Pool & Billiard Balls
History and fascinating facts about pool & billiard balls. What to consider when choosing pool balls, differences of billiard balls today and options that are available.
History
- Oldest Billiard balls were made of wood
- Clay was used well into the 1900’s
- Ivory became the industry standard in the 1800’s
- An elephant trunk would yield only 4 to 5 pool balls
- The industry became concerned that elephants were being killed an astonishing rate and were fearful of the elephant becoming endangered.
- A $10,000 prize was offered by Phelan and Collendar (leaders in the billiard industry) for an alternative to the ivory pool ball.
- In 1856 John Hyatt invented a plastic product called celluloid ~ It is not clear if he was awarded the prize
- Celluloid proved not to be a good choice because it exploded
- From there plastics evolved and today higher quality billiard balls are made from Phenolic cast resins under the trade name of Aramith and Brunswick Centennial Pool Balls
Choosing An Good Set of Pool Balls
- Pool Balls should meet the BCA Specifications
- Wt may be from 5.5 to 6 oz. (156 to 170 g) with a diameter of 2.25 in. (5.715 cm), plus or minus 0.005
- Balls 1-7 are solid in color
- Balls 9-15 are striped
- 8 Ball is a solid black ball
- White Ball is a cue Ball
- When purchasing pool balls stay away from inexpensive balls ( you get what you pay for in this case)
- Import (China Balls) are considered inferior and may affect the roll. Occasionally people complain that the table is to level when indeed it is because they have a poor quality set of billiard balls.
- Billiard Balls should be made from Aramith and labeled so.
- Many choices are available today as far as style colors, graphics etc. Just check to see if they are made of Aramith.