Polished Clean Balls vs Dirty Marked up Balls
- Thread starter Bank2Win
- Start date
clean vs dirty balls
Balls that are dirty and or nicked are much more likely to skid or hop when colliding with other balls.
I don't own a pool table but I do have a set of Aramith Super pro balls that I take along when visiting a certain pool room. The equipment in this particular room is old and more than a little neglected...this includes their pool balls.
Some people scoff when they see that I brought along my own set of balls. I tell them about how dirt and nicks can cause the objet ball and the cue ball to go astray. I also add that even if you don't subscribe to this line of thinking, having clean and smooth balls gives you one less thing to think about while playing your game.
Balls that are dirty and or nicked are much more likely to skid or hop when colliding with other balls.
I don't own a pool table but I do have a set of Aramith Super pro balls that I take along when visiting a certain pool room. The equipment in this particular room is old and more than a little neglected...this includes their pool balls.
Some people scoff when they see that I brought along my own set of balls. I tell them about how dirt and nicks can cause the objet ball and the cue ball to go astray. I also add that even if you don't subscribe to this line of thinking, having clean and smooth balls gives you one less thing to think about while playing your game.
I tend to agree with you about unclean balls skidding more so than cleaner ones. I think the cloth may also have something to do with this as well. It seems that well used cloth that is rather dirty with chalk dust and other stuff also makes balls skid more frequently as opposed to brushed and vacuumed cloth. In my experience I seem to have more skids on the Diamonds than the Gold Crowns. I don't know why exactly but it just goes that way for me.
I don't think skids are 100% the fault of equipment being used but a combination of a poor or hesitant stroke and equipment. I think the percentage is closer to 60% equipment issues and 40% the stroke, give or take. Just my opinion.
In any case I always prefer a clean table and set of balls. I don't know many who want it any other way.
Jim
Well stated. There are a lot of other factors than cause balls to skid or hop. I have an accu-stats video of a 14-1 match between Rempe and San Souci. Rempe is doing a review with Pat Flemming during the replay of the match. In his dialogue Rempe mentions that in certain situations using "just a bit of outside english" can help the object ball roll true and not skid off line. Rempe speaks about how he missed an easy shot during a very important match when the object ball skidded, hit the points of the side pocket and failed to fall in the pocket. It cost him the match. He said that ever since then he uses a "just a touch of outside english" on shots where he's hitting the ball softly.
That was either a World or Us Open Championship match against Joe Balsis and it was the game ball into the side pocket.
Clean for sure. They splatter better on break shots and seem to roll further, basically making the table play a lil faster.
I've heard several claims of very clean balls skidding but I don't buy it. I think they are simply covered with some polish residue instead of covered with dirt. But truly clean balls have nothing at all on them, and that's ideal.
I've heard several claims of very clean balls skidding but I don't buy it. I think they are simply covered with some polish residue instead of covered with dirt. But truly clean balls have nothing at all on them, and that's ideal.
I Carry a package of Windex wipes that i clean the balls with before i start playing with at the pool hall i play at.
I know this is a little over the top, but i take the game very serious and i dont want dirty balls or table to hinder my performance !
i even clean them right after they get finished running them around in the ball polisher. to get rid of any residue that may cause a skid on me !
Steve
I know this is a little over the top, but i take the game very serious and i dont want dirty balls or table to hinder my performance !
i even clean them right after they get finished running them around in the ball polisher. to get rid of any residue that may cause a skid on me !
Steve
I recall reading an old article (Jewitt I think) discussing skid. It's caused by some substance like chalk or some other smudge at the contact point between the cue/object ball that creates friction to throw off the shot. The article calculated the size of a typical chalk mark on a cue ball is about 0.5 percent of its surface. So the odds of the cue ball and object ball meeting at the chalk mark is 1 out of 200. Is that about how often you run across skid when you play? Anyways, it seems obvious that the dirtier the balls and/or table are the more likely you're going to get some unexpected reaction like skid. But it can still happen when the ball are new and clean.
I usually bring my own balls, too. I use a ballstar cleaner at home beforehand.
Then I take a damp rag at the pool hall and wipe up some of the chalk.
I think that every ball collision results in a skid. Most are so small that they go unnoticed. They are most noticible on slow shots at small angles. Dirty balls enhance the skid.
Dave Nelson
Dave Nelson