Comparing Size of Old & New Centennials & New "Measles" CB

[Patrick Johnson]

I got a new set of Centennials (Brunswick's "vanity brand" of Aramith balls) in the mail yesterday, and compared their sizes with the old set of Centennials I've been using. I had to stop using my new "measles" cue ball awhile back because it was noticably bigger than the old Centennials - I wanted to see if my suspicions were correct that the measles CB is really the right size and the old Centennials had just worn down over time and gotten smaller.

The results: my measles CB is in fact the same size as the brand new Centennials, including the new "blue circle" CB that came with them. The old Centennials, including the "red circle" CB that came with them (probably not from the factory), were all about 1/16" smaller in diameter.

Thought somebody might be interested...

pj
chgo

P.S. I can't tell you the actual size of the old or new balls because I didn't measure them; I just compared them with each other (by laying a straight edge across their tops).

I don't know how old the old Centennials are. They came with my 20-year-old Diamond when I bought it last year, so they could be many years old. Judging by the amount they've all worn (not just the CB and 1 ball), and by their generally dull appearance, I'm guessing they're pretty old.

Also, the new Centennials have such bright and rich colors that I want to eat them.

 

[Gregg]

...and now we get to hear how the balls are not made from the same materials and the weight is off by +/-.000002 grams.


All I know is that World championships have been decided using the measles cue ball, so it's certainly good enough for me.

 

[Nostroke]

I got a new set of Centennials (Brunswick's "vanity brand" of Aramith balls) in the mail yesterday, and compared their sizes with the old set of Centennials I've been using. I had to stop using my new "measles" cue ball awhile back because it was noticably bigger than the old Centennials - I wanted to see if my suspicions were correct that the measles CB is really the right size and the old Centennials had just worn down over time and gotten smaller.

The results: my measles CB is in fact the same size as the brand new Centennials, including the new "blue circle" CB that came with them. The old Centennials, including the "red circle" CB that came with them (probably not from the factory), were all about 1/16" smaller in diameter.

Thought somebody might be interested...

pj
chgo

P.S. I can't tell you the actual size of the old or new balls because I didn't measure them; I just compared them with each other (by laying a straight edge across their tops).

I don't know how old the old Centennials are. They came with my 20-year-old Diamond when I bought it last year, so they could be many years old. Judging by the amount they've all worn (not just the CB and 1 ball), and by their generally dull appearance, I'm guessing they're pretty old.

Also, the new Centennials have such bright and rich colors that I want to eat them.

You are going to wish you bought those new balls sooner. Big difference at least for me. I dont even own a pool table but i have a set of Pro Aramith's in the trunk of my car thanks to Wally's in Florida. I went there once and they had just refelted some tables. Everything just looked great til they gave me the set of balls. Thats when i decided "never again". I think i played less than 10 minutes. It kinda felt like having a brand new BMW but someone installed a used 1956 Studebaker sputtering engine in it. Ugh.

 

[SUPERSTAR]

I have had several issues with the polka dot cue ball and it's accompanying set of balls for years, and i have come to the conclusion that it isn't size that makes the difference.
It's the material.

The new set of balls IMO is made of of a slightly different thermo resin. One that has a little more elasticity then the older sets of balls, and the centennials.

I have stated it before, but it almost seems like the balls bounce off each other more and TO ME, react completely different. Almost like there is more "balls squashed together time" resulting in more throws and spins being exaggerated. To illustrate this better, imagine if you had 2 superballs from when you were a kid, that collide with the contacting faces being flattened momentarily. That's what i mean by that.

Also, it seems like the cue ball is easier to draw (maybe in part by bouncing back off the other ball) and it seems just a touch more difficult to use high to go through the ball when struck with a very firm stroke and not rolled. When you roll it, it almost seems like the cue ball is heavier at those times.

The way they SOUND is key to me. They don't click like centennials, but instead CLACK like the big fat balls they use for 3 cushion.

Also, the feedback i get i.e. the vibration going through my cue feels completely different when i play with the dotted ball vs the centennial blue circle. That's the thing that gets me wondering all the time as the feedback leads me to believe that they are much heavier, when in fact, they are not.
So SOMETHING is different.

I mean, i don't think it's going to make THAT much of a difference to most people.

But that's just me.

Either way, your going to have to tailor your game to the demands of each particular situation when you play, but if i had my choice, I'd play with centennials and nothing else.

 

[SUPERSTAR]

...and now we get to hear how the balls are not made from the same materials and the weight is off by +/-.000002 grams.


All I know is that World championships have been decided using the measles cue ball, so it's certainly good enough for me.

Your a psychic!

 

[BRKNRUN]

...and now we get to hear how the balls are not made from the same materials and the weight is off by +/-.000002 grams.


All I know is that World championships have been decided using the measles cue ball, so it's certainly good enough for me.

Actually it more like +/- .2 ...but who is counting anyway...

I have a set of BCs that came with the GCII (from a pool room) so the balls had alreay seen quite a bit of use...I used them for years before getting a new set of SAs with the measles ball.

My new balls are bigger (I measured) and heavier (I weighed) ..........(Zip it Perverts!!!.... )

But all I really care about is that all are from the same set and are in decent condition (within reason) and that my opponent has to play with the same set...

 

[juggler314]

it amazes me that people complain about how, perhaps, in some slow-mo video, over analyzed sort of way, balls of different manufacture may play silghtly differently.

The game is different if it's humid. If the rails have a different cut. If the rails are a different material. There are at least 2 or 3 cloths that are used for major championships, that play differently. Cloth on "general" tournament tables is going to be slower than TV tables because there's less play on it. Rails can become lose and have deader and more lively spots. There are any number of challenges for determining the speed and shape on a table.

Part of the game, at the high end is being able to roll with these changes. I absolutely HATE it when I end up on a bar table (regardless if it's a tournament or just for fun) and the ball is either heavy or large, or large *and* heavy. I generally play terribly for 3 or so games, but if i have a chance to play enough games in a row, then I know the ball - sure it's a vastly different game, but whatever you adjust, that's what makes you a pool player. If you want everything about the table to be exactly the same every time you step up to it perhaps you should move on to something more theoretical like chess?

I'm not sure what tournament it was, but someone mentioned to me about having to use one piece tables that are just packed up and shipped from venue to venue. And that was a pro-level event. Those tables were not re-felted between tournaments and develop some pretty serious personality after a while.

Personally when people ask me why I even bother to play on bar tables, I usually turn to them and say, well if i can adjust to a smaller table, that's almost definitely going to have some serious personality, in a noisy distracting environment...shouldn't I be able to hit them pretty decently in a nice comparatively controlled environment when playing "real" pool?

 

[jay helfert]

it amazes me that people complain about how, perhaps, in some slow-mo video, over analyzed sort of way, balls of different manufacture may play silghtly differently.

The game is different if it's humid. If the rails have a different cut. If the rails are a different material. There are at least 2 or 3 cloths that are used for major championships, that play differently. Cloth on "general" tournament tables is going to be slower than TV tables because there's less play on it. Rails can become lose and have deader and more lively spots. There are any number of challenges for determining the speed and shape on a table.

Part of the game, at the high end is being able to roll with these changes. I absolutely HATE it when I end up on a bar table (regardless if it's a tournament or just for fun) and the ball is either heavy or large, or large *and* heavy. I generally play terribly for 3 or so games, but if i have a chance to play enough games in a row, then I know the ball - sure it's a vastly different game, but whatever you adjust, that's what makes you a pool player. If you want everything about the table to be exactly the same every time you step up to it perhaps you should move on to something more theoretical like chess?

I'm not sure what tournament it was, but someone mentioned to me about having to use one piece tables that are just packed up and shipped from venue to venue. And that was a pro-level event. Those tables were not re-felted between tournaments and develop some pretty serious personality after a while.

Personally when people ask me why I even bother to play on bar tables, I usually turn to them and say, well if i can adjust to a smaller table, that's almost definitely going to have some serious personality, in a noisy distracting environment...shouldn't I be able to hit them pretty decently in a nice comparatively controlled environment when playing "real" pool?

Good points here! A good player will adjust to the different conditions. After playing with the "measles" cue ball for a couple of years, I think it is the best one out there at this time. The OP said that there was appox. one-sixteenth inch difference in size between the old Centennials and the new ones. That's HUGE!

I also agree with Superstar. There is no better test of equipment than playing on it and seeing how things "feel" to you. Our internal calibrations are far more exact than any computer can match. The best computer made is still YOU!

 

[Fatboy]

Also, the new Centennials have such bright and rich colors that I want to eat them.

Me too, I have often thought of that. :smile:


They cost $389 of B-Wicks site. Ouch. We have about 20 sets here at my house some are pretty new, the oldest are about 10 years old. They are the traditonal colors, I measured them and they are all the same size none are worn down. I have polished about half the sets and they look like new. Its fun to polish them, since I cant play anymore-I have became a ball polisher...

 

[spoons]

Thanks for the info Patrick. You should hang onto those old centenials for the days when you want your pockets to feel extra big

Oh, and I know they may LOOK like jawbreakers, but rest assured that if you eat those new ones, they will do more damage than the candy

...all I really care about is that all are from the same set and are in decent condition (within reason) and that my opponent has to play with the same set...

Have to agree with you there. I see it all the time in leagues or tournaments where people bring in their red circle cue balls to use with a set of old bar table balls. I don't have a problem with that if they're trading out a mud ball or something, and it's an improvement. But, most people don't take the time to check before making the switch. What they don't realize is that they often end up replacing a correctly sized and weighted cue ball with a bigger, heavier one. Or, at best, they're making an even trade between two bigger, heavier cue balls. Drives me bonkers!


<-------------- wishing he had a smilie for "drives me bonkers"

 

[TheWizard]

I'm not fussed about the tech details, but I do know that I have always prefered the styling of BC's than SA's, I don't know why that is lol

Just out of curiousity, which colouring of the BC sets do you guys prefer, traditional or the TV version?

I prefer the traditional colours, but I don't mind the TV set either , it's just a pitty that brunswick insist on having such a high price tag on their equipment, oh well

Willie

 

[cigardave]

Here's my experience with the measles cue ball... it's lighter and less elastic than the Super Aramith Pro Red-Logo cue ball that came with my new set of balls... this is a C&P from a prior thread:

My experience is different from that above... my Super Aramith Pro Cup Measles cue ball is quite a bit lighter than my Super Aramith Pro Red Logo cue ball.

Both balls are brand new. RealKingCobra handed me the brand new set of Super Aramith Pro balls last night (now about ~6 weeks ago) when he initially set up my new 9-ft Pro Am. I bought the Measles ball ~10 days ago and it had seen no play. I weighed them both on a digital postal scale.

Super Aramith Pro Cup Measles ball.... 162 g. or 5.714 oz.

Super Aramith Pro Red Logo ball... 168 g. or 5.926 oz.

And fwiw, he and I also did an elasticity experiment. We dropped both cue balls from chest height onto my smooth garage concrete floor and the Super Aramith Pro Red Logo cue ball rebounded at least 6" higher than the Measles cue ball. We did the experiment twice with the same results. The mass difference of only 3.7% does not explain the significant difference in rebound height.

Conclusion: The elasticity of the phenolic resin used in the Red Logo ball must be significantly greater than that used in the Measles cue ball.

 

[Black-Balled]

... I have often thought ... :smile: ...-I have became a ball polisher...

I got a set of ba...ahh forget it.

 

[JimS]

Me too, I have often thought of that. :smile:


They cost $389 of B-Wicks site. Ouch. We have about 20 sets here at my house some are pretty new, the oldest are about 10 years old. They are the traditonal colors, I measured them and they are all the same size none are worn down. I have polished about half the sets and they look like new. Its fun to polish them, since I cant play anymore-I have became a ball polisher...

They're available much cheaper... but you know that.

It's great you can still be involved with the game you love even if the back keeps you from being able to play as well as you'd like. Stay involved. Keep on helping. :thumbup: You'll enjoy it and you'll like the man you see in the mirror (and THAT'S what it's about!).

 

[jay helfert]

Me too, I have often thought of that. :smile:


They cost $389 of B-Wicks site. Ouch. We have about 20 sets here at my house some are pretty new, the oldest are about 10 years old. They are the traditonal colors, I measured them and they are all the same size none are worn down. I have polished about half the sets and they look like new. Its fun to polish them, since I cant play anymore-I have became a ball polisher...

Speaking of ball polishing, are you busy later?

 

[Rusty Melton]

Me too, I have often thought of that. :smile:


They cost $389 of B-Wicks site. Ouch. We have about 20 sets here at my house some are pretty new, the oldest are about 10 years old. They are the traditonal colors, I measured them and they are all the same size none are worn down. I have polished about half the sets and they look like new. Its fun to polish them, since I cant play anymore-I have became a ball polisher...

I measured both of my sets, one set is new and one is 20 years old and both sets were they same too.

 

[Cornerman]

I don't know how old the old Centennials are. They came with my 20-year-old Diamond when I bought it last year, so they could be many years old. .

Just a reference/comparison, I have an "old" set of Centennials. The cueball has a blue dot, not a blue circle. The blue circle came into existence in the mid to late 80's, IIRC.

That blue dot is noticeably smaller than the other balls. I've assumed that my set was actually made by Hyatt prior to Brunswick going with Aramith to make the Centennials and that the cueball difference marks the difference in manufacturers. But, I could be way off.

Fred

 

[JoeyA]

I got a new set of Centennials (Brunswick's "vanity brand" of Aramith balls) in the mail yesterday, and compared their sizes with the old set of Centennials I've been using. I had to stop using my new "measles" cue ball awhile back because it was noticably bigger than the old Centennials - I wanted to see if my suspicions were correct that the measles CB is really the right size and the old Centennials had just worn down over time and gotten smaller.

The results: my measles CB is in fact the same size as the brand new Centennials, including the new "blue circle" CB that came with them. The old Centennials, including the "red circle" CB that came with them (probably not from the factory), were all about 1/16" smaller in diameter.

Thought somebody might be interested...

pj
chgo

P.S. I can't tell you the actual size of the old or new balls because I didn't measure them; I just compared them with each other (by laying a straight edge across their tops).

I don't know how old the old Centennials are. They came with my 20-year-old Diamond when I bought it last year, so they could be many years old. Judging by the amount they've all worn (not just the CB and 1 ball), and by their generally dull appearance, I'm guessing they're pretty old.

Also, the new Centennials have such bright and rich colors that I want to eat them.

I like the Centennial balls better than any other set of balls on the market, past or present. I had bought a new set of Centennials a while back for me and my practice partner to use in our competitions. I wanted them to
always be clean and I didn't have a ball cleaning machine and was tired of hand-cleaning them, so I brought them to my old local pool hall and the manager quickly agreed to a free machine cleaning for me. I eagerly watched as he added drops of polish to the top of the balls. As he closed the lid, he reached for the switch and turned the machine on. The top opening lid flew open, balls were jumping up and down making such a clatter with the lid popping up and down as the latch had not been secured throughly. It made such a clatter that I even laughed a little but it wasn't long before the laughter turned quiet and then with wide eyes open I realized that the inner metal round bands that hold the balls in place were bouncing up and down on top of my new Centennial balls. My reluctant glee turned to an OMGWTF look and as he turned the switch off and the machine slowed, I saw that at least 30 % of my new Centennial balls had been SEVERELY scarred for life. The manager promised in time that he would replace them. Before he could do so, he was relieved of his position and now I sit with about 9 new and unscarred Centennial balls and are they pretty to look at.
JoeyA

 

[JoeyA]

We have about 20 sets here at my house some are pretty new, the oldest are about 10 years old. They are the traditonal colors, I measured them and they are all the same size none are worn down.

I have polished about half the sets and they look like new. Its fun to polish them, since I cant play anymore-I have became a ball polisher...

Well, that sure beats the hell out of nut-hugging.

JoeyA (thinks FATBOY has got a good sense of humor)