How does the pool table know to send out the white ball when you scratch?

Question

is it diffrent weights? sizes? i have always wondered this

Answer 1

Johnny has it but I'd like to point out that on a Diamond Smart Table there is an optical sensor that sends a laser at every ball that rolls through and based on the amount of light returning to the sensor it knows which ball is the cue ball, so on a Diamond Smart you don't need a magnetic ball or a mud ball

Answer 2

In a coin op table, the cue ball is sometimes magnetic. Years ago a slightly heavier and/or larger ball. The standard size is 2.25" and weight of 5.5-6 oz. In the UK, the cue ball is smaller on coin op machines. On non-coin op machines, it is identical.

It is not a pool table. The proper term is billiard table.

Answer 3

It is bigger...

Answer 4

different weight/mass

Answer 5

Target is right about the magnet the cue ball has a metal core and the return rails in the table has a magnet that deflects it into the return

That is why you see a lot of lousey cue balls on coin tables the core is off center and effects the roll of the cue esp on slow or soft shots I have seen them do a 1/4 turn just as they stop rolling

Answer 6

I think it is smaller.

Answer 7

the que ball is just a little smaller so that if you roll it between to rails the que will drop and the other balls go back to storage.

Answer 8

It is both slightly smaller and slightly lighter than the coloured balls.

Answer 9

http://digg.com/gaming_news/Scratch_How_...

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/q...

Answer 10

...It's under contract with the "mob"...

Answer 11

Some cue balls have a magnet in the core and that is what is used to differentiate the cue ball from the other balls inside the guts of the table.

The only other method is to use a slightly HEAVIER ball , which can fall through a spring loaded trap door that the other balls can't.

Answer 12

Johnny hit it on the head.  With the lousy cue balls that don't roll straight.  Altho Aramith superpro balls are the best barbox magnetic ball you can use.  I love playing with them, and actually prefure them to red circles.  But that is my personal preferance.