Playing with 20 year old balls versus newer balls

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34YearsOfPlayin

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I can play great with newer balls. But everytime i get a old set of balls I really struggle pocketing balls and getting shape. I like a challenge but should peoples expectation be that they can play as well with 20 year old balls. I don't know if I should get a new set of balls or continue trying to get better with the old balls. Should a person expect to play really well with old balls? I have never seen a really good player using old worn out balls so I don't know what to think. What do you think? Thanks
 
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34YearsOfPlayin said:
I can play great with newer balls. But everytime i get a old set of balls I really struggle pocketing balls and getting shape. I like a challenge but should peoples expectation be that they can play as well with 20 year old balls. I don't know if I should get a new set of balls or continue trying to get better with the old balls. Should a person expect to play really well with old balls? I have never seen a really good player using old worn out balls so I don't know what to think. What do you think? Thanks
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The 20 year-old balls are most certainly smaller than newer balls, particularly the CB, from friction and cleaning,

They are also, most likely, different sizes throughout the set. New balls are the way to go.

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
The 20 year-old balls are most certainly smaller than newer balls, particularly the CB, from friction and cleaning,

They are also, most likely, different sizes throughout the set. New balls are the way to go.

Lou Figueroa
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Your assuming 20 years of use.

I have brand new sets of balls that are more than 20 years old. Bet they are same as new balls-if the same brand. Centennial’s specifically
 
Older Gent down the road has a snooker table, everything came out of the old pool hall YEARS ago. I struggle with even the simplest shots. They have never been cleaned and sound way weird. Not sure if it’s a mental thing or not, his shot making doesn’t seem to be terrible with them??
 
SLO-ROLL said:
Older Gent down the road has a snooker table, everything came out of the old pool hall YEARS ago. I struggle with even the simplest shots. They have never been cleaned and sound way weird. Not sure if it’s a mental thing or not, his shot making doesn’t seem to be terrible with them??
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They could be mud or plastic balls. You need to know more about them before you’ll get a meaningful answer
 
34YearsOfPlayin said:
I can play great with newer balls. But everytime i get a old set of balls I really struggle pocketing balls and getting shape. I like a challenge but should peoples expectation be that they can play as well with 20 year old balls. I don't know if I should get a new set of balls or continue trying to get better with the old balls. Should a person expect to play really well with old balls? I have never seen a really good player using old worn out balls so I don't know what to think. What do you think? Thanks
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Twenty yr old ball sets, here's other perspectives.
If they weren't used that much and were not in commercial setting and on a non player home table, then they could easily be in great shape.
But here's a concern and what I've found out from my new set.
For over a yr I never used a ball machine (have one now).
To clean I just damp cloth/hand wiped em.

Here's tho how that played out....

The constant collisions of the balls from contact/shot making has broken down the outer surface allot faster is my thinkin, and now allows the ball set to pick up chalk dust allot quicker. I do hit/pocket balls like the pros and this I think because of the higher cue ball speed, it causes this wear/ball pitting quicker.
Why? Because physically Whitey is constantly pounding the chalk dust/dirt/miniature rocks from cue ball into obj. ball.
 
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Too many variables to provide any reasonable input.

How often was the 20 year old set used?
Are they clean?
What brand/set are they?
Are they phenolic?

I've got an almost 50 year old set of Hyatt Bicentennials that have never been hit. They would play every bit as good as the modern sets I have.

If you are comparing a 20 year old set of polyester balls that have been beat to death, toss them in the trash and get a new set.
 
as said most likely you are comparing new polished balls to an old set needing heavy cleaning and polishing to meet the new standards of balls which is very different than years back.

the rest is mental. pocketing is the same, maybe position is harder as the balls dont roll as far
 
I have the original balls that were purchased with my table back in the late 90's or early 2000's. There were in OK shape when I bought the table but over the last 3.5 years I have used them a lot and they are now getting to look like old bar box balls.

New balls are slick so very little throw, old balls are not, you just have to adjust for it. Outside English will help in most cases, if possible.
 
I hate using old (worn out) balls. I feel it right away. Like there is more friction between the cue ball and object ball when they collide.

If you use the same set all the time sure you can get used to them but I like nice polished billiard balls myself. I usually bring me own balls to the hall
 
JazzyJeff87 said:
I hate using old (worn out) balls. I feel it right away. Like there is more friction between the cue ball and object ball when they collide.

If you use the same set all the time sure you can get used to them but I like nice polished billiard balls myself. I usually bring me own balls to the hall
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Growing up and playing on crap equipment (outside of the local pool hall, they maintained their equipment) I am very used to old balls and it's so second nature that when I walk into a place now and see the crap table and crap balls I smile because that's home to me and I usually play very well on those tables because I get to play fast and loose and am in my comfort zone. Fast cloth and clean balls forces me to slow down which can throw me off.
 
Whenever possible just use a proportionate amount of outside spin to compensate for friction. IMHO it’s just good practice, no matter what balls are being used. No need to make a sterile environment to practice. Realistically you will see all types of scenarios out there, so just learn to adjust.
 
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