Minimalist ball set improvement

[nataddrho]

Most people here like the classic centennials or Aramith tournament for the ball design. Traditional colors. I thought that the original problem trying to be solved by changing the colors was for television / cameras. Now it has grown into just being different and unique for marketing purposes.

If we go back to the original problem, maybe this helps solve it. Just add a thin black outline between the stripe and the white portion so that the two colors are less likely to blend under low resolution. It is an extra manufacturing step but might make everyone happy. What do you think?

 

[336Robin]

Most people here like the classic centennials or Aramith tournament for the ball design. Traditional colors. I thought that the original problem trying to be solved by changing the colors was for television / cameras. Now it has grown into just being different and unique for marketing purposes.

If we go back to the original problem, maybe this helps solve it. Just add a thin black outline between the stripe and the white portion so that the two colors are less likely to blend under low resolution. It is an extra manufacturing step but might make everyone happy. What do you think?

View attachment 942358

Interesting minimal improvement. I like the Aramith Super Pro Set pretty much like it is.
I keep a set in the car to play one pocket with because they play correctly.

 

[KINGSCOURT905]

i like the classic look too, the centennials and the aramith tournament set just look right to me lol. that thin black outline sounds pretty subtle though, would it actually help on a dim table at end pocket or is it mostly a tv thing.

 

[Chili Palmer]

I think the thin black line helps the stripes but doesn't help the solids. Back in the day, the issue was telling the difference between the 2, 4, and 8 balls, the 2 generally wasn't a huge issue, but could be - the 4 and the 8 were, IMHO, always the issue, which is why I was ok with changing the color of the 4 ball. With the quality of the cameras today I don't think it's much of an issue but I'm ok with a different color 4 ball, leave everything else alone.

 

[iusedtoberich]

It's interesting now, with Ultimate Pool using Centennial Balls, and new quality cameras, how we feel about color differentiation with that exact combo. I think its been over 20 years that we've had Centennials on TV, when the cameras were not nearly as good.

 

[nataddrho]

It's interesting now, with Ultimate Pool using Centennial Balls, and new quality cameras, how we feel about color differentiation with that exact combo. I think its been over 20 years that we've had Centennials on TV, when the cameras were not nearly as good.

It sounds then, that the color-change effort started twenty years ago to accommodate VGA resolution. The problem disappeared with high-definition and the ball colors turned into a novelty.

 

[skogstokig]

It's interesting now, with Ultimate Pool using Centennial Balls, and new quality cameras, how we feel about color differentiation with that exact combo. I think its been over 20 years that we've had Centennials on TV, when the cameras were not nearly as good.

the 4-ball fooled the commentator

 

[garczar]

Most people here like the classic centennials or Aramith tournament for the ball design. Traditional colors. I thought that the original problem trying to be solved by changing the colors was for television / cameras. Now it has grown into just being different and unique for marketing purposes.

If we go back to the original problem, maybe this helps solve it. Just add a thin black outline between the stripe and the white portion so that the two colors are less likely to blend under low resolution. It is an extra manufacturing step but might make everyone happy. What do you think?

View attachment 942358

don't like the black ring. these: https://dynaspheres.com/product/vanadium-572/ are tough to beat both in looks and price.

 

[Bob Jewett]

It sounds then, that the color-change effort started twenty years ago to accommodate VGA resolution. ...

Matchroom was using the pink 4 and light brown 7 by the 1996 Mosconi Cup. I suspect their interest was more in broadcast TV.

 

[Mensabum]

I think the thin black line helps the stripes but doesn't help the solids. Back in the day, the issue was telling the difference between the 2, 4, and 8 balls, the 2 generally wasn't a huge issue, but could be - the 4 and the 8 were, IMHO, always the issue, which is why I was ok with changing the color of the 4 ball. With the quality of the cameras today I don't think it's much of an issue but I'm ok with a different color 4 ball, leave everything else alone.

Hate to say it, but just last week playing 9 ball, I shot the 5 while the 4 was still on table. Did this twice. Had a good laugh about it at the time, but wasn't funny after I left. First time for everything, eh??

 

[Chili Palmer]

Hate to say it, but just last week playing 9 ball, I shot the 5 while the 4 was still on table. Did this twice. Had a good laugh about it at the time, but wasn't funny after I left. First time for everything, eh??

Been there done that. When I had a table the balls were pretty old and the 2 and 8 were hard to tell the difference and I had an elderly friend I would play with, he was constantly hitting the wrong ball, he did it so much he wanted to buy me a new set of balls, LOL.

 

[slide13]

I feel like the problem that these new ball designs/colors were supposed to solve is mostly no longer present. With todays camera and stream/broadcast quality I just don't know that the same problem exists anymore.

If the problem was distinguishing stripes from solids I could see this helping, but it would need to be tested with cameras to be sure. I find it unobtrusive and would take this over a changing colors any day. But I'm just not sure either is needed these days and I would like to see a return to a standard colored ball set.