness, and weight.
intended to aid players of all levels in enhancing their performance; has a diameter of 2-1/4″
Aramith Jim Rempe Practice Cue Ball 2
- Aramith is a brand.
- Adult Age Range (Description) Item Weight: 4 Ounces
- Sport: pool
- 2.25 inches are the item’s diameter.
Exceptional scratch and impact resistance is provided by the regulation-size training cue ball’s use of the best grade phenolic resin; diameter 2-1/4″. Designed by American professional pocket billiards player Jim Rempe, who was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame, and marked with rings and targets on the ball’s surface.
Allows you to practice evaluating the impacts of extremely specific quantities of sidespin, topspin, backspin, and other cue ball control. Intended to assist players of all skill levels in raising the level of their games; one side is intended for beginners, while the other side offers guidance for experienced players. Includes a 56 page instruction manual with instructions on how to apply the training patterns appropriately as well as other advice.
In conclusion, what are billiard balls made of? The main materials used to make pool balls are either phenolic resin or polyester resin, each of which offers a unique combination of strength, performance, and affordability. Polyester balls are a more affordable option appropriate for casual and recreational players, while phenolic resin balls are preferred for professional and competitive play due to their greater performance and longevity. The level of play and the players’ individual tastes heavily influence the choice of content.
