Pool ball quality

[mharnish]

I am currently on my second set of Super Pro balls and have had problems with the balls getting small chips in them. What causes this and is there a set which would be more durable?

I remember reading in a thread here a little while back that Elephant had the same problem for a while, is this still the case?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Sid]

Hello,
Check the nails or screws that hold the pockets in on your table (if they are not leather pockets) This is usually the culprit. If they are portruding in any fashion they can chip, scratch and marr the best set of balls. Make sure they are a little below the surface of the pocket and a little dab of silicone glue over the top will not hurt anything either. Let it dry for a day or so before playing though.

[scott long]

I had the same problem with a set of Brunswick Centennials that came brand new with my Gold Crown table. Within two days about 4 of the balls had little nicks and chips missing out of them. The dealer replaced them with another brand new set and I have used them for almost a year now with absolutely no problem. Dealer said he ah

The first set had never even had balls knocked off the table and only had about 4 games of 8-ball played with them before I noticed the problem. I had never seen even cheap pool balls do that before, let alone Brunswick's top-of-the-line balls so I was very concerned about the quality of this set. I had owned another set of Centennials years ago (the ex-wife got them AND the table) and they were great.

Now, this set of Centennials came in a burgundy and black box with all the other pool table accessories from their 'BEST"accessory set. I am not sure if those are the exact same quality as the Centennials that come in the blue/white box or not.

Does anyone here know if they are the same quality?

The dealer picked up a set in the blue/white box at first but then found a set in the other box that matched what came in the accessory set and gave me those, instead. I am wondering if the blue/white boxed sets are 'first' quality and the others may be lower quality Centennials. But, the replacement set has been great so far.

I have a set of Super Pro Aramith balls, too, but I only use them for playing straight pool so they don't get banged around as hard at the Centennials do so I can't say if they hold up as well or not since they don't get as much hard use. They play excellently, though, and have a nice solild sound when they make contact. Cheaper sets of balls don't sound the same to me...they have a much higher-pitched 'click' when they hit.

[scott long]

Ooops...I see I sent the other note without finishing a sentence. I got interrupted and forgot to complete it.

I was going to say that the dealer told me he had never seen a set of Centennials chip like the first set did. Neither had I.

I have only seen badly chipped balls on bar tables where they must use really cheap sets. A buddy of mine had a pool table sitting on his concrete basement floor and we knocked many a ball of of that table over the years without chipping them...and he didn't have Aramith or Brunswick balls, either.

[Sid]

Hello,
I have never seen a centenial set chip either.
as far as the boxes, it was just a change in the box design alone about a year ago. The old box was the blue and white and the new is the fancier red box. Same product is inside both boxes.

I have a set of Super Pro Aramith balls, too, but I only use them for playing straight pool so they don't get banged around as hard at the Centennials do so I can't say if they hold up as well or not since they don't get as much hard use. They play excellently, though, and have a nice solild sound when they make contact. Cheaper sets of balls don't sound the same to me...they have a much higher-pitched 'click' when they hit.

according to both brunswick and aramit the super pros and centenials are the exact same ball, same resin, same specs exept for the outward design. aramith makes the centenials. I asked them and go the same answer. they are made to the same tolerances regardless what the web pages say.