How long should billiard balls last?

[ssbn610g]

I did a small experiment where I play by sticking the 1 ball and then the cue ball between the 14 and 15 ball and then using a decent pencil across the top to compare the diameter of the cue ball and the 1 ball. Both were visibly smaller. Balls do wear.

Al

 

[Corwyn_8]

Any pool player who doesn't know this by now just isn't paying attention.

... to their micrometer when they measure all the balls before each game session... :wink:

Not all of have the eyes we had in our youth.

Thank you kindly.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I did a small experiment where I play by sticking the 1 ball and then the cue ball between the 14 and 15 ball and then using a decent pencil across the top to compare the diameter of the cue ball and the 1 ball. Both were visibly smaller. Balls do wear.

Al

Here is an article about ball-size and other problems: http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/2005.pdf (last article)
Here is the diagram from that article showing how you can use six object balls to measure the mis-match in the size of the cue ball:



The single gap that you get is three times the error in the diameter of the cue ball. That works for both large and small balls.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I used to play in a room that didn't change out balls for a decade or two. The "red circle" cue balls gradually changed into "faint pink circle that is almost gone" cue balls. That is some wear.

 

[ROB.M]

Post

The balls will never be as new as when they come out of the box.

I have a set of old Centennials and the numgbers and ring have "popped" or raised above the rest of the ball.

When you polish them you are using an abrasive and that wears them down.

If you strike those balls with your cue tip you are wearing them and scratching the surface.

As the balls slide across the cloth they get worn.

The chalk on the CB from the tip may transfer to the OB and cause some marks.

I think that some also become distorted out of round by hard impacts. But really not enough to cause any significance or that noticable. There was a article one time about the earth being more of an egg shape instead of a perfect sphere but if a CB were expand to the size of the earth in its proportions the earth would be more of a perfect sphere than that CB. The CB would also have deeper canyons and mountains so high that the earths highest mountain would be a mere hill.

If you look at a bowling ball the runs down an oiled lane there eventually become a track that is worn into the ball.

It is nice to play with equipment that is in perfect condition but in reality how and where will this ever be done except on your own table if you maintain it that way.

-
Hit the nail on the head!

Cyclop aquired the Hyatt formula, I don't think they have the exact ingredients,tooling or knowledge of experience that the Hyatt company had.
The Hyatt centennial balls held the shine like nothing else.


Rob.M

 

[onepocket1]

When I owned my poolroom, I changed to new cue balls every year and I changed one balls every two years. Every five years we repaced the entire set. This wear level was in my tournament room where the better players were.

Ken, former owner of Hard Times in Bellflower CA

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Here is an article about ball-size and other problems: http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/2005.pdf (last article)
Here is the diagram from that article showing how you can use six object balls to measure the mis-match in the size of the cue ball:

View attachment 409485

The single gap that you get is three times the error in the diameter of the cue ball. That works for both large and small balls.

Great stuff, Bob.

A hunch: is the gap actually 3.14 x the ball diameter difference?

pj
chgo

 

[ivicafranic]

Depends on the game that is played
But probably much longer than bowling balls and longer than tips on cues except if you use G2 tips from Cue Components

 

[midstroke]

mine was fine until wife started carrying them in her purse.
:grin:

 

[Patrick Johnson]

There was a article one time about the earth being more of an egg shape instead of a perfect sphere but if a CB were expand to the size of the earth in its proportions the earth would be more of a perfect sphere than that CB. The CB would also have deeper canyons and mountains so high that the earths highest mountain would be a mere hill.

Dr. Dave debunked this old myth in this article from a couple years ago. Here's his conclusion:

"...the Earth would make a terrible pool ball. Not only would it have a few extreme peaks and trenches still larger than typical pool-ball surface features, the shrunken-Earth ball would also be terribly non round compared to high-quality pool balls. The diameter at the equator (which is larger due to the rotation of the Earth) is 27 miles greater than the diameter at the poles. That would correspond to a pool ball diameter variance of about 7 thousandths of an inch. Typical new and high-quality pool balls are much rounder than that, usually within 1 thousandth of an inch."

Cool story though.

pj
chgo

 

[lfigueroa]

I have a set of Aramiths that have had plenty of use over the last three years. I've noticed they are harder to keep clean now. The outer layer must wear away over use, and can be restored temporarily in the ball polishing machine, but over time, I've now clean them more frequently than I used to.

One of the marketing pitches by Cyclops balls is they stay cleaner longer, and I assumed it's because they have a thicker clear coat which doesn't wear down as fast. But I haven't seen any reviews of Cyclops owners who've had a set for a few years under heavy play.

Also, ball cleaning machines are all different and the ones that do not have separate chambers for each ball, I've heard lead to sets wearing out faster due to the extra contact during a clean cycle.

Not thicker clear coat, they have more phenolic in them, which makes them harder. One might then make the leap that they should last longer but I dunno fer sure.

Lou Figueroa

 

[TheBook]

Dr. Dave debunked this old myth in this article from a couple years ago. Here's his conclusion:

"...the Earth would make a terrible pool ball. Not only would it have a few extreme peaks and trenches still larger than typical pool-ball surface features, the shrunken-Earth ball would also be terribly non round compared to high-quality pool balls. The diameter at the equator (which is larger due to the rotation of the Earth) is 27 miles greater than the diameter at the poles. That would correspond to a pool ball diameter variance of about 7 thousandths of an inch. Typical new and high-quality pool balls are much rounder than that, usually within 1 thousandth of an inch."

Cool story though.

pj
chgo

Thanks for the update. I will now erase that from my memory and replace it with some other foolish trivia.

I doubt that it was a myth at the time that the original article was written. Dr Dave article proves how far things have advanced in our measurement of the earth plus the technology and methods of producing quality billiard balls.

 

[Bob 14:1]

Firstly, I understand that balls can eventually wear. Unless you're on the pro tour, perhaps my suggestion will apply to you also.

When my mind gets cluttered with such trivialities, I immediately force myself to double my daily practicing from 10 to 20 racks.

I continue this regimen for a week, and I'm pretty astounded at how well my scratched and dinged 4 ball and others are finding the pocket.

If after this, you're still not pocketing as well as you normally do, then buy a new set of balls if you wish.

You'll most likely not see much of a dramatic improvement in your game, but I'll be the first to admit if I had a dime for every product tweak I've done, I'd be a pretty wealthy guy. Your results may, of course differ, but unless you're running rack after rack with ease and not a middle of the road player like me, well, at least you've now got a spiffy set of new balls.

 

[Skippy27]

I believe they say home use balls will last 20-30 years.

Commercial use will probably last 3-5 years. Not only from the additional play time on them but they are probably "abused" a lot more by flying off the table on to hard surfaces or into steal chair/table legs.

I know the place I frequent can use 8 new sets. They have mismatched balls, balls with nicks and balls that are smaller than others.

 

[TheBook]

I believe they say home use balls will last 20-30 years.

Commercial use will probably last 3-5 years. Not only from the additional play time on them but they are probably "abused" a lot more by flying off the table on to hard surfaces or into steal chair/table legs.

I know the place I frequent can use 8 new sets. They have mismatched balls, balls with nicks and balls that are smaller than others.

A few years back at the SBE we seen them delivering the balls that were to be used. They were on a pallet and being unloaded by a forklift in the parking lot. As they were being transported across the lot the pallet fell off. The were scattered across the lot. During the SBE it was common to be playing with Super Aramith Balls and Duramith mixed together. Besides being subjected to the abuse in the parking lot the tables were really filthy. Your bridge hand would get blue after a few turns at the table. I am sure after that tournament the balls were ready to be scrapped because of all the chalk on the tables, and the other abuse by the players.

During the Pro Am I approached one of our local short stops that was playing and told him about the mismatched balls. He just shrugged it off and said it really didn't matter and never pays any attention to stuff like that.

I think sometimes we over analyze equipment as an excuse for our lack of ability. I doubt that Efrin learned to play on perfect tables and conditons.

 

[Skippy27]

During the Pro Am I approached one of our local short stops that was playing and told him about the mismatched balls. He just shrugged it off and said it really didn't matter and never pays any attention to stuff like that.

I think sometimes we over analyze equipment as an excuse for our lack of ability. I doubt that Efrin learned to play on perfect tables and conditons.

Agreed, I have a tendency to ignore it as well. However playing with different size balls makes a difference. I would image most people wont realize that miss was because of that and write it off as bad aiming/technique. I know I do.

I can tell you without a question it is different playing with my Super Aramith Pro Cup balls then it is playing with the smorgasbord of balls at the place I shoot at 99% of the time.

 

[Bank it]

2-3 years at the outside for commercial use

 

[ssbn610g]

Here is an article about ball-size and other problems: http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/2005.pdf (last article)
Here is the diagram from that article showing how you can use six object balls to measure the mis-match in the size of the cue ball:

View attachment 409485

The single gap that you get is three times the error in the diameter of the cue ball. That works for both large and small balls.

Thx Bob, enjoyed the article. Also looked at the others which were very interesting.

Al

 

[fastone371]

Mismatched balls only bother me when they are much different in size. It can be very tough to get a tight rack if more than 2 balls are different in size. As far as how they play it really does not matter too much. The biggest thing is the finish on the ball, real shiny balls usually throw very little and balls that look like they were played with on the concrete parking lot then cleaned with 80 grit sandpaper tend to throw a lot.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Mismatched balls only bother me when they are much different in size. It can be very tough to get a tight rack if more than 2 balls are different in size. As far as how they play it really does not matter too much. ...

If the mismatch is between the cue ball and object ball, it can make a huge difference in the draw/follow you get.