Balls make all the difference (especially whitey)

Thomas McKane

Thomas McKane

Lifelong student of one p
Silver Member
While I was traveling last week, I got the chance to practice 14.1 for 3-4 hours a day in the evenings on a 9 ft brunswick table at a local pool hall. They had about 20 9 footers and I played on the same table all week. I'd say the cloth played fast, but not very fast, and was about 3/4 of the way through it's lifetime.

The first day (Monday) they gave me a set of balls that looked very close to new (and clean) and they probably hadn't seen 75 racks yet. I couldn't believe how easy it was to break up balls! I used a very soft touch and the balls would just fly way from each other. It allowed me to completely control the cue ball and still break out balls getting great distribution every time. My high run was 26, but i rarely ran less than 12 balls at a time. It was perfect, I was on cloud nine for 4 hours!

On Tuesday, I got an older set of balls (not very clean either) and the cue ball was extremely worn and rough. I couldn't control it at all, it wouldn't draw, or follow or anything. I took the cue ball back up and swapped it for another, which helped greatly. However, nothing would break up smoothly and I was having to hit harder, missing more and scratching way more. It was terrible, I never ran more than 10 balls and I probably averaged 6 or 7. Remember, this was the same table as the day before! But it was a completely different feel, almost impossible.

On Wednesday and Thursday I got similar older sets of balls, and struggled again. They played just different enough that I could tell which ones were newer (or cleaner) and it still wasn't enjoyable.

I'm absolutely sold on good, clean balls for 14.1. It makes ALL the difference, especially the cue ball. I'm seriously thinking about getting my own set pretty soon, and keeping them clean.

Anybody have similar experiences?
 
Also

Also, in the glory days of 14.1, did the big tournaments and exhibitions use a new set of balls every time to guarantee great play and long runs? Or did the players simply have to be good enough to deal with any condition of balls and still make long runs?
 
In the old days they cleaned them properly and thoroughly, there was a guy who got paid just to rack and clean balls. Not work the counter or get you drinks or whatever.

I also suspect it's really underrated. Probably a lot of guys go around thinking it's the cloth when really it's the balls.
 
Thomas McKane said:
While I was traveling last week, I got the chance to practice 14.1 for 3-4 hours a day in the evenings on a 9 ft brunswick table at a local pool hall. They had about 20 9 footers and I played on the same table all week. I'd say the cloth played fast, but not very fast, and was about 3/4 of the way through it's lifetime.

The first day (Monday) they gave me a set of balls that looked very close to new (and clean) and they probably hadn't seen 75 racks yet. I couldn't believe how easy it was to break up balls! I used a very soft touch and the balls would just fly way from each other. It allowed me to completely control the cue ball and still break out balls getting great distribution every time. My high run was 26, but i rarely ran less than 12 balls at a time. It was perfect, I was on cloud nine for 4 hours!

On Tuesday, I got an older set of balls (not very clean either) and the cue ball was extremely worn and rough. I couldn't control it at all, it wouldn't draw, or follow or anything. I took the cue ball back up and swapped it for another, which helped greatly. However, nothing would break up smoothly and I was having to hit harder, missing more and scratching way more. It was terrible, I never ran more than 10 balls and I probably averaged 6 or 7. Remember, this was the same table as the day before! But it was a completely different feel, almost impossible.

On Wednesday and Thursday I got similar older sets of balls, and struggled again. They played just different enough that I could tell which ones were newer (or cleaner) and it still wasn't enjoyable.

I'm absolutely sold on good, clean balls for 14.1. It makes ALL the difference, especially the cue ball. I'm seriously thinking about getting my own set pretty soon, and keeping them clean.

Anybody have similar experiences?
Click to expand...

I think they make a difference. I have a set of centennials that I clean at home and bring with me to the pool hall. I usually wipe down the table with a damp rag, too. John Schmidt talked about this at a seminar a few years ago and I have been doing it ever since.

I was playing in league towards the end of our session and my main competitor was playing a few tables over. He said the balls were not breaking too well that night. I told him mine were and he said that he had noticed. Similar tables, same humidity, different results.

Others have started wiping the tables down. Some other guys are bringing their own sets of balls in, and one pool hall is getting better at cleaning the balls that they have. I brought my ball cleaner in before one of our tournaments and everyone noticed how much better the balls were breaking up.

By the way, after a tip by Bobby Hunter, I use something called "Color Back" by turtle wax to clean the balls.
 
I find it much more enjoyable to play with cleaned balls. I don't visit pool rooms much these days (ridiculous music) but anyway, I suggest buying a few microfiber wash cloths at your local supermarket and find a small leakproof container you can put 90% water in and the rest with this stuff ...

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G12310

I think it's well worth taking a few seconds to clean them up. You can of course play with the percentages of water vs cleaner. Or even straight up if you like. :)
 
Add Water

:thumbup:I never thought of that. the Plastx works great, i've just been putting a
small smear on each ball and fire up the ball cleaner at the room where
I work. That works also, but messy.

Micro-fiber cloths are great also, I keep one in my case anyway for my
cue.

I wonder if will spray if diluted like you say ?

That would be the nuts !

Thanks,
Doc
 
Thomas McKane said:
Also, in the glory days of 14.1, did the big tournaments and exhibitions use a new set of balls every time to guarantee great play and long runs? Or did the players simply have to be good enough to deal with any condition of balls and still make long runs?
Click to expand...


One thing to remember when you're talking about back in the glory days is that the balls were made of a different material than they are now. I believe they were a bit heavier, got out of round a lot easier and were just plain all around tough to play with.....compared to what we have today that is. The greats from the past definitely played under worse conditions than we do. I doubt a reasonably dirty set of Centennials are as difficult to play with as those old mud balls.
MULLY
and cloth that wasn't as quality as what we have today either

P.S. I'd like to have a set of Centennials
 
I purchased a New Set of Centennials several years ago and keep them in a O'Neil Ball Case.

They only come out when I am playing serious 14-1 on a superior quality table (usually a GC4).

I, too, have been wiping down the table prior to play and it seems to help (if only in my mind).
 
I had the pleasure of playing at the California Billiard Club up in Mountain View, CA a couple of months ago. Every night I was given a tray of clean, polished rocks. It's a big difference and just made the pool playing experience that much more enjoyable. I also took notice of the ball polisher they had right at the counter.

It made a statement to me that this was a well managed room. ;)
 
Clean is Best

There is not much one could say about this subject. It is so important to keep the cloth & balls clean. Racks will open up so much easier when the cloth & balls are clean. A person that does not keep their equipment clean really does not care much for the sport.
 
I gave up playing 14-1. Having clean equipment is so important. However, even with clean equipment you still have to fade worn out ball sets. Today most rooms have 9 ball tournaments. It is a fact those 9 balls will be the smallest balls in the rack. The 1 ball will be the smallest because it takes the most abuse.

Now, mix them in with larger balls and there are small gaps throughout the rack. When the cue ball hits those kind of racks the separation is terrible. 14-1 starts becoming a power game instead of a finesse game. With that I gave up and now I usually play one pocket. Yes it has its problems as well for the same reasons. However its easier for me to deal with one rack = 1 game.

Rod
 
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Night and day

Rod said:
I gave up playing 14-1. Having clean equipment is so important. However, even with clean equipment you still have to fade worn out ball sets. Today most rooms have 9 ball tournaments. It is a fact those 9 balls will be the smallest balls in the rack. The 1 ball will be the smallest because it takes the most abuse.

Now, mix them in with larger balls and there are small gaps throughout the rack. When the cue ball hits those kind of racks the separation is terrible. 14-1 starts becoming a power game instead of a finesse game. With that I gave up and now I usually play one pocket. Yes it has its problems as well for the same reasons. However its easier for me to deal with one rack = 1 game.

Rod
Click to expand...

Very true, good points! I also play a lot of 1p, but it's not as easy to practice by oneself as 14.1 is.

The thing that blew me away during that week on the same table with different sets of balls was how much different 14.1 was. Night and day kind of difference, it just wasn't the same experience at all. Having control of the cue ball 99% of the time vs 30% makes all the difference!
 
Barry Doc said:
:thumbup:I never thought of that. the Plastx works great, i've just been putting a
small smear on each ball and fire up the ball cleaner at the room where
I work. That works also, but messy.

Micro-fiber cloths are great also, I keep one in my case anyway for my
cue.

I wonder if will spray if diluted like you say ?

That would be the nuts !

Thanks,
Doc
Click to expand...

I do in fact have it in a spray bottle that I purchased at home depot. I keep it home and use the stuff with my home made ball cleaner ( a carpet lined oil change pan and a Royobi buffer) I use about a 75% water to 25% Plastix mix and only have to shake it up before I use it.

Only reason I didn't recommend the spray to take with you is because I envisioned it leaking in the cue case. :) It does work great though .. no film at all.
 
I play straight pool exclusively & have noticed that clean balls are a must for consistancy. I play at home with my son & I always have 3 polished cue balls which I change out about every hour of play. Big diffrence. At the end of the seccesion I polish the cue balls ready for next time.

During play I wipe the object balls off with a micro fiber cloth about every 1/2 hour. I also wipe down the cue ball whenever possible. This make them play much better. Once a week I clean & polish all balls with Aramith ball cleaner as well as vaccuum table & wipe it down with a damp towel.

Believe me....clean equipment makes a difference, especially the balls.
 
This works

A few years ago. I was in a nice pool room. The tables were so fast & the balls broke up so easy. I asked the elderly gentlemen that worked there, what do you use on the balls. He told me "Cuetec Hi-Tech Cleaning Spray"
Just spray a little on a cloth and wipe down the balls. He stated that he always uses the same cloth. That is what I have been doing for a few years now and it works. Give it a try. I think you will be happy with it.
 
that cuetec stuff is just armor all. it is basically just a silicone based lubricant. it does work to speed up the balls, i've tried it a few times
 
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