Measle ball is a training ball

[billiards_watch]

I hate to play with them because not only is it a training ball but it takes away the fun and anticipation after contact. With a regular ball you can only see how you are doing after the shot. With the measle training ball you can see what you are doing at all times. It is much harder to play with a regular old school cue ball. Some people have told me it was made for television and some people tell me it helps them play.

I tested this idea by playing others who rely on this training ball. The results are just what I expected. They can't see what they are doing with sloppy shape. In my opinion players are too reliant on this ball.

Your thoughts on this ball and it seems to be the default ball amongst players. I only use it to practice and when I play someone I swap it back to the regular ball.

How many of you play with the ball fulltime?

 

[JABSolstice]

I keep it on my home table full time. I play out quite often in leagues and tournaments that use a regular CB and don't notice a difference in terms of control with regards to measles or not. To me, it seems that you are putting too much weight into the thought that it helps in some way.

 

[Bavafongoul]

The cue ball doesn’t matter one tiny bit as long as it is clean and within 1 gram’s weight of the object balls.
I have a collection of cue balls; my favorite is just an older white cue ball with patina weighing 167.5 grams.

Included are several Aramith red measle balls, a black measle ball, a blue measle ball and Predator Arcos II.
A measle CB provides better feedback on your stroke which is helpful on 9’ tables. On 7’ tables, not so much.

Saying that a measle cue ball is a training cue ball is akin to saying that carbon fiber shafts are practice shafts.
A good player doesn’t need anything but a plain maple shaft which is how the game was intended to be played.

The next topic that is a natural extension of cue ball designs is which set is the nicest to play with, or even worse,
the best to play with? Well, might as well embark on the best pocket size to gauge your pool skills, small vs. large?

A cue ball should not determine who wins a match, or any game. The player that shoots the worst decides what the
outcome will be unless it’s 9 ball where plain old slop, I.e., ball bangers luck, can decide who wins versus better skills.

 

[GoldCrown]

Does not change my stroke. However for what it cost I’m using it until it wears to the size of a golf ball or marble

 

[Texas Carom Club]

I hate to play with them because not only is it a training ball but it takes away the fun and anticipation after contact. With a regular ball you can only see how you are doing after the shot. With the measle training ball you can see what you are doing at all times. It is much harder to play with a regular old school cue ball. Some people have told me it was made for television and some people tell me it helps them play.

I tested this idea by playing others who rely on this training ball. The results are just what I expected. They can't see what they are doing with sloppy shape. In my opinion players are too reliant on this ball.

Your thoughts on this ball and it seems to be the default ball amongst players. I only use it to practice and when I play someone I swap it back to the regular ball.

How many of you play with the ball fulltime?

keepin justins flame alive
im glad your here

 

[Island Drive]

Never heard of it as such, did Dr. Dave bring it up?
I've always been a fan of the ball that Rempe developed, showing the diversity of cue ball contact points on a very small dart/target board.... kind of thinking.
But.... Not swinging ''straight thur'' your exact cue ball strike point on your follow thru, your cueing/will not induce your intended spin.
Results/balls/collisions never lie.

 

[fastone371]

I hate to play with them because not only is it a training ball but it takes away the fun and anticipation after contact. With a regular ball you can only see how you are doing after the shot. With the measle training ball you can see what you are doing at all times. It is much harder to play with a regular old school cue ball. Some people have told me it was made for television and some people tell me it helps them play.

I tested this idea by playing others who rely on this training ball. The results are just what I expected. They can't see what they are doing with sloppy shape. In my opinion players are too reliant on this ball.

Your thoughts on this ball and it seems to be the default ball amongst players. I only use it to practice and when I play someone I swap it back to the regular ball.

How many of you play with the ball fulltime?

Do you really think those dots on the measles ball help people play position?? All the dots tell me is that the cue ball is spinning, the path that the cue takes after it hits a rail or object ball tells me what kind of English was used.

 

[couldnthinkof01]

I use if for practice if the upcoming tournament has it.

 

[Fatboy]

I never noticed the dots

 

[MitchAlsup]

I hate to play with them because not only is it a training ball

It was designed so the the audience could anticipate in the physics transpiring on the table.

That the player can read its markings easier is a side effect.

 

[GoldCrown]

It has been said the Measles ball was designed for entertainment purpose when watching pros on TV. I cannot confirm that but it sounds right. Also it is another piece of bullshit merchandise for the market.
Now I’m not sure why I bought one .. I hate this thread

 

[Quesports]

Agree with the OP. Hate them and the knock offs really really suck. The red dots on all the knock offs become flat spots on the cue ball.
You can wobble them slightly and they will settle on a red spot every single time.

Like changing the colors on balls it’s just another dumb idea.

They ought to rename the measles cue ball to the Woke cue ball.

 

[sjm]

Agreed that it's a training ball.

The feedback offered to a player is very valuable and can point the way to correction when a player fails to produce intended english. The measle ball also has value to an instructor during a training session for the same reason.

Agreed that the feedback is less important during competition, but I feel strongly that the measle cue ball has added a lot of value to our game.

 

[jtompilot]

It’s a training ball when I practice and a great playing cue ball for gambling. It’s versatile that way

 

[alphadog]

Whitey never lies - spots - dots - circles. Unless , of course , it rolls off.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Historically, the ball with six spots was not introduced as a training ball. As mentioned above, it was so audiences could see the spin on the ball more clearly. Aramith started making them around 1998 for the 3-cushion World Cups.

 

[trob]

It’s not a training ball it was the tv ball so the viewers could see how the ball was spinning.

I use one at home and notice 0 change when out playing anyplace else.

Agree with the OP. Hate them and the knock offs really really suck. The red dots on all the knock offs become flat spots on the cue ball.
You can wobble them slightly and they will settle on a red spot every single time.

Like changing the colors on balls it’s just another dumb idea.

They ought to rename the measles cue ball to the Woke cue ball.

there are a lot of shitty knock offs and they do play strange. A couple bar leagues players use them

It has been said rhe Measles ball was designed for entertainment purpose when watching pros on TV. I cannot confirm that but it sounds right. Also it is another piece of bullshit merchandise for the market.
Now I’m not sure why I bought one .. I hate this thread

I can confirm it because I was alive watching pool when the first set of tv balls when into use lol

 

[1pocketguru]

I never noticed the dots

Same here. If I do notice them it's the exception. How are people using it? Is there some secret I'm missing? Does it somehow make shooting easier? I always felt the measles ball doesn't draw as easy and follows easier than other balls. I prefer the red circle. But tournaments have been using measles for years. Therefore it's a tournament ball not a "training ball". The only training ball I can think of is the rempe ball.

 

[cjr3559]

My ability to see whether a measles ball is spinng or sliding after contact from 50 feet away or on a telecast is marginal. At best.

From 2 feet away? Yes.

 

[BilliardsAbout]

I hate to play with them because not only is it a training ball but it takes away the fun and anticipation after contact. With a regular ball you can only see how you are doing after the shot. With the measle training ball you can see what you are doing at all times. It is much harder to play with a regular old school cue ball. Some people have told me it was made for television and some people tell me it helps them play.

I tested this idea by playing others who rely on this training ball. The results are just what I expected. They can't see what they are doing with sloppy shape. In my opinion players are too reliant on this ball.

Your thoughts on this ball and it seems to be the default ball amongst players. I only use it to practice and when I play someone I swap it back to the regular ball.

How many of you play with the ball fulltime?

I'm interested in your concepts, but I'm struggling to understand how players who are unable to recognize bad position play as you wrote are affected by using a measle ball. Would they pay more attention to the shape if they used a plain white ball? I apologize for my confusion.