Billiard Balls

According to the history of pool table balls, billiard balls were first made of wood and then later were made from clay. Clay billiard balls were still in use during part of the 20th century. Ivory from the tusks of elephants were used for a period of time. Elephants were being slaughtered for the ivory of their tusk for years, but by the middle of the 1800s, the rate of elephants being killed was huge. Because of the demand for billiard balls it became necessary to enforce a rule. No more than 8 balls could be made from just one elephant. It has been said ivory made the best balls ever played.

Pool table manufacturers became desperate for a material to replace ivory in the making of amarith pool balls. In the mid 1800s a pool table manufacturer offered a reward of $10,000 to anyone who could create a material good enough to make billiard balls in order to replace ivory. This prompted a gentleman by the name of John Wesley Hyatt to create a material called celluloid. He filed a patent on celluloid, which was the first industrial plastic. It ended up being the first appropriate replacement for ivory in the making of billiard balls. Celluloid was an extremely flammable material, which made the making of the balls a difficult process. Unfortunately the celluloid was so volatile it became the first unpractical plastic. Just imagine shooting a shot and then the ball explodes.

The balls made today are made from a combination of plastic and resin, which is resistant to cracking and chipping. These substances when heated are permanently hardened.

The colors of the billiard balls over the years have pretty much stayed the same. The colors of the numbered balls have not changed. Today however, you can find billiards ball of just about all designs and colors.

The one thing you will want to be aware of is the size and the weight of the cue ball before you make a purchase. The old style bar tables would use a larger cue ball, which many people don't like because of the limitations it has on certain kinds of intentionally movements. If you want to draw the cue ball back, it is difficult to accomplish with the larger cue ball as is making the cue ball back up and preventing it from following the ball into the pocket like a large truck going off a cliff. Ultimately the game is changed with the use of the larger cue balls.

Another type of cue ball you will want to be aware of is referred to as the "mud ball" because of the weight of the ball does not roll anywhere well. As in the larger cue ball the mud ball is will follow better than it will back up or draw.

Another ball you want to be aware of is the Valley ball, which has been used in conjunction with the Valley brand bar tables. This ball has a magnet in it. The magnet will make the ball return to the head spot at the opposite end of the table. The probably with this kind of ball is the magnet could off center, which will cause the ball roll crooked.

One of the favorite cue balls of most players is the red dot cue ball. It is recognized by the small red dot on a white ball. The newer Smart Diamond tables will return the cue ball to the proper head of the table because they can locate the red dot.

When you go shopping for a set of billiard balls, you will find the best ones are usually priced over $100, however there are a number of billiard ball sets, which will last a while for under $100. The really high quality balls will be price around $225 - $250 for a set. For the quality sets under $100 you will want to look for the Royal Crown brand or the Action brand. These balls are of a good quality and will give a fairly durable ball for the price.

Here are a few of the Billiard Balls available online.

   Sterling Designer Marbleized Pool Ball Set

   Sterling Designer Glowing Pool Ball Set

   Aramith Stone Balls "Granite"