What's inside a cue ball?

Phenolic resin, a thermosetting plastic, is a variation of Bakelite that uses even more extreme pressure to form the balls. Once the balls are formed and cooled, the plastic cannot be melted again. What you see on the outside of the ball is exactly the same on the inside, aside from the laser-etched numbers.

What is inside of a cue ball?

Inside the ball's core is a small magnet. When the cue ball enters the table, rather than going down the chute with the other balls, it passes by a magnetic sensor triggering a deflection device to send the ball back out to you.

Is there a magnet in the cue ball?

The cue ball itself isn't magnetic; you probably would have noticed that. Instead, it has a layer of iron inside, which allows a magnet in the table's innards to draw the cue ball over to one side of the track on its way through the table's guts, helping it avoid the hole that the rest of the balls fall into.

Are pool balls made of ivory?

For a long time, the elephant ivory was the material of choice for pool balls. Unfortunately, mass markets in many parts of the world, including the western countries, used too much of the material. Ivories were not only utilised for pool balls but also commercial trinkets, combs, and piano keys as mentioned above.

Is a cue ball smoother than the earth?

Therefore, it would appear that a pool ball (even the worst one tested) is much smoother than the Earth would be if it were shrunk down to the size of a pool ball. However, the Earth is actually much smoother than the numbers imply over most of its surface.

What's inside a Billiard Ball?

Can you touch the cue ball?

Touching any object ball with the cue ball while it is in hand is a foul. If the cue ball is touching the required object ball prior to the shot, the player may shoot toward it, providing that any normal stroke is employed.

Is the cue ball heavier than the rest?

Generally, with older balls, the cue ball (CB) will be slightly smaller and lighter than the object balls (OBs) because it takes more abuse.

Why do pool balls turn yellow?

If your pool balls are made of phenolic resin, then they'll turn yellow from exposure to UV light, heat and oxygen in the air. If your pool balls are made of polyester resin, then they will not turn yellow from exposure to these elements and instead will turn grey.

Why are pool balls expensive?

The main reason for the large price difference in pool ball sets is the primary material that they are made of. Pool balls that are on the low end of the price range are typically made of acrylic and/or polyester while the better quality balls are made of phenolic resin.

Are pool balls solid or hollow?

Billiard balls are not hollow. They must be solid because they need to be similar in weight, density, and physical properties.

Should you clean the cue ball?

The frequency of cleaning will vary depending on how often you play pool. For example, if you play one game once a week, you only need to clean the pool balls every other month. However, you should clean the balls monthly if you play two to three times a week or play three or more games weekly.

What happens if you tap the cue ball?

The phenomenon of sinking a cue ball is called a Scratch and results in a penalty, and you lose the turn to the opponent. If you pot a cue ball, the opponent gets the cue ball in hand and can place the cue ball anywhere behind the head string during their turn.

What happens if a cue ball hits no balls?

If no ball is pocketed on a shot, the cue ball must contact an object ball, and after that contact at least one ball (cue ball or any object ball) must be driven to a rail, or the shot is a foul. (See 8.4 Driven to a Rail.)

Why is scooping the cue ball illegal?

But why are scoop shots illegal in pool? Scoop shots are illegal (in all Billiard leagues) because they may bounce off the ferrule, not the tip. A double hit may also occur as the cue hits the ball, the felt, then the ball again (or at the same time). Scooping is also damaging to the felt.

Why is cue ball heavier?

The cue ball in most sets will be the exact size and weight as the object balls. However, older coin-op pool tables may have one that is slightly bigger and heavier due to the mechanics of separating object balls from the cue ball under the table.

Why do cue balls have dots?

The dots show the player the extent of the spin he has imparted and also the spin axis. Tables vary somewhat in how they interact with a spinning cue ball, so seeing the way the ball spins is invaluable.

Can pool balls go bad?

Nevertheless, balls sometimes need replacing after considerable use. This is more common among sets made from polyester and acrylic. Aramith balls, manufactured from phenolic resin, are said to last five times longer than other balls. Interestingly, cheaper balls threaten the longevity of the billiard cloth.

How are pool balls so strong?

Because hitting the balls is the essence of the billiard game, impact resistance is a critical factor. Aramith phenolic heat-curing process fully stabilizes material tensions. It produces a vitrified high-density surface that offers maximum impact resistance.

How long do pool balls last?

Usually, polyester resin balls last about eight years or around 80,000 impacts.

How a pool ball is made?

To make a billiard ball, the resin is placed into a round mold and subjected to extreme pressure during the thermosetting process. The phenolic resin is key to ensuring every ball has a consistent density and diameter tolerance, which is vital to the game. Then, it moves on to the polishing process.

How does a pool table know the cue?

When the cue ball is sunk, it doesn't go to the same depository. A table can tell the difference in one of two ways: Either the cue ball is slightly larger—usually about 1/8-inch bigger in diameter than the standard 2.25-inch billiard ball—or it's housing a magnetized center.

Can a cue ball jump?

In order to jump the cue ball, elevate the back of your cue stick to 45 degrees and then shoot down, through the center, of the cue ball. Follow straight through the ball (don't jerk back on contact.) This will cause the cue ball to jump.

Should I break cue heavy or light?

In general, a lighter cue will allow more control over finesse shots, and a heavier cue will allow more cue ball (CB) speed with less apparent stroke effort. A heavier cue might also be easier for some people to keep on line during the stroke, but this is a very individual thing.

What cue ball do pros use?

The Aramith Pro Cup Cue Ball features: Official standard size 2 1/4" Made out of the most advanced Aramith Pro-Cup phenolic resin. Used worldwide in virtually all official tournaments.