Edit count of the user (user_editcount) | null |
Name of the user account (user_name) | '75.136.157.106' |
Age of the user account (user_age) | 0 |
Groups (including implicit) the user is in (user_groups) | [
0 => '*'
] |
Rights that the user has (user_rights) | [
0 => 'createaccount',
1 => 'read',
2 => 'edit',
3 => 'createtalk',
4 => 'writeapi',
5 => 'viewmywatchlist',
6 => 'editmywatchlist',
7 => 'viewmyprivateinfo',
8 => 'editmyprivateinfo',
9 => 'editmyoptions',
10 => 'abusefilter-log-detail',
11 => 'urlshortener-create-url',
12 => 'centralauth-merge',
13 => 'abusefilter-view',
14 => 'abusefilter-log',
15 => 'vipsscaler-test'
] |
Whether the user is editing from mobile app (user_app) | false |
Whether or not a user is editing through the mobile interface (user_mobile) | false |
Page ID (page_id) | 618981 |
Page namespace (page_namespace) | 0 |
Page title without namespace (page_title) | 'Billiard ball' |
Full page title (page_prefixedtitle) | 'Billiard ball' |
Last ten users to contribute to the page (page_recent_contributors) | [
0 => 'Monkbot',
1 => 'InternetArchiveBot',
2 => 'Sandcherry',
3 => '102.182.65.38',
4 => '199.101.178.208',
5 => 'D.E.Moats',
6 => 'MichaelMaggs',
7 => 'Countakeshi',
8 => '86.145.59.117',
9 => '73.67.115.77'
] |
Action (action) | 'edit' |
Edit summary/reason (summary) | '/* In popular culture */ ' |
Old content model (old_content_model) | 'wikitext' |
New content model (new_content_model) | 'wikitext' |
Old page wikitext, before the edit (old_wikitext) | '{{short description|Ball used in cue sports}}
{{redirect|Cue ball|the video game|Jimmy White's 2: Cueball|things called "Q-ball"|Q-ball (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2012}}
[[File:Billiard ball comparison.jpg|thumb|200px|{{Cuegloss|Cue ball|Cue balls}} from (left to right): {{unordered list
| [[Russian pyramid]] and [[Kaisa (billiards)|kaisa]]—68 mm ({{frac|2|11|16}} in)
| [[Carom billiards|Carom]]—61.5 mm ({{frac|2|7|16}} in)
| International [[pool (cue sports)|pool]]—57.15 mm ({{frac|2|1|4}} in)
| [[Blackball (pool)|British-style]] pool (large) —56 mm ({{frac|2|3|16}} in)
| [[Snooker]]—52.5 mm ({{frac|2|1|15}} in)
| British-style pool (regular)—51 mm (2 in)
}}
Not shown: miniature pool—approximately 38 mm ({{frac|1|1|2}} in).]]
A '''billiard ball''' is a small, hard [[ball]] used in [[cue sports]], such as [[carom billiards]], [[Pool (cue sports)|pool]], and [[snooker]]. The number, type, diameter, color, and pattern of the balls differ depending upon the specific game being played. Various particular ball properties such as [[hardness]], [[friction coefficient]] and [[Resilience (materials science)|resilience]] are important to accuracy.
==History==
[[File:US114945 - Patents for Injection Moulding by John Wesley Hyatt (Diagram 1).png|thumb|[[John Wesley Hyatt|Hyatt]]'s celluloid ball patent (1871)]]
Early balls were made of various materials, including wood and clay (the latter remaining in use well into the 20th century). Although affordable [[ox]]-bone balls were in common use in Europe,<ref name="ebay">Note: Antique ox-bone balls remain a very common item on [[eBay]].</ref> elephant [[ivory]] was favored since at least 1627 until the early 20th century;<ref name="Shamos 1999">{{Shamos 1999}}</ref>{{rp|17}} the earliest known written reference to ivory billiard balls is in the 1588 inventory of the [[Duke of Norfolk]].<ref name="Everton 1986">{{Cite book
|title=The History of Snooker and Billiards
|last=Everton
|first=Clive
|authorlink=Clive Everton
|location=Haywards Heath, UK
|publisher=[[Transworld (company)|Partridge Pr.]]
|page=8
|year=1986
|isbn=1-85225-013-5
|edition=rev. ver. of ''The Story of Billiards and Snooker'', 1979
|quote=11 balls of {{sic|hide=y|yvery}}
}}</ref> Dyed and numbered balls appeared around the early 1770s.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}} By the mid-19th century, elephants were being slaughtered for their ivory at an alarming rate, just to keep up with the demand for high-end billiard balls – no more than eight balls could be made from a single elephant's tusks.{{citation needed|date=February 2010|reason=When sourced, this should probably be added to the article on elephants.}} The billiard industry realized that the supply of elephants (their primary source of ivory) was [[endangered species|endangered]], as well as dangerous to obtain (the latter an issue of notable public concern at the turn of the 19th century).<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}} Inventors were challenged to come up with an alternative material that could be [[Manufacturing|manufactured]], with a [[United States dollar|US$]]10,000 prize being offered by a New York supplier,<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}} [[Michael Phelan (billiards)|Phelan]] and [[H. W. Collender|Collender]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2010|reason=Can't find reliable source for company name.}} (This would be worth approximately ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|10000|1869|r=1}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}{{Inflation-fn|US}}.)
Although not the first artificial substance to be used for the balls (e.g. [[Sorel cement]], invented in 1867, was marketed as an artificial ivory), [[John Wesley Hyatt]] invented a composition material in 1869 called [[nitrocellulose]] for billiard balls (US patent 50359, the first American patent for billiard balls). It is unclear if the cash prize was ever awarded<!--to anyone, that is-->, and there is no evidence suggesting he did in fact win it.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}}<ref name="Plastiquarian">{{cite web |url=http://www.plastiquarian.com/hyatt.htm |title=Hyatt |year=2002 |work=Plastiquarian.com |location=London |publisher=[[Plastics Historical Society]] |accessdate=26 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221114457/http://www.plastiquarian.com/hyatt.htm |archivedate=21 December 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref> By 1870 it was commercially branded [[Celluloid]], the first industrial plastic. However, the nature of celluloid made it volatile in production, occasionally exploding, which ultimately made this early plastic impractical.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}} Subsequently, to avoid the problem of celluloid instability, the industry experimented with various other synthetic materials for billiard balls such as [[Bakelite]], [[Poly(methyl methacrylate)|Crystallite]] and other plastic compounds.
The exacting requirements of the billiard ball are met today with balls cast from plastic materials that are strongly resistant to cracking and chipping. Currently [[Saluc]], under the brand names Aramith and Brunswick Centennial, manufactures [[phenolic resin]] balls.<ref>[http://www.saluc.com/html/billiard/index.php Aramith]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brunswickbilliards.com/our_rich_history/billiard_balls/index.html|title=History|work=brunswickbilliards.com|access-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327190020/http://www.brunswickbilliards.com/our_rich_history/billiard_balls/index.html|archive-date=27 March 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Other plastics and resins such as [[polyester]] (under various trade names) and clear [[Acrylic glass|acrylic]] are also used.
Ivory balls remained in use in [[artistic billiards]] competition until the late 20th century.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}}
==Types==
===Carom billiards===
[[File:Carom billiards balls.jpg|thumb|200px|Carom balls, [[Four-ball billiards|four-ball]] needs an additional object ball.]]
In the realm of [[carom billiards]] (or carambole) games, three balls are used to play [[straight-rail]], [[three-cushion]], [[balkline and straight rail|balkline]], [[Five-pin billiards|five-pins]], and related games on pocketless [[billiards table]]s. The exception is [[Four-ball billiards|four-ball]] which needs an extra object ball. Carom balls are not numbered, and at 61–61.5 mm (between approximately {{frac|2|3|8}} and {{frac|2|7|16}} in) in diameter<ref name="UMB-II-12-2">{{cite web
|url=http://www.umb.org/Rules/Carom_Rules.pdf
|format=PDF
|title=World Rules of {{sic|hide=y|Carom Billiard|reason=Yes, UMB did leave off the "s" in "Billiards".}}
|at=Chapter II ("Equipment"), Article 12 ("Balls, Chalk"), Section 2
|work=UMB.org
|publisher=[[Union Mondiale de Billard]]
|location=Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium
|date=1 January 1989
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031638/http://www.umb.org/Rules/Carom_Rules.pdf
|archivedate=28 September 2007
|accessdate=5 March 2007
|url-status=dead
|df=dmy
}} Officially but somewhat poorly translated version, from the French original.</ref> are larger than pool balls. The 61.5 mm size are more common. They are typically colored as follows:
:* Red {{Cuegloss|Object ball|object ball}} (or, uncommonly, blue; two object balls are used in [[Four-ball billiards|four-ball]])
:* White {{Cuegloss|Cue ball|cue ball}} for player 1
:* White with a spot (or sometimes yellow) cue ball for player 2
===Pool===
{{anchor|American-style pool}}
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;float:left; margin:1em 2em 1em 0em;"
|-
|align=center|1||bgcolor="gold" colspan=3| ||yellow
|-
|align=center|2||bgcolor="blue" colspan=3| ||blue
|-
|align=center|3||bgcolor="red" colspan=3| ||red
|-
|align=center|4||bgcolor="indigo" colspan=3| ||violet
|-
|align=center|5||bgcolor="orangered" colspan=3| ||orange
|-
|align=center|6||bgcolor="forestgreen" colspan=3| ||green
|-
|align=center|7||bgcolor="brown" colspan=3| ||brown
|-
|align=center|8||bgcolor="black" colspan=3| ||black
|-
|align=center|9||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="gold"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||yellow and white
|-
|align=center|10||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="blue"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||blue and white
|-
|align=center|11||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="red"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||red and white
|-
|align=center|12||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="indigo"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||violet and white
|-
|align=center|13||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="orangered"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||orange and white
|-
|align=center|14||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="forestgreen"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||green and white
|-
|align=center|15||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="brown"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||brown and white
|-
|align=center|•||bgcolor="white" colspan=3| ||{{Cuegloss|Cue ball|cue ball}}, white or off-white <small>(sometimes with one or more spots)</small>
|}
{{Multiple image
|total_width=400
|image1=Bicentennial Billard Balls.jpg
|caption1=Old style [[Brunswick Corporation|Brunswick]] pool balls, the numbers are not located on the stripe
|image2=Cribbage pool rack closeup.jpg
|caption2=Modern style [[Saluc|Super Aramith Pro]] pool balls racked in [[Cribbage (pool)|Cribbage]] arrangement
}}
Pool balls are used to play various [[Pool (cue sports)|pool]] (pocket billiards or pool billiards) games, such as [[eight-ball]], [[nine-ball]] and [[one-pocket]]. In North America and Asia, they are referred to simply as "billiard balls" (except among carom and snooker players). These balls, used the most widely throughout the world, are considerably smaller than carom billiards balls, slightly larger than British-style pool balls and substantially larger than those for snooker. According to [[World Pool-Billiard Association|WPA]]/[[Billiard Congress of America|BCA]] equipment specifications, the weight may be from {{cvt|5.5|to(-)|6.0|oz|g}} with a diameter of {{cvt|2.250|in|mm}}, plus or minus {{cvt|0.005|in|mm|3}}.<ref name="WPAequipspec">{{cite web |url=http://www.wpa-pool.com/web/WPA_Tournament_Table_Equipment_Specifications |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928165510/http://www.wpa-pool.com/web/WPA_Tournament_Table_Equipment_Specifications |archivedate=2013-09-28 |title=WPA Tournament Table & Equipment Specifications |work=WPA-Pool.com |publisher=World Pool-Billiard Association |date=November 2001 }}</ref><ref name="BCAbook">{{cite book
| year = 2004
| title = Billiards: The Official Rules and Records Book
| publisher = [[Billiards Congress of America]]
| location = [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]]
| page = 5
| isbn = 978-1-878493-14-9
| author = BCA Rules Committee
}}</ref> These are often referred to as {{convert|2+1/4|in|mm|adj=on}} balls. The balls are numbered and colored as in the table.
The first series of the numbering of the balls from 1 through 7 being solid. Are the same as 9 to 15 being striped. They are eight away from the other of the same color.
[[File:Baseball pool balls and rack.png|thumb|Extended set for [[baseball pocket billiards]].]]
In [[baseball pocket billiards]], the ball set is extended to 21 balls, in which the 16 ball is black and white, while balls 17 through 21 have no special design, but look exactly like balls 9 through 13, respectively, except for their numbers.
Balls 1 through 7 are often referred to as {{Cuegloss|Solids|solids}} and 9 through 15 as {{Cuegloss|Stripes|stripes}} though there are many other colloquial terms for each {{Cuegloss|Suit|suit}} of balls (highs and lows, etc.). Striped balls were introduced around 1889.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|246}} Though it looks similar to the solids, the 8 ball is not considered a solid because it is the only ball that is black. Some games such as nine-ball do not distinguish between stripes and solids, but rather use the numbering on the balls to determine which {{Cuegloss|Object ball|object ball}} must be pocketed. In other games such as [[three-ball]] and [[straight pool]] neither type of marking is of any consequence. In eight-ball, straight pool, and related games, all sixteen balls are employed. In the games of [[seven-ball]], nine-ball, [[ten-ball]] and related, only object balls 1 through 7, 9 and 10, respectively (plus the cue ball) are used.
Some balls used in televised pool games are colored differently in order to make them distinguishable on television monitors. Specifically, the 4 ball is colored pink instead of dark violet, and the 12 is white with a pink stripe, to make it easier to distinguish their color from the black 8 ball, and similarly the 7 and 15 balls use a light tan color instead of a deep maroon. Television was also the genesis of the cue ball with six red spots on its surface (known as a "measles" cue ball) so that {{Cuegloss|Spin|spin}} placed on it is evident to viewers. Red also signifies non magnetic. Where as green is signifying magnetic, also sometimes blue! For Coin-operated tables as mentioned in the next paragraph.
Coin-operated pool tables such as those found at [[Bar (establishment)|bars]] historically have often used either an oversized cue, larger than the more popular magnetic cue. Sometimes the cue can be a less expensive type of ball refereed to as a mud ball. Which is a ball with metal grindings mixed into the resin, so much it is magnetic enough to separate, like a metal core ball! Unlike the regular set of balls (which are captured until the game ends and the table is paid again for another game) as it makes it possible that the cue ball can be returned for further play, should it be accidentally potted.) Oversized, I have seen, but not used in my area much. Where a regular coin op cue ball has a metal core in it. The oversize ball is separated by its size. A magnetic ball is separated by a magnet! In Asia and Europe, some pool tables use a smaller cue ball instead. Modern tables usually employ a magnetic ball of regulation or near-regulation size and weight, since players have complained for many decades that the heavy and often oversized cue balls do not "play" correctly.
Addressing the oversize cue. When making any shot with an oversized cue 2-3/8". Will not be equal to the same shot with a regular cue or 2-1/4" size ball. When dealing with regular pool or pocket billiards. All the object balls are 2-1/4". If you hit any one of them with an oversize cue you will not be able to hit the object ball square for any shot as it is higher, and not center on a rail shot. Center to center it is 1/16 off! This is a good argument for using a magnetic cue rather that oversize, on a coin op table!<!--R. Givens's "Eight-ball Bible" can be cited on these points, but my copy is missing. -SMcCandlish-->
===British-style pool (blackball)===
[[File:British Style Pool Balls.jpg|left|thumb|145px|Setup for blackball]]
In WPA [[Blackball (pool)|blackball]] and its predecessor [[World Eight-ball Pool Federation|WEPF]] or ''English eight-ball pool'' (not to be confused with the games of eight-ball or English billiards), fifteen object balls again are used, but fall into two unnumbered {{Cuegloss|Group|groups}}, the {{Cuegloss|Red ball|reds}} (or less commonly {{Cuegloss|Blue ball|blues}}) and {{Cuegloss|Yellow ball|yellows}}, with a white cue ball, and black 8 ball. Aside from the 8, shots are not {{Cuegloss|Call-shot|called}} since there is no reliable way to identify particular balls to be pocketed. Because they are unnumbered they are wholly unsuited to certain pool games, such as nine-ball, in which ball order is important. They are noticeably smaller than the American-style balls, and with a cue ball that is slightly smaller than the object balls, while the table's {{Cuegloss|Pocket|pockets}} are tighter to compensate. Neither the WPA nor the WEPF (publicly) define ball or even table dimensions, though presumably{{cn|date=August 2017}} league and tournament organizers are given some guidelines in this regard. Most manufacturers that supply this market provide sets that range from {{convert|2|in|mm|0}} up to {{convert|2+3/16|in|mm|0}}, often with a slightly smaller cue ball, e.g. {{cvt|1+7/8|in|mm|0}} for a 2-inch set. The most common object ball diameters are {{cvt|2|in|mm|0}} and {{cvt|2+1/8|in|mm|0}}. The yellow-and-red sets are sometimes commercially referred to as "casino sets" (they were formerly used for televised eight-ball championships,<ref name="Shamos 1999"/>{{rp|45}} most often held in casinos). The use of such sets, however, predates television, as they were used for B.B.C. Co. Pool, the forerunner of modern eight-ball, at least as early as 1908.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|24}}
===Snooker===
[[File:Set of Snookerballs.png|thumb|right|300px|Complete set of snooker balls.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;float:left; margin:1em 2em 1em 0em;"
|-
!Colour!!Value
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_red.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Red ball|Red}}|| 1 point
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_yellow.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Yellow ball|Yellow}} || 2 points
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_green.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Green ball|Green}} || 3 points
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_brown.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Brown ball|Brown}} || 4 points
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_blue.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Blue ball|Blue}} || 5 points
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_pink.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Pink ball|Pink}} || 6 points
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_black.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Black ball|Black}} || 7 points
|}
Ball sets for the sport of snooker look at first glance like a mixture of American- and British-style pool balls. There are twenty-two balls in total, arranged as a rack of 15 unmarked reds, six {{Cuegloss|Colour ball|colour balls}} placed at various predetermined spots on the table, and a white cue ball. ''(See [[snooker]] for more information on ball setup.)''
The colour balls are sometimes numbered American-style, with their point values, for the amateur/home market, as follows in the adjacent table.
Snooker balls are technically standardized at {{cvt|52.5|mm|in|2}} in diameter within a tolerance of plus or minus {{cvt|0.05|mm|in|3}}. No standard weight is defined, but all balls in the set must be the same weight within a tolerance of {{cvt|3|g|oz|2}}.<ref name="WSAequipspec">[http://www.worldsnooker.com/equipment.htm "Equipment"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801105033/http://www.worldsnooker.com/equipment.htm |date=1 August 2008 }}, World Snooker Association, publication date unknown (Retrieved 28 January 2007), London, UK.</ref> However, many sets are actually {{cvt|2+1/16|in|mm|1}}, even from major manufacturers. Snooker sets are also available with considerably smaller-than-regulation balls (and even with ten instead of fifteen reds) for play on smaller tables (down to half-size), and are sanctioned for use in some amateur leagues. Sets for [[Snooker|American snooker]] are typically {{cvt|2+1/8|in|mm|1}}, with numbered colour balls.
{{clear left}}
The set of eight colours used for snooker balls (including white) are thought to be derived from the game of [[croquet]]. Snooker was invented in 1884 by [[Neville Francis Fitzgerald Chamberlain|British Army officers]] stationed in India. Croquet reached its peak popularity at the same time, particularly amongst people in the same social context. The eight coloured balls of croquet use the same identical set of eight colours. There are many other similarities between croquet and snooker, which when taken together, suggest that the derivation of the latter owes much to the existence of the former.<ref>{{cite web|title=An Introduction to Croquet: A Brief History|url=https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=tech/CroquetIntro#history|publisher=The Croquet Association (of England and Wales)|accessdate=13 May 2017}}</ref>
===Other games===
{{Multiple image
|total_width=400
|image1=Russian billiards ball at a corner pocket.jpg
|caption1=Russian pyramid ball at a corner pocket. The relative size of the ball and the pocket makes the game very challenging.
|image2=Golfbiljart Doel.jpg
|caption2=Bumper pool ball near a pocket. The bumpers increase the difficulty in potting the ball.
}}
Various other games have their own variants of billiard balls. [[English billiards]] balls are like carom balls but are the same size as snooker balls. [[Russian pyramid]] uses a set of fifteen numbered but otherwise all-white balls, and a red or yellow cue ball that may be even larger than carom billiards balls at 68 mm (2<sup>11</sup>⁄<sub>16</sub> in) or 72 mm (2<sup>4</sup>⁄<sub>5</sub> in). [[Kaisa (cue sport)|Kaisa]] has the same pocket and ball dimensions but uses only five balls: one yellow, two red and two cue balls, one for each player.<ref name="BVRP">{{Cite web
|url=https://cuesup.com/russian-pyramid-pool-a-game-bearing-more-games/
|title=Russian Billiards|work=CuesUp.com
|author=<!--Staff writer; no byline.-->
|year=2016
|accessdate=2016-12-28
}}</ref> [[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 {{frac|2|1|8}} inch (approximately 52.5 mm) in diameter. [[Bar billiards]] uses six or seven white balls (depending on regional variations) and one red ball {{cvt|1+7/8|in|mm|0}} in diameter.
===Training balls===
[[File:Jim Rempe practice ball.jpg|thumb|150px|left|The [[Jim Rempe]] Training Ball]]
Several brands of practice balls exist, which have systems of spots, stripes, differently colored halves and/or targeting rings.
For example, Saluc markets several practice ball systems, including the Jim Rempe Training Ball, a {{Cuegloss|Cue ball|cue ball}} marked with rings and targets on the surface of the ball so that the practicing player can better judge the effects of very particular amounts of {{Cuegloss|Sidespin|sidespin}}, {{Cuegloss|Topspin|topspin}}, {{Cuegloss|Backspin|backspin}} and other forms of cue ball control, and learn better control of [[Cue stick|cue]] {{Cuegloss|Stroke|stroke}}.<ref name="Saluc 1">{{Cite web|url= http://www.saluc.com/html/index.php?idlien=17 |title=Product Line > Training Balls|year=2005|work=Saluc.com|publisher=[[Saluc|Saluc S.A.]]|location=Callenelle, Belgium|accessdate=2008-02-18}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Various competing products, such as several other Saluc models<ref name="Saluc 1" /> and Elephant Practice Balls,<ref name="Elephant">{{Cite web|url= http://www.elephantballs.com/store/products/22 |title=Elephant Practice Balls|year=2007|work=ElephantBalls.com|publisher=Elephant Balls, Ltd.|location=Columbus, Ohio|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> use a similar aiming system. Some such sets consist of just a special cue ball and manual, while others also include an object ball marked for aiming practice.
{{clear}}
===Novelty balls===
[[File:Novelty billiard balls.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Various novelty [[pocket billiards]] balls. Clockwise from the top: Red and white balls and markers from a proprietary game called Starball; an [[Elvis Presley]] commemorative cue ball from [[Graceland]]; a [[leopard]]-patterned 9 ball; colorful balls from a [[poker]]-themed set; regular balls and the small "jack" from a miniature [[bocce]] set used on a table instead of a lawn or court.]]
There is a market for specialty cue balls and even entire ball sets, featuring sports team logos, cartoon characters, animal pelt patterns, etc.
Entrepreneurial inventors also supply a variety of novelty billiard games with unique rules and balls, some with playing card markings, others with stars and stripes, and yet others in sets of more than thirty balls in several suits. Marbled-looking and glittery materials are also popular for home tables. There are even [[blacklight]] sets for playing in near-dark. There are also [[practical joke]] cue and 8 balls, with off-center weights in them that make their paths curve and wobble. Miniature sets in various sizes (typically {{frac||2|3}} or {{frac||1|2}} of normal size) are also commonly available, primarily intended for undersized toy tables. Even an egg-shaped ball has been patented<ref>U.S. Patent No. 7,468,002</ref> and marketed under such names as Bobble Ball and Tag Ball.
==In popular culture==
[[File:8 ball face.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Magic 8 Ball]]]]
[[File:USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) missile hatches.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ballistic missile submarine]] {{USS|Sam Rayburn|SSBN-635|6}} displays a billiard motif on her missile hatches]]
The 8 ball is frequently used iconically in Western, especially American, culture. It can often be found as an element of T-shirt designs, album covers and names, tattoos, household goods like paperweights and cigarette lighters, belt buckles, etc. A classic toy is the [[Magic 8-Ball]] "oracle". [[Don and Ron Harris|A wrestler]], [[Eightball & MJG|a rapper]], and [[8-Ball (band)|a rock band]] have all independently adopted the name. The term "8-ball" is also [[slang]] both for {{convert|1/8|oz|g}} of [[cocaine]] or [[crystal methamphetamine|crystal meth]], and for a bottle of [[Olde English 800]] [[malt liquor]]. It has also been used to refer to African-Americans, particularly those of darker skin tones, as in the film ''[[Full Metal Jacket]]''. The expression "behind the eight [ball]" is used to indicate a [[dilemma]] from which it is difficult to extricate oneself. The term derives from the game [[kelly pool]].<ref name="IEOB">{{cite book | last = Shamos | first = Michael Ian | year = 1993 | title = The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards | publisher = Lyons & Burford | location = New York City | pages = 85, 128 and 168 | isbn = 1-55821-219-1 | url = https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000sham }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Jewett | first = Bob |date=February 2002 | title = 8-Ball Rules: The many different versions of one of today's most common games | journal = Billiards Digest Magazine | pages = Pages 22–23}}</ref><ref>Ralph Hickok (2001). [http://www.hickoksports.com/history/billiard.shtml Sports History: Pocket Billiards] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020223060649/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/billiard.shtml |date=23 February 2002 }}. Retrieved 22 February 2007.</ref><ref>Billiard Congress America (1995–2005) [http://www.bca-pool.com/aboutus/history/start.shtml A Brief History of the Noble Game of Billiards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127151057/http://www.bca-pool.com/aboutus/history/start.shtml |date=27 January 2007 }} by Mike Shamos. Retrieved 22 February 2007.</ref><ref name="Mizerak">{{cite book | author = Steve Mizerak and Michael E. Panozzo | title = Steve Mizerak's Complete Book of Pool | publisher = Contemporary Books | location = [[Chicago|Chicago, Ill]] | pages = 127–8 | year = 1990 | isbn = 0-8092-4255-9 | url = https://archive.org/details/stevemizerakscom00mize }}</ref> In the ''[[Seinfeld]]'' episode "[[The Reverse Peephole]]", the character Puddy wears a jacket featuring the eight-ball.
Because the [[Collision#Billiards|collisions between billiard balls]] are nearly [[Elastic collision|elastic]], and the balls roll on a surface that produces low [[rolling friction]], their behavior is often used to illustrate [[Newton's laws of motion]]. Idealized, frictionless billiard balls are a staple of [[Mathematics|mathematical]] theorems and [[physics]] models, and figure in [[dynamical billiards]], [[scattering theory]], [[Lissajous knots]], [[billiard ball computing]] and [[Reversible cellular automaton|reversible cellular automata]], [[Polchinski's paradox]], [[contact dynamics]], [[collision detection]], the [[illumination problem]], [[Ultracold atom|atomic ultracooling]], [[quantum mirage]]s and elsewhere in these fields.
"Billiard balls" or "pool balls" is the name given to balls used in [[stage magic]] tricks, especially the classic "[[multiplying billiard balls]]". Though obviously derived from real billiard balls, today they are usually smaller, for easier manipulation and hiding, but not so small and light that they are difficult to [[juggle]], as the magic and juggling disciplines have often overlapped since their successful combination by pioneers like [[Paul Vandy]].
An urban legend received cultural attention to many saying, "If the [[Earth]] were the size of a billiard ball, it would be smoother". It was used in 2008's Discover Magazine<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/08/ten-things-you-dont-know-about-the-earth/#.VpDO6I-cGCg |title=Ten things you don't know about the Earth |publisher=Bad Astronomy |date=8 September 2008 |accessdate=8 September 2008}}</ref> stating no diameter variations measuring +/-0.005" should be made, but mistook the diameter tolerance for smoothness. If the Earth were reduced to the size of a billiard ball, its mountains and trenches would equal the texture of 320 grit sandpaper and the variation in diameter would be 0.0049", which is near the maximum diameter tolerance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ourplnt.com/earth-smooth-billiard-ball/ |title=IS EARTH AS SMOOTH AS A BILLIARD BALL? NO, HERE’S WHY |publisher=Our Planet |date=17 August 2017 |accessdate=17 August 2017}}</ref> (see also: [[Earth#Shape|Earth's Shape]])
The phrase "as smooth as a billiard ball" is sometimes applied to describe a [[Baldness|bald person]], and the term "cue ball" is also slang for someone who sports a [[shaved head]].
In [[Polandball]], numbered pool balls are used to denote aboriginal, prehistoric, or native peoples who do not have a flag of their own. Green 6-balls also denote [[extraterrestrial intelligence|extraterrestrials]].
{{clear}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
===Patents===
* {{US patent|50359}}—Billiard ball {{circa|1865}}
* {{US patent|76765}}—Billiard ball {{circa|1868}}
* {{US patent|88634}}—Billiard ball {{circa|1869}}
* {{US patent|114945}}—Billiard ball {{circa|1871}}
{{Cue sports nav}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Billiard Ball}}
[[Category:Cue sports equipment|Ball, billiard]]
[[Category:Balls]]
[[Category:Game equipment]]' |
New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext) | '{{short description|Ball used in cue sports}}
{{redirect|Cue ball|the video game|Jimmy White's 2: Cueball|things called "Q-ball"|Q-ball (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2012}}
[[File:Billiard ball comparison.jpg|thumb|200px|{{Cuegloss|Cue ball|Cue balls}} from (left to right): {{unordered list
| [[Russian pyramid]] and [[Kaisa (billiards)|kaisa]]—68 mm ({{frac|2|11|16}} in)
| [[Carom billiards|Carom]]—61.5 mm ({{frac|2|7|16}} in)
| International [[pool (cue sports)|pool]]—57.15 mm ({{frac|2|1|4}} in)
| [[Blackball (pool)|British-style]] pool (large) —56 mm ({{frac|2|3|16}} in)
| [[Snooker]]—52.5 mm ({{frac|2|1|15}} in)
| British-style pool (regular)—51 mm (2 in)
}}
Not shown: miniature pool—approximately 38 mm ({{frac|1|1|2}} in).]]
A '''billiard ball''' is a small, hard [[ball]] used in [[cue sports]], such as [[carom billiards]], [[Pool (cue sports)|pool]], and [[snooker]]. The number, type, diameter, color, and pattern of the balls differ depending upon the specific game being played. Various particular ball properties such as [[hardness]], [[friction coefficient]] and [[Resilience (materials science)|resilience]] are important to accuracy.
==History==
[[File:US114945 - Patents for Injection Moulding by John Wesley Hyatt (Diagram 1).png|thumb|[[John Wesley Hyatt|Hyatt]]'s celluloid ball patent (1871)]]
Early balls were made of various materials, including wood and clay (the latter remaining in use well into the 20th century). Although affordable [[ox]]-bone balls were in common use in Europe,<ref name="ebay">Note: Antique ox-bone balls remain a very common item on [[eBay]].</ref> elephant [[ivory]] was favored since at least 1627 until the early 20th century;<ref name="Shamos 1999">{{Shamos 1999}}</ref>{{rp|17}} the earliest known written reference to ivory billiard balls is in the 1588 inventory of the [[Duke of Norfolk]].<ref name="Everton 1986">{{Cite book
|title=The History of Snooker and Billiards
|last=Everton
|first=Clive
|authorlink=Clive Everton
|location=Haywards Heath, UK
|publisher=[[Transworld (company)|Partridge Pr.]]
|page=8
|year=1986
|isbn=1-85225-013-5
|edition=rev. ver. of ''The Story of Billiards and Snooker'', 1979
|quote=11 balls of {{sic|hide=y|yvery}}
}}</ref> Dyed and numbered balls appeared around the early 1770s.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}} By the mid-19th century, elephants were being slaughtered for their ivory at an alarming rate, just to keep up with the demand for high-end billiard balls – no more than eight balls could be made from a single elephant's tusks.{{citation needed|date=February 2010|reason=When sourced, this should probably be added to the article on elephants.}} The billiard industry realized that the supply of elephants (their primary source of ivory) was [[endangered species|endangered]], as well as dangerous to obtain (the latter an issue of notable public concern at the turn of the 19th century).<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}} Inventors were challenged to come up with an alternative material that could be [[Manufacturing|manufactured]], with a [[United States dollar|US$]]10,000 prize being offered by a New York supplier,<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}} [[Michael Phelan (billiards)|Phelan]] and [[H. W. Collender|Collender]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2010|reason=Can't find reliable source for company name.}} (This would be worth approximately ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|10000|1869|r=1}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}{{Inflation-fn|US}}.)
Although not the first artificial substance to be used for the balls (e.g. [[Sorel cement]], invented in 1867, was marketed as an artificial ivory), [[John Wesley Hyatt]] invented a composition material in 1869 called [[nitrocellulose]] for billiard balls (US patent 50359, the first American patent for billiard balls). It is unclear if the cash prize was ever awarded<!--to anyone, that is-->, and there is no evidence suggesting he did in fact win it.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}}<ref name="Plastiquarian">{{cite web |url=http://www.plastiquarian.com/hyatt.htm |title=Hyatt |year=2002 |work=Plastiquarian.com |location=London |publisher=[[Plastics Historical Society]] |accessdate=26 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221114457/http://www.plastiquarian.com/hyatt.htm |archivedate=21 December 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref> By 1870 it was commercially branded [[Celluloid]], the first industrial plastic. However, the nature of celluloid made it volatile in production, occasionally exploding, which ultimately made this early plastic impractical.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}} Subsequently, to avoid the problem of celluloid instability, the industry experimented with various other synthetic materials for billiard balls such as [[Bakelite]], [[Poly(methyl methacrylate)|Crystallite]] and other plastic compounds.
The exacting requirements of the billiard ball are met today with balls cast from plastic materials that are strongly resistant to cracking and chipping. Currently [[Saluc]], under the brand names Aramith and Brunswick Centennial, manufactures [[phenolic resin]] balls.<ref>[http://www.saluc.com/html/billiard/index.php Aramith]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brunswickbilliards.com/our_rich_history/billiard_balls/index.html|title=History|work=brunswickbilliards.com|access-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327190020/http://www.brunswickbilliards.com/our_rich_history/billiard_balls/index.html|archive-date=27 March 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Other plastics and resins such as [[polyester]] (under various trade names) and clear [[Acrylic glass|acrylic]] are also used.
Ivory balls remained in use in [[artistic billiards]] competition until the late 20th century.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|17}}
==Types==
===Carom billiards===
[[File:Carom billiards balls.jpg|thumb|200px|Carom balls, [[Four-ball billiards|four-ball]] needs an additional object ball.]]
In the realm of [[carom billiards]] (or carambole) games, three balls are used to play [[straight-rail]], [[three-cushion]], [[balkline and straight rail|balkline]], [[Five-pin billiards|five-pins]], and related games on pocketless [[billiards table]]s. The exception is [[Four-ball billiards|four-ball]] which needs an extra object ball. Carom balls are not numbered, and at 61–61.5 mm (between approximately {{frac|2|3|8}} and {{frac|2|7|16}} in) in diameter<ref name="UMB-II-12-2">{{cite web
|url=http://www.umb.org/Rules/Carom_Rules.pdf
|format=PDF
|title=World Rules of {{sic|hide=y|Carom Billiard|reason=Yes, UMB did leave off the "s" in "Billiards".}}
|at=Chapter II ("Equipment"), Article 12 ("Balls, Chalk"), Section 2
|work=UMB.org
|publisher=[[Union Mondiale de Billard]]
|location=Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium
|date=1 January 1989
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031638/http://www.umb.org/Rules/Carom_Rules.pdf
|archivedate=28 September 2007
|accessdate=5 March 2007
|url-status=dead
|df=dmy
}} Officially but somewhat poorly translated version, from the French original.</ref> are larger than pool balls. The 61.5 mm size are more common. They are typically colored as follows:
:* Red {{Cuegloss|Object ball|object ball}} (or, uncommonly, blue; two object balls are used in [[Four-ball billiards|four-ball]])
:* White {{Cuegloss|Cue ball|cue ball}} for player 1
:* White with a spot (or sometimes yellow) cue ball for player 2
===Pool===
{{anchor|American-style pool}}
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;float:left; margin:1em 2em 1em 0em;"
|-
|align=center|1||bgcolor="gold" colspan=3| ||yellow
|-
|align=center|2||bgcolor="blue" colspan=3| ||blue
|-
|align=center|3||bgcolor="red" colspan=3| ||red
|-
|align=center|4||bgcolor="indigo" colspan=3| ||violet
|-
|align=center|5||bgcolor="orangered" colspan=3| ||orange
|-
|align=center|6||bgcolor="forestgreen" colspan=3| ||green
|-
|align=center|7||bgcolor="brown" colspan=3| ||brown
|-
|align=center|8||bgcolor="black" colspan=3| ||black
|-
|align=center|9||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="gold"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||yellow and white
|-
|align=center|10||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="blue"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||blue and white
|-
|align=center|11||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="red"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||red and white
|-
|align=center|12||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="indigo"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||violet and white
|-
|align=center|13||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="orangered"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||orange and white
|-
|align=center|14||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="forestgreen"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||green and white
|-
|align=center|15||bgcolor="white"| ||bgcolor="brown"| ||bgcolor="white"| ||brown and white
|-
|align=center|•||bgcolor="white" colspan=3| ||{{Cuegloss|Cue ball|cue ball}}, white or off-white <small>(sometimes with one or more spots)</small>
|}
{{Multiple image
|total_width=400
|image1=Bicentennial Billard Balls.jpg
|caption1=Old style [[Brunswick Corporation|Brunswick]] pool balls, the numbers are not located on the stripe
|image2=Cribbage pool rack closeup.jpg
|caption2=Modern style [[Saluc|Super Aramith Pro]] pool balls racked in [[Cribbage (pool)|Cribbage]] arrangement
}}
Pool balls are used to play various [[Pool (cue sports)|pool]] (pocket billiards or pool billiards) games, such as [[eight-ball]], [[nine-ball]] and [[one-pocket]]. In North America and Asia, they are referred to simply as "billiard balls" (except among carom and snooker players). These balls, used the most widely throughout the world, are considerably smaller than carom billiards balls, slightly larger than British-style pool balls and substantially larger than those for snooker. According to [[World Pool-Billiard Association|WPA]]/[[Billiard Congress of America|BCA]] equipment specifications, the weight may be from {{cvt|5.5|to(-)|6.0|oz|g}} with a diameter of {{cvt|2.250|in|mm}}, plus or minus {{cvt|0.005|in|mm|3}}.<ref name="WPAequipspec">{{cite web |url=http://www.wpa-pool.com/web/WPA_Tournament_Table_Equipment_Specifications |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928165510/http://www.wpa-pool.com/web/WPA_Tournament_Table_Equipment_Specifications |archivedate=2013-09-28 |title=WPA Tournament Table & Equipment Specifications |work=WPA-Pool.com |publisher=World Pool-Billiard Association |date=November 2001 }}</ref><ref name="BCAbook">{{cite book
| year = 2004
| title = Billiards: The Official Rules and Records Book
| publisher = [[Billiards Congress of America]]
| location = [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]]
| page = 5
| isbn = 978-1-878493-14-9
| author = BCA Rules Committee
}}</ref> These are often referred to as {{convert|2+1/4|in|mm|adj=on}} balls. The balls are numbered and colored as in the table.
The first series of the numbering of the balls from 1 through 7 being solid. Are the same as 9 to 15 being striped. They are eight away from the other of the same color.
[[File:Baseball pool balls and rack.png|thumb|Extended set for [[baseball pocket billiards]].]]
In [[baseball pocket billiards]], the ball set is extended to 21 balls, in which the 16 ball is black and white, while balls 17 through 21 have no special design, but look exactly like balls 9 through 13, respectively, except for their numbers.
Balls 1 through 7 are often referred to as {{Cuegloss|Solids|solids}} and 9 through 15 as {{Cuegloss|Stripes|stripes}} though there are many other colloquial terms for each {{Cuegloss|Suit|suit}} of balls (highs and lows, etc.). Striped balls were introduced around 1889.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|246}} Though it looks similar to the solids, the 8 ball is not considered a solid because it is the only ball that is black. Some games such as nine-ball do not distinguish between stripes and solids, but rather use the numbering on the balls to determine which {{Cuegloss|Object ball|object ball}} must be pocketed. In other games such as [[three-ball]] and [[straight pool]] neither type of marking is of any consequence. In eight-ball, straight pool, and related games, all sixteen balls are employed. In the games of [[seven-ball]], nine-ball, [[ten-ball]] and related, only object balls 1 through 7, 9 and 10, respectively (plus the cue ball) are used.
Some balls used in televised pool games are colored differently in order to make them distinguishable on television monitors. Specifically, the 4 ball is colored pink instead of dark violet, and the 12 is white with a pink stripe, to make it easier to distinguish their color from the black 8 ball, and similarly the 7 and 15 balls use a light tan color instead of a deep maroon. Television was also the genesis of the cue ball with six red spots on its surface (known as a "measles" cue ball) so that {{Cuegloss|Spin|spin}} placed on it is evident to viewers. Red also signifies non magnetic. Where as green is signifying magnetic, also sometimes blue! For Coin-operated tables as mentioned in the next paragraph.
Coin-operated pool tables such as those found at [[Bar (establishment)|bars]] historically have often used either an oversized cue, larger than the more popular magnetic cue. Sometimes the cue can be a less expensive type of ball refereed to as a mud ball. Which is a ball with metal grindings mixed into the resin, so much it is magnetic enough to separate, like a metal core ball! Unlike the regular set of balls (which are captured until the game ends and the table is paid again for another game) as it makes it possible that the cue ball can be returned for further play, should it be accidentally potted.) Oversized, I have seen, but not used in my area much. Where a regular coin op cue ball has a metal core in it. The oversize ball is separated by its size. A magnetic ball is separated by a magnet! In Asia and Europe, some pool tables use a smaller cue ball instead. Modern tables usually employ a magnetic ball of regulation or near-regulation size and weight, since players have complained for many decades that the heavy and often oversized cue balls do not "play" correctly.
Addressing the oversize cue. When making any shot with an oversized cue 2-3/8". Will not be equal to the same shot with a regular cue or 2-1/4" size ball. When dealing with regular pool or pocket billiards. All the object balls are 2-1/4". If you hit any one of them with an oversize cue you will not be able to hit the object ball square for any shot as it is higher, and not center on a rail shot. Center to center it is 1/16 off! This is a good argument for using a magnetic cue rather that oversize, on a coin op table!<!--R. Givens's "Eight-ball Bible" can be cited on these points, but my copy is missing. -SMcCandlish-->
===British-style pool (blackball)===
[[File:British Style Pool Balls.jpg|left|thumb|145px|Setup for blackball]]
In WPA [[Blackball (pool)|blackball]] and its predecessor [[World Eight-ball Pool Federation|WEPF]] or ''English eight-ball pool'' (not to be confused with the games of eight-ball or English billiards), fifteen object balls again are used, but fall into two unnumbered {{Cuegloss|Group|groups}}, the {{Cuegloss|Red ball|reds}} (or less commonly {{Cuegloss|Blue ball|blues}}) and {{Cuegloss|Yellow ball|yellows}}, with a white cue ball, and black 8 ball. Aside from the 8, shots are not {{Cuegloss|Call-shot|called}} since there is no reliable way to identify particular balls to be pocketed. Because they are unnumbered they are wholly unsuited to certain pool games, such as nine-ball, in which ball order is important. They are noticeably smaller than the American-style balls, and with a cue ball that is slightly smaller than the object balls, while the table's {{Cuegloss|Pocket|pockets}} are tighter to compensate. Neither the WPA nor the WEPF (publicly) define ball or even table dimensions, though presumably{{cn|date=August 2017}} league and tournament organizers are given some guidelines in this regard. Most manufacturers that supply this market provide sets that range from {{convert|2|in|mm|0}} up to {{convert|2+3/16|in|mm|0}}, often with a slightly smaller cue ball, e.g. {{cvt|1+7/8|in|mm|0}} for a 2-inch set. The most common object ball diameters are {{cvt|2|in|mm|0}} and {{cvt|2+1/8|in|mm|0}}. The yellow-and-red sets are sometimes commercially referred to as "casino sets" (they were formerly used for televised eight-ball championships,<ref name="Shamos 1999"/>{{rp|45}} most often held in casinos). The use of such sets, however, predates television, as they were used for B.B.C. Co. Pool, the forerunner of modern eight-ball, at least as early as 1908.<ref name="Shamos 1999" />{{rp|24}}
===Snooker===
[[File:Set of Snookerballs.png|thumb|right|300px|Complete set of snooker balls.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;float:left; margin:1em 2em 1em 0em;"
|-
!Colour!!Value
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_red.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Red ball|Red}}|| 1 point
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_yellow.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Yellow ball|Yellow}} || 2 points
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_green.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Green ball|Green}} || 3 points
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_brown.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Brown ball|Brown}} || 4 points
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_blue.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Blue ball|Blue}} || 5 points
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_pink.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Pink ball|Pink}} || 6 points
|-
| [[File:Snooker_ball_black.png|14px]] {{Cuegloss|Black ball|Black}} || 7 points
|}
Ball sets for the sport of snooker look at first glance like a mixture of American- and British-style pool balls. There are twenty-two balls in total, arranged as a rack of 15 unmarked reds, six {{Cuegloss|Colour ball|colour balls}} placed at various predetermined spots on the table, and a white cue ball. ''(See [[snooker]] for more information on ball setup.)''
The colour balls are sometimes numbered American-style, with their point values, for the amateur/home market, as follows in the adjacent table.
Snooker balls are technically standardized at {{cvt|52.5|mm|in|2}} in diameter within a tolerance of plus or minus {{cvt|0.05|mm|in|3}}. No standard weight is defined, but all balls in the set must be the same weight within a tolerance of {{cvt|3|g|oz|2}}.<ref name="WSAequipspec">[http://www.worldsnooker.com/equipment.htm "Equipment"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801105033/http://www.worldsnooker.com/equipment.htm |date=1 August 2008 }}, World Snooker Association, publication date unknown (Retrieved 28 January 2007), London, UK.</ref> However, many sets are actually {{cvt|2+1/16|in|mm|1}}, even from major manufacturers. Snooker sets are also available with considerably smaller-than-regulation balls (and even with ten instead of fifteen reds) for play on smaller tables (down to half-size), and are sanctioned for use in some amateur leagues. Sets for [[Snooker|American snooker]] are typically {{cvt|2+1/8|in|mm|1}}, with numbered colour balls.
{{clear left}}
The set of eight colours used for snooker balls (including white) are thought to be derived from the game of [[croquet]]. Snooker was invented in 1884 by [[Neville Francis Fitzgerald Chamberlain|British Army officers]] stationed in India. Croquet reached its peak popularity at the same time, particularly amongst people in the same social context. The eight coloured balls of croquet use the same identical set of eight colours. There are many other similarities between croquet and snooker, which when taken together, suggest that the derivation of the latter owes much to the existence of the former.<ref>{{cite web|title=An Introduction to Croquet: A Brief History|url=https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=tech/CroquetIntro#history|publisher=The Croquet Association (of England and Wales)|accessdate=13 May 2017}}</ref>
===Other games===
{{Multiple image
|total_width=400
|image1=Russian billiards ball at a corner pocket.jpg
|caption1=Russian pyramid ball at a corner pocket. The relative size of the ball and the pocket makes the game very challenging.
|image2=Golfbiljart Doel.jpg
|caption2=Bumper pool ball near a pocket. The bumpers increase the difficulty in potting the ball.
}}
Various other games have their own variants of billiard balls. [[English billiards]] balls are like carom balls but are the same size as snooker balls. [[Russian pyramid]] uses a set of fifteen numbered but otherwise all-white balls, and a red or yellow cue ball that may be even larger than carom billiards balls at 68 mm (2<sup>11</sup>⁄<sub>16</sub> in) or 72 mm (2<sup>4</sup>⁄<sub>5</sub> in). [[Kaisa (cue sport)|Kaisa]] has the same pocket and ball dimensions but uses only five balls: one yellow, two red and two cue balls, one for each player.<ref name="BVRP">{{Cite web
|url=https://cuesup.com/russian-pyramid-pool-a-game-bearing-more-games/
|title=Russian Billiards|work=CuesUp.com
|author=<!--Staff writer; no byline.-->
|year=2016
|accessdate=2016-12-28
}}</ref> [[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 {{frac|2|1|8}} inch (approximately 52.5 mm) in diameter. [[Bar billiards]] uses six or seven white balls (depending on regional variations) and one red ball {{cvt|1+7/8|in|mm|0}} in diameter.
===Training balls===
[[File:Jim Rempe practice ball.jpg|thumb|150px|left|The [[Jim Rempe]] Training Ball]]
Several brands of practice balls exist, which have systems of spots, stripes, differently colored halves and/or targeting rings.
For example, Saluc markets several practice ball systems, including the Jim Rempe Training Ball, a {{Cuegloss|Cue ball|cue ball}} marked with rings and targets on the surface of the ball so that the practicing player can better judge the effects of very particular amounts of {{Cuegloss|Sidespin|sidespin}}, {{Cuegloss|Topspin|topspin}}, {{Cuegloss|Backspin|backspin}} and other forms of cue ball control, and learn better control of [[Cue stick|cue]] {{Cuegloss|Stroke|stroke}}.<ref name="Saluc 1">{{Cite web|url= http://www.saluc.com/html/index.php?idlien=17 |title=Product Line > Training Balls|year=2005|work=Saluc.com|publisher=[[Saluc|Saluc S.A.]]|location=Callenelle, Belgium|accessdate=2008-02-18}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Various competing products, such as several other Saluc models<ref name="Saluc 1" /> and Elephant Practice Balls,<ref name="Elephant">{{Cite web|url= http://www.elephantballs.com/store/products/22 |title=Elephant Practice Balls|year=2007|work=ElephantBalls.com|publisher=Elephant Balls, Ltd.|location=Columbus, Ohio|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> use a similar aiming system. Some such sets consist of just a special cue ball and manual, while others also include an object ball marked for aiming practice.
{{clear}}
===Novelty balls===
[[File:Novelty billiard balls.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Various novelty [[pocket billiards]] balls. Clockwise from the top: Red and white balls and markers from a proprietary game called Starball; an [[Elvis Presley]] commemorative cue ball from [[Graceland]]; a [[leopard]]-patterned 9 ball; colorful balls from a [[poker]]-themed set; regular balls and the small "jack" from a miniature [[bocce]] set used on a table instead of a lawn or court.]]
There is a market for specialty cue balls and even entire ball sets, featuring sports team logos, cartoon characters, animal pelt patterns, etc.
Entrepreneurial inventors also supply a variety of novelty billiard games with unique rules and balls, some with playing card markings, others with stars and stripes, and yet others in sets of more than thirty balls in several suits. Marbled-looking and glittery materials are also popular for home tables. There are even [[blacklight]] sets for playing in near-dark. There are also [[practical joke]] cue and 8 balls, with off-center weights in them that make their paths curve and wobble. Miniature sets in various sizes (typically {{frac||2|3}} or {{frac||1|2}} of normal size) are also commonly available, primarily intended for undersized toy tables. Even an egg-shaped ball has been patented<ref>U.S. Patent No. 7,468,002</ref> and marketed under such names as Bobble Ball and Tag Ball.
m "cue ball" is also slang for someone who sports a [[shaved head]].
In [[Polandball]], numbered pool balls are used to denote aboriginal, prehistoric, or native peoples who do not have a flag of their own. Green 6-balls also denote [[extraterrestrial intelligence|extraterrestrials]].
{{clear}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
===Patents===
* {{US patent|50359}}—Billiard ball {{circa|1865}}
* {{US patent|76765}}—Billiard ball {{circa|1868}}
* {{US patent|88634}}—Billiard ball {{circa|1869}}
* {{US patent|114945}}—Billiard ball {{circa|1871}}
{{Cue sports nav}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Billiard Ball}}
[[Category:Cue sports equipment|Ball, billiard]]
[[Category:Balls]]
[[Category:Game equipment]]' |
Unified diff of changes made by edit (edit_diff) | '@@ -186,16 +186,6 @@
Entrepreneurial inventors also supply a variety of novelty billiard games with unique rules and balls, some with playing card markings, others with stars and stripes, and yet others in sets of more than thirty balls in several suits. Marbled-looking and glittery materials are also popular for home tables. There are even [[blacklight]] sets for playing in near-dark. There are also [[practical joke]] cue and 8 balls, with off-center weights in them that make their paths curve and wobble. Miniature sets in various sizes (typically {{frac||2|3}} or {{frac||1|2}} of normal size) are also commonly available, primarily intended for undersized toy tables. Even an egg-shaped ball has been patented<ref>U.S. Patent No. 7,468,002</ref> and marketed under such names as Bobble Ball and Tag Ball.
-==In popular culture==
-[[File:8 ball face.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Magic 8 Ball]]]]
-[[File:USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) missile hatches.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ballistic missile submarine]] {{USS|Sam Rayburn|SSBN-635|6}} displays a billiard motif on her missile hatches]]
-The 8 ball is frequently used iconically in Western, especially American, culture. It can often be found as an element of T-shirt designs, album covers and names, tattoos, household goods like paperweights and cigarette lighters, belt buckles, etc. A classic toy is the [[Magic 8-Ball]] "oracle". [[Don and Ron Harris|A wrestler]], [[Eightball & MJG|a rapper]], and [[8-Ball (band)|a rock band]] have all independently adopted the name. The term "8-ball" is also [[slang]] both for {{convert|1/8|oz|g}} of [[cocaine]] or [[crystal methamphetamine|crystal meth]], and for a bottle of [[Olde English 800]] [[malt liquor]]. It has also been used to refer to African-Americans, particularly those of darker skin tones, as in the film ''[[Full Metal Jacket]]''. The expression "behind the eight [ball]" is used to indicate a [[dilemma]] from which it is difficult to extricate oneself. The term derives from the game [[kelly pool]].<ref name="IEOB">{{cite book | last = Shamos | first = Michael Ian | year = 1993 | title = The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards | publisher = Lyons & Burford | location = New York City | pages = 85, 128 and 168 | isbn = 1-55821-219-1 | url = https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000sham }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Jewett | first = Bob |date=February 2002 | title = 8-Ball Rules: The many different versions of one of today's most common games | journal = Billiards Digest Magazine | pages = Pages 22–23}}</ref><ref>Ralph Hickok (2001). [http://www.hickoksports.com/history/billiard.shtml Sports History: Pocket Billiards] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020223060649/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/billiard.shtml |date=23 February 2002 }}. Retrieved 22 February 2007.</ref><ref>Billiard Congress America (1995–2005) [http://www.bca-pool.com/aboutus/history/start.shtml A Brief History of the Noble Game of Billiards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127151057/http://www.bca-pool.com/aboutus/history/start.shtml |date=27 January 2007 }} by Mike Shamos. Retrieved 22 February 2007.</ref><ref name="Mizerak">{{cite book | author = Steve Mizerak and Michael E. Panozzo | title = Steve Mizerak's Complete Book of Pool | publisher = Contemporary Books | location = [[Chicago|Chicago, Ill]] | pages = 127–8 | year = 1990 | isbn = 0-8092-4255-9 | url = https://archive.org/details/stevemizerakscom00mize }}</ref> In the ''[[Seinfeld]]'' episode "[[The Reverse Peephole]]", the character Puddy wears a jacket featuring the eight-ball.
-Because the [[Collision#Billiards|collisions between billiard balls]] are nearly [[Elastic collision|elastic]], and the balls roll on a surface that produces low [[rolling friction]], their behavior is often used to illustrate [[Newton's laws of motion]]. Idealized, frictionless billiard balls are a staple of [[Mathematics|mathematical]] theorems and [[physics]] models, and figure in [[dynamical billiards]], [[scattering theory]], [[Lissajous knots]], [[billiard ball computing]] and [[Reversible cellular automaton|reversible cellular automata]], [[Polchinski's paradox]], [[contact dynamics]], [[collision detection]], the [[illumination problem]], [[Ultracold atom|atomic ultracooling]], [[quantum mirage]]s and elsewhere in these fields.
-
-"Billiard balls" or "pool balls" is the name given to balls used in [[stage magic]] tricks, especially the classic "[[multiplying billiard balls]]". Though obviously derived from real billiard balls, today they are usually smaller, for easier manipulation and hiding, but not so small and light that they are difficult to [[juggle]], as the magic and juggling disciplines have often overlapped since their successful combination by pioneers like [[Paul Vandy]].
-
-An urban legend received cultural attention to many saying, "If the [[Earth]] were the size of a billiard ball, it would be smoother". It was used in 2008's Discover Magazine<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/08/ten-things-you-dont-know-about-the-earth/#.VpDO6I-cGCg |title=Ten things you don't know about the Earth |publisher=Bad Astronomy |date=8 September 2008 |accessdate=8 September 2008}}</ref> stating no diameter variations measuring +/-0.005" should be made, but mistook the diameter tolerance for smoothness. If the Earth were reduced to the size of a billiard ball, its mountains and trenches would equal the texture of 320 grit sandpaper and the variation in diameter would be 0.0049", which is near the maximum diameter tolerance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ourplnt.com/earth-smooth-billiard-ball/ |title=IS EARTH AS SMOOTH AS A BILLIARD BALL? NO, HERE’S WHY |publisher=Our Planet |date=17 August 2017 |accessdate=17 August 2017}}</ref> (see also: [[Earth#Shape|Earth's Shape]])
-
-The phrase "as smooth as a billiard ball" is sometimes applied to describe a [[Baldness|bald person]], and the term "cue ball" is also slang for someone who sports a [[shaved head]].
+m "cue ball" is also slang for someone who sports a [[shaved head]].
In [[Polandball]], numbered pool balls are used to denote aboriginal, prehistoric, or native peoples who do not have a flag of their own. Green 6-balls also denote [[extraterrestrial intelligence|extraterrestrials]].
' |
New page size (new_size) | 24891 |
Old page size (old_size) | 30034 |
Size change in edit (edit_delta) | -5143 |
Lines added in edit (added_lines) | [
0 => 'm "cue ball" is also slang for someone who sports a [[shaved head]].'
] |
Lines removed in edit (removed_lines) | [
0 => '==In popular culture==',
1 => '[[File:8 ball face.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Magic 8 Ball]]]]',
2 => '[[File:USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) missile hatches.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ballistic missile submarine]] {{USS|Sam Rayburn|SSBN-635|6}} displays a billiard motif on her missile hatches]]',
3 => 'The 8 ball is frequently used iconically in Western, especially American, culture. It can often be found as an element of T-shirt designs, album covers and names, tattoos, household goods like paperweights and cigarette lighters, belt buckles, etc. A classic toy is the [[Magic 8-Ball]] "oracle". [[Don and Ron Harris|A wrestler]], [[Eightball & MJG|a rapper]], and [[8-Ball (band)|a rock band]] have all independently adopted the name. The term "8-ball" is also [[slang]] both for {{convert|1/8|oz|g}} of [[cocaine]] or [[crystal methamphetamine|crystal meth]], and for a bottle of [[Olde English 800]] [[malt liquor]]. It has also been used to refer to African-Americans, particularly those of darker skin tones, as in the film ''[[Full Metal Jacket]]''. The expression "behind the eight [ball]" is used to indicate a [[dilemma]] from which it is difficult to extricate oneself. The term derives from the game [[kelly pool]].<ref name="IEOB">{{cite book | last = Shamos | first = Michael Ian | year = 1993 | title = The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards | publisher = Lyons & Burford | location = New York City | pages = 85, 128 and 168 | isbn = 1-55821-219-1 | url = https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000sham }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Jewett | first = Bob |date=February 2002 | title = 8-Ball Rules: The many different versions of one of today's most common games | journal = Billiards Digest Magazine | pages = Pages 22–23}}</ref><ref>Ralph Hickok (2001). [http://www.hickoksports.com/history/billiard.shtml Sports History: Pocket Billiards] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020223060649/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/billiard.shtml |date=23 February 2002 }}. Retrieved 22 February 2007.</ref><ref>Billiard Congress America (1995–2005) [http://www.bca-pool.com/aboutus/history/start.shtml A Brief History of the Noble Game of Billiards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127151057/http://www.bca-pool.com/aboutus/history/start.shtml |date=27 January 2007 }} by Mike Shamos. Retrieved 22 February 2007.</ref><ref name="Mizerak">{{cite book | author = Steve Mizerak and Michael E. Panozzo | title = Steve Mizerak's Complete Book of Pool | publisher = Contemporary Books | location = [[Chicago|Chicago, Ill]] | pages = 127–8 | year = 1990 | isbn = 0-8092-4255-9 | url = https://archive.org/details/stevemizerakscom00mize }}</ref> In the ''[[Seinfeld]]'' episode "[[The Reverse Peephole]]", the character Puddy wears a jacket featuring the eight-ball.',
4 => 'Because the [[Collision#Billiards|collisions between billiard balls]] are nearly [[Elastic collision|elastic]], and the balls roll on a surface that produces low [[rolling friction]], their behavior is often used to illustrate [[Newton's laws of motion]]. Idealized, frictionless billiard balls are a staple of [[Mathematics|mathematical]] theorems and [[physics]] models, and figure in [[dynamical billiards]], [[scattering theory]], [[Lissajous knots]], [[billiard ball computing]] and [[Reversible cellular automaton|reversible cellular automata]], [[Polchinski's paradox]], [[contact dynamics]], [[collision detection]], the [[illumination problem]], [[Ultracold atom|atomic ultracooling]], [[quantum mirage]]s and elsewhere in these fields.',
5 => '',
6 => '"Billiard balls" or "pool balls" is the name given to balls used in [[stage magic]] tricks, especially the classic "[[multiplying billiard balls]]". Though obviously derived from real billiard balls, today they are usually smaller, for easier manipulation and hiding, but not so small and light that they are difficult to [[juggle]], as the magic and juggling disciplines have often overlapped since their successful combination by pioneers like [[Paul Vandy]].',
7 => '',
8 => 'An urban legend received cultural attention to many saying, "If the [[Earth]] were the size of a billiard ball, it would be smoother". It was used in 2008's Discover Magazine<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/08/ten-things-you-dont-know-about-the-earth/#.VpDO6I-cGCg |title=Ten things you don't know about the Earth |publisher=Bad Astronomy |date=8 September 2008 |accessdate=8 September 2008}}</ref> stating no diameter variations measuring +/-0.005" should be made, but mistook the diameter tolerance for smoothness. If the Earth were reduced to the size of a billiard ball, its mountains and trenches would equal the texture of 320 grit sandpaper and the variation in diameter would be 0.0049", which is near the maximum diameter tolerance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ourplnt.com/earth-smooth-billiard-ball/ |title=IS EARTH AS SMOOTH AS A BILLIARD BALL? NO, HERE’S WHY |publisher=Our Planet |date=17 August 2017 |accessdate=17 August 2017}}</ref> (see also: [[Earth#Shape|Earth's Shape]])',
9 => '',
10 => 'The phrase "as smooth as a billiard ball" is sometimes applied to describe a [[Baldness|bald person]], and the term "cue ball" is also slang for someone who sports a [[shaved head]].'
] |
Parsed HTML source of the new revision (new_html) | '<div class="mw-parser-output"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Ball used in cue sports</div>
<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Cue ball" redirects here. For the video game, see <a href="/wiki/Jimmy_White%27s_2:_Cueball" title="Jimmy White's 2: Cueball">Jimmy White's 2: Cueball</a>. For things called "Q-ball", see <a href="/wiki/Q-ball_(disambiguation)" class="mw-disambig" title="Q-ball (disambiguation)">Q-ball (disambiguation)</a>.</div>
<p class="mw-empty-elt">
</p>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:202px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Billiard_ball_comparison.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Billiard_ball_comparison.jpg/200px-Billiard_ball_comparison.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="134" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Billiard_ball_comparison.jpg/300px-Billiard_ball_comparison.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Billiard_ball_comparison.jpg/400px-Billiard_ball_comparison.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1527" data-file-height="1020" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Billiard_ball_comparison.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div><dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#cue_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Cue ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">Cue balls</span></a></dfn> from (left to right): <div><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Russian_pyramid" title="Russian pyramid">Russian pyramid</a> and <a href="/wiki/Kaisa_(billiards)" class="mw-redirect" title="Kaisa (billiards)">kaisa</a>—68 mm (​<span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>11</sup>⁄<sub>16</sub></span> in)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Carom_billiards" title="Carom billiards">Carom</a>—61.5 mm (​<span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>7</sup>⁄<sub>16</sub></span> in)</li><li>International <a href="/wiki/Pool_(cue_sports)" title="Pool (cue sports)">pool</a>—57.15 mm (​<span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub></span> in)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Blackball_(pool)" title="Blackball (pool)">British-style</a> pool (large) —56 mm (​<span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>16</sub></span> in)</li><li><a href="/wiki/Snooker" title="Snooker">Snooker</a>—52.5 mm (​<span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>15</sub></span> in)</li><li>British-style pool (regular)—51 mm (2 in)</li></ul></div> Not shown: miniature pool—approximately 38 mm (​<span class="frac nowrap">1<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub></span> in).</div></div></div>
<p>A <b>billiard ball</b> is a small, hard <a href="/wiki/Ball" title="Ball">ball</a> used in <a href="/wiki/Cue_sports" title="Cue sports">cue sports</a>, such as <a href="/wiki/Carom_billiards" title="Carom billiards">carom billiards</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pool_(cue_sports)" title="Pool (cue sports)">pool</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Snooker" title="Snooker">snooker</a>. The number, type, diameter, color, and pattern of the balls differ depending upon the specific game being played. Various particular ball properties such as <a href="/wiki/Hardness" title="Hardness">hardness</a>, <a href="/wiki/Friction_coefficient" class="mw-redirect" title="Friction coefficient">friction coefficient</a> and <a href="/wiki/Resilience_(materials_science)" title="Resilience (materials science)">resilience</a> are important to accuracy.
</p>
<div id="toc" class="toc"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2>Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#History"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">History</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="#Types"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Types</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="#Carom_billiards"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Carom billiards</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="#Pool"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Pool</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="#British-style_pool_(blackball)"><span class="tocnumber">2.3</span> <span class="toctext">British-style pool (blackball)</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="#Snooker"><span class="tocnumber">2.4</span> <span class="toctext">Snooker</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="#Other_games"><span class="tocnumber">2.5</span> <span class="toctext">Other games</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="#Training_balls"><span class="tocnumber">2.6</span> <span class="toctext">Training balls</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="#Novelty_balls"><span class="tocnumber">2.7</span> <span class="toctext">Novelty balls</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-11"><a href="#Patents"><span class="tocnumber">3.1</span> <span class="toctext">Patents</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="History">History</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Billiard_ball&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/wiki/File:US114945_-_Patents_for_Injection_Moulding_by_John_Wesley_Hyatt_(Diagram_1).png" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/US114945_-_Patents_for_Injection_Moulding_by_John_Wesley_Hyatt_%28Diagram_1%29.png/220px-US114945_-_Patents_for_Injection_Moulding_by_John_Wesley_Hyatt_%28Diagram_1%29.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="158" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/US114945_-_Patents_for_Injection_Moulding_by_John_Wesley_Hyatt_%28Diagram_1%29.png/330px-US114945_-_Patents_for_Injection_Moulding_by_John_Wesley_Hyatt_%28Diagram_1%29.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/US114945_-_Patents_for_Injection_Moulding_by_John_Wesley_Hyatt_%28Diagram_1%29.png/440px-US114945_-_Patents_for_Injection_Moulding_by_John_Wesley_Hyatt_%28Diagram_1%29.png 2x" data-file-width="2816" data-file-height="2023" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:US114945_-_Patents_for_Injection_Moulding_by_John_Wesley_Hyatt_(Diagram_1).png" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div><a href="/wiki/John_Wesley_Hyatt" title="John Wesley Hyatt">Hyatt</a>'s celluloid ball patent (1871)</div></div></div>
<p>Early balls were made of various materials, including wood and clay (the latter remaining in use well into the 20th century). Although affordable <a href="/wiki/Ox" title="Ox">ox</a>-bone balls were in common use in Europe,<sup id="cite_ref-ebay_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ebay-1">[1]</a></sup> elephant <a href="/wiki/Ivory" title="Ivory">ivory</a> was favored since at least 1627 until the early 20th century;<sup id="cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shamos_1999-2">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" style="white-space:nowrap;">:<span>17</span></sup> the earliest known written reference to ivory billiard balls is in the 1588 inventory of the <a href="/wiki/Duke_of_Norfolk" title="Duke of Norfolk">Duke of Norfolk</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Everton_1986_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Everton_1986-3">[3]</a></sup> Dyed and numbered balls appeared around the early 1770s.<sup id="cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shamos_1999-2">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" style="white-space:nowrap;">:<span>17</span></sup> By the mid-19th century, elephants were being slaughtered for their ivory at an alarming rate, just to keep up with the demand for high-end billiard balls – no more than eight balls could be made from a single elephant's tusks.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="When sourced, this should probably be added to the article on elephants. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> The billiard industry realized that the supply of elephants (their primary source of ivory) was <a href="/wiki/Endangered_species" title="Endangered species">endangered</a>, as well as dangerous to obtain (the latter an issue of notable public concern at the turn of the 19th century).<sup id="cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shamos_1999-2">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" style="white-space:nowrap;">:<span>17</span></sup> Inventors were challenged to come up with an alternative material that could be <a href="/wiki/Manufacturing" title="Manufacturing">manufactured</a>, with a <a href="/wiki/United_States_dollar" title="United States dollar">US$</a>10,000 prize being offered by a New York supplier,<sup id="cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shamos_1999-2">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" style="white-space:nowrap;">:<span>17</span></sup> <a href="/wiki/Michael_Phelan_(billiards)" title="Michael Phelan (billiards)">Phelan</a> and <a href="/wiki/H._W._Collender" class="mw-redirect" title="H. W. Collender">Collender</a>.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="Can't find reliable source for company name. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> (This would be worth approximately $188,225 in 2019<sup id="cite_ref-inflation-US_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-inflation-US-4">[4]</a></sup>.)
</p><p>Although not the first artificial substance to be used for the balls (e.g. <a href="/wiki/Sorel_cement" title="Sorel cement">Sorel cement</a>, invented in 1867, was marketed as an artificial ivory), <a href="/wiki/John_Wesley_Hyatt" title="John Wesley Hyatt">John Wesley Hyatt</a> invented a composition material in 1869 called <a href="/wiki/Nitrocellulose" title="Nitrocellulose">nitrocellulose</a> for billiard balls (US patent 50359, the first American patent for billiard balls). It is unclear if the cash prize was ever awarded, and there is no evidence suggesting he did in fact win it.<sup id="cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shamos_1999-2">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" style="white-space:nowrap;">:<span>17</span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Plastiquarian_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Plastiquarian-5">[5]</a></sup> By 1870 it was commercially branded <a href="/wiki/Celluloid" title="Celluloid">Celluloid</a>, the first industrial plastic. However, the nature of celluloid made it volatile in production, occasionally exploding, which ultimately made this early plastic impractical.<sup id="cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shamos_1999-2">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" style="white-space:nowrap;">:<span>17</span></sup> Subsequently, to avoid the problem of celluloid instability, the industry experimented with various other synthetic materials for billiard balls such as <a href="/wiki/Bakelite" title="Bakelite">Bakelite</a>, <a href="/wiki/Poly(methyl_methacrylate)" title="Poly(methyl methacrylate)">Crystallite</a> and other plastic compounds.
</p><p>The exacting requirements of the billiard ball are met today with balls cast from plastic materials that are strongly resistant to cracking and chipping. Currently <a href="/wiki/Saluc" title="Saluc">Saluc</a>, under the brand names Aramith and Brunswick Centennial, manufactures <a href="/wiki/Phenolic_resin" class="mw-redirect" title="Phenolic resin">phenolic resin</a> balls.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup> Other plastics and resins such as <a href="/wiki/Polyester" title="Polyester">polyester</a> (under various trade names) and clear <a href="/wiki/Acrylic_glass" class="mw-redirect" title="Acrylic glass">acrylic</a> are also used.
</p><p>Ivory balls remained in use in <a href="/wiki/Artistic_billiards" title="Artistic billiards">artistic billiards</a> competition until the late 20th century.<sup id="cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shamos_1999-2">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" style="white-space:nowrap;">:<span>17</span></sup>
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Types">Types</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Billiard_ball&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Types">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Carom_billiards">Carom billiards</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Billiard_ball&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Carom billiards">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:202px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Carom_billiards_balls.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Carom_billiards_balls.jpg/200px-Carom_billiards_balls.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="155" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Carom_billiards_balls.jpg/300px-Carom_billiards_balls.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Carom_billiards_balls.jpg/400px-Carom_billiards_balls.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1060" data-file-height="824" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Carom_billiards_balls.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Carom balls, <a href="/wiki/Four-ball_billiards" title="Four-ball billiards">four-ball</a> needs an additional object ball.</div></div></div>
<p>In the realm of <a href="/wiki/Carom_billiards" title="Carom billiards">carom billiards</a> (or carambole) games, three balls are used to play <a href="/wiki/Straight-rail" class="mw-redirect" title="Straight-rail">straight-rail</a>, <a href="/wiki/Three-cushion" class="mw-redirect" title="Three-cushion">three-cushion</a>, <a href="/wiki/Balkline_and_straight_rail" title="Balkline and straight rail">balkline</a>, <a href="/wiki/Five-pin_billiards" title="Five-pin billiards">five-pins</a>, and related games on pocketless <a href="/wiki/Billiards_table" class="mw-redirect" title="Billiards table">billiards tables</a>. The exception is <a href="/wiki/Four-ball_billiards" title="Four-ball billiards">four-ball</a> which needs an extra object ball. Carom balls are not numbered, and at 61–61.5 mm (between approximately ​<span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>8</sub></span> and ​<span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>7</sup>⁄<sub>16</sub></span> in) in diameter<sup id="cite_ref-UMB-II-12-2_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-UMB-II-12-2-8">[8]</a></sup> are larger than pool balls. The 61.5 mm size are more common. They are typically colored as follows:
</p>
<dl><dd><ul><li>Red <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#object_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Object ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">object ball</span></a></dfn> (or, uncommonly, blue; two object balls are used in <a href="/wiki/Four-ball_billiards" title="Four-ball billiards">four-ball</a>)</li>
<li>White <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#cue_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Cue ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">cue ball</span></a></dfn> for player 1</li>
<li>White with a spot (or sometimes yellow) cue ball for player 2</li></ul></dd></dl>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Pool">Pool</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Billiard_ball&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Pool">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<p><span id="American-style_pool"></span>
</p>
<table class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;float:left; margin:1em 2em 1em 0em;">
<tbody><tr>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td bgcolor="gold" colspan="3"></td>
<td>yellow
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">2</td>
<td bgcolor="blue" colspan="3"></td>
<td>blue
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">3</td>
<td bgcolor="red" colspan="3"></td>
<td>red
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">4</td>
<td bgcolor="indigo" colspan="3"></td>
<td>violet
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">5</td>
<td bgcolor="orangered" colspan="3"></td>
<td>orange
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">6</td>
<td bgcolor="forestgreen" colspan="3"></td>
<td>green
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">7</td>
<td bgcolor="brown" colspan="3"></td>
<td>brown
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">8</td>
<td bgcolor="black" colspan="3"></td>
<td>black
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">9</td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td bgcolor="gold"></td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td>yellow and white
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">10</td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td bgcolor="blue"></td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td>blue and white
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">11</td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td bgcolor="red"></td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td>red and white
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">12</td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td bgcolor="indigo"></td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td>violet and white
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">13</td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td bgcolor="orangered"></td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td>orange and white
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">14</td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td bgcolor="forestgreen"></td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td>green and white
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">15</td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td bgcolor="brown"></td>
<td bgcolor="white"></td>
<td>brown and white
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">•</td>
<td bgcolor="white" colspan="3"></td>
<td><dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#cue_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Cue ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">cue ball</span></a></dfn>, white or off-white <small>(sometimes with one or more spots)</small>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r923042769/mw-parser-output/.tmulti">.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbinner{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{display:flex;flex-direction:row;clear:left;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{margin:1px;float:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .theader{clear:both;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;align-self:center;background-color:transparent;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbcaption{text-align:left;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbcaption-center{text-align:center;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-left{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-right{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-center{text-align:center}@media all and (max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbinner{width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:none!important;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{justify-content:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{float:none!important;max-width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbcaption{text-align:center}}</style><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:392px;max-width:392px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:189px;max-width:189px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:149px;overflow:hidden"><a href="/wiki/File:Bicentennial_Billard_Balls.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Bicentennial_Billard_Balls.jpg/187px-Bicentennial_Billard_Balls.jpg" decoding="async" width="187" height="150" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Bicentennial_Billard_Balls.jpg/281px-Bicentennial_Billard_Balls.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Bicentennial_Billard_Balls.jpg/374px-Bicentennial_Billard_Balls.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="3200" /></a></div><div class="thumbcaption">Old style <a href="/wiki/Brunswick_Corporation" title="Brunswick Corporation">Brunswick</a> pool balls, the numbers are not located on the stripe</div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:199px;max-width:199px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:149px;overflow:hidden"><a href="/wiki/File:Cribbage_pool_rack_closeup.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Cribbage_pool_rack_closeup.jpg/197px-Cribbage_pool_rack_closeup.jpg" decoding="async" width="197" height="149" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Cribbage_pool_rack_closeup.jpg/296px-Cribbage_pool_rack_closeup.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Cribbage_pool_rack_closeup.jpg/394px-Cribbage_pool_rack_closeup.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1541" data-file-height="1168" /></a></div><div class="thumbcaption">Modern style <a href="/wiki/Saluc" title="Saluc">Super Aramith Pro</a> pool balls racked in <a href="/wiki/Cribbage_(pool)" title="Cribbage (pool)">Cribbage</a> arrangement</div></div></div></div></div>
<p>Pool balls are used to play various <a href="/wiki/Pool_(cue_sports)" title="Pool (cue sports)">pool</a> (pocket billiards or pool billiards) games, such as <a href="/wiki/Eight-ball" title="Eight-ball">eight-ball</a>, <a href="/wiki/Nine-ball" title="Nine-ball">nine-ball</a> and <a href="/wiki/One-pocket" title="One-pocket">one-pocket</a>. In North America and Asia, they are referred to simply as "billiard balls" (except among carom and snooker players). These balls, used the most widely throughout the world, are considerably smaller than carom billiards balls, slightly larger than British-style pool balls and substantially larger than those for snooker. According to <a href="/wiki/World_Pool-Billiard_Association" class="mw-redirect" title="World Pool-Billiard Association">WPA</a>/<a href="/wiki/Billiard_Congress_of_America" title="Billiard Congress of America">BCA</a> equipment specifications, the weight may be from 5.5 to 6.0 oz (160–170 g) with a diameter of 2.250 in (57.2 mm), plus or minus 0.005 in (0.127 mm).<sup id="cite_ref-WPAequipspec_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-WPAequipspec-9">[9]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-BCAbook_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BCAbook-10">[10]</a></sup> These are often referred to as <span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub></span>-inch (57 mm) balls. The balls are numbered and colored as in the table.
</p><p>The first series of the numbering of the balls from 1 through 7 being solid. Are the same as 9 to 15 being striped. They are eight away from the other of the same color.
</p>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Baseball_pool_balls_and_rack.png" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Baseball_pool_balls_and_rack.png/220px-Baseball_pool_balls_and_rack.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Baseball_pool_balls_and_rack.png/330px-Baseball_pool_balls_and_rack.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Baseball_pool_balls_and_rack.png/440px-Baseball_pool_balls_and_rack.png 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1200" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Baseball_pool_balls_and_rack.png" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Extended set for <a href="/wiki/Baseball_pocket_billiards" title="Baseball pocket billiards">baseball pocket billiards</a>.</div></div></div>
<p>In <a href="/wiki/Baseball_pocket_billiards" title="Baseball pocket billiards">baseball pocket billiards</a>, the ball set is extended to 21 balls, in which the 16 ball is black and white, while balls 17 through 21 have no special design, but look exactly like balls 9 through 13, respectively, except for their numbers.
</p><p>Balls 1 through 7 are often referred to as <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#solids" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Solids" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">solids</span></a></dfn> and 9 through 15 as <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#stripes" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Stripes" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">stripes</span></a></dfn> though there are many other colloquial terms for each <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#suit" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Suit" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">suit</span></a></dfn> of balls (highs and lows, etc.). Striped balls were introduced around 1889.<sup id="cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shamos_1999-2">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" style="white-space:nowrap;">:<span>246</span></sup> Though it looks similar to the solids, the 8 ball is not considered a solid because it is the only ball that is black. Some games such as nine-ball do not distinguish between stripes and solids, but rather use the numbering on the balls to determine which <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#object_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Object ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">object ball</span></a></dfn> must be pocketed. In other games such as <a href="/wiki/Three-ball" title="Three-ball">three-ball</a> and <a href="/wiki/Straight_pool" title="Straight pool">straight pool</a> neither type of marking is of any consequence. In eight-ball, straight pool, and related games, all sixteen balls are employed. In the games of <a href="/wiki/Seven-ball" title="Seven-ball">seven-ball</a>, nine-ball, <a href="/wiki/Ten-ball" title="Ten-ball">ten-ball</a> and related, only object balls 1 through 7, 9 and 10, respectively (plus the cue ball) are used.
</p><p>Some balls used in televised pool games are colored differently in order to make them distinguishable on television monitors. Specifically, the 4 ball is colored pink instead of dark violet, and the 12 is white with a pink stripe, to make it easier to distinguish their color from the black 8 ball, and similarly the 7 and 15 balls use a light tan color instead of a deep maroon. Television was also the genesis of the cue ball with six red spots on its surface (known as a "measles" cue ball) so that <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#spin" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Spin" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">spin</span></a></dfn> placed on it is evident to viewers. Red also signifies non magnetic. Where as green is signifying magnetic, also sometimes blue! For Coin-operated tables as mentioned in the next paragraph.
</p><p>Coin-operated pool tables such as those found at <a href="/wiki/Bar_(establishment)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bar (establishment)">bars</a> historically have often used either an oversized cue, larger than the more popular magnetic cue. Sometimes the cue can be a less expensive type of ball refereed to as a mud ball. Which is a ball with metal grindings mixed into the resin, so much it is magnetic enough to separate, like a metal core ball! Unlike the regular set of balls (which are captured until the game ends and the table is paid again for another game) as it makes it possible that the cue ball can be returned for further play, should it be accidentally potted.) Oversized, I have seen, but not used in my area much. Where a regular coin op cue ball has a metal core in it. The oversize ball is separated by its size. A magnetic ball is separated by a magnet! In Asia and Europe, some pool tables use a smaller cue ball instead. Modern tables usually employ a magnetic ball of regulation or near-regulation size and weight, since players have complained for many decades that the heavy and often oversized cue balls do not "play" correctly.
</p><p>Addressing the oversize cue. When making any shot with an oversized cue 2-3/8". Will not be equal to the same shot with a regular cue or 2-1/4" size ball. When dealing with regular pool or pocket billiards. All the object balls are 2-1/4". If you hit any one of them with an oversize cue you will not be able to hit the object ball square for any shot as it is higher, and not center on a rail shot. Center to center it is 1/16 off! This is a good argument for using a magnetic cue rather that oversize, on a coin op table!
</p>
<h3><span id="British-style_pool_.28blackball.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="British-style_pool_(blackball)">British-style pool (blackball)</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Billiard_ball&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: British-style pool (blackball)">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:147px;"><a href="/wiki/File:British_Style_Pool_Balls.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/British_Style_Pool_Balls.jpg/145px-British_Style_Pool_Balls.jpg" decoding="async" width="145" height="143" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/British_Style_Pool_Balls.jpg/218px-British_Style_Pool_Balls.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/British_Style_Pool_Balls.jpg/290px-British_Style_Pool_Balls.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2348" data-file-height="2321" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:British_Style_Pool_Balls.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Setup for blackball</div></div></div>
<p>In WPA <a href="/wiki/Blackball_(pool)" title="Blackball (pool)">blackball</a> and its predecessor <a href="/wiki/World_Eight-ball_Pool_Federation" class="mw-redirect" title="World Eight-ball Pool Federation">WEPF</a> or <i>English eight-ball pool</i> (not to be confused with the games of eight-ball or English billiards), fifteen object balls again are used, but fall into two unnumbered <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#group" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Group" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">groups</span></a></dfn>, the <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#red_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Red ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">reds</span></a></dfn> (or less commonly <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#blue_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Blue ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">blues</span></a></dfn>) and <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#yellow_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Yellow ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">yellows</span></a></dfn>, with a white cue ball, and black 8 ball. Aside from the 8, shots are not <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#call-shot" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Call-shot" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">called</span></a></dfn> since there is no reliable way to identify particular balls to be pocketed. Because they are unnumbered they are wholly unsuited to certain pool games, such as nine-ball, in which ball order is important. They are noticeably smaller than the American-style balls, and with a cue ball that is slightly smaller than the object balls, while the table's <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#pocket" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Pocket" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">pockets</span></a></dfn> are tighter to compensate. Neither the WPA nor the WEPF (publicly) define ball or even table dimensions, though presumably<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (August 2017)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> league and tournament organizers are given some guidelines in this regard. Most manufacturers that supply this market provide sets that range from 2 inches (51 mm) up to <span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>16</sub></span> inches (56 mm), often with a slightly smaller cue ball, e.g. <span class="frac nowrap">1<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>7</sup>⁄<sub>8</sub></span> in (48 mm) for a 2-inch set. The most common object ball diameters are 2 in (51 mm) and <span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>8</sub></span> in (54 mm). The yellow-and-red sets are sometimes commercially referred to as "casino sets" (they were formerly used for televised eight-ball championships,<sup id="cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shamos_1999-2">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" style="white-space:nowrap;">:<span>45</span></sup> most often held in casinos). The use of such sets, however, predates television, as they were used for B.B.C. Co. Pool, the forerunner of modern eight-ball, at least as early as 1908.<sup id="cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shamos_1999-2">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" style="white-space:nowrap;">:<span>24</span></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Snooker">Snooker</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Billiard_ball&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Snooker">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:302px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Set_of_Snookerballs.png" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Set_of_Snookerballs.png/300px-Set_of_Snookerballs.png" decoding="async" width="300" height="192" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Set_of_Snookerballs.png/450px-Set_of_Snookerballs.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Set_of_Snookerballs.png/600px-Set_of_Snookerballs.png 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1024" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Set_of_Snookerballs.png" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Complete set of snooker balls.</div></div></div>
<table class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;float:left; margin:1em 2em 1em 0em;">
<tbody><tr>
<th>Colour</th>
<th>Value
</th></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/File:Snooker_ball_red.png" class="image"><img alt="Snooker ball red.png" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Snooker_ball_red.png/14px-Snooker_ball_red.png" decoding="async" width="14" height="14" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Snooker_ball_red.png/21px-Snooker_ball_red.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Snooker_ball_red.png/28px-Snooker_ball_red.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100" /></a> <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#red_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Red ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">Red</span></a></dfn></td>
<td>1 point
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/File:Snooker_ball_yellow.png" class="image"><img alt="Snooker ball yellow.png" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Snooker_ball_yellow.png/14px-Snooker_ball_yellow.png" decoding="async" width="14" height="14" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Snooker_ball_yellow.png/21px-Snooker_ball_yellow.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Snooker_ball_yellow.png/28px-Snooker_ball_yellow.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100" /></a> <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#yellow_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Yellow ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">Yellow</span></a></dfn></td>
<td>2 points
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/File:Snooker_ball_green.png" class="image"><img alt="Snooker ball green.png" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Snooker_ball_green.png/14px-Snooker_ball_green.png" decoding="async" width="14" height="14" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Snooker_ball_green.png/21px-Snooker_ball_green.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Snooker_ball_green.png/28px-Snooker_ball_green.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100" /></a> <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#green_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Green ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">Green</span></a></dfn></td>
<td>3 points
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/File:Snooker_ball_brown.png" class="image"><img alt="Snooker ball brown.png" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Snooker_ball_brown.png/14px-Snooker_ball_brown.png" decoding="async" width="14" height="14" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Snooker_ball_brown.png/21px-Snooker_ball_brown.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Snooker_ball_brown.png/28px-Snooker_ball_brown.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100" /></a> <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#brown_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Brown ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">Brown</span></a></dfn></td>
<td>4 points
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/File:Snooker_ball_blue.png" class="image"><img alt="Snooker ball blue.png" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Snooker_ball_blue.png/14px-Snooker_ball_blue.png" decoding="async" width="14" height="14" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Snooker_ball_blue.png/21px-Snooker_ball_blue.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Snooker_ball_blue.png/28px-Snooker_ball_blue.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100" /></a> <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#blue_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Blue ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">Blue</span></a></dfn></td>
<td>5 points
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/File:Snooker_ball_pink.png" class="image"><img alt="Snooker ball pink.png" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Snooker_ball_pink.png/14px-Snooker_ball_pink.png" decoding="async" width="14" height="14" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Snooker_ball_pink.png/21px-Snooker_ball_pink.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Snooker_ball_pink.png/28px-Snooker_ball_pink.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100" /></a> <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#pink_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Pink ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">Pink</span></a></dfn></td>
<td>6 points
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/File:Snooker_ball_black.png" class="image"><img alt="Snooker ball black.png" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Snooker_ball_black.png/14px-Snooker_ball_black.png" decoding="async" width="14" height="14" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Snooker_ball_black.png/21px-Snooker_ball_black.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Snooker_ball_black.png/28px-Snooker_ball_black.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100" /></a> <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#black_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Black ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">Black</span></a></dfn></td>
<td>7 points
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p>Ball sets for the sport of snooker look at first glance like a mixture of American- and British-style pool balls. There are twenty-two balls in total, arranged as a rack of 15 unmarked reds, six <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#colour_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Colour ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">colour balls</span></a></dfn> placed at various predetermined spots on the table, and a white cue ball. <i>(See <a href="/wiki/Snooker" title="Snooker">snooker</a> for more information on ball setup.)</i>
</p><p>The colour balls are sometimes numbered American-style, with their point values, for the amateur/home market, as follows in the adjacent table.
</p><p>Snooker balls are technically standardized at 52.5 mm (2.07 in) in diameter within a tolerance of plus or minus 0.05 mm (0.002 in). No standard weight is defined, but all balls in the set must be the same weight within a tolerance of 3 g (0.11 oz).<sup id="cite_ref-WSAequipspec_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-WSAequipspec-11">[11]</a></sup> However, many sets are actually <span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>16</sub></span> in (52.4 mm), even from major manufacturers. Snooker sets are also available with considerably smaller-than-regulation balls (and even with ten instead of fifteen reds) for play on smaller tables (down to half-size), and are sanctioned for use in some amateur leagues. Sets for <a href="/wiki/Snooker" title="Snooker">American snooker</a> are typically <span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>8</sub></span> in (54.0 mm), with numbered colour balls.
</p>
<div style="clear:left;"></div>
<p>The set of eight colours used for snooker balls (including white) are thought to be derived from the game of <a href="/wiki/Croquet" title="Croquet">croquet</a>. Snooker was invented in 1884 by <a href="/wiki/Neville_Francis_Fitzgerald_Chamberlain" title="Neville Francis Fitzgerald Chamberlain">British Army officers</a> stationed in India. Croquet reached its peak popularity at the same time, particularly amongst people in the same social context. The eight coloured balls of croquet use the same identical set of eight colours. There are many other similarities between croquet and snooker, which when taken together, suggest that the derivation of the latter owes much to the existence of the former.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12">[12]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Other_games">Other games</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Billiard_ball&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Other games">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r923042769/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"/><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:392px;max-width:392px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:194px;max-width:194px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:128px;overflow:hidden"><a href="/wiki/File:Russian_billiards_ball_at_a_corner_pocket.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Russian_billiards_ball_at_a_corner_pocket.jpg/192px-Russian_billiards_ball_at_a_corner_pocket.jpg" decoding="async" width="192" height="128" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Russian_billiards_ball_at_a_corner_pocket.jpg/288px-Russian_billiards_ball_at_a_corner_pocket.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Russian_billiards_ball_at_a_corner_pocket.jpg/384px-Russian_billiards_ball_at_a_corner_pocket.jpg 2x" data-file-width="750" data-file-height="500" /></a></div><div class="thumbcaption">Russian pyramid ball at a corner pocket. The relative size of the ball and the pocket makes the game very challenging.</div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:194px;max-width:194px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:128px;overflow:hidden"><a href="/wiki/File:Golfbiljart_Doel.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Golfbiljart_Doel.jpg/192px-Golfbiljart_Doel.jpg" decoding="async" width="192" height="128" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Golfbiljart_Doel.jpg/288px-Golfbiljart_Doel.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Golfbiljart_Doel.jpg/384px-Golfbiljart_Doel.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2784" data-file-height="1856" /></a></div><div class="thumbcaption">Bumper pool ball near a pocket. The bumpers increase the difficulty in potting the ball.</div></div></div></div></div>
<p>Various other games have their own variants of billiard balls. <a href="/wiki/English_billiards" title="English billiards">English billiards</a> balls are like carom balls but are the same size as snooker balls. <a href="/wiki/Russian_pyramid" title="Russian pyramid">Russian pyramid</a> uses a set of fifteen numbered but otherwise all-white balls, and a red or yellow cue ball that may be even larger than carom billiards balls at 68 mm (2<sup>11</sup>⁄<sub>16</sub> in) or 72 mm (2<sup>4</sup>⁄<sub>5</sub> in). <a href="/wiki/Kaisa_(cue_sport)" title="Kaisa (cue sport)">Kaisa</a> has the same pocket and ball dimensions but uses only five balls: one yellow, two red and two cue balls, one for each player.<sup id="cite_ref-BVRP_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BVRP-13">[13]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Bumper_pool" title="Bumper pool">Bumper pool</a> 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 ​<span class="frac nowrap">2<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>8</sub></span> inch (approximately 52.5 mm) in diameter. <a href="/wiki/Bar_billiards" title="Bar billiards">Bar billiards</a> uses six or seven white balls (depending on regional variations) and one red ball <span class="frac nowrap">1<span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>7</sup>⁄<sub>8</sub></span> in (48 mm) in diameter.
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Training_balls">Training balls</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Billiard_ball&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Training balls">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:152px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Jim_Rempe_practice_ball.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Jim_Rempe_practice_ball.jpg/150px-Jim_Rempe_practice_ball.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="113" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Jim_Rempe_practice_ball.jpg/225px-Jim_Rempe_practice_ball.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Jim_Rempe_practice_ball.jpg/300px-Jim_Rempe_practice_ball.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1280" data-file-height="960" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Jim_Rempe_practice_ball.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>The <a href="/wiki/Jim_Rempe" title="Jim Rempe">Jim Rempe</a> Training Ball</div></div></div>
<p>Several brands of practice balls exist, which have systems of spots, stripes, differently colored halves and/or targeting rings.
</p><p>For example, Saluc markets several practice ball systems, including the Jim Rempe Training Ball, a <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#cue_ball" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Cue ball" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">cue ball</span></a></dfn> marked with rings and targets on the surface of the ball so that the practicing player can better judge the effects of very particular amounts of <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#sidespin" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Sidespin" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">sidespin</span></a></dfn>, <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#topspin" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Topspin" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">topspin</span></a></dfn>, <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#backspin" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Backspin" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">backspin</span></a></dfn> and other forms of cue ball control, and learn better control of <a href="/wiki/Cue_stick" title="Cue stick">cue</a> <dfn id=""><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms#stroke" title="Glossary of cue sports terms"><span title="See entry at: Glossary of cue sports terms § Stroke" style="color:inherit;" class="glossary-link">stroke</span></a></dfn>.<sup id="cite_ref-Saluc_1_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Saluc_1-14">[14]</a></sup> Various competing products, such as several other Saluc models<sup id="cite_ref-Saluc_1_14-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Saluc_1-14">[14]</a></sup> and Elephant Practice Balls,<sup id="cite_ref-Elephant_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Elephant-15">[15]</a></sup> use a similar aiming system. Some such sets consist of just a special cue ball and manual, while others also include an object ball marked for aiming practice.
</p>
<div style="clear:both;"></div>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Novelty_balls">Novelty balls</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Billiard_ball&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Novelty balls">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:202px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Novelty_billiard_balls.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Novelty_billiard_balls.jpg/200px-Novelty_billiard_balls.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="181" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Novelty_billiard_balls.jpg/300px-Novelty_billiard_balls.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Novelty_billiard_balls.jpg/400px-Novelty_billiard_balls.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1530" data-file-height="1386" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Novelty_billiard_balls.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Various novelty <a href="/wiki/Pocket_billiards" class="mw-redirect" title="Pocket billiards">pocket billiards</a> balls. Clockwise from the top: Red and white balls and markers from a proprietary game called Starball; an <a href="/wiki/Elvis_Presley" title="Elvis Presley">Elvis Presley</a> commemorative cue ball from <a href="/wiki/Graceland" title="Graceland">Graceland</a>; a <a href="/wiki/Leopard" title="Leopard">leopard</a>-patterned 9 ball; colorful balls from a <a href="/wiki/Poker" title="Poker">poker</a>-themed set; regular balls and the small "jack" from a miniature <a href="/wiki/Bocce" title="Bocce">bocce</a> set used on a table instead of a lawn or court.</div></div></div>
<p>There is a market for specialty cue balls and even entire ball sets, featuring sports team logos, cartoon characters, animal pelt patterns, etc.
</p><p>Entrepreneurial inventors also supply a variety of novelty billiard games with unique rules and balls, some with playing card markings, others with stars and stripes, and yet others in sets of more than thirty balls in several suits. Marbled-looking and glittery materials are also popular for home tables. There are even <a href="/wiki/Blacklight" title="Blacklight">blacklight</a> sets for playing in near-dark. There are also <a href="/wiki/Practical_joke" title="Practical joke">practical joke</a> cue and 8 balls, with off-center weights in them that make their paths curve and wobble. Miniature sets in various sizes (typically ​<span class="frac nowrap"><span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub></span> or ​<span class="frac nowrap"><span class="visualhide"> </span><sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub></span> of normal size) are also commonly available, primarily intended for undersized toy tables. Even an egg-shaped ball has been patented<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16">[16]</a></sup> and marketed under such names as Bobble Ball and Tag Ball.
</p><p><br />
m "cue ball" is also slang for someone who sports a <a href="/wiki/Shaved_head" class="mw-redirect" title="Shaved head">shaved head</a>.
</p><p>In <a href="/wiki/Polandball" title="Polandball">Polandball</a>, numbered pool balls are used to denote aboriginal, prehistoric, or native peoples who do not have a flag of their own. Green 6-balls also denote <a href="/wiki/Extraterrestrial_intelligence" title="Extraterrestrial intelligence">extraterrestrials</a>.
</p>
<div style="clear:both;"></div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Billiard_ball&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: References">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<div class="reflist" style="list-style-type: decimal;">
<div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-ebay-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-ebay_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Note: Antique ox-bone balls remain a very common item on <a href="/wiki/EBay" title="EBay">eBay</a>.</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Shamos_1999-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-8"><sup><i><b>i</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Shamos_1999_2-9"><sup><i><b>j</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="Reference-IPMag-1999" class="citation book"><a href="/wiki/Michael_Ian_Shamos" title="Michael Ian Shamos">Shamos, Mike</a> (1999). <i>The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards</i>. New York: Lyons Press. <a href="/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-55821-797-5" title="Special:BookSources/1-55821-797-5"><bdi>1-55821-797-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+New+Illustrated+Encyclopedia+of+Billiards&rft.place=New+York&rft.pub=Lyons+Press&rft.date=1999&rft.isbn=1-55821-797-5&rft.aulast=Shamos&rft.aufirst=Mike&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r886058088">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}</style></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Everton_1986-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Everton_1986_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation book"><a href="/wiki/Clive_Everton" title="Clive Everton">Everton, Clive</a> (1986). <i>The History of Snooker and Billiards</i> (rev. ver. of <i>The Story of Billiards and Snooker</i>, 1979 ed.). Haywards Heath, UK: <a href="/wiki/Transworld_(company)" class="mw-redirect" title="Transworld (company)">Partridge Pr.</a> p. 8. <a href="/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85225-013-5" title="Special:BookSources/1-85225-013-5"><bdi>1-85225-013-5</bdi></a>. <q>11 balls of yvery</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+History+of+Snooker+and+Billiards&rft.place=Haywards+Heath%2C+UK&rft.pages=8&rft.edition=rev.+ver.+of+%27%27The+Story+of+Billiards+and+Snooker%27%27%2C+1979&rft.pub=Partridge+Pr.&rft.date=1986&rft.isbn=1-85225-013-5&rft.aulast=Everton&rft.aufirst=Clive&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r886058088"/></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-inflation-US-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-inflation-US_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web">Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.minneapolisfed.org/community/financial-and-economic-education/cpi-calculator-information/consumer-price-index-1800">"Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2 January</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Consumer+Price+Index+%28estimate%29+1800%E2%80%93&rft.au=Federal+Reserve+Bank+of+Minneapolis&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.minneapolisfed.org%2Fcommunity%2Ffinancial-and-economic-education%2Fcpi-calculator-information%2Fconsumer-price-index-1800&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r886058088"/></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Plastiquarian-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Plastiquarian_5-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071221114457/http://www.plastiquarian.com/hyatt.htm">"Hyatt"</a>. <i>Plastiquarian.com</i>. London: <a href="/wiki/Plastics_Historical_Society" title="Plastics Historical Society">Plastics Historical Society</a>. 2002. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.plastiquarian.com/hyatt.htm">the original</a> on 21 December 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">26 February</span> 2008</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Plastiquarian.com&rft.atitle=Hyatt&rft.date=2002&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.plastiquarian.com%2Fhyatt.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r886058088"/></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.saluc.com/html/billiard/index.php">Aramith</a></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140327190020/http://www.brunswickbilliards.com/our_rich_history/billiard_balls/index.html">"History"</a>. <i>brunswickbilliards.com</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.brunswickbilliards.com/our_rich_history/billiard_balls/index.html">the original</a> on 27 March 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 February</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=brunswickbilliards.com&rft.atitle=History&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brunswickbilliards.com%2Four_rich_history%2Fbilliard_balls%2Findex.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r886058088"/></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-UMB-II-12-2-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-UMB-II-12-2_8-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031638/http://www.umb.org/Rules/Carom_Rules.pdf">"World Rules of Carom Billiard"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>UMB.org</i>. Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium: <a href="/wiki/Union_Mondiale_de_Billard" title="Union Mondiale de Billard">Union Mondiale de Billard</a>. 1 January 1989. Chapter II ("Equipment"), Article 12 ("Balls, Chalk"), Section 2. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.umb.org/Rules/Carom_Rules.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 28 September 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">5 March</span> 2007</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=UMB.org&rft.atitle=World+Rules+of+Carom+Billiard&rft.pages=Chapter+II+%28%22Equipment%22%29%2C+Article+12+%28%22Balls%2C+Chalk%22%29%2C+Section+2&rft.date=1989-01-01&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.umb.org%2FRules%2FCarom_Rules.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r886058088"/> Officially but somewhat poorly translated version, from the French original.</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-WPAequipspec-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-WPAequipspec_9-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130928165510/http://www.wpa-pool.com/web/WPA_Tournament_Table_Equipment_Specifications">"WPA Tournament Table & Equipment Specifications"</a>. <i>WPA-Pool.com</i>. World Pool-Billiard Association. November 2001. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wpa-pool.com/web/WPA_Tournament_Table_Equipment_Specifications">the original</a> on 28 September 2013.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=WPA-Pool.com&rft.atitle=WPA+Tournament+Table+%26+Equipment+Specifications&rft.date=2001-11&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wpa-pool.com%2Fweb%2FWPA_Tournament_Table_Equipment_Specifications&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r886058088"/></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-BCAbook-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-BCAbook_10-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation book">BCA Rules Committee (2004). <i>Billiards: The Official Rules and Records Book</i>. <a href="/wiki/Colorado_Springs,_Colorado" title="Colorado Springs, Colorado">Colorado Springs</a>: <a href="/wiki/Billiards_Congress_of_America" class="mw-redirect" title="Billiards Congress of America">Billiards Congress of America</a>. p. 5. <a href="/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-878493-14-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-878493-14-9"><bdi>978-1-878493-14-9</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Billiards%3A+The+Official+Rules+and+Records+Book&rft.place=Colorado+Springs&rft.pages=5&rft.pub=Billiards+Congress+of+America&rft.date=2004&rft.isbn=978-1-878493-14-9&rft.au=BCA+Rules+Committee&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r886058088"/></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-WSAequipspec-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-WSAequipspec_11-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.worldsnooker.com/equipment.htm">"Equipment"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080801105033/http://www.worldsnooker.com/equipment.htm">Archived</a> 1 August 2008 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, World Snooker Association, publication date unknown (Retrieved 28 January 2007), London, UK.</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=tech/CroquetIntro#history">"An Introduction to Croquet: A Brief History"</a>. The Croquet Association (of England and Wales)<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">13 May</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=An+Introduction+to+Croquet%3A+A+Brief+History&rft.pub=The+Croquet+Association+%28of+England+and+Wales%29&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.croquet.org.uk%2F%3Fp%3Dtech%2FCroquetIntro%23history&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r886058088"/></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-BVRP-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-BVRP_13-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://cuesup.com/russian-pyramid-pool-a-game-bearing-more-games/">"Russian Billiards"</a>. <i>CuesUp.com</i>. 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">28 December</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=CuesUp.com&rft.atitle=Russian+Billiards&rft.date=2016&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fcuesup.com%2Frussian-pyramid-pool-a-game-bearing-more-games%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r886058088"/></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Saluc_1-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Saluc_1_14-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Saluc_1_14-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.saluc.com/html/index.php?idlien=17">"Product Line > Training Balls"</a>. <i>Saluc.com</i>. Callenelle, Belgium: <a href="/wiki/Saluc" title="Saluc">Saluc S.A.</a> 2005<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 February</span> 2008</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Saluc.com&rft.atitle=Product+Line+%26gt%3B+Training+Balls&rft.date=2005&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saluc.com%2Fhtml%2Findex.php%3Fidlien%3D17&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r886058088"/><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link since October 2010">dead link</span></a></i>]</span></sup></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Elephant-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Elephant_15-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elephantballs.com/store/products/22">"Elephant Practice Balls"</a>. <i>ElephantBalls.com</i>. Columbus, Ohio: Elephant Balls, Ltd. 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 February</span> 2008</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=ElephantBalls.com&rft.atitle=Elephant+Practice+Balls&rft.date=2007&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elephantballs.com%2Fstore%2Fproducts%2F22&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABilliard+ball" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r886058088"/></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">U.S. Patent No. 7,468,002</span>
</li>
</ol></div></div>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Patents">Patents</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Billiard_ball&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Patents">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<ul><li><span><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="//www.google.com/patents/US50359">U.S. Patent 50,359</a></span>—Billiard ball <abbr title="circa">c.</abbr><span style="white-space:nowrap;"> 1865</span></li>
<li><span><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="//www.google.com/patents/US76765">U.S. Patent 76,765</a></span>—Billiard ball <abbr title="circa">c.</abbr><span style="white-space:nowrap;"> 1868</span></li>
<li><span><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="//www.google.com/patents/US88634">U.S. Patent 88,634</a></span>—Billiard ball <abbr title="circa">c.</abbr><span style="white-space:nowrap;"> 1869</span></li>
<li><span><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="//www.google.com/patents/US114945">U.S. Patent 114,945</a></span>—Billiard ball <abbr title="circa">c.</abbr><span style="white-space:nowrap;"> 1871</span></li></ul>
<div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Cue_sports" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="3"><div class="plainlinks hlist navbar mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Cue_sports" title="Template:Cue sports"><abbr title="View this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;-moz-box-shadow:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none;box-shadow:none; padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Cue_sports" title="Template talk:Cue sports"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;-moz-box-shadow:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none;box-shadow:none; padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Cue_sports&action=edit"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;-moz-box-shadow:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none;box-shadow:none; padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Cue_sports" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Cue_sports" title="Cue sports">Cue sports</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Pool_(cue_sports)" title="Pool (cue sports)">Pool</a> games</th><td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"><div style="padding:0em 0.25em">
<ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Eight-ball" title="Eight-ball">Eight-ball</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Nine-ball" title="Nine-ball">Nine-ball</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Straight_pool" title="Straight pool">Straight pool</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Ten-ball" title="Ten-ball">Ten-ball</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Blackball_(pool)" title="Blackball (pool)">Blackball</a></i></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Trick_shot" title="Trick shot"><i>Artistic pool</i> and trick shots</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bank_pool" title="Bank pool">Bank pool</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Baseball_pocket_billiards" title="Baseball pocket billiards">Baseball pocket billiards</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bottle_pool" title="Bottle pool">Bottle pool</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bowlliards" title="Bowlliards">Bowlliards</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chicago_(pool)" title="Chicago (pool)">Chicago</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chinese_eight-ball" title="Chinese eight-ball">Chinese eight-ball</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Cowboy_pool" title="Cowboy pool">Cowboy pool</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Cribbage_(pool)" title="Cribbage (pool)">Cribbage</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Cutthroat_(pool)" title="Cutthroat (pool)">Cutthroat</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Fifteen-ball_pool" title="Fifteen-ball pool">Fifteen-ball</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Golf_(billiards)" title="Golf (billiards)">Golf</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Honolulu_(pool)" title="Honolulu (pool)">Honolulu</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kelly_pool" title="Kelly pool">Kelly pool</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Killer_(pool)" title="Killer (pool)">Killer</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/One-pocket" title="One-pocket">One-pocket</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rotation_(pool)" title="Rotation (pool)">Rotation</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Seven-ball" title="Seven-ball">Seven-ball</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Speed_pool" title="Speed pool">Speed pool</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Three-ball" title="Three-ball">Three-ball</a></li></ul>
</div></td><td class="navbox-image" rowspan="8" style="width:1px;padding:0px 0px 0px 2px"><div><a href="/wiki/Cuesports" title="Cuesports"><img alt="A cube of blue chalk with a paper wrapper on all sides but one; a rounded indentation appears at the top where a cue would be chalked" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Chalk_stub.png" decoding="async" width="61" height="72" data-file-width="61" data-file-height="72" /></a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Carom_billiards" title="Carom billiards">Carom billiards</a></th><td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"><div style="padding:0em 0.25em">
<ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Three-cushion_billiards" title="Three-cushion billiards">Three-cushion</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Five-pin_billiards" title="Five-pin billiards">Five-pins</a></i> and <a href="/wiki/Goriziana" title="Goriziana">goriziana</a></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Artistic_billiards" title="Artistic billiards">Artistic billiards</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Balkline_and_straight_rail" title="Balkline and straight rail">Balkline and straight rail</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Cushion_caroms" title="Cushion caroms">Cushion caroms</a></i></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Four-ball_billiards" title="Four-ball billiards">Four-ball</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Cue_sport#List_of_cue_sports" class="mw-redirect" title="Cue sport">Other games</a></th><td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"><div style="padding:0em 0.25em">
<ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Snooker" title="Snooker">Snooker</a></i>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/American_snooker" title="American snooker">American snooker</a></li></ul></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/English_billiards" title="English billiards">English billiards</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Russian_pyramid" title="Russian pyramid">Russian pyramid</a></i></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kaisa_(cue_sport)" title="Kaisa (cue sport)">Kaisa</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Danish_pin_billiards" title="Danish pin billiards">Danish pin billiards</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bumper_pool" title="Bumper pool">Bumper pool</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bagatelle" title="Bagatelle">Bagatelle</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bar_billiards" title="Bar billiards">Bar billiards</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Novuss" title="Novuss">Novuss</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Carrom" title="Carrom">Carrom</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ground_billiards" title="Ground billiards">Ground billiards</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Resources</th><td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"><div style="padding:0em 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_cue_sports_terms" title="Glossary of cue sports terms">Glossary</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Cue_sports_techniques" title="Cue sports techniques">Techniques</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Billiard_table" title="Billiard table">Billiard table</a></li>
<li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Billiard ball</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Billiard_hall" title="Billiard hall">Billiard hall</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Cue_stick" title="Cue stick">Cue stick</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rack_(billiards)" title="Rack (billiards)">Rack</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Major<br />international<br />tournaments</th><td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"><div style="padding:0em 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/UMB_World_Three-cushion_Championship" title="UMB World Three-cushion Championship">UMB World Three-cushion Championship</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/World_Snooker_Championship" title="World Snooker Championship">World Snooker Championship</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_world_snooker_champions" title="List of world snooker champions">champions</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Six-red_World_Championship" title="Six-red World Championship">Six-red World Championship</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/World_Women%27s_Snooker_Championship" title="World Women's Snooker Championship">World Women's Snooker Championship</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/WPA_World_Nine-ball_Championship" title="WPA World Nine-ball Championship">WPA World Nine-ball Championship</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_WPA_World_Nine-ball_champions" title="List of WPA World Nine-ball champions">champions</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/WPA_World_Ten-ball_Championship" title="WPA World Ten-ball Championship">WPA World Ten-ball Championship</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/World_Straight_Pool_Championship" title="World Straight Pool Championship">World Straight Pool Championship</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/WPA_World_Eight-ball_Championship" title="WPA World Eight-ball Championship">WPA World Eight-ball Championship</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_world_eight-ball_champions" title="List of world eight-ball champions">champions</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/World_Cup_of_Pool" title="World Cup of Pool">World Cup of Pool</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Mosconi_Cup" title="Mosconi Cup">Mosconi Cup</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/World_Pool_Masters" title="World Pool Masters">World Pool Masters</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Cue_sports_at_the_World_Games" title="Cue sports at the World Games">Cue sports at the World Games</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other events</th><td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"><div style="padding:0em 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Euro_Tour" title="Euro Tour">Euro Tour</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Euro_Tour_tournaments" title="List of Euro Tour tournaments">events</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/European_Pool_Championships" title="European Pool Championships">European Pool Championships</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_U.S._Open_pool_championships" title="List of U.S. Open pool championships">U.S. Open</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/U.S._Open_Straight_Pool_Championship" title="U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship">Straight Pool</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/U.S._Open_8-Ball_Championships" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. Open 8-Ball Championships">8-Ball</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/U.S._Open_9-Ball_Championships" title="U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships">9-Ball</a></li></ul></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Governing bodies</th><td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"><div style="padding:0em 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/International_Billiards_and_Snooker_Federation" title="International Billiards and Snooker Federation">IBSF</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Union_Mondiale_de_Billard" title="Union Mondiale de Billard">UMB</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/World_Confederation_of_Billiards_Sports" title="World Confederation of Billiards Sports">WCBS</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/World_Pool-Billiard_Association" class="mw-redirect" title="World Pool-Billiard Association">WPA</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/World_Professional_Billiards_and_Snooker_Association" title="World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association">WPBSA</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/European_Pocket_Billiard_Federation" title="European Pocket Billiard Federation">EPBF</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Categories</th><td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"><div style="padding:0em 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Cue_sports" title="Category:Cue sports">Cue sports</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Category:Cue_sports_players" title="Category:Cue sports players">Players</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Category:Cue_sports_organizations" title="Category:Cue sports organizations">Organizations</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Category:Cue_sports_competitions" title="Category:Cue sports competitions">Competitions</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3"><div>
<ul><li>The rules of games in <i>italics</i> are standardized by international sanctioning bodies.</li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<!--
NewPP limit report
Parsed by mw1278
Cached time: 20191027220137
Cache expiry: 86400
Dynamic content: true
Complications: [vary‐revision‐sha1]
CPU time usage: 0.524 seconds
Real time usage: 0.701 seconds
Preprocessor visited node count: 4145/1000000
Preprocessor generated node count: 0/1500000
Post‐expand include size: 75488/2097152 bytes
Template argument size: 6422/2097152 bytes
Highest expansion depth: 22/40
Expensive parser function count: 10/500
Unstrip recursion depth: 1/20
Unstrip post‐expand size: 41837/5000000 bytes
Number of Wikibase entities loaded: 0/400
Lua time usage: 0.215/10.000 seconds
Lua memory usage: 7.94 MB/50 MB
-->
<!--
Transclusion expansion time report (%,ms,calls,template)
100.00% 575.056 1 -total
18.23% 104.816 9 Template:Cite_web
17.15% 98.642 1 Template:Reflist
14.59% 83.923 1 Template:Inflation-fn
11.62% 66.826 4 Template:Fix
10.06% 57.862 2 Template:Citation_needed
7.88% 45.301 12 Template:Cvt
6.57% 37.780 2 Template:Multiple_image
6.23% 35.819 8 Template:Category_handler
6.03% 34.687 1 Template:Short_description
-->
</div>' |
Whether or not the change was made through a Tor exit node (tor_exit_node) | false |
Unix timestamp of change (timestamp) | 1572213697 |