What is the origin of cue ball?

The cue stick was developed in the late 1600's. When the ball lay near a rail, the mace was very inconvenient to use because of its large head. In such a case, the players would turn the mace around and use its handle to strike the ball. The handle was called a “queue”- meaning “tail”- from which we get the word “cue”.

What is the origination of cue?

A metaphoric extension to "line of dancers" (c. 1500) perhaps led to the extended sense of "line of people, etc." (1837), but this use in English is perhaps directly from French (queue à queue, "one after another" appears in early 19c. English and American military dictionaries).

What is the original meaning of cue?

Cue definition

The word probably comes from the Latin quando, meaning “when,” which was sometimes used as a stage direction in actors' scripts.

What were cue balls originally made out of?

There was a time when taking a perfect shot in a game of billiards could cause the ball to explode. That's because the balls were made of celluloid, an early plastic that was, unfortunately, combustible. It was patented on this day in 1869, just a few years after the first human-made plastic, Parkesine.

Were cue balls ever 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.

A Brief History of Billiards and Pool

What replaced ivory for billiard balls?

Throughout billiards' history, people have made pool balls from different substances, such as wood and ivory. However, billiard balls are made today from phenolic resin, polyester resin, and epoxy resin. Each one, at its time of use, proved somewhat superior to its predecessor, although they could have been better.

What are the oldest pool balls?

Although affordable ox-bone balls were in common use in Europe, elephant ivory was favored since at least 1627 until the early 20th century; the earliest known written reference to ivory billiard balls is in the 1588 inventory of the Duke of Norfolk. Dyed and numbered balls appeared around the early 1770s.

Why do cue balls turn yellow?

Most billiard balls are made of hard plastic materials that are resistant to cracking and chipping. As sometimes happens with plastics, over time exposure to UV light, combined with exposure to heat and oxygen, can cause a process called photodegradation through photooxidation.

Do 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.

Why does cue ball have black dots?

However, the dot is there to guide the player where he is striking the cue ball.

What does cue mean in slang?

cue (someone) in, Informal. to inform; give instructions, information, news, etc., to: Cue him in on the plans for the dance.

What does cue mean in britain?

It's used in British English to refer to forming a line.

What is cue in American English?

cue in American English

1. a bit of dialogue, action, or music that is a signal for an actor's entrance or speech, or for the working of curtains, lights, sound effects, etc.

Why is a pool stick called a cue?

The solution was to come up with “footless” sticks. The handle of the mace was known as a “queue,” which meant “tail.” From there, it evolved, and we now have the word “cue.” Even with the invention of the cue stick, there were still some players that chose mace over the other.

Why are pool balls red and yellow?

One reason the pool balls were changed to two colours was that it was easy to replace Red or Yellow balls if one went missing. Rather than break a set up just for one numbered ball.

Why do pool balls have red dots?

The red dots are intended to show the player the rotation of the ball more visually, but are also very useful for training.

Why did they change the color of pool balls?

Anticipating the need to better discern the balls on small screen devices, we developed a light purple to replace orange and a lighter green to replace the darker one, only in the new Aramith Tournament BLACK set.

What is the best thing to clean pool balls with?

Use a mild dish detergent, like Dawn or Palmolive, mixed with lukewarm water. You never want to use hot water, as this can damage the balls. You can use cool or cold water, but the balls may not come as clean, as the lukewarm water helps loosen stuck-on food and grime.

What are the blue dots on a cue ball?

Blue Dot — This is a generic “old time” cue ball … be careful, because this ball is slightly lighter than the object balls, and is a bit “zingey” (especially with draw).

What are the best cue balls made of?

Today billiard balls are made from a combination of resin and plastic. This material is moldable and uniformly dense, perfect for high quality billiard balls that offer top quality play. The best balls are made in Belgium by Saluc and are made of phenolic resin.

Why buy expensive pool balls?

Phenolic resin balls remain popular today for tournament play and even amateurs who want professional play. In fact, 85% of playersaround the world use these high-end balls. They stand up better to impacts, high friction temperatures, and extended use.

Are ivory pool balls better?

The best billiard balls once came exclusively from the tusks of Asian elephants. No natural material other than elephant ivory had the physical size, strength, and beauty to perform in the billiard room and the concert hall.

What is pool with balls called?

billiards, any of various games played on a rectangular table with a designated number of small balls and a long stick called a cue.

How long should pool balls last?

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

Should you polish billiard balls?

Once you've cleaned your billiard balls using soap and warm water, you'll likely want to polish them. There are a number of products on the market designed specifically for polishing pool balls. Shiny pool balls make your playing experience all the more enjoyable.