I purchased my first pool table. Long time coming. Anyway, I purchased a new set of Super Aramith Pro Billiard Balls. I have maybe a couple hundred or so games on them. Since my purchase many of the balls have been chipping and nicking. All chips are slightly curved, very thin, and about 1/4 inch long.

Could the balls be defective? Is this normal? None of the balls have left the table during play. I have gone over the table and there isn't any hardware that could be in play.

Any thoughts or comments greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

The only thing I could think of would be the inside of the pockets - if they have anything that could put marks or chips on a ball, slamming in a hard pot could cause it. Potentially a small protrusion or something may be enough.

Otherwise, Aramith balls are very high quality, and I certainly wouldn't expect them to chip.

I have gone over every inside inch of every pocket and am unable to find anything. I even taped a ball and slammed it hard into each pocket several times looking for cuts or marks on the tape. Nothing.

Also, all I play is 8 ball, and the 8 ball has taken about the same amount of damage, so I am starting to rule out that it's pocket damage.

Any other ideas?

Much appreciated.

What sort of pool table? Does it have basket pockets, or a ball return?

Do you use any sort of training devices?

What do you use for racking?

I suppose it sounds like you've checked the rails, but maybe something is sticking out somewhere along the rail (a staple or something?)

Any kids? Maybe they're hitting the balls with something they shouldn't (speaking from experience)?

Are you practicing any trick shots that might be causing the problem?

Pool Table is a Dynamo 7' Bar Box.

It has a ball return (I sent that tape covered ball I spoke of earlier down each return and found no marks)

The only exposed hardware are two staples on each side pocket. They are countersunk, and I have put tape over them and I am not getting any marks in the tape.

No training devices.

I rack with a PVC triangle.

I checked the rails once by running my hand along, I didn't push on them, but I will. I would think the felt would be cut, but you never know. Good idea.

No kids and no trick shots.

I will post another reply once I more thoroughly check the rails.

My inclination at this point is that if a ball is hit hard (straight into the pocket) and hits the deflection rail (the ring at the top of the pocket that forces the ball down into the pocket), causing the balls to hti the ball return rails right under the slate hard enough to chip the balls.

On the other hand, you say that the 8 ball was effected as well, and I'm guessing that normally you don't slam that one in based on your comment..

The only other thought - if it's an actual bar box, maybe the stop in the area where the balls go to after potting them has a sharp edge on it? It's hard to diagnose this stuff :-?

Oh - and another thought - if it's an actual bar box, did you run that ball with tape down the chute to the racking area as well? Maybe when you release the balls they're hitting something as it goes down the chute.

TryingHard, it looks like you hit the nail, or in this case the staple, right on the head when you said that maybe something is sticking out somewhere along the rail (a staple or something?).

It was in fact a staple. I had missed it until I went around pushing on the cushions with my thumb. When I pushed on a corner pocket bevel, there was a point of a staple just at the surface of the cushion. By bad luck, it was just at the right height to hit a ball. I confirmed it was the culprit when I unbolted the head rail and there was a staple a bit too close to the edge, just enough to reach a ball from the other side.

That was the good news, the bad news is that it looks like it ruined a brand new set of Aramith balls :-(

Question. Do you think these small scratches on the balls will ruin the felt? It was recovered shortly before I bought it.

I don't know whether I should just live with the balls the way they are or try replacing the damaged balls individually or buy a new set. :-?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

While I doubt they'd hurt the felt, you could see weird ball reactions if the contact point between the CB and OB happen to coincide on one of these scratches / chip - or really bad, if a chip on CB hit a chip on the OBs. The ball could be "thrown" more possibly.

On the other hand - to save some money short term, I'd bet that if you simply replaced the CB (assuming it's probably scratched up too), you'd not likely see as much really noticible difference. A scratched up CB would act really strange when the chip hit the felt when spinning. Just polish the rest of the balls with something mildly abrasive like a spcially made ball polish to make sure there's no shards (for lack of a better word) sticking out from the ball.

Good news thta you found it, now so good that the balls got nicked.