very fair point, but it's hard to know what's a cash grab
Not to be uncivil, but why does it matter? Every sports league in the world engages in cash grabs. And they are typically a lot more lucrative in doing it. Pool has lacked investment for years. So Matchroom does something about it and people complain.
Come now. The sport can't be all purist if it's trying to grow! (-:
and what's a supplier producing a quality innovative new product when you haven't tried them yourself and pro players opinions aren't too trustworthy as they often have financial incentives to promote certain equipment.
I own a few sets of Aramith and Dynasphere. Doubt you would know the difference if they were the same colors. They do feel very slightly different. The Dynaspheres seem a hair "gummier" to me, but not in a bad way. The balls of both manufacturers play true. Dynaspheres do stay cleaner.
There's no doubt Dynasphere offered more money to Matchroom to become the official balls. CBPA cloth did the same. Yet if they are high quality products, that's all that matters. And the fact that MR is generating more revenue for the sport and hopefully the players.
It's also clear Simonis and Aramith didn't want to contribute more. I understand why, from their position. They spend a lot on the game and are a big supplier to Predator. Predator was probably not going to partner with Dynasphere or CBPA.
WNT used CBPA cloth at the European Open. I didn't hear any players complain and nothing seemed out of the ordinary on the table. (I have Champion Tour on my home table and I like it as much as Simonis)
Day 1 of the UK Open, I didn't notice any issues with the new balls, either.
