Yellow billiard ball

[JonLonergan]

Just wondering if anyone knows the reason what a yellow ball seems to be used a lot more than a spotted white ball these days?

I can't see the reason being to avoid confusion as players managed in the past with a spotted white without any trouble.

Personally i prefer a spot white to a yellow ball

[Snookster]

Hi, as far as i can remember the primary purpose of this was for spectators to view who's ball was who's, not for the players.

[JonLonergan]

Hi, as far as i can remember the primary purpose of this was for spectators to view who's ball was who's, not for the players.

That makes sense to a certain degree.

Any idea when it came into use? All of the old footage i have seen of lindrum etc, always uses a white spot.

Just seems strange that when the game was at the height of popularity they used a spot white, and today, when popularity has dropped considerably and there aren't many billiard tournament where players will have an good sized audience, they have adopted a yellow ball.

[Snookster]

Yeah i can see your point entirely, i think this was due to trying to create more popularity for the game.
Sadly this didn't happen, personally i love the game and very sad to see its demise.
There are some very keen billiard players down my neck of the woods, who travel all over the country to play in amatuer events, would be nice to see it become popular again but it would appear highly unlikely.
On a personal level i'm hoping to get back playing again, so anyone out there that is either going to tournaments or hosting them please get in touch.

Regards
Rob

[Souwester]

It's good to see billiards reappearing on the EASB calendar for next season: they have an U19 tour, and a combined billiards and snooker event. Basic billiards will also be in the new coaching scheme as well, so maybe a glimmer of hope for the game.

[JonLonergan]

It's good to see billiards reappearing on the EASB calendar for next season: they have an U19 tour, and a combined billiards and snooker event. Basic billiards will also be in the new coaching scheme as well, so maybe a glimmer of hope for the game.

Be interesting to see how many players they get for the U19 billiards event.
In my neck of the woods the only people i ever see playing billiards are of the older generation, and i hardly see them playing at all. I'd like to see a rise in popularity for billiards, i think it is a great game.

Maybe barry hearn will have some input into the billiards side of things....its not the wpBsa for nothing

[Souwester]

Hearn will have nothing to do with billiards. His company has bought the rights to promote snooker (only).

I gather, though, that WPBSA is taking an interest in the billiards side of things.

[JonLonergan]

Hearn will have nothing to do with billiards. His company has bought the rights to promote snooker (only).

I gather, though, that WPBSA is taking an interest in the billiards side of things.

ah right i wasn't aware of that. Be good if there was some sort of promotion of billiards by the highest authority though, i think the sport needs all the help it can get

[bongo]

The yellow ball was introduced in billiards around 1995. The idea behind it is that it is easier to follow on television. With two white balls, one plain and one with one or two little black dots, you couldn't see the difference on TV, the yellow ball allowed people watching on TV, and spectators watching at the match, to tell the difference between the plain and spot ball. The only problem is that since they allowed the yellow ball to be used and since they have used it for professional play, billiards has very rarely been seen on TV! It was used for the first time in 1984 I think, for the Blue Arrow Masters, but the yellow ball was only used for that tournament but put into the actual rules in 1995 I think. You can still use the spot white if you want, but yellow is used today, you will rarely see a spot white being used, and yellow is being used for professional play.

It is good to see billiards in the EASB, and good to hear that the EASB have a basic billiards scheme lined up. As a billiards lover I just hope that billiards has enough following so it doesn't die completely.

[ref300]

Bongo is on the mark with his thoughts (TV & spectators) - my recollection is that when they stopped producing Super Crystallates the yellow was introduced in those plain dark blue boxes.
Not too sure on the time period but I think it was 1990 ish

Re the red spotted ball - this was proposed by Aramith a few years back & the Billiards community in general said no - certainly here in Australia.

They use a red spotted ball in the 3 cushion game - great for seeing the work that is on the Cueball.

[bongo]

my recollection is that when they stopped producing Super Crystallates the yellow was introduced in those plain dark blue boxes.
Not too sure on the time period but I think it was 1990 ish

My set of billiard balls (with the yellow) is in one of those dark blue boxes. It says Tournament Champion but they are not one of the newest sets.

[roykay]

Hi,you are right about the reason for using a yellow cue ball.To make it easies to follow on TV. I have started playing again after many years away and did not like the yellow but you soon get used to it and never think about it. It does go against the grain to strike a coloured ball though,i hate to see snooker players striking reds and colours with the cue and then complaining about kicks with chalk everywhere.
For good info about the great old game look at the EBOS web site,it has a good forum and plenty of discussion. A wonderfull calendar of events played all over the UK with pros and all levels of amateurs , very well run.The game is alive and well.
Roy Bacon

[ref300]

My set of billiard balls (with the yellow) is in one of those dark blue boxes. It says Tournament Champion but they are not one of the newest sets.

Mainly for non Billiards players unlike fanatics - Bongo, myself & many others on the EBOS Forum (well done Roy on your post).

The plain dark blue box which followed the Super Crystallates simply states
Tournament Champion & on the side made in Belgium.

Aramith followed that with a Gold/Blue box - you can see their range of Billiard Balls here (they call it Carom)

http://www.saluc.com/html/billiard/index.php?idlien=15

PS - do not know if the Cushion Crawler is on this forum but don't get him started on modern balls - Too light therefore the throw is different to older heavier balls.

[bongo]

The plain dark blue box which followed the Super Crystallates simply states
Tournament Champion & on the side made in Belgium.

Yes that's what I've got.

[roykay]

On the subject of balls,I thought I would get the snooker balls out for some potting practice for billiards. Something seemed wrong so I weighed them. These balls came with the table and the previous owner had used them only once or twice as the table was more of an ornament.The iron smoked when I tested it showing that that also had not been used.
Anyway the balls weighed between 125 and 127 grams compared to 141 for my billiard balls. I have put them away for good and will use the billiard balls and get the excercise fielding for myself. 15 grams is quite a difference .
Roy Bacon