Pool balls can come in many different designs and colors depending on their manufacturer and the type and resin of plastic used. The quality of your pool ball is crucial to playing well and for professional players. If you have a set of quality balls, you can expect them to last for a very long time.
The original pool balls were made from wood. Manufacturers sought out alternatives to make high-quality pool balls as the game developed. In 17th-century England, pool balls were made out of ivory. It was popular due to its durability and smoothness. It was also relatively cheap to produce. Unfortunately, the elephant population began to decline during the late 19th century, and manufacturers sought alternatives.
Leo Baekeland (an American chemist) created a new type of plastic in 1907. In the 1920s, bakelite was popular as a choice for pool balls. Bakelite was more resistant to flames than celluloid balls and also less flammable. It was also simple to make and did NOT explode. It is a plastic but not the same as modern resins. It is a thermosetting resin that cannot be melted.
Next was a pool ball made of a mixture of alcohol and nitrocellulose. This is the phenolic or phenolic resin. Circuit boards can also be made from phenolic resin. It is a strong, robust resin that is preferred for pool balls. The resin is used to create pool balls in a way similar to bakelite.
Polyester is another plastic used to make pool balls. Polyester is much cheaper than phenolic. It does not retain its shine as well as phenolic resin. Also, polyester isn't very durable. Polyester pool balls can be more easily worn. They also don't last as well as phenolic-resin balls.
Saluc, a Belgian firm that specialized in pool balls, was established in 1923. Saluc is known for its brand Aramith, which produces only pure phenolic resin balls. Aramith balls are made from a mixture of phenolic and bakelite resin. Phenolic resin is a thermosetting plastic that is usually very durable. It can be used for up to 40 year. It can be used to make volleyball balls. These are strong and can withstand upto 400,000 impacts.
You can also make pool balls from other types of materials. Although polyester pool balls can be cheaper, they are not as durable as phenolic rubber balls. Also, polyester pool balls are not as durable as phenolic pool balls. However, they are inexpensive and durable enough for beginners. For a tournament, phenolic resin pool balls are the best choice, but they are not cheap.