Waxy polish question

[Dean_H]

Today I went to play billiards at my usual place in Maywood California, unfortunately they had a three cushion tournament and all the tables were being used. Having watched some of the players playing three cushion I knew I didn't want to go home, I was sort of inspired, so I went down the street a little bit to another billiard hall in South Gate. I have not played at that billiard hall in a long time and I noticed that the balls handled better then at Maywood. In Maywood they put a waxy polish on the balls.

I never questioned the polish before but after playing somewhere where the balls don't have that funny stuff on the balls I have two questions about polish; Is their a way to remove the polish? Does the polish effect the fabric?

 

[jimshovak]

Eight ball billiards: even if the cloth is brand new, they use Carnauba wax. They like the tables to play long and slippery. Southgate uses water and a little alcohol which actually keeps it shorter with more friction.

Does polish affect the fabric? Well, yes, a little. Some of it gets onto the cloth. Long term, I don't think it hurts it.

Here's my preference: use Aramith ball cleaner only. If you are using an electric ball cleaner, then wipe off as much of the Aramith ball cleaner from the balls with a clean dry rag before running the balls through the machine, to prevent buildup.

Clean the table: vacuum after every game. Don't be aggressive with the vacuum. Go soft and slow to protect the cloth and make it last longer. The better quality the vacuum, the better job it does. Don't use a rotating brush on the cloth. Make sure it has a wide brush attachment and not a flat, plastic one which scratches up the cloth.

If the cloth is not brand new, then also wipe the table bed with a slightly damp and clean microfiber cloth (Walmart), going WITH the grain of the cloth (if you are standing at middle of the table along the long rail, then your motions will go from left to right).

This will make your table play slightly longer and slightly more slippery.

We do this now at the tournaments instead of vacuuming if it is very inconvenient to vacuum. It is also easier and quicker. The tables play great.

Taking the wax off at eight ball billiards: if the table will play too short for your taste without the wax, then try to play with the wax on. If it is too slippery for you, then you can use your hands to wipe some off (difficult) or you can use a dry rag or even a slightly damp rag. Beware that by using a damp rag you will not only be taking the wax off, but you will be putting water (moisture, friction) on the balls which will cause it to play even shorter. Experiment to see what you prefer.

If you are a tournament player, you should learn how to play in all conditions:
1) brand new cloth and no wax
2) brand new cloth with wax
3) moderately new cloth with and without wax
4) old cloth with and without wax
5) old cloth with water as a cleaner
6) old cloth on an old unheated Brunswick

I am sure there are even more possibilities. It boggles the mind.

 

[3kushn]

I agree with Jim that there's probably no effect to the cloth waxing balls. The problem with waxing the balls is it starts to wears off with the first hit and by the middle of the game the balls act quite different from the first shot. A game to 25 is like playing on 2 or 3 different tables from start to finish.

This is why I treat the cloth rather than the balls to maintain slide on a used cloth. Then keep the table and balls clean as Jim suggests. If all is clean there will be no change over a period of dozens of games. On a home table its a month or months between treatments depending on play time. You will also notice a massive reduction in burn marks on the balls allowing ease of keeping them pristine.

 

[Dean_H]

What are you treating the cloth with?

 

[3kushn]

Normally Light Duty Silicone

Clean the table with a damp towell then find a clean section of your towell and spray for 3-5 seconds. Roll that section up and try to squeeze the silicone into the towell. This will eliminate streaking on the table. Then more or less drag the treated section of the towell across the table. No down pressure and leave the rail nose alone. The balls will transfer enough there.

OK here's the disclaimers:
Silicone will retain dirt, chalk ..... Just keep things clean.
Silicone treatment will not substitute 100% for new cloth.
Very few public tables do this so you'll need to make adjustments when playing in a sand trap.

Note: I just removed my cloth after 5 years and there was ZERO chalk or stains on the slate and very few burn marks on the cloth. The marks that were there came mostly from extreme spin shots ie masse.