Buzz
If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a pool legend like Minnesota Fats—or even channeling Tom Cruise in The Color of Money—you’ve likely wondered how an inanimate object like a pool table can distinguish between the cue (white) ball and the 15 object balls in play. This is a feature most tables perform automatically, ejecting the cue ball after it’s accidentally pocketed, or ‘scratched,’ by the player.
You might tell young children it's magic, and they’ll likely buy it. But for the more seasoned crowd, there’s a perfectly logical explanation.
On coin-operated pool tables, players insert money to trigger the release of the balls from the storage beneath the playing surface. As each ball is pocketed, it returns to the storage area until more coins are added. However, when the cue ball is pocketed, it’s sent to a separate location. A table can recognize the cue ball in one of two ways: either the cue ball is slightly larger—typically 1/8-inch bigger than the standard 2.25-inch billiard ball—or it has a magnetized core.
If the ball is larger than usual, it won’t be able to pass through the return chute and will instead be redirected to an accessible slot after failing to clear a shunt just slightly over 2.25 inches. If the ball is magnetized, a system first patented by pool table maker Valley-Dynamo in 1966 activates a sensor that guides the ball along a track to be immediately ejected, allowing players to keep playing. Some balls may be covered or dotted with metal, allowing a magnet inside the table to pull it into place.
Both methods generally work well for casual play, but experienced players might take issue with them. A larger ball can feel ‘off’ to someone accustomed to the standard cue ball size, while the magnetized ball can roll in unique and subtle ways. Balls with a metal covering are known as ‘mudballs,’ and their slightly irregular surface is often looked down upon. A more reliable option is the ‘cat’s eye’ approach, which contains a steel bearing and closely resembles an unmodified ball.
Professional hustlers might avoid these altered balls, but for a typical night at a bar or family entertainment center, either option will suffice.
