As discussed here several times, based on the MSDS, Aramith ball cleaner contains wax. Dr. Dave’s experiment shows the effect: balls cleaned with Aramith have less CIT than balls with no wax (i.e. cleaned with alcohol or acetone). However, WPA rules currently prohibit using any kind of wax on the balls. Dr. Dave’s experiment demonstrated that balls cleaned with alcohol can induce a very large amount of throw, which causes some to believe that the WPA rule against wax is misguided.
There is a lack of consensus in both pool and snooker as to whether balls should be treated with wax (re: snooker, see here: www.prosnookerblog.com/2014/12/15/to-polish-or-not-to-polish). Interestingly, cleaning and polishing the balls without wax may actually increase friction (and thus throw), according to this article: www.dreamon.demon.co.uk/snooker (“a highly polished and ultra-clean surface does not necessarily give low friction – often it actually increases friction”). Another very interesting observation from that article: ivory balls of old had much less friction than phenolic balls, and older snooker players believe that kick (as they call it in snooker) was not a problem until the switch from ivory to phenolic balls.
In short, as to whether or not to wax, there is no answer. If we are to do it, we should come up with agreed upon standards for what to use, how to apply it, and how often, so that we can make the balls as consistent as possible rack after rack and from one tournament, pool hall, or home table to the next.
There is a lack of consensus in both pool and snooker as to whether balls should be treated with wax (re: snooker, see here: www.prosnookerblog.com/2014/12/15/to-polish-or-not-to-polish). Interestingly, cleaning and polishing the balls without wax may actually increase friction (and thus throw), according to this article: www.dreamon.demon.co.uk/snooker (“a highly polished and ultra-clean surface does not necessarily give low friction – often it actually increases friction”). Another very interesting observation from that article: ivory balls of old had much less friction than phenolic balls, and older snooker players believe that kick (as they call it in snooker) was not a problem until the switch from ivory to phenolic balls.
In short, as to whether or not to wax, there is no answer. If we are to do it, we should come up with agreed upon standards for what to use, how to apply it, and how often, so that we can make the balls as consistent as possible rack after rack and from one tournament, pool hall, or home table to the next.
