I don't think this is actually happening, I just think it is easier to see with the measles ball. I noticed the same, and then watched someone else hit two similar shots with a measles ball, and a red circle and concluded it was my eyes playing tricks on me due to seeing the measles spinning.
Aramith Blue Logo Cue Ball
- Thread starter John Biddle
- Start date
I don't think this is actually happening, I just think it is easier to see with the measles ball. I noticed the same, and then watched someone else hit two similar shots with a measles ball, and a red circle and concluded it was my eyes playing tricks on me due to seeing the measles spinning.
I think it could be happening if the measles ball is heavier than the other CB. Since measles balls are often personal CBs or replacement CBs, they are often heavier than the other CB, which is worn down from use.
pj
chgo
At my local pool room they have Centennial balls with blue circle CBs. I have a red circle CB that I use instead specifically because the blue circles collect too much chalk - I can easily see that the red circle's surface is glossier. Maybe the blue circles are knockoffs, but I think they came with the Centennials...?
pj
chgo
Fair point. What I have seen is with cue balls in regular rotation at a pool room. I would call them evenly worn. This is a tangent though. The skids are an issue and a cue ball that stays clean is always a good thing. I play mostly one pocket, and I can usually count on a skid or two per session.
No. The blue logo ball is made with the Aramith Premium resin, which is a step down from the Super Pro resin, which is a step down from the gtop of the line Duramith Tournaments.
As far as weight goes, they are "official weight", That is anything from 156 to 170 grams (5.5 - 6.0 oz.) Obviously it is best to have a set (including the cue ball) that is as close in weight as possible.
Yes, the red circle has a "carom finish", which is one of the reasons (along with it's low weight) that makes it a "hot" cueball. I believe the weight is in the low 160grams or even below (I seem to remember 157grams being claimed), while most good sets have an object ball weight of 167-168 grams. And before anyone goes off on a rant, YES it is easily noticable by ANYONE who keeps their eyes open. It can be easily demonstrated as well. For instance you can draw angled drawshots more straight towards you, than you could with a heavier cueball. Sometimes a double kiss can be avoided on certain banks as well (rare).
It is not as good for 14.1, because it tends to bounce of the rack, instead of burrowing in, for instance. It's behavior is also somewhat less predictable because of that. I still prefer it to the measel ball (mostly because it's all white), but IMO the blue circle is better. The blue cirlce may be less chalk resistant, but overall it is a very nice cueball.
Last edited:
I own a blue logo aramith, several red logo, a measle ball or two, etc. Honestly I never play with the blue logo ball much. It sits in the bag I bring to pool league with a measle ball and a blue circle centennial ball. I think the red logo ball is the worst for holding marks and chalk. The measle is next, then the centennial. The blue logo ball looks brand new, but to be fair it probably has less than 25 racks played on it.
I'll try it out some time.
KMRUNOUT
The term "logo" typically refers to Aramith balls, and the Aramith logo. The centennial cue ball is typically referred to as the blue *circle* ball.
KMRUNOUT
It might be that material, but it is definitely not the cueball that comes with the Aramith Tournament set. That ball has its own unique black logo on it, unlike the regular Aramith logo. It would be very odd to include the tip top of the line material in any balls in the mid level set.
And red circle? Yuck. You have one of the best ball sets out there. Why not use the nice cue ball that came with it?
KMRUNOUT
The blue circle is my personal preference. When playing with Super Aramith balls, I like the measle ball. I don't hate the measle ball with centennials, but I like it better with the Super Aramith. I honestly don't know why. I really don't like the Red logo Aramith ball with Centennials, and I only like it slightly better with Super Aramith balls. The red logo ball is not one of my favorites. It is a feel thing for me and would be hard to put into words.
KMRUNOUT
For the simple reason that when someone came over to play on my table they said "oh, you dont use a red circle ball"? I thought maybe I was doing something wrong by not using a red circle. I also sometimes use the red circle with my Centennials and Cyclops. For some reason memory told me that my Aramith Tournament set came with a dark blue logo but it very may well be black as others have stated. Will cease the use of red circle balls with my Duramith set immediately:wink: FWIW the Duramith set most definitely stays clean and shiny longer than my Centennials and Cyclops, I have a Diamond polisher so they never really get that bad but I like to keep them looking like they just came out of the box..
Not according to the manufacturer...
Maybe what you're seeing is the effect of a resin with greater "elasticity"...?
pj
chgo
View attachment 90770
Attachments
Last edited:
I stand corrected. The effects could also be due to the fact that all the red circles I've tried have been quite worn, which would at least make them slightly lighter. The draw thing I did try many times and with the red cirlce and blue circle available to me, the difference was noticable and easily so. I really regret not weighing them at the time. It would be interesting to see what the difference actually had to be to produce such a dramatic effect.
Last edited:
DP by DPP. Hate when that happens.
Last edited:
There is so much misinformation posted every time one of these cue ball threads pop up. There is no such thing as a "hot" CB in the Aramith line. I'm not so sure there is such as thing as a hot cue ball anyway - a lighter cue ball that will produce more draw will produce less follow for the same reason, it's lighter than the object ball. The top of the line sets may perhaps seem to play play "hotter" as a result of being made from resins that produce less friction (and the resulting heat) that makes them easier on the bed cloth.
With the specialized exceptions noted by Patrick, all Aramith cue balls are manufactured to be within official specs, meaning 156gr to 170 grams. So when someone posted they weighed their red circle ball and it was lighter than their blue circle or red logo ball, that means absolutely nothing.
Now the higher price point cue balls (Duramith, Cents, Super Aramith Pro) are considered better not just because they play better (and by that I mean more neutral) but because they are more expensive to produce. They use higher quality resin, they last longer, are less prone to fading and cracking, produce less heat so are easier on the bed cloth, etc. and they are manufactured to tighter tolerances.
But perhaps most significant is those three ball sets are "matched" at the factory. So balls are coming off the production line at all different weights and those that are between 156 - 170 grams pass initial inspection. For those top three sets the balls are then sorted by weight (and size and color) and then the sets are put together so they are matched. For playability, the most important factor is they are matched by weight.
What all this means is when replacing a worn cue ball from a set, even if it's the exact same CB (say a measles ball from the TV set with another measles ball), it may or not play the same because the new replacement ball was bought separately and therefore is not necessarily a match to the set. It may weight more or less. So a different model ball used as a replacement may indeed seem to play better than the replacement CB that is the same product as the rest of the set. The only way to match a replacement CB is to weigh the rest of the balls in your set to establish the average weight, then weigh the replacement CB's and pick the one that comes closest to that weight. Ideally, the closest match would also be the same composition as the set.
As for the debate between the red logo and measles ball, say what you want, but except for the graphics they are the exact same ball and all of the above about replacing a ball applies.
With the specialized exceptions noted by Patrick, all Aramith cue balls are manufactured to be within official specs, meaning 156gr to 170 grams. So when someone posted they weighed their red circle ball and it was lighter than their blue circle or red logo ball, that means absolutely nothing.
Now the higher price point cue balls (Duramith, Cents, Super Aramith Pro) are considered better not just because they play better (and by that I mean more neutral) but because they are more expensive to produce. They use higher quality resin, they last longer, are less prone to fading and cracking, produce less heat so are easier on the bed cloth, etc. and they are manufactured to tighter tolerances.
But perhaps most significant is those three ball sets are "matched" at the factory. So balls are coming off the production line at all different weights and those that are between 156 - 170 grams pass initial inspection. For those top three sets the balls are then sorted by weight (and size and color) and then the sets are put together so they are matched. For playability, the most important factor is they are matched by weight.
What all this means is when replacing a worn cue ball from a set, even if it's the exact same CB (say a measles ball from the TV set with another measles ball), it may or not play the same because the new replacement ball was bought separately and therefore is not necessarily a match to the set. It may weight more or less. So a different model ball used as a replacement may indeed seem to play better than the replacement CB that is the same product as the rest of the set. The only way to match a replacement CB is to weigh the rest of the balls in your set to establish the average weight, then weigh the replacement CB's and pick the one that comes closest to that weight. Ideally, the closest match would also be the same composition as the set.
As for the debate between the red logo and measles ball, say what you want, but except for the graphics they are the exact same ball and all of the above about replacing a ball applies.
Last edited:
Phenolic elasticity is a real thing. Try bouncing various cueballs on a hard and slick surface (not the slate please). You can even weigh them and weight match them first. Get an old bar table ball and see how that compares to an Aramith.
But yes, weight matching is important. It is strange to me that aramith claims all of their cueballs are the same weight within a couple of grams, as this does not square with my observations. My Super Pro set was very well matched when I got it, all 168 grams, but that is an expensive, matched set. Other Aramith balls I have weighed have been all over the place (relatively speaking). I bought the Joe Tuckers aiming by the numbers balls (Aramith brand), and they were much lighter than 168-169 grams. I can reweigh them tomorrow, but I think they were at 163 grams out of the box, and they have seen much less use than my regular Super Pros, which have lost very little weight. Using the aiming by the numbers cueball with my Super Pros gives the same impression (almost, but to a lesser degree) as using the red circle. These 5 grams seem to make a difference.
I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and buy a red circle and compare it to my unopened/unused measel back up ball. If they happen to be the same weight, it would be interesting to see exacttly how different they actually are in their behavior. Maybe I'll get a blue circle for good measure. Also 156-170 grams is a HUGE range, relatively speaking.
Last edited:
I agree 156 -170 is a lot, but that is the official specification according to the WPA. Now Aramith balls at all price points may be less than that. They are simply guaranteed to be within that spec. And their top three balls are almost certainly to tighter spec than the official standard. I suppose one could say the ideal weight would be right in the middle, or 163-164 grams, but again consistency throughout the set is probably more important to neutral play than the specific weight :thumbup2:
Last edited:
Can we get back on the subject now?
The idea was to confirm or disprove the above through experimentation rather than to compare all aspects of the various Aramith cue balls.
The idea was to confirm or disprove the above through experimentation rather than to compare all aspects of the various Aramith cue balls.