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gerard1973 Special user Michigan, U.S.A. 688 Posts |
In the world of Billard Balls, everybody knows that the expensive Fakini balls are considered to be the best ones but some people do not like their rubbery surface and prefer the wooden billiard balls. Just about everybody does not like the Vernet Billard balls so billard ball choices seem to come down to rubber or wooden balls but I've never heard anything about plastic billard balls.
What do you think of plastic billard balls like the Royal Billiard Balls, for example? Does anybody use plastic billard balls? Are they any good are they junk?
"Confusion is not magic."
Dai Vernon |
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
For me at least, plastic doesn't work. I find them extremely slippery and way too light. Plus, I have never seen a plastic set with a nice fitting gimmick. I have used wooden ball, knit balls, Empire golf balls and the Fakini's. By far, the best set is the Fakini. But if you're looking for a good, affordable beginner set, try either the Empire golf balls or the Multiplying knit balls.
Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
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Leland Stone Inner circle 1204 Posts |
Just seconding what Kent said -- I bought a set of the plastic ones to use for practise while traveling and so forth -- surely Dante had these in mind when he wrote about the "Circles of Hell" -- I find them impossible to manipulate without dropping. I have no experience with the Fakini products, but prefer a little 'tack,' and use rubber, sponge, or similar balls. Glycerin -- just a small dab -- is a big help when a little extra tack is required.
Leland |
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gerard1973 Special user Michigan, U.S.A. 688 Posts |
Thanks Kent and Leland for the advice.
I use sponge balls right now and like the smaller 1.5" size balls. What is the most common size of billard balls that most people use? From the posts that I've read it seems like most people like the 1.75" size balls. Is this the most popular size of billard balls? I have been thinking about buying a good affordable beginner set of billard balls but wasn't sure what to buy. There are so many different kinds, types, and sizes of billard balls out there. I thought that maybe the plastic billard balls would be okay to play around with but it doesn't sound like they are even worth buying. The billard ball posts here at the Magic Café are helpful because I was going to buy a set of Vernet billard balls but then I read all of the negative posts and reviews about them. How can Vernet sell them if they are so bad? I don't understand that. I like their thumb tips, thimbles and some of their other poducts. Why hasn't Vernet changed the style and design of their billard balls and make a nice beginner set. I've read posts where some people bought some type of golf ball to practice with. Are these the Empire golf balls and are they rubber or wood? I'm not familar with the Multiplying knit balls. Are these rubber or wood? Where can you find the Empire golf balls or the Multiplying knit balls and is one better than the other? Thanks everybody for your help and advice. Gerard
"Confusion is not magic."
Dai Vernon |
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
The Empire Golf Balls would be an ideal transition for you at this stage. The Empire balls are made of silicone and are very close to the 1.5 inch size with which you are used to working. Empire makes a decent gimmick for the balls and the price is very affordable. The balls do have a tacky feel to them when they come out of the box; but you will find that the tackiness wears off with continued use. This is simply because the ball is getting dirty. Simply wash the balls under warm water and squeeze them dry with a towel. They'll look and feel brand new. Hope that helps.
Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
The size you are looking for would depend on the size of your hands. A bigger size ball may not be the technically perfect size for you. If you are more confident in handling 1.5 inch size, then use it as you would be more proficient in the technical execution. There's no point working with a bigger size ball and struggle with it technically.
As for the material of the ball, it is important that it should not be slippery. If the ball has a slippery surface and if you have sweaty hands then you may drop the balls frequently during your performances. Look for materials that would cling onto your fingers. Goshman's multiplying sponge balls and Silicon balls (Empire & Fakini) are good choices because they don't drop from your fingers that easily. Hope this helps. James Tong |
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gerard1973 Special user Michigan, U.S.A. 688 Posts |
If the Empire Golf Balls are made of silicone what are the Multiplying knit balls made from? Are they similar to the crocheted balls used in Cups & Balls and the Chop Cup? The Empire Golf Balls must be more popular than the Multiplying knit balls because I can find them for sale everywhere.
Thank you magicman845 and James Tong for your help.
"Confusion is not magic."
Dai Vernon |
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
The Multiplying Knit Balls are similar to the crocheted balls but bigger in size. The downside of it is over time the material may wear out and look dirty - i.e if you use it so frequently and with sweaty hands. Otherwise it is a beautiful set of multiplying balls.
I suggest that you focus on developing the multiplying balls routine first with a set that will not drop or fall out from your fingers that easily. That way you will become more confident (dropping slippery balls all the time will make you lose interest in the routine). As you become more proficient technically with the balls, you may decide to work on a 8-balls routine or maybe 4-balls (different colored balls) routine. From this point onwards you would start thinking on body loads, the speed and flow of balls appearing, etc - then you would want to get your hands on the Fakini balls. I started out my ball act with the Goshman Multiplying Sponge Balls and then developed the 8-ball routine with it. But when I started with different colored balls production and multiplication I switched to wooden balls and of course ended up with the Fakini. Enjoy the journey of developing the act and along the way you would also appreciate the type of balls used for different routines. |
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gerard1973 Special user Michigan, U.S.A. 688 Posts |
I agree with you James. The Goshman Multiplying Sponge Balls are probably the best, cheapest, and easiest way to get started in billard ball manipulation. Once you have a billard ball routine learned and feel confident about using it, then you could start looking around for another type of billard ball to buy.
I've never used crocheted balls so I didn't even think about the Multiplying Knit Balls getting dirty. I know from experience that Sponge balls get dirty, ripped up and torn over time and have to be replaced but you can buy them in bulk plastic bags of fifty and they are so cheap that it doesn't really matter if you have to throw some of them away every so often. I'm going to start look around for a couple of sets of Empire Golf Balls. Thanks everyone for your advice, ideas and thoughts about plastic billard balls. I have been saved again by experts on the Magic Café from making a bad purchase. Thank you.
"Confusion is not magic."
Dai Vernon |
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
I second the Goshman Multiplying Sponge Balls. They're easy to manipulate. For the price, you can afford to replace them every few months, if you were to wear them out.
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FCpreacher Elite user PA 439 Posts |
I am unsure as to the quality, but you might want to check out the plastic balls made by magiceffex. They look decent. I have been contemplating getting a set myself. They have all different colors as well as glow in the dark.
FC |
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gerard1973 Special user Michigan, U.S.A. 688 Posts |
The only problem about just buying some rubber or silicon balls at a toy store or somewhere else is that you won't have the S**ll gimmick to use with the balls unless you can find one that will fit and match the balls somewhere...or just make one yourself.
"Confusion is not magic."
Dai Vernon |
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C Christian Loyal user 288 Posts |
I love my Vernet Billard balls...so please stay away from them....
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gerard1973 Special user Michigan, U.S.A. 688 Posts |
C Christian:
Don't the Vernet billard balls hurt your hands? The little projections around the Vernet billard balls were designed to to make them easier to hold on to and handle but I've read a lot of posts about people saying that the little projections covering the balls actually digs into there hands, hurts their hands and making it difficult to manipulate. Vernet makes some nice magic items and I was going to buy a set of Vernet billard balls but then I read all of the negative posts and reviews about them and changed my mind. How can Vernet sell these billard balls if they are so bad? Why hasn't Vernet changed the style and design of their billard balls if these little projections hurt people's hands and make a nice beginner set?
"Confusion is not magic."
Dai Vernon |
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jgravelle Loyal user Milwaukee (Head shown not actual size) 270 Posts |
Various chemicals (roughing fluid/hairspray) can make the cheap plastic balls tacky enough to handle well. I've found that they slowly lose that grip as you manipulate them, giving you a built-in escalation of difficulty.
While they're not a great idea for performing, they're nice for practice. I've seen a guy use steel bearings... heavy... slippery... It's like swinging two bats I guess, in that it makes the real work that much easier. Regards, -jjg |
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gerard1973 Special user Michigan, U.S.A. 688 Posts |
Jgravelle:
Seems like you could paint or spray some liquid rubber on the cheap plastic balls and the s**ll that comes with them to make them grip for manipulation.
"Confusion is not magic."
Dai Vernon |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
I use UF Grant's manipulation lotion for better traction on the wood ones. The sponges are the easiest because of the weight and grip. Another advantage is you can secretly palm several at one time. Start small and go big.
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danryb Special user 506 Posts |
I went from sponge to vernet about 10 years ago and have loved using them.
the grip have a littlr bite to them but I find this assists me. I really have no complaints and would advise them to any one to try. After 10 years, I feel it is time to create a new routine and purchse the Fakini balls. This is what I plan to do shortly. Dani |
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jgravelle Loyal user Milwaukee (Head shown not actual size) 270 Posts |
Quote:
Seems like you could paint or spray some liquid rubber on the cheap plastic balls... Yep, but care needs to be taken that the s**** doesn't end up too snug as a result. Regards, -jjg |
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gerard1973 Special user Michigan, U.S.A. 688 Posts |
I’ve notice that there seems to be a certain progression or pattern for billiard ball manipulators. Almost everyone starts off with sponge balls, like the Goshman Multiplying Sponge Balls and learn how to manipulate these and then learn a routine. This is what I'm doing but this is only the first stage.
Once a routine is established and they are proficient with the sponge balls, billiard ball manipulators then start looking for another type of ball and progress to, either the affordable Empire golf balls made from rubberized plastic or the crocheted Multiplying knit balls. I’m sure that alone the way that some people stay with the sponge balls and others continue to use the Empire golf balls or the Multiplying knit balls for the rest of their careers or life but it seem the “Holy Grail” or final and last stage for most billiard ball manipulators is the expensive and popular Fakini silicon billiard balls, for others the German wooden billiard balls, or fewer others, if they can handle them, the Vernet billiard balls. Alone the way, however, it seems that just about every billiard ball manipulator tends to avoid the plastic billiard balls, such as the Royal billiard balls, altogether like the plague.
"Confusion is not magic."
Dai Vernon |
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