Resources — Billiards / Pool

What Sizes Do Billiard Balls Come In? 0

Carom (Billiard) Balls

The game of Carom Billiards uses three balls and is played on pocketless billiards tables. Carom balls are not numbered. The regulation size and weight of the balls are as follows:

• between approximately 2³⁄₈ and 2⁷⁄₁₆ in, (61–61.5 mm) in diameter
• weight ranging between 7.2 and 7.8 oz, (205 and 220 grams) with a typical weight of 7.5 oz. (210 g).

They are typically colored as follows:

• White: cue ball for player 1
• White with a spot or solid yellow: cue ball for player 2
• Red (occasionally blue): object ball 

Pool (Pocket Billiard] Balls

Pool balls are used to play various pool games, such as eight-ball, nine-ball, and straight pool. The balls are numbered and colored

The regulation size and weight of the balls are as follows:

• diameter of 2¹⁄₄ in (57 mm), plus or minus 0.005 in (0.127 mm)
• weight may be from 5+¹⁄₂ to 6.0 oz (160–170 g)

Coin-operated pool tables, such as those found at bowling alleys, arcades, or bars, may use a slightly different-sized cue ball, so that the cue ball can be separated from object balls by the table's ball return mechanism and delivered into its own ball return. Such different sized cue balls are considered less than ideal because they change the dynamics of the equipment. Other tables use a system where a magnet pulls a cue ball with a thin layer of metal embedded inside away from the object ball collection chamber and into the cue ball return, allowing the cue ball to more closely match the object balls in size and weight.

Snooker

The regulation size and weight of Snooker balls are as follows:

• diameter is standardized at 2.07 in (52.5 mm) and within a tolerance of plus or minus 0.002 in (0.05 mm).
• However, many sets are actually 2¹⁄₁₆ in (52.4 mm). Snooker sets are also available with considerably smaller-than-regulation balls for play on smaller tables (down to half-size), and are sanctioned for use in some amateur leagues. Sets for American snooker are typically 2¹⁄₈ in (54.0 mm).
• standard weight is not defined, but all balls in the set must be the same weight within a tolerance of 0.11 oz (3g). 

Bumper Pool

Bumper Pool requires four white and four red object balls, and two special balls, one red with a white spot and the other white with red spot; all are usually 2¹⁄₈ inches (54 mm) in diameter. 

Are Billiards and Pool the Same Thing? 0

Why Are Pool Tables Made Of Slate? 0

The first slate table was made in 1826. A man named John Thurston became frustrated with the tendency of wooden pool tables to warp, rendering them difficult to play on. He sought out a different type of material that could be used to make pool tables, one that offered a smooth playing surface, yet was inexpensive and easy to find, and one that would not warp due to moisture or absorption. Slate was the material that met all of these criteria, and is still used in superior tables today.

Slate is a solid rock made of many minerals including quartz, clay and mica with a fine grain. It is ideal for pool tables because it naturally splits into wide, level pieces, and can be easily ground and polished into a perfectly flat surface. While heavier and more expensive than wood, slate ensures that the play surface remans smooth and level. Wood, as well as table tops made from synthetics, can warp quite easily. Because it is so durable and known to last, many manufacturers will provide a lifetime warranty for a slate pool table.

Slate is available in areas all over the globe, however Brazil, China, India, and Italy have become known as major slate exporters. In particular, slate from the Liguarian region of Italy is traditionally considered the highest quality material for use in pool tables, and will typically be marked ‘OIS’, meaning Original Italian Slate. Italian slate is usually softer and therefore easier to work with. While much harder, Brazilian slate is also gaining a fan base, as it is more durable, will endure years of heavy use and is virtually impossible to bend or break. Also, due to its mineral makeup, it has an extremely flat surface. With proper maintenance, a pool table with an Italian or Brazilian slate playing surface can last for generations.

A slate for a typical pool table weighs between 400 to 600 pounds, or roughly 180 to 270 kilograms, and is three-quarters of an inch to one inch, or roughly two to two-and-a-half centimeters thick. Therefore, it is not an easy or inexpensive proposition to ship one. To make transportation easier, and to reduce the risk of fracture during transit, a slate is normally separated into three pieces. Of course, when the slate is reassembled, care must be taken to ensure that all three segments match up perfectly and the table is completely flat. While one-slate tables are available for purchase, most buyers prefer a three-segment table because it’s much easier to move it, and a professional installer can make the slate nearly as perfect as a one-segment slate table.

In a quality table, the slate is larger than the actual playing surface, extending beneath the rails of the table and therefore providing them with added resilience. The slate should also be inside a wooden frame so that the felt cloth, once stretched over the slate, can be stapled or tacked to the frame, rather than adhered to the underside of the slate directly.