Is it worth it to buy my own set of balls for public use?

PocketSpeed11

PocketSpeed11

AzB Long Member
Silver Member
I just recently moved back to NM and I am playing on barboxes at a bowling alley. The sets of balls they have all have chipping and need to be cleaned. This is no different from the sets of balls I was using at a bar in NC. But I am wondering if it would behoove me to buy my own set of balls to bring to the bowling alley. At this point in my development, I can run out a rack and usually get correct shape for my next shot. Now I am looking for refinement and greater consistency. Would having a new set of balls offer me a significantly greater chance to improve, because the balls will react more predictably and consistently, or would the effect on ball action be minimal?

I know this isn't a typical instructor question, but I'm looking for answers from people with high pool IQs and I figured this would be the best place to ask. Thanks in advance.
 
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Gorramjayne

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
You mean a coin-op bar box? Bad idea.

I can't tell you how many times I had to fish my own magnetic cue ball out of a bar-box at my local place. You never know what damage has been done to the ball return by people jamming cues into the table and balls sometimes jump the track at the cue ball separator and then roll wherever they want inside the table. And you really have to know the innards of coin-op tables just to get the balls that your arm can reach, and if it rolls past that it's gone forever. Just fishing my cue ball out of one particular bar box I found two other cue balls, an 8, a 15, two 9s, somebody's bus pass, and about 100 cubes of chalk. A $200 set of balls is ruined when just one of them gets lost.

If you want to practice at a level where a chipped set of balls are actually going to have significant effect, you need a table much better than a barbox first.

If the coinop table is in good shape you can get your own Aramith Magnetic Tournament CB, it will help you practice your CB control a little better than using the barbox rocks, over-sized balls, and cheap magnetic CBs that have a metal cage inside that make them roll funny. A cue ball is much less to carry around and if it gets lost in the table That's where I'd start.

Any table that is going to be good enough for high-level practice is also going to be at a pool hall that likely also has tournament-grade balls. The only reason I'd have my own full set to play with is if I had access to a little-used full-size table like you'll sometimes find in a lounge in business, or semi-public commercial entertaining lounge, country club, etc, where they sometimes buy a low or mid-range table that is played so little it's in good shape but they bought the cheapest possible balls for it.
 
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PocketSpeed11

PocketSpeed11

AzB Long Member
Silver Member
Gorramjayne said:
You mean a coin-op bar box? Bad idea.

I can't tell you how many times I had to fish my own magnetic cue ball out of a bar-box at my local place. You never know what damage has been done to the ball return by people jamming cues into the table and balls sometimes jump the track at the cue ball separator and then roll wherever they want inside the table. And you really have to know the innards of coin-op tables just to get the balls that your arm can reach, and if it rolls past that it's gone forever. Just fishing my cue ball out of one particular bar box I found two other cue balls, an 8, a 15, two 9s, somebody's bus pass, and about 100 cubes of chalk. A $200 set of balls is ruined when just one of them gets lost.

If you want to practice at a level where a chipped set of balls are actually going to have significant effect, you need a table much better than a barbox first.

If the coinop table is in good shape you can get your own Aramith Magnetic Tournament CB, it will help you practice your CB control a little better than using the barbox rocks, over-sized balls, and cheap magnetic CBs that have a metal cage inside that make them roll funny. A cue ball is much less to carry around and if it gets lost in the table That's where I'd start.

Any table that is going to be good enough for high-level practice is also going to be at a pool hall that likely also has tournament-grade balls. The only reason I'd have my own full set to play with is if I had access to a little-used full-size table like you'll sometimes find in a lounge in business, or semi-public commercial entertaining lounge, country club, etc, where they sometimes buy a low or mid-range table that is played so little it's in good shape but they bought the cheapest possible balls for it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. I live in a small NM town and the nearest pool hall is at least 2 hours away...possibly 3. I also should have prefaced that I'm a bartable player, though I do have access to a 9 footer. I also should have mentioned that, although it is coin-op, you need to check the balls out at the front desk. I've had issues with my shooting shoulder in the past which has guided me in being a bartable specialist...a lot less strain due to less distance between long shots.
So basically I am looking for high-level practice, but I am forced to play in poor conditions. The felt is low-quality, but there is nothing I can do about that. I also rent and don't have the money for my own table. And if I do buy a set of balls, they would be in the $50 range. Fairly cheap, but they would be clean and chip-free.
 
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Gorramjayne

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ah, I see.

Do you have to put coins in, or do they leave the table open?

I think your choice here is between :

1) Getting a good Aramith Magnetic CB for $30 that you can use on any bar box you find yourself on and that will always roll true and have good action - the downside being that if that beat up set of chipped balls at the bowling alley has serious variances in weight/hardness (sometimes they're from several different sets) you have to deal with unpredictability.

2) Getting a less expensive ball set that isn't chipped - the downsides being that in cheap ball sets the balls can have just as wide variance in weight as balls that are beat to hell and for that price the cue ball that comes with the set will almost certainly be less than ideal in terms of hardness, may not react as well as a premium CB, and will crack and chip quickly.

I'm not sure what I would do but I'm leaning towards just getting a high-grade magnetic cue ball since that's usually the most noticeable thing that affects how well a bar table plays. (When I played in a bar league we'd always make sure to bring our own cue balls, using an Aramith Magnetic Tournament CB if the table required quarters and a Pro Cup Measles ball if the table was left open for league, it makes a big difference)
 
PocketSpeed11

PocketSpeed11

AzB Long Member
Silver Member
Gorramjayne said:
Ah, I see.

Do you have to put coins in, or do they leave the table open?

I think your choice here is between :

1) Getting a good Aramith Magnetic CB for $30 that you can use on any bar box you find yourself on and that will always roll true and have good action - the downside being that if that beat up set of chipped balls at the bowling alley has serious variances in weight/hardness (sometimes they're from several different sets) you have to deal with unpredictability.

2) Getting a less expensive ball set that isn't chipped - the downsides being that in cheap ball sets the balls can have just as wide variance in weight as balls that are beat to hell and for that price the cue ball that comes with the set will almost certainly be less than ideal in terms of hardness, may not react as well as a premium CB, and will crack and chip quickly.

I'm not sure what I would do but I'm leaning towards just getting a high-grade magnetic cue ball since that's usually the most noticeable thing that affects how well a bar table plays. (When I played in a bar league we'd always make sure to bring our own cue balls, using an Aramith Magnetic Tournament CB if the table required quarters and a Pro Cup Measles ball if the table was left open for league, it makes a big difference)
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I do need to put in quarters for each rack. And I really like the idea of just getting a high quality CB for when I play. I'll just need to figure out whether the table separates it by magnetism or by size. Thanks.
 
G

Gorramjayne

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
PocketSpeed11 said:
I do need to put in quarters for each rack. And I really like the idea of just getting a high quality CB for when I play. I'll just need to figure out whether the table separates it by magnetism or by size. Thanks.
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Most every table made since the early 90s has a triple-duty mechanism that returns oversize, overweight, and magnetic CBs. It's just a counter-weighted little lever the balls roll over, the oversize/weight balls tip the balance and are knocked to the side to fall in the cue ball return, and there's almost always a big magnet under the same lever so that when a magnetic ball rolls over it, the magnet pulls on the ball making it 'heavier' tripping the lever the exact same way. Unless it's a very very old table a magnetic ball should work.

I hope it is magnetic. If the table requires an over-sized ball that already ruins play to the point chipped balls are really a moot point. No sense buying a new ball set just be stuck playing with a giant CB or having to put quarters in every time you scratch a normal ball.
 
GoldCrown

GoldCrown

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
The balls on table are chipped for a reason...whatever is causing them to chip might ruin your set.
 
R

rrick33

Rick
Silver Member
If you really want to improve your game, I suggest getting off the bar boxes and move up to a 9 ft. table.
 
justadub

justadub

Rattling corners nightly
Silver Member
rrick33 said:
If you really want to improve your game, I suggest getting off the bar boxes and move up to a 9 ft. table.
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The OP already said that he is staying on small tables dues to issues with his shoulder...
 
pooltchr

pooltchr

Prof. Billiard Instructor
Silver Member
If the balls are in that bad of shape, I have to wonder about the condition of the table. It's possible that newer balls might not make a huge difference. And if that is where you play, you might as well get used to the equipment.
Just my initial thoughts.

Steve Jennings
PBIA Master Instructor
 
R

rrick33

Rick
Silver Member
justadub said:
The OP already said that he is staying on small tables dues to issues with his shoulder...
Click to expand...

Perhaps it would have been more precise to say he needs to fix his shoulder so he can move up to a 9 ft. table, if he really wants to improve his game.

It doesn't change the recommendation.
 
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FranCrimi

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
PocketSpeed11 said:
I just recently moved back to NM and I am playing on barboxes at a bowling alley. The sets of balls they have all have chipping and need to be cleaned. This is no different from the sets of balls I was using at a bar in NC. But I am wondering if it would behoove me to buy my own set of balls to bring to the bowling alley. At this point in my development, I can run out a rack and usually get correct shape for my next shot. Now I am looking for refinement and greater consistency. Would having a new set of balls offer me a significantly greater chance to improve, because the balls will react more predictably and consistently, or would the effect on ball action be minimal?

I know this isn't a typical instructor question, but I'm looking for answers from people with high pool IQs and I figured this would be the best place to ask. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I think it's a good idea. Maybe you can even talk the owner into buying a new set to keep behind the counter for the more serious players.

I have a set that I bring with me if I'm going to be practicing or teaching in a place where I'm unsure about the equipment. Just make sure you get the right balls that will fit that table.
 
PocketSpeed11

PocketSpeed11

AzB Long Member
Silver Member
rrick33 said:
Perhaps it would have been more precise to say he needs to fix his shoulder so he can move up to a 9 ft. table, if he really wants to improve his game.

It doesn't change the recommendation.
Click to expand...

For over 3 years I have tried taking a lot of time off (many months multiple times) and seeing doctors. The only thing a doctor could tell is that it is tendinitis...such a waste of money. Like I said before, I'm a bartable specialist and looking to improve my game. I've fallen in love with barbox pool and have no desire to play on a 9 foot table. Thanks though.
 
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PocketSpeed11

PocketSpeed11

AzB Long Member
Silver Member
Just to update, I did purchase an aramith magnetic cue ball. I first tried it out last night and I cannot believe how different it plays. Some people say it is super hard to get used to a low deflection shaft (and I agree where banking is concerned), but getting used to a good cue ball is even harder for me. It plays so different. My accuracy seems off and my control sucks. Going to stick with it! I'm just amazed at how big of a difference it is.
 
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