A billiard ball set is an essential piece of equipment in any game room, whether it’s your own personal table or the bar at your local pub. But just because these simple spheres aren’t complicated doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the same amount of care and consideration as any other piece of high-quality furniture you have in your home. While there are many different factors to consider when shopping for billiard balls, knowing what to look for will help you narrow down your choices and choose a set that will last for years to come.
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Materials Used in the Past
One factor you should always consider is your budget. This will likely be a key factor in determining which set of billiards balls you purchase, as most sets come in a variety of price ranges. One thing to keep in mind is that most billiards ball sets are made with hard plastic, often designed with special features such as high-contrast colours and engravings that indicate which ball is which (for example, an 8 on one side and an 11 on another). If you’re looking for something different, be sure to look for specific information about materials used in reviews or at your local billiards supply store.
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Variations
Before choosing a billiard ball set, you should know that they’re available in many different materials, which affect playability and durability. Standard: Most billiards balls sets come with regulation-size 1.5 white (sometimes yellow) balls made of either phenolic or celluloid. Phenolic is harder than celluloid but less resilient; it dulls faster, making phenolic balls best for those who like their billiards fast and furious, though not so much fun if you plan on keeping your pool table around for a while.
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Decide on Your Budget
Before you start shopping, it’s important to decide on a budget. Don’t worry, you don’t have to go into debt in order to buy a billiards set. There are plenty of products available for under $100 that will provide hours of fun and give your game room a professional look at an affordable price. Of course, if you want something higher-end, there are plenty of options that cost several hundred dollars or more. The sky is really the limit when it comes to choosing a billiards set; with so many different styles and colours available, one size doesn’t fit all.
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Is Size Important?
Before you even get started looking at different billiard ball sets, there’s one important factor that you should consider. One of the most common mistakes made by new players is using a billiards ball set that’s too small for their table size. This can be very frustrating because, while many tables use a standard diameter of balls (2.25 inches or 57 millimeters), it’s always best to make sure your set matches perfectly with your table size. As long as you take care of this early on, you won’t have any problems with shots sliding off into no man’s land—and everyone knows what happens when a shot goes off course!
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Density
The weight of a ball is measured in grams, and there are sets available ranging from 2 g balls up to 21 g balls. High-end sets, those intended for serious players, will typically have heavier balls than mid- or low-end sets. Heavier balls are slower and can provide greater control over shots, but they’re also harder to cue around. What type of play you’ll be doing largely determines how heavy your set should be. If you only intend on practicing occasionally, choose a lighter set; if you plan on competing frequently and want more control over your shots, opt for heavier pool balls instead.
