Often, the cues in an accessory pack receive all the attention; but billiard balls are the jewelry of your table! This blog post is meant for customers who have purchased a pool table from Big Sky Billiard Supply and who want to substitute the balls in the Accessory Kit for a nicer set. The nicer billiard balls are not inexpensive. As with all things, you get what you pay for. The cheaper sets you see advertised on Amazon and Ebay are usually made of nylon and weigh much less than balls made of phenolic resin; or, if they are phenolic resin, they are likely made in China. The Chinese-made balls are not made with the same processes that Aramith uses, except in the case of Dynaspheres. Dynaspheres are made in China by an ex-Aramith engineer and have been met with good reviews from the Billiard community. They have a non-traditional font and beautiful finish (see far below). Aramith spins their balls longer, use better resins, and have higher quality standards than most companies. This means that the balls roll straight. I know, that sounds weird, right? But poorly made balls will tend to roll off because they are not perfectly balanced.
Brunswick Centennial Ball Set:
Aramith is a Belgian company, and it has been making billiard balls and other products with resins for over 70 years. They have made a study of phenolic resins and coatings that improve both the look and performance of the pocket billiard ball. Professionals prefer to play with Aramith balls and when asked why, they general refer to the snap of the balls as they bounce off of each other and the balance that makes the ball path predictable.
Aramith is the premier billiard ball manufacturer in the industry; they've been making billiard balls since 1950 and they make the best. We have seen several companies try to enter this market in the last 25 years and there are few who have been able to keep the attention of the billiard enthusiast. Aramith is the industry standard because the players have demanded it. I've included some information below from the Aramith website; you can also visit the link here.
Aramith introduced the Duramith technology several years ago and this has made the balls with this coating highly desirable because they retain their shiny new look for the life of the ball. The Duramith technology also decreases the burn marks normally made by the high-velocity spin of a pocket billiard ball. Currently, the Duramith coating is available only in the Tournament and Centennial sets.
This is a brief explanation of the new technology from Aramith:
Duramith™: the new benchmark
With the Duramith Technology, the Aramith resins entered their 4th generation. With a totally overhauled resin formulation with new hi-tech reticulation, cross-linking and curing technologies, the Aramith products now set a new benchmark in quality, durability & longevity, increasing their service life up to 50% during which:
its through-hardened vitrified surface and core holds the glossy look
the specifications, rebound and playing consistency is maintained in each ball
the cloth wear and white marks that so easily ruin the look of the table are minimized
improved friction resistance minimizes burn spots as well.
The two half circles are a registered trademark of Saluc SA
Here are my favorite sets when you are considering the purchase of a ball set or upgrading the balls that come in your kit: Green prices are the upgrade for the BSBS Premium Custom Play Kits Red prices are the upgrade for the Brunswick Kits The Price of the Upgrade depends upon the table/kit you are purchasing. The price that BSBS charges is listed at the top of each Ball Set. Aramith balls have seen price increases every 6 months. I try to keep up, but if the numbers don't seem quite right, that is because I have not adjusted the BSBS and MSRP Prices. The kit plus the price of the balls will be your total. The full MSRP Prices are listed in black: Prices Updated December 2022
Aramith Tournament Series: MSRP $532.88; BSBS Price $480.00
This beautiful set is equivalent to the Brunswick Centennial set. Brunswick Centennials are billed as the "best balls made," but this Tournament set is a VERY close 2nd! They removed the dart and left a space in the circle around the number and created a more modern look. This modern style will look great on any table and last a lifetime!
BSBS Premium Custom Kit Upgrade Price: $430.00 Confused? These prices are the price of the balls given your choice of kit upgrade. We are crediting you for the balls in that particular kit and subtracting that from the BSBS price for the balls.
Brunswick Heritage Kit Upgrade Price: $335.00
Aramith Brunswick Centennial Billiard Balls: MSRP $500; BSBS Price $470
The Brunswick Centennial Billiard Balls have been the "traditional" top of the line balls. Recently challenged by the Tournament Series, this set is still the most popular set worldwide. This set has all the benefits of the Aramith balls, but is specially made and branded for Brunswick Billiards.
BSBS Premium Custom Kit Upgrade Price: $410.00
Brunswick Heritage Kit Upgrade Price: $325.00
The Aramith Super Aramith Pro Ball Set: MSRP $411.24, BSBS Price $335. There are 3 Sets [Super Aramith Ball Set, Super Aramith Ball Set for TV & Super Aramith Pro Cup Value Set; Call for pricing]
Super Aramith Pro pool ball set has the following features and characteristics:
Matched professional set: this means that the precise calibration of each ball is made in the factory for maximum consistency within the set.
Worldwide endorsement: Players worldwide insist on using the professional grade Aramith phenolic resin in tournament play.
The Aramith dotted Cue ball is Included: for precise shots and ball repositioning.
Outstanding endurance: A "through-hardened" vitrified surface with ultra-high density for exceptional scratch and impact resistance.
Lowest yearly table cost: Extra durable smooth surface that minimizes table cloth wear for exceptional cloth and ball longevity.
Made of Super Aramith Pro Resin: these balls are made with the highest quality phenolic resin available which was designed in our laboratories.
Professional quality specifications: each ball is tested for density, balance, diameter, roundness, color, glossiness, hardness, and weight.
The Aramith Premier Set: MSRP $228.51; BSBS Price: $219.00 The Premier Set features:
High longevity. The PREMIUM resin with Vitrotech technology hardens and vitrifies the surface for durable brightness. Low yearly table cost. Smooth surface reduces drastically the table cloth wear resulting in far less cloth and ball replacement. Made of Phenolic Resin Aramith Phenolic resin with high impact resistance and prolonged longevity. High quality standards Eight criteria: density, balance, diameter, roundness, color, glossiness, hardness, weight.
BSBS Premium Custom Kit Upgrade Price: $169.00 Brunswick Heritage Kit Upgrade Price: $85.00
The Aramith Premium Set: MSRP $250.24; BSBS Price $239.00
The Premium Set features: The Best Compromise With its classic “numbers in the stripe” look and tight cosmetic criteria, it is the perfect compromise between quality and price. Made of Aramith Premier Resin Aramith phenolic resin with far better resistance longevity than polyester and other phenolic sets. High quality standards 8 criteria: density, balance, diameter, roundness, color, glossiness, hardness, weight. BSBS Premium Custom Kit Upgrade Price: $189.00 Brunswick Heritage Kit Upgrade Price: $104.00
The Aramith Crown Style Set: MSRP $159.68; BSBS Price: $145
BSBS Premium Custom Kit Upgrade Price: $85.00 Brunswick Heritage Kit Upgrade Price: $00.00 (Same Balls) Aramith phenolic resin and the production process that ensures the best-balanced ball on the market is found in this entry-level Aramith Crown Style set of balls. Known in the industry as the White Box Aramith Ball set, this is a great, long-lasting set for family play and you will not regret investing in quality billiard balls. The Aramith Camouflage Set: MSRP $305.71; BSBS Price: $285 What a fun addition to any western game room! This beautiful set will stay beautiful for many years and spark any number of interesting conversations.
BSBS Premium Custom Kit Upgrade Price: $245.00
Brunswick Heritage Kit Price: $150.00
The Aramith Stone Set: MSRP $296.97; BSBS Price: $275.00
For reasons we are not quite sure of, the Stone set is just a blast to play with. No idea why, it just is. The click of the balls is different than any other set (closest to the Camo set), and they look amazing, so we recommend them. They are an Aramith 2.25" ball and they are fun to have on the table.
BSBS Premium Custom Kit Upgrade Price: $245.00 Brunswick Heritage Kit Price: $150.00
The Dynasphere Bronze Set just arrived: $180
You can read about the Dynasphere's brand HERE. They have larger numbers and since this set is being discontinued, they are probably now a collector's edition ;-) They seem to have the same finish as the higher end Aramiths, so it might be worth a try! I got these at a great price, so the ball sets I have now are a good deal.
BSBS Premium Custom Kit Upgrade Price: $120.00 Brunswick Heritage Kit Price: Credit $35.00
A whole lot of good stuff! Came across medalsports.com, which has some seriously good product ratings. What's your perspective on it? I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.