Choosing the best pool balls is not an easy task. There are many factors to consider, such as hardness, size and material of the ball, weight of the ball and how it reacts on different surfaces.
In this blog post we will review in detail some popular sets of billiard balls you can buy online and what buyers should keep in mind when buying a set.
In a hurry?
If you don’t have much time then use the links below to quickly find my best pool balls, check out the price on Amazon. You can be assured we only choose the best products…
- Best Pro Balls for your table – Aramith Tournament (Amazon Link)
- Best Budget Balls for your table – Iszy Billiards(Amazon Link)
Why it is important to get the best pool balls for your table and budget
Pool is a game of skill and luck, but there is no question that the quality of your equipment will have an impact on how well you play. Playing with cheaper pool balls can negatively affect your game. Cheaper pool ball material can create inconsistencies with balance, movement, and bounce, either off a cushion or rebounding off another ball.
Other issues with lesser-made billiard balls are they can leave marks and ball burns on your table cloth.
I wrote an article that might help you with choosing the Best Pool Table Felt. Check it out if you’re interested
The life span of cheaper balls is obviously much shorter from a few months for the really poorly made balls to a year or two depending on the quality of the balls.
High quality pool balls will not only last much longer as they are much stronger, but the materials used mean they are also scratch-resistant. More care is given to their balance, size, and rebound elasticity, meaning they are much more consistent.
I am not saying cheap pool balls are bad, not at all. Some are excellent value and very well made, like the set from Iszy Billiard on this list, but if you are to compare them with Aramith Tournament pool balls, Which are professional pool balls, then there is no contest on which are the best pool balls. Aramith will outperform nearly all, if not all, other competitors.
You may also be interested in some phenolic resin ball cleaner. Aramith are the world leaders in billiard balls and it only makes sense they make a suitable ball cleaner too.
Note: Aramith they claim it’s only suitable on phenolic resin billiard balls, so polyester balls and other materials might not be suitable for this cleaner.
Check out the article I wrote on How To Clean Pool Balls, you might find it helpful.
Aramith Tournament Pool Balls Review
Aramith Tournament pool balls are some of the best pool balls money can buy.
Aramith claims they can last up to 40 years of play which will certainly outperform most competitors out there.
They look glossy and fantastic and play good enough for even the pros to use, which they do!
Aramith Tournament pool balls are made from phenolic resin, a very tough and durable material that is also scratch-resistant. The core of the ball is precision-weighted with machine accuracy to make them as consistent as possible when it comes to their rebound elasticity. This consistency means they are much more accurate than other sets of balls making them the best pool ball set on the market.
These balls are regulation size and weight with Aramith using phenolic resin specifically for the production of these balls which features Duramith technology giving these pool balls unmatched consistency and longevity.
If you are looking for the best pool balls on the market, then, in my and many others’ opinion, these are it!
They also have Aramith Tournament Black pool balls which also look great and play equally well!
PROS
- Look stunning and glossy
- Regulation size and weight
- Duramith technology
- Durable, scratch resistant , balanced
- Lasts 40+ years
- Cue ball included
- Tournament quality.
CONS
- Expensive
Brunswick Centennial Billiard Balls Review
Brunswick Centennial Billiard Balls are the official balls of tournaments around the world. They’re made from high-quality Aramith phenolic resin and have a vitrified, or heat-fused surface that’s regulated to perfection.
These precision-ground, polished billiards balls are truly beautiful and glossy! This product is perfect for your next big tournament
Brunswick’s Centennial pool ball set is a new addition to their diverse product line. They are precisely formed with .001 (one-thousandth of an inch) tolerance and made to have perfect balance and sphericity, these billiard balls will last longer than any other on the market.
Traditional old-school-looking pool balls from a traditional billiards company, one of the best billiard ball set you can buy – A fantastic set!
PROS
- Look stunning and glossy
- Regulation size and weight
- Old school look
- Durable, scratch-resistant, balanced
- Cue ball included
- Tournament quality
CONS
- Expensive
Iszy Billiards Pool Ball Set Review
Iszy Billiards pool ball set is ideal for practice or family game nights, and are just as satisfying to the touch as they are attractive. The balls come in a stunning array of colors and patterns sure to delight any enthusiast.
These regulation-sized billiard balls have been molded with polyester resin and have a weight of 6 oz. Despite their affordable price point, they play remarkably well. Not as strong as phenolic resin balls but they are well made and are pretty consistent with their bounce and roll.
There are multiple swirly modern-looking styles to choose from at an incredible price; so it’s not surprising they are one of the most popular billiard balls on Amazon.
Depending on the style of balls you choose it may become a little difficult to determine which are solids and which are stripes because of the swirly patterns on the balls, but if you can get used to that then these balls are perfect.
PROS
- Modern look to the balls
- Regulation size and weight
- Cue ball included
- Plays very well for their price
- Very well priced
CONS
- The swirls can be confusing at first.
- Reports of some defects with size and patterns on the balls, although this is a considerably small number of reports.
Aramith Super Pro Billiard Pool Ball Review
The Super Pro Billiard Pool Balls are the best way to show off your skilled play. These balls have been used in tournaments worldwide and come with precalibrated dimensions for consistency so your shots stay on target.
The Aramith ball has a durable, smooth surface that doesn’t scratch or wear down your cloth as you’re playing, they’ll also last for decades of gameplay!
These expert balls from Saluc, an expert pool ball maker are beautifully glossy and made using phenolic resin making them very durable and strong.
Their quality craftsmanship and innovative technology, down to a molecular level, means their performance is second to none.
The elasticity of the resin means they have a superb uniform rebound. They are very well balanced and roll true. I’ve used these many times and I can concur they just don’t leave any marks on the cloth-like other brands, they are just a fantastic set of billiard balls!
PROS
- Strong and durable
- Regulation size and weight
- Cue ball included
- Tournament quality
- Extremely well balanced
CONS
- Its hard to find anything wrong with these, even the price is great!
Japer Bees Premium Billiard Ball Review
Japer Bees Premium billiard ball sets are made with a high-quality polyester resin that has richer colors and a longer-lasting polished look.
They have perfect roundness and consistent weight, meaning they roll true and rebound exactly as they should.
Included in this set is a cue ball of regulation size and weight. Because of the nature of the resin used in the balls, excess use may cause cracks on the balls, although its not guaranteed, its worth noting.
In the Billiard balls category on Amazon, these rank number one. That means they are the most frequently bought billiard balls on Amazon – For their price point, quality, playability and variations they offer i can see why!
These Modern number style billiard balls are perfect for any casual games with friends and family. If you are looking for value, then these are the best pool balls for the money!
PROS
- Durable
- Regulation size and weight
- Cue ball included
- Perfect for casual and friendly play
- Well balanced
CONS
- Not as suitable for high-level tournament play.
- Can crack.
Do good pool balls make a difference
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced pool player, having good quality pool balls is essential. Cheaper balls are typically made of acrylic and/or polyester while the better quality balls are made of phenolic resin. Phenolic resin is a high-quality material that produces a more consistent bounce and spin. This means that your shots will be more accurate and the game will be more enjoyable.
If i compare polyester pool balls to phenolic resin pool balls, the phenolic resin balls are definitely high-quality pool balls. They have a more consistent bounce and spin which makes them roll true, making them a better choice for experienced players. Beginners may not notice a difference, but they will eventually.
Polyester pool balls are a good option for beginners because they are cheaper and easier to handle. However, as you improve your skills, you will want to upgrade to phenolic resin balls. They may be a bit more expensive, but the improved performance is worth it.
Just with polyester billiard balls, phenolic resin pool balls have different levels of purity and therefore, for example, a set Aramith Tournament Pool Balls and a set of Aramith Continental have a very different price range, even though they are both made of phenolic resin.
What pool balls do the pros use
There are many different types and brands of pool balls on the market. However, the type of balls that are used by many professional pool players is the Aramith Tournament set.
This luxury set of pool balls is made with high-quality materials and is used in many tournaments throughout the world.
If you’re looking for the best balls to use in your pool game, then the Aramith Tournament set is a great option, the only downside is the price but the results will be noticeable.
Are resin pool balls good
Are phenolic resin pool balls good? The answer to this question is a resounding yes! Phenolic resin balls are the highest quality of balls made and therefore will help improve your pool game.
One of the benefits of using phenolic resin balls is that they are extremely durable. This means that you can use them for many years without having to worry about them becoming damaged.
In addition, phenolic resin balls have a high gloss finish which will give your pool balls a polished look.
Another benefit of using phenolic resin balls is that they are resistant to chipping and fading. This means that even after extended use, the balls will maintain their original color.
The best pool balls made from the highest quality of phenolic resin have more consistent elasticity allowing the balls to rebound predictably every time giving the player more control and accuracy with every shot.
Good quality phenolic resin pool balls also produce less friction which in turn reduces or eliminates ball burn on the pool table cloth.
The best phenolic resin pool balls are professional pool balls used by the best of the best.
Buyers Guide: Choosing the best pool balls
If you are after pool balls that meet your budget and are well crafted you really need to understand what makes good pool balls so good in the first place. Knowing this will help you pick the best billiard balls for your home table and budget.
Material of pool balls
There are a few types of materials pool balls are made from, the cheaper billiard balls are usually made from polyester plastic, this doesn’t provide the precision and craftsmanship of phenolic resin pool balls which are the better-made pool balls.
For more information on the material of pool balls, see my article on the subject “What Are Pool Balls Made Of“.
Regulation size of pool balls
In the US, regulation-sized pool balls are 2.25 inches in diameter. Other sizes of pool balls are available to meet the different pool table cushion profiles and pool table sizes.
Billiard ball regulation weight
According to WPA the regulation US billiard ball weight may be from 5 1⁄2 to 6.0 oz.
FAQ: Best pool balls
Let’s look at a few of the most asked questions when it comes to choosing pool balls.
What should I look for in a set of pool balls?
The material is a good indication of the quality of the pool balls. Other things such as size and weight are also important when picking pool balls.
How many billiard balls come in a complete set?
A complete set includes a cue ball and 15 pool balls.
What are the best pool balls to buy?
There are many good brands on the market but if you want to consider the absolute best billiard balls then a set from Aramith, such as Aramith Tournament balls would most likely be considered the best you can buy.
All In All
This review of the best pool balls on the market is compiled of quality billiard balls that are endorsed worldwide
Aramith Tournament: If you are looking for tournament balls then these are overall the best pool balls on the market. They also feature new Duramith technology.
Brunswick Centennial: If you are looking for balls with an old-school feel but still are high quality then these made using Aramith Phenolic resin are what you want.
Iszy Billiards: These are great balls at a great price. Not as strong and long-lasting as other balls on this list but play perfectly well.
Aramith Super Pro: These are premium balls used in tournaments worldwide, If it’s high quality you are after then these are an ideal choice.
Japer Bees Primium: Another great set of billiard balls at a great price! Not as strong and long-lasting as phenolic balls but if you are looking for casual play then these are perfect.
Rob is an avid player and fan of all cue sports, particularly 8-ball, and snooker. He has competed in a few local 8-ball tournaments and although he is not a professional, he can compete with the best of them.
