What Are Billiard Balls Made Of? The History of Pool Balls

Throughout billiards’ history, people have made pool balls from different substances, such as wood and ivory. However, billiard balls are made today from phenolic resin, polyester resin, and epoxy resin. Each one, at its time of use, proved somewhat superior to its predecessor, although they could have been better. Check out this article to explore what are billiard balls made of.

The history of pool balls

Billiards has a long history from its inception in the 15th century in Northern Europe. Billiards was a game that originated in a French lawn game mix between croquet and billiards. People played this game outdoors using wooden balls. Over time, this game continued to change. 

As the game evolved, people still manufactured woody billiard balls. However, the nobility desired more exotic materials as colonization expanded worldwide. One of the materials discovered from colonization was ivory.

Day by day, the nobility grew their demand for ivory billiard balls. The advanced balls were much more fashionable than wooden billiard balls. But, in truth, only wealthy people could likely afford ivory balls.

Ivory balls also were more long-lasting than wooden balls. However, they could crack and begin to yellow with age. When elephant populations began to decline, ivory became a more difficult material to obtain. Then people needed new materials to meet the demand for high-quality pool balls. By the late 19th century, pool table manufacturer Phelan and Collender offered anyone $10,000 to invent a new pool ball not made of wood or ivory.

What are billiard balls made of?

So, what are billiard balls made of? John Wesly Hyatt, an American inventor, found an excellent substitute for ivory: nitrocellulose in 1860, thanks to advances in science and technology. He developed a new ball that consisted of a mixture of nitrocellulose, camphor, and alcohol. According to John Wesly Hyatt, billiard balls are made of this mixture because these materials were formed into pool balls using excessive pressure. Once assembled, the balls had to cure and harden. However, the new celluloid balls were not as durable as ivory balls.

Also, celluloid billiard balls were unstable. It was common during manufacturing processes for balls to explode. There are stories of the balls exploding during pocket billiards games even after manufacturing was complete.

While there were issues with celluloid pool balls, Mr. Hyatt found one of the first synthetic plastics. Besides, people did not ensure who won the $10,000 prize.

Because the exploding billiard balls were not an expected solution to ivory, other inventors lengthened to experiment with other chemical substances. For instance, Phelan Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite in 1907 to make pool balls. This plastic material is new and durable, so Bakelite balls did not explode, unlike celluloid balls.

Until the 1920s, Bakelite balls had become the favorite standard. Even the wealthy had to choose Bakelite balls to replace ivory pool balls.

3 Innovative pool ball materials today

Although pool balls’ material originally was ivory, there are three creative pool ball materials as below.

Phenolic Resin

In 1923, a company specializing in manufacturing pool balls began operations named Saluc. Saluc is the exclusive manufacturer of pool balls to use phenolic resin for its production process. The phenolic resin, a thermosetting plastic, is a variation of Bakelite that uses even more extreme pressure to form the balls. Significantly, the balls are created and cooled without melting the plastic again.

What you see on the ball outside is the same on the inside, aside from the laser-etched numbers. Besides, the color on the outside would be the same on the inside if cutting the ball. 

With a 13-step detailed manufacturing process for making billiard balls at Saluc, each ball must also meet specific criteria, including

• Roundness
• Balance
• Precision Color
• Density
• Diameter Tolerance
• Brilliance
• Surface Polish

The total time for producing phenolic resin billiard balls is 23 days. Saluc also weights each ball to match it with other balls of similar weights to guarantee each ball in a set weighs the same.

Phenolic resin balls are widespread. In truth, Saluc sells 85% of the pool balls and billiard balls. Phenolic resin pool balls can be known to last long for 40 years or up to 400,000 impacts. Their brilliance and surface polish last long too.

Polyester Resin

Billiard balls made from polyester resin are generally more affordable. However, they don’t last as long, while those made from phenolic resin are expensive but are top-rated and last up to eight times longer. In a detailed manner, polyester resin pool balls are another choice for phenolic resin. Although reasonably priced, they do not keep their shine as long and wear out much faster. Practically, polyester resin balls last about eight years or around 80,000 impacts.

Epoxy Resin

In general, no other materials are suitable than phenolic resin and polyester resin for making billiard balls. That is unless you want a vintage set made from hardwood. Ivory balls are very rare nowadays. Otherwise, you are so lucky to receive a collection in decent condition.

In truth, people started experimenting with one newer material called epoxy resin. This material has many applications for flooring and countertop refinishing. 

What’s inside a pool ball?

Once playing billiards, you might have a question about what is inside a pool ball. Generally, people made pool balls with plastic or some stone. Therefore, they are not hollow. Instead, they filled these balls with different materials that make up the core of the pool balls.

If the manufacturer makes hollow balls, it will affect their weight and strength to withstand any hitting force. They can create it with wood, clay, ivory, or polymers. Often, people make up pool balls of polyester or phenolic resin. Phenolic resin is a thermosetting plastic resistant to heat. After cooling, people shape this type of plastic with heat, which becomes permanent. Once shaped, nothing can alter this plastic.

Similarly, if you cut pool balls into two halves, we will find them filled from the inside. There will be no hollow space inside. Instead, it will take the shape of a semi-hemisphere with a filler the same at every point with color variation only.

Discover other accessories for better pool ball games

As the billiard game grew popular, people began to think about improving the balls to play better. Besides, there are other accessories you should know to enjoy a better pool ball game. Whether a one-on-one billiards game or a nail-biting tournament with friends, you must explore the pool cues accessories in your billiards kit. Then, consider buying them to increase the quality of your billiards table and truly enjoy your game.

FAQs

Are billiard balls hollow or solid?

Billiard balls are not hollow. They must be solid because they need to be similar in weight, density, and physical properties. In addition, these material properties will provide various advantages to pool balls, like toughness, durability, balance, predetermined shots, and many more. That’s why our great games all need solid pool balls.

Conclusion

In short, what are billiard balls made of? After reading this article, you may discover an exact answer about the roots and revolution of billiard balls’ material. In addition, you can also learn high-quality billiard balls and other accessories to optimize your game by understanding what billiard balls are made of.