Our guide to the best snooker balls and sets currently available will help to ensure you choose quality balls that last for decades to come.
That’s right! A good set of snooker balls should last for up to 40 years under normal usage and proper care.
That means they are very much an investment, and it’s worth spending a little more to get a good quality set. The cheaper snooker balls can be a bit of a false economy!
Our Top-Rated Snooker Balls
The best snooker balls will have a consistent density throughout, ensuring the balls play true every time. They’ll be hard-wearing and able to withstand regular impacts with other balls, cushions, and even the floor!
Top Pick: Aramith Snooker Ball Premier Set
Pros:
- Good mixture of quality and value
- Full-sized balls weighted to within 3g
- High quality phenolic resin
Cons:
- Not the cheapest on the market
- May be too large for small pool tables
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As far as brands of snooker balls go, you can’t get better than Aramith. They are, in fact, the same brand of balls as used by the professionals on the World Snooker tour.
While these aren’t exactly the same balls as used on the pro circuit (they are a slightly cheaper version), they are full-sized balls (2 1/16 inch).
That means, if you’re using them on a full sized snooker table, they’ll be the perfect size. On a smaller table or a pool table, you may find them slightly large, but they will still work OK.
Quality-wise they are exceptional, as you perhaps would expect given the price tag. OK, so they’re not tournament quality balls, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth that price tag if you can afford it.
Made of phenolic resin, the balls are perfectly rounded and play true all the time. They are also of an even weight and come in a cardboard box for easy storage when not in use.
Overall, they are our selected best snooker balls for the overall quality combined with the value for money.
- Aramith unique phenolic resin
- Perfectly rounded and balanced
- Impact resistance:
#2: Aramith ‘1G’ Tournament Snooker Balls
Pros:
- Same balls as used on the Pro circuit
- Full-sized balls weighted to within 1g
- Includes aluminium carry case
Cons:
- Professional quality comes at a high price
- May be too large for small pool tables
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Now, if you want the best snooker balls available and price simply isn’t a problem, you won’t find better than this Aramith tournament set (sometimes called ‘SuperPro 1G’).
These are actually the same full-sized balls as used on the Pro circuit. What makes them so special?
Well, aside from the superior durability and high quality resin you’d expect from Aramith, the weighting is incredible.
A standard set of snooker balls will be weighted to within 3g difference between individual balls. With this set, the weighting difference is down to just 1g. That means each ball plays identically to the last.
If price wasn’t a factor, we would immediately have these balls at the top of our ‘best snooker balls’ list. However, as you might expect from professional quality balls, they aren’t cheap.
That said, you do get a very good quality hard aluminium storage and carry case with the set (the same as you see the referees carrying at tournaments). This alone would set you back £40-£50.
Overall then, if you’re just playing for fun now and again, you probably don’t need such an expensive set.
However, if you’re taking the game seriously and want to ensure you’re using the best equipment, you won’t find better than these snooker balls.
- Used in all WSA and IBSF tournaments
- 1 gram maximum weight difference between balls
- Supplied in elegant storage case
#3: PowerGlide Snooker Balls 2 1/6″ balls
Pros:
- Good quality, affordable balls
- Recognised brand
Cons:
- Fairly lightweight and prone to chipping
- May be too large for small pool tables
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If you’re looking for a lower cost alternative to the Aramith balls, this home set from PowerGlide might just fit the bill.
They aren’t going to win any awards for being the best snooker balls available, but they are still good balls and come at a very reasonable price that will fit within most budgets.
Serious players probably won’t get on particularly well with them. You can definitely feel they are a little lighter during play and that makes it feel like they don’t play quite as true.
However, most casual players won’t find this off-putting and the low price more than makes up for any slight lack of consistency during play.
PowerGlide is a recognised brand that has carved out a niche for itself in the home and casual player market. These balls fit that image, but that will be perfectly acceptable to a lot of people.
- Quality product
- Brand : Power Glide
- Good product to use
#4: PowerGlide 17 Ball Snooker Set (Various Sizes)
Pros:
- Smaller balls, better for small tables
- Budget option
- Recognised brand
Cons:
- 10 reds instead of 15 (for smaller tables)
- Not large enough for full-sized tables
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Our third choice of the best snooker balls is another set from PowerGlide. As a recognised home entertainment brand you know you get reasonable quality balls at a low price.
That said, there are still some reports that these balls are a bit lightweight and chip and mark over time.
Otherwise, these balls are an excellent choice if you have a smaller table. That’s because they come in a choice of 3 smaller sizes; 1″1/5 (37.5mm), 1″3/4 (44.5mm), or 1″7/8 (47.5mm).
That means none are close to full-sized, but they should suit tables up to around 8ft x 4ft, though they’ll work best on 6ft x 3ft tables.
That’s also why you only get 10 red balls instead of 15 (making a total of 17 instead of 22 balls). Fewer balls on small tables means less crowding and a more relatistic representation of the full-sized game.
Overall, you won’t find these balls in any respectable snooker club, but they are suitable for small home tables, including pool tables you want to use for snooker.
- Durable & Design
- Easy to use
- Value for money
#5: Aramith Premier Snooker Ball Set & Carry Case
Pros:
- High quality Aramith balls
- Same balls as our top pick
- Includes aluminium carry case
Cons:
- Not the cheapest on the market
- May be too large for small pool tables
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You can be excused if you’re getting déjà vu at this point. Yes, these are exactly the same balls as our top pick as the best snooker balls.
The difference? This set comes with the same aluminium carry case as our number 2 pick.
That’s right, exactly the same balls, you just get a handy and protective case rather than a cardboard box.
So, why are these balls only our 5th pick?
Well, give the carry case can be bought for around £40-£50, you don’t really save money by bundling the two together. That means, in terms of overall value, they are slightly more disappointing!
Still, they are very good quality snooker balls and the case is very strong. That means they are still worth considering if you’re after a complete set with the case.
- Aramith PREMIER 2 1 16 Inch 22 Snooker Ball Set and Sturdy Aluminium Carrying Case
- Brand : Aramith
- Product type: SPORTING GOODS
You Might Also Need:
Buying the best snooker balls your budget allows is a big step to having a full setup, but here are a few other accessories you might want to consider too:
Aramith Snooker Ball Restorer & Cleaner
Keep your snooker balls in tip top condition with this twin pack of cleaner and restorer. Helps lengthen the life of your balls!
- HIGH QUALITY
- ARAMITH POOL,SNOOKER + BILLIARD BALLS RESTORER+ CLEANER
Peradon Plastic Snooker Triangle
While nothing quite beats the feel of a quality wooden triangle when racking up the next frame, why spend £30-£40 when you can get a plastic one for under a tenner?
- value for money
- 10 ball or 15 ball triangles available
- It's best to measure your balls carefully before ordering a triangle
Snooker Table Brush
Keep the table clean and free from dust and chalk with a high quality brush. After all, a clean table helps protect against kicks and bad contacts.
- 12" Mahogany Handle Pool Or Snooker Tables Brush
- Very High Quality Wooden Finish
- Complete with Genuine Horsehair Strong Silver and Black Bristles
Frequently Asked Questions
Naturally, trying to find the best snooker balls often leads to other questions. Here we cover some of the most commonly asked questions:
What are the best snooker balls?
Without a doubt, Aramith are the best snooker balls around. They are the only brand that uses the superior phenolic resin and their manufacturing quality is why they use on the professional World Snooker tour.
That’s also why our 1st, 2nd, and 5th top pick for the best snooker balls around are Aramith. Quite simply, there isn’t a better brand around and you’ll be hard pushed to find anyone who says there is!
What are Aramith Snooker Balls?
Aramith snooker balls are the brand of snooker balls used on the World Snooker tour in all professional tournament matches.
They are made in Belgium and are the Roll’s Royce of snooker balls!
Among other benefits, they are said to reduce kicks, roll true, withstand up to 50 times more impacts than other balls, leave fewer marks on the table, and last as long as 40 years!
It’s estimated between 3 and 4 million professional and amateur snooker players use Aramith balls.
What are professional snooker balls made of?
Professional snooker balls are made of phenolic resin, a unique compound developed by Aramith that provides even weight distribution and lasts up to 5 times longer than cheaper balls made with polymers or polyester.
Each ball is said to be able to withstand up to 5 tonnes of pressure and 4 MILLION hits! That’s pretty impressive and shows why Aramith are the choice of around 85% of players worldwide.
If you’re interested in the technicalities of snooker ball construction, click here.
Are professional snooker balls lighter?
No, professional snooker balls are not usually lighter than any set you can buy off the shelf. Conversely, they are often heavier.
Lighter balls tend to be less resiliant and more prone to kicks and leaving the bed of the table.
While there is no set weight that snooker balls have to be, the Aramith 1G balls used in the professional game weigh around 6 ounces (170g) and each ball in the set will be within 1g of weight of every other ball in that set.
What snooker balls do they use in World Championship?
In the World Championship they use the Aramith Tournament Champion SuperPro 1G balls, the same balls we have picked as our 2nd best snooker balls.
They are simply the best balls currently available and Aramith balls are used by over 85% of professional and amateur players.
What is the highest colour ball in snooker?
The highest value colour ball in snooker is the black ball which is worth 7 points, followed by the pink (6 points), blue (5 points), brown (4 points), green (3 points), yellow (2 points), and red (1 point).
You can read more about point scoring in snooker and how to set up the balls in our rules of snooker guide.
Do snooker balls wear out?
Yes, snooker balls do eventually wear out, deteriorating to the point where they may no longer roll true or become cracked or chipped.
However, the best snooker balls made by Aramith are made of phenolic resin which lasts 5 times longer than other balls and are expected to last for as long as 40 years (home use).
What size should snooker balls be?
Full-sized snooker balls are 2 1/16 Inches (52.5mm) though there is some deviation a very small amount either side of that.
Full-sized balls tend to only be useful on full-sized (or near to full-sized) tables. Smaller pool tables will usually need a smaller set of balls around 2 inches or smaller.
Is the cue ball heavier?
No, in snooker the cue ball is the same weight as all the other balls (within 1-3g).
This differs to some coin operated pool tables where the cue ball may be a slightly different size or weight to the rest of the balls in order to facilitate the return of the white if potted mid-game.
Since snooker tables have pockets which are emptied by hand rather than mechanically, there is no need to make the cue ball any different to the other balls.
Are snooker balls made of ivory?
Modern snooker balls are not made of ivory. While ivory was once used (along with wood and clay!), it is no longer legal to produce items in ivory.
Today snooker balls are made from various plastic resins depending on the manufactuer. The best of which is phenolic resin used by Aramith.
The Best Snooker Balls
