Have you ever given any thought to why there is such a wide disparity in the prices of pool balls? Have you ever wondered if the balls themselves may be the culprits behind roll-offs in cases where the table is presumed to be level? Have you ever wondered if the balls used in professional tournaments are any different than those used in bars and pool rooms? To get to the meat of this matter, I’ll just tell you that, yes, there are definitely differences in not only the brands of pool balls on the market, but also in the styles offered by the single leading brand.

The Billiard Congress of America sets the standards for pool balls, and they say that the balls are to weigh 5-1/2 to 6 ounces and have a diameter of 2-1/4 inches, with a tolerance range of plus or minus 5 thousandths of an inch. The “book” also says the balls are to be “molded and finished in a perfect sphere.”

Again, in an effort to be brief, I’ll just tell you that I have never found any brands of balls that consistently adhere to BCA specs, with the exception of Aramith balls made by Saluc SA in Belgium.

Even though other brands on the market may look very similar to Aramith balls, many of them are out of round, out of balance, and out of tolerance. If they are out of round and out of balance, they will roll like eggs. If they are out of tolerance, they will leave unacceptable gaps between the balls when racked, and they will give inconsistent rebounds off of each other because of differences in where their centerlines contact.

Aramith actually offers four different styles of pool balls, but only three of those are commonly encountered in circulation. The three sets are: Aramith Crown, Premier Aramith, and Super Aramith Pro. Let’s take a closer look at the three sets and see what the differences are.

Aramith Crown: They maintain tolerances of plus or minus 3-5 thousandths of an inch. They can be identified by looking at the number on any of the striped balls; it will be a plain block numeral and will be in the field, rather than in the middle of the stripe. This set is great for use in homes or on coin-operated bar tables. A set of Crown balls retails for around $110.00.

Premier Aramith: They maintain tolerances of plus or minus 2-3 thousandths of an inch. They have the same block style numeral as the Crown, but it is located in the middle of the stripe on the striped balls. This set is commonly used in pool rooms and better pool bars. A set of Premier balls retails for around $155.00.

Super Aramith Pro: They maintain tolerances of plus or minus 1 one-thousandth of an inch. At least half the balls in a set of “Super Pros” will measure exactly 2.250-inches when new. These balls can be identified by their more stylish numeral which, like the Premier, is set in the middle of the stripe. They are also polished to a higher luster than the other sets. This set is commonly used in professional tournaments. A set of Super Aramith Pro balls retails for around $250.00.