Pool Balls
At Masters Traditional Games, we like to offer the best in breed and also some less expensive but still reasonable quality alternatives, where possible. When it comes to Pool balls, this can get complicated because there are in fact four types of Pool ball available, depending upon your requirements. Please read the options carefully before choosing...
 |
 |
The original style American Pool balls with numbers and spots and stripes can be used to play a variety of pool games. We recommend that, if in doubt, you select numbered Pool balls because this will offer more variety in the long term.
In British pubs, since the game of Eight Ball Pool is so ubiquitous, quite often a set of yellow and red balls are used. These clearly distinguish the two sets of balls in play but the disadvantage is that no other Pool games can be played with them.
2 & 1/4 inch balls are full size for use on full size American Pool tables. 2 inch balls are usually used with 7 foot tables. 1 & 7/8 inch balls tend to be used with 6 foot tables.
See also our excellent range of Snooker Balls.
Engraved Pool Balls
These are the top-of-the range Pool Balls. They are recommended for serious players, Pool halls and any public area where the Pool table will be used a lot. Made in Belgium by the world's leading Billiard manufacturer, Aramith, the numbers are engraved right through the ball like a stick of rock. So if you cut the ball in half, you would see that the pattern goes right through the ball.
This means that the pattern will not wear away over time like screen-printed balls. The high quality material used means that they are also consistent in density throughout the ball and they will last considerably longer than any other type of ball. They are more expensive but you pay for what you get.
Change to $  Change to  |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Set 2 & 1/4 inch numbered Pool balls (Aramith engraved) |
£68.61 | £78.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set 2 & 1/16 inch numbered Pool balls (Aramith engraved) |
£61.65 | £70.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set 2 inch numbered Pool balls (Aramith engraved) |
£47.74 | £54.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
English Pool Balls
These are made from premier materials by Aramith, the world's leading Billiard Ball manufacturer. The high quality resin used means that they are also consistent in density throughout the ball and they will last considerably longer than any other type of ball.
| Change to $ Change to |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Set 2 inch red/yellow Pool balls |
£26.87 | £30.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set 1 & 7/8 inch red/yellow Pool balls |
£27.74 | £31.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Screen Printed Pool Balls
These are screen-printed balls made by Aramith. Therefore, the quality of the material used is extremely good and the the density will be consistent throughout the ball.
The screen-printing method means that these balls are not recommended for heavy or frequent use of the sort sustained in pubs, Pool halls and clubs. The printing does tend to get worn away over time. However, they are a good option for home Pool tables where useage is light.
| Change to $ Change to |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Set 2 inch numbered Pool balls (screen printed) |
£29.83 | £34.30 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set 1 & 7/8 inch numbered Pool balls (screen printed) |
£28.61 | £32.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set 1 & 3/4 inch numbered Pool balls (screen printed) |
£26.87 | £30.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set 1 & 5/8 inch numbered Pool balls (screen printed) |
£23.39 | £26.90 | 1 + transit time | ||
Set 1 & 1/2 inch numbered Pool balls (screen printed) |
£22.52 | £25.90 | 1 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Polyester Engraved Pool Balls
This is the economy version of the engraved balls. They have the advantage that the pattern runs through the ball and so will not wear away. However, over time, the polyester material will tend to chip and and disform more readily than the Aramith balls. The density is also not guaranteed to be consistent throughout the ball. They may be best for public recreational pool tables where people don't take their pool too seriously.
Please note that the material used is Grade A polyester - these are not to be confused with other manufacturer's economy engraved balls that may be cheaper but are a lower quality Polyester and so will deteriorate more quickly.
| Change to $ Change to |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Set 2 & 1/4 inch numbered Pool balls (Economy Polyester engraved) |
£30.35 | £34.90 | 1 + transit time | ||
Set 1 & 7/8 inch numbered Pool balls (Economy Polyester engraved) |
£24.26 | £27.90 | 1 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Product Index
View Basket
About Us
Game Rules
Shortcuts
Go
Bowls
Chess
Skittles
Croquet
Mah Jong
Dominoes
Poker
Sets
Fair Games
Party Games
Casino Games
The Origin of Pool
Following centuries of Billiards dominated by England and France, during the 19th century a third country became obsessed with the sport of cues and balls. The oldest Billiards games played in the USA were One-Pocket and Four-Ball Billiards but the sport rapidly evolved with a variety of different games being played on Pool tables, some with balls numbered 1 - 15 . The word "pool" means a collective bet and became a term for the game when it began to be played in 19th century "pool rooms" which were then places for betting on horses.
Eight-ball pool was invented in America shortly after 1900 as just one of a number of American Pool games. The balls are split into two types, spots and stripes. The black eight-ball, although nominally of the spot type is counted as a separate entity and the first person to pot all the balls of their nominated type and then finish with the black wins.
In England, Eight Ball was arguably the most popular pub game of the 1980's and 1990's. Regulars know the game simply as Pool but it should not be confused with the older English version of Pool. So popular is this version of pool that many modern tables in England feature 7 balls of 2 colours (often red and yellow), instead of the more traditional numbered balls with which other versions of pool can be played. In 1960 there were no Pool tables in Britain but by 1986 there were estimated to be around 45,000 tables in pubs and clubs, the advantage being that the smaller tables required less space than the more traditional 12' x 6' Snooker/Billiards table.
You can learn more about the history of Billiards, Snooker and Pool from The Online Guide to Traditional Games.