How do pool tables know which ball is the cue ball when it is sunk?

Question

How do pool tables know which ball is the cue ball when it is sunk?

Answer 1

The cue ball is slightly bigger or it has a magnet in it -- depending on the table.

Answer 2

I normally always thought the cue ball was smaller and a little bit lighter than the others, but after thinking about it the cue ball being heavier and a little larger makes sense.  You would probably want it heavier to fall through a trap door only triggered by the ball being heavier than a counterbalance weight on the trap door.  If you made it smaller and lighter you couldn't use a trap door and you'd probably have balls getting stuck regularly.  Using a magnet would also make sense to trigger the trap door.

Answer 3

One way the cue ball is a little larger and the second is there is a metal ball in the center of the cue ball and a magnet in the return that pulls it to the side so it can be returned.

Answer 4

The cue ball is a different size than the other balls.  I think it's smaller.

Answer 5

if your talking about a bar box  then thats easy  inside the cue ball is a magnet...when it passes a spot inside the table a piece of metal will dirrect it into the ball return.  its really neat when you can see how it works.... by the way  cue ball is not smaller its heavier due to the magnet...the old ones were bigger but they have adjusted the size over the yrs...

Answer 6

different size and weight

love ya!

Answer 7

The cue ball is either larger or smaller than the numbered balls, so it is delivered to the return chute, while the rest go back behind the glass enclosure.

Answer 8

it is bigger and heavier than the others.

Answer 9

the white ball is slightly smaller

Answer 10

I don't think the pool table really knows but the cue ball is larger so it follows the tract on around to the end and the rest of the balls go straight down to the holding carpartment.

Answer 11

the cue ball is heavier.

Answer 12

The cue ball is of a slightly different size than all of the other balls.

Answer 13

there are two options as far as basr tables go , one is the oversized cue ball , and the other is the magnetic cue ball ,

Answer 14

it has a slightly different weight that triggers the mechanism in the table to drop it.

Answer 15

there is a tiny little man inside that takes note of each ball passing by.  he is called "the ball man" and only comes out when people are playing darts.   the cue ball is smaller.  be well.