Solid Balls/ Problems

[Black-Balled]

I swear that I am not just bragging that I got an Inside Pool mag @home...

OK, so I open up the mag and, on one of the first few pages, there is an ad for a ball set that (paraphrased), "eliminates the problems associated with shooting solid colored balls". For sale, a 9ball set where all balls are stripes, the 1 is a grey striped ball, the 2-9 are striped with their normal suit color.

Can someone please enlighten me as to the problems they mention? Seems to me, the only problem is (will be) getting people to play with your phony ball set

 

[jsp]

...Can someone please enlighten me as to the problems they mention? Seems to me, the only problem is (will be) getting people to play with your phony ball set

The only thing I can think of is that it's easier to maintain focus on the contact point on a striped ball than a solid ball. Because there are more lines and edges on a striped ball that can anchor your focus, it may be easier for some people to pot striped balls rather than solids.

I don't know if this is the real reason, but it's the best I can come up with.

 

[BillyKoda]

I shoot the striped balls better then the solids, striped balls give me reference points to aim at, solids do not unless the number is close to where I want to strike it. It's a matter of contrast and my eyes are not as good as they used to be.

If I had a home table I would definitely consider these new balls.

 

[Gregg]

Like said, I think it's easier to aim at a white outlined ball than a solid green six, burgundy seven, or black eight. The contrast can be hard to make out against a green cloth.

 

[Cane]

The only problem I've ever heard of with solid balls are some peoples eyes tend to pull "in" on darker colors, so they have a bit of a harder time seeing the aim lines for darker balls. I don't think shooting all stripes is the solution. I have a friend that had a little trouble seeing the 8 ball, since it's the darkest of the set, so he ended up buying 15 solid black balls and practicing with them. Worked well, and trust me, he had no trouble seeing the 8 ball these days!

Later,
Bob

 

[Colin Colenso]

I'd like to see 8-ball with just 2 solid colors, like they use in English Pool (Reds and Yellows and a Black Ball).

Perhaps add small numbers to the balls to aid identification.

It's much easier to follow on tv this way, and also easier to plan your outs when playing.

 

[ScottW]

I'd like to see 8-ball with just 2 solid colors, like they use in English Pool (Reds and Yellows and a Black Ball).

Perhaps add small numbers to the balls to aid identification.

It's much easier to follow on tv this way, and also easier to plan your outs when playing.

How would that be easier to follow on TV? I'm looking at it from the announcer's side of things: "Ok so now he's going to be looking to pocket the...erm... yellow ball that's near that one rail, instead of those other three yellow balls on the table".

Even with small numbers on'em, you wouldn't be able to tell which ball is which from watching on TV, unless the camera zooms in close enough.

Granted, just from a shooter's perspective, I can see how it would sharpen up how the table sat, just having red/yellow to contend with.

 

[Colin Colenso]

How would that be easier to follow on TV? I'm looking at it from the announcer's side of things: "Ok so now he's going to be looking to pocket the...erm... yellow ball that's near that one rail, instead of those other three yellow balls on the table".

Even with small numbers on'em, you wouldn't be able to tell which ball is which from watching on TV, unless the camera zooms in close enough.

Granted, just from a shooter's perspective, I can see how it would sharpen up how the table sat, just having red/yellow to contend with.

It doesn't help commentary much, means they'll need a telestrator to point at balls, but they often need to tell people the numbers anyway.

It helps on tv because you can quickly and easily see who is on what. That's not so clear with solids and stripes.