WPA Ball Size Regulations - is there a mistake???

[tomatoshooter]

Not related to the OP's question, but I'd like to see them tighten up the weight requirements to 6 ounces with a tolerance of ±.1 ounce or similar. Having it be a range from 5.5 to 6 ounces just seems like an awfully big unnecessary spread. Not that we we often see that much variance within a single set, or see any sets weighing 5.5 ounces very often either one, but even so if there is going to be a standard then it needs to be tight enough to make some sense.

I'd say a max variation within the set should be specified for weight. If all the balls are 5.95-6 oz I doubt the difference in play to a 5.5-5.55 set would be greater than what humidity fluctuations do to the cloth. If we're using a 5.5 oz cue ball and 6 oz object balls compared to 6 oz cue ball with 5.5 oz object balls, I bet anyone who has advance beyond a casual player would sense something is off at the very least.

Assuming the balls are made from the same density phenolic resin, the 2.250:2.255 size variance will create a 7/10 of one percent difference in weight. Balls from different manufacturers could probably all be near one end of the range or the other.

 

[Fatboy]

its +/-. don't lose any sleep here.

That’s way too much to ask.

We have to me more technical around here. That extra tolerance is really going to have a huge impact on the outcomes of many matches.

Think about it .0072738274” on a ball size and .0003733g difference in weight from ball to ball. My God the massive effect that’s going to have in tourney results will shake the pool world to its knees. We might have to review all matches and take away high runs, replay matches because the wrong player won or lost or BOTH!!!!

This is serious shit and damn it, we better take it seriously to save pool!!!!!!


I got off the phone with the science dept a hour ago and they are developing the “cloth slickness meter” so we can tell if cloth is too new or not to be competitive as new cloth seems to be a huge problem in pool now as well.


I have the Harvard legal department redrafting all the rules for even more clarification of most of the language of the rule books for all leagues, and governing bodies in pool too. Can’t be too clear. “Honest Effort” will be deleted from all materials.

Forget about playing pool, we must get this shit straightened out before anyone hits a ball.

As for layered tips being put on backwards or not I contacted NASA, they deferred that over to SpaceX but Elon was busy with some problem at Tesla. So we’re just going to have to wait on that one. Sorry guys. I’m going to see about non-layered tips as well.

Man it’s been a hell of a week on important matters in pool.

And a new task force is being assembled to assist WADA’s anti-doping efforts. We must double down on that effort as well.

Another task force to review all recorded matches for any and all fouls errors is being put together as well. For all matches ever played and records broke that are on video going back decades will be reviewed by the panel of non-experts. If we can revise history-damn it we will get it right!!! This will be a independent group of people in a classified sealed think tank of people who don’t know shit about pool to make rulings on actual pool players and what the think tank says GOES!!! Not the players-wtf do they know???? Period there will be no “dispute resolution process” afforded to any player under any circumstance. Only the uninformed can decide-for those in the know.

We just can’t have a sloppy game.

There hasn’t been time to address chalk yet-sorry.

Thank God the Govt saved us all from J&J powder as so many pool players were dying of cancer related to using it everyday for 20-50 years. So many fallen hero’s from baby powder. The risks are so huge for pool players exposure to that shit.

CF shafts will have its own independent review board as well. We are working on that too.

Wow, God save the Queen and God save the orange 5.

I cannot rest
Fatboy <———skipped his meds 2 days in a row

 

[Fatboy]

I edited the above post.

It’s a better read now.

Actually I just re-read it. I’m pretty proud of that post. Funny shit. And I didn’t even have a coffee. All in good spirit!

Best Fatboy <———can’t seem to find his meds……oh boy

 

[Poolplaya9]

I'd say a max variation within the set should be specified for weight.

I agree that (the within set variation) is certainly the more important of the two and is what should at the very least be done to a more precise tolerance somewhere closer to +/- .1 ounces or so. I still think that it should apply between sets as well though. Who wants to play with 5.5 ounce set one day/match and a 6 ounce set the next. Not that there are many 5.5 ounce sets out there that I am aware of, but might as well just make the official regulations such that they exclude the possibility for big variances to help make sure that it doesn't happen.

 

[Poolplaya9]

We have to me more technical around here. That extra tolerance is really going to have a huge impact on the outcomes of many matches.

Think about it .0072738274” on a ball size and .0003733g difference in weight from ball to ball. My God the massive effect that’s going to have in tourney results will shake the pool world to its knees.

As you humorously point out such tiny size differences are going to make relatively little difference for most shots (although it can have a more substantial affect on some shots too). Where the tiny size differences do make a really big difference though, which in turn totally justifies the very precise size tolerances in my opinion, is in the ability for the balls to be racked tightly and therefore break properly. Even fairly tiny size differences can keep them from being able to be racked tightly and break properly.

 

[phreaticus]

As you humorously point out such tiny size differences are going to make relatively little difference for most shots (although it can have a more substantial affect on some shots too). Where the tiny size differences do make a really big difference though, which in turn totally justifies the very precise size tolerances in my opinion, is in the ability for the balls to be racked tightly and therefore break properly. Even fairly tiny size differences can keep them from being able to be racked tightly and break properly.

Obviously we’re all used to just any old balls at halls & bars, and once balls get used & abused and mismatched among sets, & dirty after years of use, these minor manufacturing variations are in the noise.

But size wise, where you do notice things is when trying to get a tight rack. We’ve all experienced the frustration of not being able to get the balls to lock up tight no matter how carefully you rack them, this is usually due to balls being not the same diameter. For barbox fun & rotation games gaps are of course just part of normal pool life not end of the world, but is a bit annoying for 1p on clean big tables.

I never really cared or thought much about pristine balls that much but lately I play regular weekly long sessions cheap 1p with this really nice & fastidious older guy at local very clean cut yuppie ish poolhall. The old Gandy tables are very well maintained, play good, and the balls are always clean & polished - but they are all very old, mismatched sets. Also the wood triangle racks are ancient, chewed up beaters. Its super hard & time consuming to get the balls to lock up into tight racks. After hours & hours & hours of play on the same table (with tight 4.0” pockets) the inconsistent breaks become noticable. Especially since they just got recovered in shiny new 860 HR. The old dude plays really well, has a lot to share and I’ve learned a lot from him - he talked me into bringing our own set of balls and a good rack, so now we’re using a brand new set of Dynosphere Bronze and one of those ridiculously expensive Delta metal racks. What a difference, it really is much more enjoyable and efficient - balls act like they’re magentized when racking.

I never thought I’d be one of the old fat 1p guys in the corner with their own nerdy pool gear… to maintain a shred of dignity I make him carry them around and I come in the back door.

Tchuss

 

[MitchAlsup]

All balls must be composed of cast phenolic resin plastic and measure 2 ¼ (+.005) inches [5.715 cm (+ .127 mm)] in diameter and weigh 5 ½ to 6 oz [156 to 170 gms].

The key-stroke-sequence for ± is {<alt>0177} and this is the character they should have used.

When I got my last set of Duramith balls, I measured them with my dial caliper and found them to be 0.000 to 0.003,4 under 2.250"

 

[Texas Carom Club]

My balls must be 2.256
too big to go in the hole, yeah thats the problem