Don't Clean Balls For A TAR Match?

I agree that it's likely about consistency. If you were going to play a shorter race like race to 7 or 11 or something "normal" cleaning the balls between matches makes a lot of sense. You get consistency between tables and all matches are equal. But if you clean them at some point during a race to 100 I think you're asking for trouble.

There's definitely a difference between clean balls and dirty balls. Clean balls play properly and dirty ones play consistently. The entire period where the balls are clean and moving towards dirty there's an adjustment to be made. I don't think that the players wanted to go through that 3 times and deal with it for 3 days. Just keep playing and keep it the same. Balls don't seem to get excessively dirty during the course of regular play. They only get 'so' dirty.
 
I don't doubt they had a reason but I just question it is to avoid skidders.

Well, I don't wanna blow your mind with all the science;)...but I think there is a difference between skidders and sliders.

I thinks:
Skidders come from dirty balls
Sliders come from clean balls

Both may result in misses.
 
Well, I don't wanna blow your mind with all the science;)...but I think there is a difference between skidders and sliders.

I thinks:
Skidders come from dirty balls
Sliders come from clean balls

Both may result in misses.

You're right there Black-Balled there is a difference between skidders and sliders. Skidders leave a streak. :)

Then there's floaters but that's for a different thread altogether.
 
Well, I don't wanna blow your mind with all the science;)...but I think there is a difference between skidders and sliders.

I thinks:
Skidders come from dirty balls
Sliders come from clean balls

Both may result in misses.

I agree. I think Jay and Woody are actually referring to the balls sliding on the bed cloth.
 
Makes Sense to Me

when they are clean
they break easy
bank long
and slide in the pockets easy

Exactly - much easier to pocket balls, avoid skids and run out with clean balls. Makes sense to me that both players would want the table conditions to be a) hard as possible for other guy to run out and b) consistent with day before.
 
By clean do you mean waxing in a ball polisher, where it can just build up crud and wax that takes time to really dry or wear down, or actually cleaned like polished or buffed with a mild cutting agent, or just alcohol, or branded cleaners that leave no residue?

What's best? My balls always feel dirty and a little sticky and I'm not saying that to be funny, they do. They are out in the elements in the garage full time, unheated/not cooled most of the time. Probably more dust in there than in the house.

They don't seem to play very consistantly, and I'd like to even out whatever changes humidity and temperature make with them also.

In that case would regular scrubbing and waxing my balls make them play more consitently... Or not waxing them? Just polishing? Both?
 
Not sure if this is a factor, but skidding aside you can also get more horizontal object ball throw with dirty balls. I hate clean balls because they are worthless for throw, and I being able to throw has definitely saved the day more than a few times for me.

Obviously too dirty, like tar coated balls from smokey Vegas pool rooms, is ridiculous, but if the balls have been used for like half the day that can be helpful.
 
By clean do you mean waxing in a ball polisher, where it can just build up crud and wax that takes time to really dry or wear down, or actually cleaned like polished or buffed with a mild cutting agent, or just alcohol, or branded cleaners that leave no residue?

What's best? My balls always feel dirty and a little sticky and I'm not saying that to be funny, they do. They are out in the elements in the garage full time, unheated/not cooled most of the time. Probably more dust in there than in the house.

They don't seem to play very consistantly, and I'd like to even out whatever changes humidity and temperature make with them also.

In that case would regular scrubbing and waxing my balls make them play more consitently... Or not waxing them? Just polishing? Both?

Typically we are talking about cleaning them without leaving anything on them (no wax coatings etc.). A lot of people use a plastics cleaner like Brillianize or Plexus. While this was a private match so anything can be agreed to, it is actually against World Rules to have any foreign substance such as wax on the balls.
 
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