How to Rate Pool Balls

Many people enjoy the game of pool, or billiards as it is more formally known, and many people invest thousands of dollars into buying sleek oak pool tables. No luxury pool table is complete without a great set of billiard balls to accompany it. You want to choose a set of pool table balls that will perfectly suit your table and your personality. There are some criteria you should consider to rate a set of billiard balls before you make a purchase.

Instructions

1

Draw a five-column table with the following headings: brand, used or new, traditional or novelty, composition, and price. Use this chart to rate and compare the billiard balls that you are considering purchasing. As you look at billiard balls, write down information in these columns under these headings.

2

Rate based on brand. Only a few brands of billiard balls are available. The top choices are Action and Aramith. If you find a set of billiard balls from these brands, it is probably a very good set and should be ranked highly (5 of 5, 10 of 10 or however you want to rank them). If the billiard balls are not one of those two brands, then you might want to weigh in other factors.

3

Rate based on used or new. New billiard balls are definitely going to perform better on the pool table because they are less likely to be damaged. New balls, of course, will usually be more expensive. Used billiard balls, although cheaper, may not give you the same results as newer balls because they are more likely to be scratched or damaged. New billiard balls should usually be rated higher than used balls.

4

Rate based on traditional or novelty. A traditional billiard ball set includes seven striped balls, seven solid balls and one black eight ball. Novelty billiard balls may have various colors and styles, including sports themes or artistic designs. Novelty balls may also be made of different materials, such as stone or clay. Traditional balls are always best for traditional billiards. Novelty billiard balls are better for collections than for regular play. Traditional balls should be rated higher than novelty billiard balls.

5

Rate based on composition. The best billiard balls are made of synthetic materials, specifically phenolic resin. These materials give the best performance when the balls are struck by the cue. Rarely, you will come across billiard balls made of stone, clay or acrylic. These materials are no longer used widely because they are more prone to damage and do not last as long as balls made of synthetic materials. Billiard balls made from some type of synthetic material, such as Bakelite or phenolic resin, should be more highly rated than stone or clay billiard balls.

6

Rate based on price. A more expensive billiard ball does not always equal a better billiard ball, but more expensive balls are more likely to be made of quality materials and are more likely to be durable and undamaged. If you want to save money on billiard balls, look for used sets made of synthetic materials that show few signs of wear. Usually, a more expensive set should be rated higher than a cheaper set, although the other factors should always be incorporated into decision making.