WAXGATE and the Effects of Slick Cloth and Waxed Balls

[sjm]

Dave, is Yapp's comment that it is virtually impossible for the cue ball to play slicker at the end of a long match than it did at the beginning reasonable?

 

[dr_dave]

Dave, is Yapp's comment that it is virtually impossible for the cue ball to play slicker at the end of a long match than it did at the beginning reasonable?

I think that is a reasonable statement (assuming the balls aren't being changed), unless temperature and humidity were changing dramatically during the match. Regardless, to know if the statement is appropriate or not, I would obviously need to see examples of the shots he is comparing at the end of a match to similar shots at the beginning.

 

[KingSamurai]

... unless it was sprayed or wiped down before play with a wax or lubricant like Silicone spray.
... or unless the balls were also polished before play with an unusual cleaner or wax.

I did a video many years ago showing how what your clean the balls with has a big effect:

Dave, you mention in video, that conditions were "very slick" and "much more than typical." Is your judgement that wax or cleaner was used in that match with Chua vs Yi?

 

[dr_dave]

Dave, you mention in video, that conditions were "very slick" and "much more than typical." Is your judgement that wax or cleaner was used in that match with Chua vs Yi?

To judge, I would need to study ball reactions from matches on the same table before the Chua-Yi match, which I have not done. If all matches on that table had the same reactions, I would guess the cloth was just very slick and the balls were highly polished or waxed or had some sort of other coating or surface finish which was persistent.