Us open 10ball and 8ball

Mark Griffin said:
[...]
We have previously used the red circle - but it s NOT the ball that comes with any set of balls. I have always preferred the red circle but it seems the measle ball is gaining in popularity but it hardly qualifies as original cue ball. [...]
Mark Griffin
Click to expand...

Mark:

Glad you mentioned that. A lot of folks seem to think the red circle ball is a "standard" ball and is "automatically bundled" with ball sets. Nothing could be further from the truth. Aramith always sells the red circle ball as a completely separate standalone product, and has NEVER included the red circle with any of their ball sets. That's telling, right there.

Although yes, many folks prefer the red circle, that fact is also telling of the game they like to play -- usually short-rack rotation. The red circle is an especially "zingy" ball (especially with draw), so in games where you have to move the cue ball around, it makes sense lots of players of those games would warm to that product.

However, in order to level the playing field between the various games that a ball set must go through (e.g. short-rack rotation, 8-ball, one pocket, etc.), the cue ball *should* be matched to the object balls. Put it this way, if you used an object ball as a cue ball and shot it into another object ball (using e.g. draw, follow, side spin), a cue ball should respond exactly the same as that object ball that was used as a cue ball.

Lou also makes a good point about the COR of the material used in the construction of the cue ball. Again, that cue ball should respond as close as possible to an object ball if you struck it directly with your cue. Many times, a cue ball product -- even the red circle(!) -- fails this simple test, because the COR is so different. IMHO, the measles ball is as close to an object ball as you can get, and that's why Aramith certifies and bundles it with certain ball sets:

http://saluc.com/html/billiard/index.php?idlien=10

I'm assuming the Cyclop ball is as close to the object balls as possible, so that certain games don't inadvertently "bring out" certain non-standard characteristics of that ball product -- like being zingy on draw, etc.

-Sean
 
lfigueroa said:
Do these guys have a web site? Anything on the technical specs on these balls or how they compare to Aramiths?

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

I agree -- that's odd that the "Cyclop" icon is a static, dead image, and not hyperlinked to anything. No website for Cyclop, the company?

-Sean
 
Mark,

I think introducing new balls that only a few local players in Vegas have had a chance to play with is unfair to all the other players.

After 30 years of not playing at all it has taken me 18 months to adjust to the Aramith balls. They skip, slide, jump and stick to each other like glue. I would be glad to get rid of them under norman circumstances.

The Measles ball acts like a weighted bar box ball. There are no real spectators for pool anyway. Just other players. Most know what the cue ball is doing and don't need spots to show them what is happening with the cue ball.

You should at least post where to buy the new balls so people can experiment with them if they want.

Bill S.
 
Do the entrants in these 2 events have to have a BCAPL membership to play in these events like the Amateur"s have to in their events?
 
Bill Stroud:

We are not selling the balls so I cannot tell you where you can buy them.
We received the balls about 3 weeks ago - we put a couple of sets in 2 of our main league bars. NONE of these players would even consider entering the pro events. I see NO advantage to these players over any other player. These are 7' tables.

These balls play just like you would expect them to.
I have heard about the skidding for years (Steve Mizerak was complaining at a senior event back in 1999 or so).

I agree with your comments about the measle ball - but it is now accepted by a lot of players. We use it on the TV table and you must have the same ball on all the 9' tables.

These balls have been tested - and people like Bustamonte said they are fine - that is good enough for me. The weights of all the balls (including cue ball is very close - only two balls were off by 1 gram). The measle ball is not the original ball and I expect it to perform as it usually does.

Mark Griffin

bstroud said:
Mark,

I think introducing new balls that only a few local players in Vegas have had a chance to play with is unfair to all the other players.

After 30 years of not playing at all it has taken me 18 months to adjust to the Aramith balls. They skip, slide, jump and stick to each other like glue. I would be glad to get rid of them under norman circumstances.

The Measles ball acts like a weighted bar box ball. There are no real spectators for pool anyway. Just other players. Most know what the cue ball is doing and don't need spots to show them what is happening with the cue ball.

You should at least post where to buy the new balls so people can experiment with them if they want.

Bill S.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
bstroud said:
There are no real spectators for pool anyway.
Click to expand...

Ouch.

How are we supposed to get the sport out there to the masses if experienced players don't believe in the appeal of the game ?


bstroud said:
Just other players. Most know what the cue ball is doing and don't need spots to show them what is happening with the cue ball.
Click to expand...

There are going to be A LOT of spectators/players who want to learn from the pros and the use of this cue ball will help them.

This year the pro events will be open to the public so anybody from amateurs to people on vacation can just walk in and see the impressive line-up of players in action, for Free.
This is GREAT.

Plus, it looks great on the pictures and on video. TAR will be streaming all three events.


bstroud said:
You should at least post where to buy the new balls so people can experiment with them if they want.
Click to expand...

+1! Good point.
 
I wish there WERE real spectators. It would take real live TV for that to happen now. I wish it would.

I have played pool since I was 4 years old and it has provided a good living for me. First as a gambler and then as a cue maker.

There just was or is no way to make a living as a pro player.

Having free entry to the events is a good move. Better yet would be flyers in all the hotels, casinos, airport or some form of advertisement to let people know. This is difficult to do in Vegas. They want you in the casinos.

I've played in a lot of tournaments where there was nobody watching the finals. It was usually from lack of marketing experience by the promoters.

Promotion is a professional endeavor and requires the right people with the right experience.

I know just organizing an event of this size is a full time occupation and Mark and crew do a great job.

About the new balls:

It is an over simplification to say the balls weight the same and that some players say they are OK.

Are they the same material? Do they react the same? Why different colors. Who is responsible if a player shoots the wrong ball because of the color. Many people (including me) had that problem with the TV set.

Professional Snooker has one set of balls and pocket templates for all tables used in professional matches. They have lots of spectators and no dots on the cue ball. Perhaps they have a lesson to teach us.

I personally have a TV set, a regular set of Aramith, the set used at the US Open with the black logo cue ball, a Centennial set, a red circle, and a Measles ball.

How many more balls do I have to buy do be able to compete? A one pocket set, an 8 ball set, a 9 ball set, a bank pool set, etc?

I don't think it is asking a lot to see some consistency in what should be a professional sport.

Cyclops only had one eye anyway! Does that mean we have to wear a patch on one eye to be able to play with them?

Bill S.
 
I agree with you Mr. Stroud! Too many ball sets and too many game sets!!
And raising the amateur's entry fees from anywhere from 28% to 70%, I
hardly call that free!!
 
The CYCLOP Ball is phenolic. BTW - There is no 's' in the name - it is not cyclops.

Are they the same material? YES - phenolic
Do they react the same? Probably - it will be interesting to see if they have 'skids' etc which are hard to duplicate. They seem to play the same.
Why different colors? I think the standard colors were very difficult to discern but I look at the number because I am color blind. That is just a 'getting used to' situation. We did not have any input into the colors - either now or before.

On a 7' table I feel the differences in object ball reactions is no where as critical as on the 9. (But the shooter might disagree). Not to knock anyone - but CSI always uses matched sets of balls and goes to great lengths to keep things polished. I also heard a few comments that some players do not like the new Aramith 'Duralite" ball. The play OK to me. So there are always going to be discussions on this.

We are sensitive to the equipment. So keep an open mind. I think you will be pleasantly suprised.

Mark Griffin
 
JP:

Need to correct one thing: The pros are FREE to our players. It is one of the many percs for attending our event.
The tables are also free to play on for practice and mini tournaments.

There will be a $25 fee for anyone off the street who wants to watch the pro events.

Mark Griffin


jpparmentier said:
This year the pro events will be open to the public so anybody from amateurs to people on vacation can just walk in and see the impressive line-up of players in action, for Free.
This is GREAT.

Plus, it looks great on the pictures and on video. TAR will be streaming all three events.
Click to expand...
 
Can someone provide a link to purchase VIP tickets for all of the pro events?
 
Mark Griffin said:
JP:

Need to correct one thing: The pros are FREE to our players. It is one of the many percs for attending our event.
The tables are also free to play on for practice and mini tournaments.

There will be a $25 fee for anyone off the street who wants to watch the pro events.

Mark Griffin
Click to expand...

Is it FREE to watch if I have staked a pro player in a couple of the US Open events? :thumbup:
 
Joe_Jaguar said:
This looks to be them. Maybe someone can translate the Mandarin:

http://www.shinbiing.net/inf_InfoDtl.aspx?InfoID=98
Click to expand...

Try this (this link will automatically translate that page's Chinese into English):

http://translate.google.com/transla...tp://shinbiing.net/inf_InfoDtl.aspx?InfoID=98

For those that want a preview of what the Cyclop ball looks like:

r51.jpg

As Mark states (and I remind), there's no "s" in the name -- it's Cyclop, not cyclops. Could be a Chinglish mis-translation of the real English word, but regardless, it is what it is.

-Sean
 
sfleinen said:
I agree -- that's odd that the "Cyclop" icon is a static, dead image, and not hyperlinked to anything. No website for Cyclop, the company?

-Sean
Click to expand...

It's really odd that there's no web site.

The Cyclop trademark does appear to be connected to a ball manufacturer out of Shanghai.

Lou Figueroa
 
bstroud said:
About the new balls:

It is an over simplification to say the balls weight the same and that some players say they are OK.

Are they the same material? Do they react the same? Why different colors. Who is responsible if a player shoots the wrong ball because of the color. Many people (including me) had that problem with the TV set.

Professional Snooker has one set of balls and pocket templates for all tables used in professional matches. They have lots of spectators and no dots on the cue ball. Perhaps they have a lesson to teach us.

I personally have a TV set, a regular set of Aramith, the set used at the US Open with the black logo cue ball, a Centennial set, a red circle, and a Measles ball.

How many more balls do I have to buy do be able to compete? A one pocket set, an 8 ball set, a 9 ball set, a bank pool set, etc?

I don't think it is asking a lot to see some consistency in what should be a professional sport.

Cyclops only had one eye anyway! Does that mean we have to wear a patch on one eye to be able to play with them?

Bill S.
Click to expand...


Bill is of course right. You could put lead weighted potatoes on a table and Bustamonte would say they are fine.

Can anyone imagine another sport having players show up for Open level events to be told they would be competing with completely alien equipment?

Lou Figueroa
 
Mark Griffin said:
The CYCLOP Ball is phenolic. BTW - There is no 's' in the name - it is not cyclops.

Are they the same material? YES - phenolic
Do they react the same? Probably - it will be interesting to see if they have 'skids' etc which are hard to duplicate. They seem to play the same.
Why different colors? I think the standard colors were very difficult to discern but I look at the number because I am color blind. That is just a 'getting used to' situation. We did not have any input into the colors - either now or before.

On a 7' table I feel the differences in object ball reactions is no where as critical as on the 9. (But the shooter might disagree). Not to knock anyone - but CSI always uses matched sets of balls and goes to great lengths to keep things polished. I also heard a few comments that some players do not like the new Aramith 'Duralite" ball. The play OK to me. So there are always going to be discussions on this.

We are sensitive to the equipment. So keep an open mind. I think you will be pleasantly suprised.

Mark Griffin
Click to expand...


lol, it will also be interesting to see if they roll straight, how they bounce off each other, how much collision induced english they transfer, and how the cut angles are between these balls and the CB from a different manufacturer.

Lou Figueroa
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top