Best Pool Balls that Meet All Standards
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Aramith Super Pro Pool Ball -
Mizerak Deluxe Billiard Pool Ball -
Iszy Billiards Pool - Billiard Table Pool Ball -
McDermott Galaxy Series Professional Billiards Pool Balls -
Viper Billiard Master Pool Balls -
Buyer's Guide
When you're buying a set of pool or billiard balls, you're going to want to commit to a price first. If you're looking to pick up a set of balls for around $30, then you're likely not going to get a ball that's been approved by regulatory houses like the Billiards Congress of America, or the World Pool-Billiard Association. Their standards dictate that balls are made of phenolic resin (instead of the common polyester or plastic often found in many balls) and meet specific weight and spheric requirements.
If you plan on purchasing a ball set that has met these standards, you will be dropping close to $200. But in the long run, you will likely be saving money as a result of this large initial investment. Balls that are not made of this special resin can damage the billiard cloth on your table with burn marks and pits. So consider how much you really want to invest in this purchase and then check out our five best picks. You will find ball sets in price ranges suitable for the most prestigious billiard halls in the world as well as the most comfortable living rooms in the neighborhood.
We've chosen these balls for our list by following a number of specific selection criteria. We considered the type of materials each set has been made from, most of which are carefully polished phenolic resins or plastics that are designed to be crack-resistant and won't break down over time. We also considered diameter tolerance for that perfect spherical shape, which will greatly affect the spin of the ball during the game. Other factors such as balance and weight control both ensure that you get an accurate response from each ball, without these factors the ball will respond erratically, curving or bending inappropriately and banking off side-rails and other balls without any consistency or precision.
These best pool balls in 2022 meet all of the required standards to ensure that they will play perfectly every time you break. Color precision and brilliance are also some of the factors by which we chose our balls, displaying easy to read numbers and bright, deep colors for eye-catching aesthetics worthy of your rec room. More importantly, these colors and graphics won't fade over time, keeping your balls looking their best for years to come.
Best Pool Balls of 2022 Reviewed in Detail
Aramith Super Pro Pool Ball - Best Pool Balls Overall
The Saluc company has been manufacturing the Aramith brand of pool balls out of a small village in Belgium for almost 90 years. Their product has become an industry leader in high-quality balls that meet every billiard authority throughout the world. The secret is their exclusive chemical formula for phenolic resin, combined with their painstaking processes to ensure high-impact and scratch resistant surfaces on each ball. The resin is also formulated for an even rebound every time the ball comes in contact with other balls or any portion of the table.
Saluc carefully crafts their balls with consistent balance so that you're sure to have unmatched precision with every shot. Aramith balls have near-perfect sphericity and meet regulation weight standards of 6 ounces. The Super Pro set not only looks great, but also comes with Aramith's trademark dotted cue ball. But be warned, the Super Pro set is expensive; we recommend shopping around to find the best price to see if you can save a few bucks.
Mizerak Deluxe Billiard Pool Ball - Runner Up
This set from Mizerak features the same materials and specification requirements at a fraction of the cost of the best Aramith has to offer. Mizerak has made a name of itself selling a wide variety of billiard products such as tables, cues, and pool accessories for the more mainstream consumer. Their Premium ball set falls in line with that same mandate, intended for wider retail markets while delivering the same quality product one would expect from specialized vendors.
What makes their balls so special is the use of Aramith's Belgian phenolic resin. They make different versions of this resin so while it won't be the same standard as the Super Pro, it is still a solid grade of that phenolic resin (in many cases head and shoulders above the standard variety available on a whole array of lower priced balls). Each ball in the Mizerak set is tested to surpass eight different quality controls from density to roundness to color, and every ball is regulation weight. This is the closest you'll likely get to owning an Aramith set without paying Aramith prices.
Iszy Billiards Pool - Billiard Table Pool Ball - Honorable Mention
Maybe you're just looking for a good, dependable pool ball set to use at home or in the dorm. You bought your pool table gently used from a yard sale or maybe it was even handed down from your grandparents. Then the Iszy Billiards Tech set might just be what you're looking for at the moment. These are simple, no-nonsense pool balls made of polyester resin with a Grade A rating for quality. They also offer a little something different in the visuals department, with a marbling aesthetic that proves somewhat of a departure than your standard pool ball.
The Eight Ball suffers just slightly from the marbling effect with more negative white space along the finish than you might expect from a ball that is supposed to be all black. Playability is top notch as these balls rebound well and come in standard regulation size and weight. At a price tag of around $50, you're not going to pay a lot, but you'll get more than you expect with the Iszy Tech Style set.
McDermott Galaxy Series Professional Billiards Pool Balls - Consider
EPCO certainly brings something unique and stylish to the table. But this Clear Rocco set doesn't eschew substance as each ball has been carefully calibrated for reliable, consistent playability every time you pull back that cue. Using a durable, high quality Partek resin, each ball achieves a precise roundness and is given a surface polish to resist chipping and cracking under heavy repeated play. Some consumers might find a few drawbacks in these balls, namely the lesser weight and the Partek resin which results in a slightly softer ball. The clear design also makes it a bit difficult to distinguish stripes from solids at first glance but the more you play with these balls, the easier that determination becomes. Though the balls are slightly lighter, they are regulation diameter and will provide accurate movement across the table.
Viper Billiard Master Pool Balls - Best Pool Balls
This set from Viper features typical resin materials and each ball has been crafted under a series of specification requirements, but at a fraction of the cost of the best Aramith has to offer. Viper has made a name for itself selling a wide variety of gaming products for darts, casino games, and of course, pool tables, cues, and accessories for the more mainstream consumer. Their Master ball set is intended for wider retail markets while delivering a good quality product that one might expect from specialized vendors. Each ball in the Master set is tested to surpass exacting tolerances for density, roundness, and color and every ball is regulation weight. The price tag is definitely more inclusive for every budget at a retail price of around $30.
Buyer's Guide
Shopping for pool balls sounds fun. However, choosing the right set of pool balls for yourself is not as easy as it sounds. Why? Because there is much more to them than what meets the eye.
There are several factors that one needs to keep in mind to choose the best pool balls for themself. In this buying guide, we are going to talk about some of the important things you should know about pool balls to make the right purchase.
How to choose the right pool balls?
Let’s have a look at some of the features of pool balls that need to be taken into consideration while purchasing pool balls.
Material
The overall quality and performance of a pool ball are determined by the type of material it is made from. The best pool balls are usually made with phenolic resin, as the material is dense and moldable - providing the ball with just enough bounciness. Also, resin balls are much more durable as compared to pool balls made from other materials.
Roundness
Most of the pool balls come with a similar circular shape and size. The uniformity of a pool ball depends on its roundness. Errors in uniformity of the ball’s surface lead to imperfect shot trajectory. A ball that is uniformly round is bound to perform much better during the game. Therefore, it is important to check that all the balls used to play have the same roundness.
Glossiness
The glossiness of a pool ball is another thing that avid pool players pay a lot of attention to. It adds to the cosmetic beauty of a ball and is usually one of the first things that people notice about pool balls. Though this feature might not be as important for all snooker players, there are definitely players that like their pool balls to be shiny and glossy since it makes them look high-quality.
Elasticity
Though elasticity is one of the features that isn’t paid much importance while choosing pool balls, it is actually what decides the quality of the game itself. The elasticity of pool balls is known to affect the stop shots in a game. However, the only way one can determine the elasticity of pool balls is by actually playing a game with them.
Price
The price range of pool balls varies depending on the quality, manufacturer, and type of material they are made from. It is important that you have a rough budget in mind before you head out to purchase the best pool balls.
The more expensive ones are usually made from premium-quality material. On the other hand, the cheap ones are made from average to low quality material and aren’t very durable. High-quality sets usually cost somewhere between 50 to 199 dollars. Whereas, premium ones can cost up to 200 dollars and more.
How to take care of pool balls?
aking care of pool balls is no science. You can follow these simple steps to make sure your pool balls are always clean and last longer.
Clean Daily
Pool balls usually lose their glossiness over time due to chalk and other factors, which is why you must clean them daily or after every game session. You can also find several machines in the market that are designed specifically for cleaning and polishing pool balls.
However, it is not necessary to have one since they can also be cleaned using a water solution. You can also add a small amount of liquid bleach to the water solution if your pool balls have turned yellowish. Once you have cleaned the balls, make sure to dry them out and store them in a clean place.
Polish Regularly
If you are someone who doesn't clean their pool balls regularly, then there’s a good chance that a simple water solution might not be enough to bring a shine to them. For that, you can use products such as a paint thinner or solvent. You can also use cleaning waxes and polishers. All of these products can be used to wipe a pool ball clean with the help of a dry cloth.
Store them in a clean place
There’s really no use of cleaning and polishing your pool balls if you are not storing them in a clean place. Once cleaned and polished, you should store them in a dry and clean container. This would not only reduce the need to clean them every now and then, but would also protect them against climatic agents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do good pool balls make any difference?
The best pool balls are made from high-quality material and perform much better as compared to the ones made from cheap materials. Also, good pool balls are much more durable and sturdy. Moreover, good pool balls also offer increased accuracy and a smoother ball surface - allowing them to glide on the billiard table effortlessly.
How long do pool balls last for?
Low-quality pool balls usually last for a few years - typically a year or two. This is because their material is not durable enough and wears off easily. Whereas, pool balls from good brands usually have a much more sturdy build, which is why they can easily last 5 to 10 times longer.
How can you distinguish ivory balls from balls made from other materials?
Ivory balls are no longer as common as they used to be. As compared to pool balls made from synthetic materials, ivory balls don’t melt or burn. Hence, you can test whether an ivory ball is authentic or not by heating up a needle and poking it in the ball. If it doesn’t burn, then it's an actual ivory ball.
Why do pool balls turn yellow?
Pool balls are typically made from phenolic resin due to which their color usually fades over time. The yellowing of pool balls is usually a result of air exposure, heat, and UV lights that result in the phenolic resin breaking down - causing the pool balls to turn yellow.
