What Is the Average Lifespan of a Billiard Ball?

Pool Balls in Phoenix, AZ
Updated: February 9, 2024

Few things bring people together like a good game of billiards. Since you can’t play pool without billiard balls, it’s important to take some time to do in-depth research when you need a new set of billiard balls for your Phoenix home. One important consideration is how long you can expect a new set of billiard balls to last. After all, you want your investment to last if possible. To better understand the longevity of billiard balls, check out these insights from the billiard pros at Billiard Gallery.

A Variety of Factors

Ultimately, the lifespan of a given set of billiard balls will depend on how you use them. If you play billiards frequently, the balls won’t last as long. Furthermore, if you have inexperienced players using the billiard balls, this will likely shorten their lifespan due to the harder hits that inexperienced players often use. The condition of the playing surface on your billiards table is another factor that can shorten or lengthen the lifespan of your billiard balls.

Phenolic Resin or Polyester Resin

The two main materials used to make billiard balls are polyester resin and phenolic resin. Under normal playing conditions, you can expect to get around eight years of play out of a set of polyester resin balls and 40 years of play out of a set of phenolic resin balls. These estimates assume approximately 10,000 ball impacts per year. For serious billiard players, there’s no match for the quality and durability of phenolic resin balls.

Proper Billiard Ball Care

To care for your billiard balls, Billiard Gallery can’t recommend cleaning highly enough. Using a specialized billiard ball cleaner will allow you to remove the dust and dirt that a billiard ball picks up during normal use. This will help restore the shine of the billiard ball so that it looks great on the table. Additionally, cleaning your billiard balls will help them to stay smooth so that they roll easily across the table. This smooth operation will ultimately help the billiard balls to last longer.

Your Billiard Experts

At Billiard Gallery, we are experts on all things billiards. We sell pool tables of all types, and we also re-felt, move, and clean tables. Furthermore, we also offer shuffleboards, furniture, and more. With over 15 years in the industry, you can count on Billiard Gallery to give you a great experience. This great service is one big reason why our customers leave us five-star reviews. To learn more about taking care of your billiard balls, contact us at Billiard Gallery today.

Call Billiard Gallery today!