Lets talk about the cloth
Cheap blend cloth vs Strachan 100% wool cloth
Cheap nylon cloth vs Simonis cloth
Lets talk about the BALLS
When choosing which balls to use on your table you should always consider the following 3 things;
A) how often you will use them.
B) how they will be used.
C) how long you want them to last.
$60 balls vs $150
The difference in $100 balls are going to play the same every time where the $40 set will play how they were built, Cost effectively (cheap).
As a professional in the billiards industry, pool and snooker for more than a decade I would never use the cheaper alternative balls to safe a couple of dollars and here is why.
Example
1 Set of Aramith pool balls over a lifetime = ($150 + 1 cloth replacement at $550) $700
5 sets of $60 pool balls over a lifetime = ($300 + 3 cloth replacements at $550 each) $1950
The consistency of the raw materials is what makes “Aramith” the BEST product on the market. The molecular structure, density, and the balance of the balls influence the quality of play. Inconsistency of the density result in erratic ball behaviour, zigzagging balls, inconsistent potting, missing shots and random ball positioning.
Regardless of the quality level, all balls are controlled along seven basic criteria’s: density, balance, diameter tolerance, roundness, colour precision, surface polish, and brilliance.
I am not going to pull away from the lower end balls they are great for a pool table down in your basement that is played on 3 times a year. But if you play more than once a week I highly suggest Aramith. They last longer, they protect your pool table investment, they offer consistent play for a consistent player and they look better.
If you’re investing anywhere between $3000 – $7000 on a table, why would you compromise on the quality of balls?