What cue ball is best for straight pool?
best cue ball
- Thread starter Slickstick9
- Start date
For straight pool, you would preferably want a matched set of balls. But I must admit I have a "measle" cue ball that I like to practice with as it lets me see exactly what spin I'm imparting on the cue ball.
I can't agree more that the messel is the best for me. For quite some time I was using it with an unmatched set of centenials.
But as of late I got a true set of aramiths including the messel, and I notice a huge difference especially on break shots using a complete set.
Steve
But as of late I got a true set of aramiths including the messel, and I notice a huge difference especially on break shots using a complete set.
Steve
I have been using the red circle for a long time. I am learning straight pool. i used the measle ball last night, a friend of mine's, and I jumped out of bed with a hangover to buy the measle ball. I really like how it breaks up the pack. easier to move with.
I agree -- I love the measles ball for straight pool. The Aramith Red Circle ball (that rotation players are enamored with) is just too "zingy" for straight pool.
-Sean
I have been using the measel ball for a few years now and a buddy came over and said I should start using the red circle ball so I did. It is amazing how different they are in weight. I was over drawing nearly every shot with the red circle ball. It was frustrating. I need to get used to it.
metallicane:
Let me guess -- your buddy is mainly a rotation player? If so, his advocacy for the Aramith Red Circle is understandable -- with little effort, you can get the ball to "zing" around the table (especially on draw shots), which is a key ingredient of rotation pool positional play.
Humbly, I would disagree with him. Most straight pool competitions will likely use the cue ball that came with the original set of balls you're going to use (which is most definitely NOT a Red Circle); i.e. a Centennial Blue Circle, or the measles ball.
It's probably only when rotation players get involved, that one will start to see advocacy for the Red Circle ball, such as when a group of rotation players want to put on a local straight pool tourney. (At least in my area, that's when I see the advocacy towards the Red Circle.)
Thoughts?
-Sean
Beware of Imposter Measel Wanna-Bees though....
i bought mine through Aramith, and a friend who really like mine picked one up on Ebay, and it was clearly and imposter. it was colored funny and there was a huge difference in the weight. and it was a hair bigger in size as well !!!
Steve
i bought mine through Aramith, and a friend who really like mine picked one up on Ebay, and it was clearly and imposter. it was colored funny and there was a huge difference in the weight. and it was a hair bigger in size as well !!!
Steve
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Centennial Blue Circle
I have a set of Centennials & tried to use a Red Circle but I really do not like it for straight pool. I do think that the Red Circle should be used for 9-ball. I found that the Centennial Blue Circle has more control.
I have played over a friend's house who has a 9' Diamond table with Aramith balls with the Measle cue ball. At first I was starring at the dots and missed a few shots. It took a while, I am now use to it. It plays good too.
This was a good post & I enjoyed reading the comments on this subject.
I have a set of Centennials & tried to use a Red Circle but I really do not like it for straight pool. I do think that the Red Circle should be used for 9-ball. I found that the Centennial Blue Circle has more control.
I have played over a friend's house who has a 9' Diamond table with Aramith balls with the Measle cue ball. At first I was starring at the dots and missed a few shots. It took a while, I am now use to it. It plays good too.
This was a good post & I enjoyed reading the comments on this subject.
Genuine Aramith Pro-Cup measles ball, vs. imposters
Steve:
Absolutely! There are indeed "measle-wannabes" on the market, e.g. this one from Sterling:
http://borderbilliards.com/sterling-professional-spotted-cue-ball.html
Notice how the alignment of the red dots on the Sterling ball is completely different from the genuine Aramith Pro-Cup ball!
Measles ball "wannabe" (URL shown above); it has a total of eight dots:
Genuine Aramith Pro-Cup measles ball which has a total of six dots:
Methinks the color or tint of the imposter ball is different from the genuine article, although I'm not sure (if someone knows, please post here, to prevent folks from being gypped out of the genuine item).
Hope this is helpful!
-Sean
Steve:
Absolutely! There are indeed "measle-wannabes" on the market, e.g. this one from Sterling:
http://borderbilliards.com/sterling-professional-spotted-cue-ball.html
Notice how the alignment of the red dots on the Sterling ball is completely different from the genuine Aramith Pro-Cup ball!
Measles ball "wannabe" (URL shown above); it has a total of eight dots:
Genuine Aramith Pro-Cup measles ball which has a total of six dots:
Methinks the color or tint of the imposter ball is different from the genuine article, although I'm not sure (if someone knows, please post here, to prevent folks from being gypped out of the genuine item).
Hope this is helpful!
-Sean
I have two of the measles balls. They both came out of the same type of sealed packaging. One is very white in color the other is ivory colored. They weigh the same, are the same size, have the dots in the same places and seem to have the same finish. I think it is just a difference in the dye lot. I bought them about two years apart and I can't tell the difference playing with them.
I have seen some of the knock off measles balls but the weight or finish or size were always different.
C'est la vie.
Andy
I like the red logo cue ball that came with my set of Aramiths.
I have seen some of the knock off measles balls but the weight or finish or size were always different.
C'est la vie.
Andy
I like the red logo cue ball that came with my set of Aramiths.
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Also my cue ball of choice.
Mine is definitely genuine.
I got mine through a reputable distributor. My set of Super Pros also came with the red logo cue ball, and it plays very well. I use the measel ball mostly as a training aid.
I got mine through a reputable distributor. My set of Super Pros also came with the red logo cue ball, and it plays very well. I use the measel ball mostly as a training aid.
The cueball should match the weight of the object balls, for all games. When you buy a quality set of balls (Aramith), the cue ball DOES match the weight of the object balls. Its only when you buy aftermarket cue balls, or cueballs get mixed from other sets that you begin to have players claiming this ball is heavier than the other ball.
The top of the line Aramith balls (the pro set, and Centennials) are packaged so that each ball in the set, including the cueball, is the same size and weight. Aramith tells you right on their website.
The measels ball is not any heavier than the object balls, when purchased as a set. Neither is the blue circle cue ball, when purchased as part of centennials. Nether is the older Aramith cueball, on the Pro Set, when purchased as a set.
In summary, if you buy the complete set of balls, including their cue ball, their should not be any difference in size or weight. Only if you have mismatched sets, should there be any difference.
The top of the line Aramith balls (the pro set, and Centennials) are packaged so that each ball in the set, including the cueball, is the same size and weight. Aramith tells you right on their website.
The measels ball is not any heavier than the object balls, when purchased as a set. Neither is the blue circle cue ball, when purchased as part of centennials. Nether is the older Aramith cueball, on the Pro Set, when purchased as a set.
In summary, if you buy the complete set of balls, including their cue ball, their should not be any difference in size or weight. Only if you have mismatched sets, should there be any difference.
Can some one enlighten me on the differences in the cue balls ie: red dot, red circle, red triangle, red logo, measles. . .
Why do you refer to some of them being more "zingy"?
Andy
Here's apparently the very best cue ball and only $900.00.
http://www.aeschmidtbilliards.com/products/249
http://www.aeschmidtbilliards.com/products/249
I bought a 'measles' Aramith ball and love it. Take it to the bar on free pool nights and everyone wants to use it instead of the bar ball.
However, this ball has more burn marks on it than any other ball I've seen. They wont clean off and I'm a little pissed that a $30 cue ball wont stay burn free.
However, this ball has more burn marks on it than any other ball I've seen. They wont clean off and I'm a little pissed that a $30 cue ball wont stay burn free.
