What are snooker balls made of?
Ivory was always the material most favoured in the manufacture of billiard balls and although a composition type was available, they did not gain preference in championship play until the late 1920’s. There was a problem with some early types of composition ball, which had a tendency to ‘explode’! The composition included the same material that had been developed for the making of gun powder! Now, of course, ivories have disappeared and all recognised competitions are played with composition balls made of a cast phenolic resin and they must meet specifications laid down by IBSF and WPBSA.
