Aramith Pool Balls FAQ: What I Learned the Hard Way (And What I'd Buy Again)

I'm the guy who orders table equipment for venues. I've been doing it for eight years, and I've made my share of expensive mistakes - including one in my first year (2017) that taught me why 'cheap pool balls' are not a deal. I keep a checklist now so the next person doesn't repeat it.

This FAQ is built from those mistakes. If you've been searching for 'aramith', 'Continental balls', or 'what is the standard size pool table', you've probably seen more product descriptions than straight answers. Here are the straight answers, with pricing as of January 2025.

What is Aramith, and is it actually better?

Aramith is a Belgian brand that makes phenolic-resin balls for pool, snooker, and carom. It's also the ball you'll see in events like the Mosconi Cup. When people search 'Aramith billiards', they're usually looking at the full lineup, which is exactly what you should look at before buying.

From the outside, a $30 set and a $200 Aramith set look almost identical in product photos. The reality is in the resin, the roundness tolerance, and how the balls hold their finish on a commercial table. Cheap balls lose their shine fast; Aramith balls lose it slowly. That's not marketing, that's what I've watched happen.

One thing I've learned: not all Aramith balls are the same. The brand name is the umbrella, not the product level.

Are Aramith Continental pool balls a good buy?

The short answer: yes, if you know what Continental is. It's the value end of the Aramith lineup, and it's a step above the no-name sets that come with cheap tables. For a bar, a social club, or a home table used by casual players, Continental is usually enough.

What Continental is not is a Pro Cup or Tournament ball. People think the Continental is just a cheaper version of the same thing. Actually, Aramith makes different lines with different specs. I once had a customer order Continental for a serious tournament because it said 'Aramith' on the box. Same brand name, different internal standards.

Bottom line: if you're stocking a commercial space, Continental is a solid workhorse. If you're running a league or tournament, step up.

What is the standard size pool table?

There isn't one universal answer, and that's the first trap. 'Standard' depends on the room and the use:

• 7-foot table (39 by 78 inch playing surface): common in bars and smaller venues.
• 8-foot table (44 by 88 inch): the usual home 'standard' in North America.
• 9-foot table (50 by 100 inch): the tournament/league size.

If someone says 'full-size pool table', they usually mean 8 feet. If someone is setting up a serious league room, the answer is 9 feet. But the right answer for you starts with the room.

Measure before you buy. With a 57 or 58 inch cue, you need about 5 feet of clearance on each side. So an 8-foot table needs a room roughly 18 by 14 feet, at least. A 9-foot table in a 12 by 14 room is a mistake, no matter how impressive it sounds.

And if a dealer keeps pushing a bigger table after you've given them your measurements, treat that as a red flag. A good dealer will sell you the table that fits, not the one with the higher price tag.

How much should I budget for Aramith balls?

A small venue once asked me to keep it cheap. I saved them $120 by ordering a $60 no-name set instead of a $180 Continental. Six months later, the finish was dull, one ball had a flat spot, and the regulars were complaining. I replaced it with Continental. The venue spent $240 total. The savings disappeared.

'The cheap option' looked smart until we paid the second invoice. That's the penny-wise lesson that still shapes how I quote.

As of January 2025, from publicly listed online prices at major billiard retailers, a Continental set is usually $120-$200. A Premier or Tournament set is more like $220-$350. The Pro Cup line runs $400-$600. Verify current prices, because stock moves.

Think of a good ball set like a dumbbell set with rack: the cheap one feels fine in the store, but after six months the knurling is rough and the plates don't feel right. You don't see the difference in a photo. You feel it every session.

Can I use an Aramith cue ball with a cheaper ball set?

You can, but I wouldn't.

I once assumed a good cue ball would improve a cheap set of object balls. Didn't verify. Turned out the cue ball wasn't the problem. The cheap object balls had slightly different weights, so the rack opened inconsistently and shots didn't hold line. The nice cue ball just made the inconsistency more obvious.

Here's the thing: a table plays as a system. The cue ball, object balls, cloth, and cushions all work together. If one part is inconsistent, you'll chase issues that aren't there. In a commercial setting, that's worse because customers don't know how to fix it; they just know the table feels 'off'.

How do I clean Aramith pool balls without ruining them?

Keep it boring. Warm water and a drop of mild soap on a microfiber cloth is enough for regular cleaning. Dry the balls right away with a soft towel. For a deeper clean, use a product made for billiard balls (Aramith sells one, which, honestly, most people don't need at first).

Don't use household cleaners with alcohol or acetone. I watched a bar owner clean balls with a degreaser because it was already under the counter. The finish never looked the same.

Don't over-polish, either. A little goes a long way. Too much polish leaves residue, and residue collects chalk dust.

How often? For commercial tables, at least once a week. For a home table, once a month, or after a long session. If the balls look hazy, that's your reminder.

Are Aramith balls worth it for a home player?

Depends on the table and your game. On a 6-foot folding table, a $500 Pro Cup set is overkill because the table is the weak link. On a decent 8-foot slate table, even a Continental set is a big upgrade over the balls that came with it.

Think of it like a Logitech G Pro X gaming headset: casual games work with anything, but once you're playing seriously, you're paying for consistency, comfort, and reliability. Pool balls work the same way.

I've never told a small venue owner they don't deserve a good set. When I started, the suppliers who treated my $200 orders seriously were the ones I kept using for $20,000 orders. Same logic applies to customers buying a single set of balls: small doesn't mean unimportant.

One more thing: if you're buying for a rental or venue, keep spare cue balls. A lost cue ball is a pain; an unmatched one is worse.

My default advice is simple: Continental for the family room, Premier or Tournament for the league room, Pro Cup for tournament tables. That's not a sales pitch. That's just what each line is built for.