I agree, but you know this game is all about splitting hairs. It's what we do.
CB Testing
- Thread starter Lawnboy77
- Start date
Thank you Sir! It's coming around nicely. Still need new slate and a good cloth install, but you know how that goes. It's tough when you live out in the middle of nowhere.
So your test for rolling exactitude is proving that once you're in tune with the chosen cue ball you will have to carry it with you, for precision perfection. Otherwise you will miss cue ball placement by two and a quarter inches.
Whew, as a first class banger I'm happy not to pack all that with me. The worries that is, not the cue ball.
Whew, as a first class banger I'm happy not to pack all that with me. The worries that is, not the cue ball.
I have heard that Aramith will test balls by bouncing them off a large steel block. The ones that bounce the highest are reserved for major tournaments. I think cue ball elasticity is more important than how far it will bounce off a cushion.
A sticky cue ball will likely bounce off a cushion farther than a polished, slippery one for the same reason sticky rails will act more lively than clean, dry rails. Bouncing farther in the OP test could be measuring the surface conditions of the balls.
It's also useful to know the diameters of the balls. Balls wear down.
A sticky cue ball will likely bounce off a cushion farther than a polished, slippery one for the same reason sticky rails will act more lively than clean, dry rails. Bouncing farther in the OP test could be measuring the surface conditions of the balls.
It's also useful to know the diameters of the balls. Balls wear down.
Hmmmmm. Something about this is very uncomfortable Bob!
And the bouncing off the steel block part didn't concern you?
Is that because the ball will retain more forward roll against the rail (reverse spin when rebounding) if it's slippery?
pj
chgo
Yes. This is often seen on brand new cloth. It's most noticeable with stripes.
The heavier ball would have more momentum and better overcome the frictional force between the ball and cloth. Whether a gram or two (the likely difference between these cue balls) would result in the varying distances here, I don't know.
Well, yes, but.... The heavier ball will also sink into the cloth more and have more rolling friction as opposed to a lighter ball which will "skim across the surface". Or not. Without an actual test, I think we are guessing.
Why rush into things
All kidding aside this is a very cool test.
I’ll take a blue circle out of a centennial set 12 days a week and twice on Sunday
Best
Fatboy
Would a smaller diameter CB roll less far? We need to get a snooker ball and a 3C ball on the ramp too. And of course the coming soon the coveted measle ball.
Actually this is interesting. I’d like to have a ramp and mess with a few variables. Will it help my game? Unlikely but it’s still interesting.
Also roll a old mud ball and see what that does.
Lots of cool things going on with this idea.
Best
Fatboy
And we do it well, we need something new to argue about. It’s been a couple days since we had a good argument(I’m not counting the Earl thread)
Fatboy
I'd predict that mud ball rolls further than any other, sticky or not.
Pin
Registered
Those pics show a big difference considering how slowly the balls would have been rolling. (Which suggests at faster speeds in normal play, pretty large differences in CB position: an important variable, albeit difficult to adjust for.)
But on the other hand, by the principle of objects falling at the same speed, the different weight balls would all have been going (approximately) the same speed when they left the ramp. In contrast, when you're actually shooting, the cue speed is the constant, so the heavier ball would set off slower.
Whether the distance difference would be bigger or smaller because of that presumably depends on whether OP's test saw the lighter or heavier balls going further.
For a test that gets closer to what happens when shooting, perhaps you could position the test balls at the end of the ramp (e.g. touching both tips to ensure consistent position), and have a second ball (the same one each time) roll down the ramp, to simulate a consistent cue-stroke.
But on the other hand, by the principle of objects falling at the same speed, the different weight balls would all have been going (approximately) the same speed when they left the ramp. In contrast, when you're actually shooting, the cue speed is the constant, so the heavier ball would set off slower.
Whether the distance difference would be bigger or smaller because of that presumably depends on whether OP's test saw the lighter or heavier balls going further.
For a test that gets closer to what happens when shooting, perhaps you could position the test balls at the end of the ramp (e.g. touching both tips to ensure consistent position), and have a second ball (the same one each time) roll down the ramp, to simulate a consistent cue-stroke.
Two type of 2-1/4” C/B, with & with out magnet for coin
Op table.
Op table.