Pool vs Snooker Balls: What is the Difference?

Pool and snooker are two hugely popular cue sports, but they are pretty different types of game. One of the main differences between pool and snooker is the type of balls used. In this article, I’ll take you through all the differences and similarities between a set of pool balls and a set of snooker balls.

Pool vs Snooker Balls Overview

A set of pool balls contains 16 balls, whereas a set of snooker balls contains 22 balls. Snooker balls are smaller and lighter than American pool balls, but heavier than English pool balls. Snooker balls all have solid colour finishes, whereas American pool balls have a spots and stripes design.

Pool Balls	Snooker Balls
A set contains 16 balls	A set contains 22 balls
Can be striped or solid	Always solid colours
American pool object balls- 2 1/4″ diameter English pool object balls- 2″ diameter	Object ball diameter is 2 1/16″
American pool cue ball – 2 1/4″ diameter English pool cue ball – 1 7/8″ diameter	Cue ball diameter is 2 1/16″

Before we jump into some more in-depth comparisons of pool and snooker balls, we first need to address the different types of pool and snooker balls and their differences.

Types of Snooker Balls

A set of snooker balls has 22 balls: 15 red, 1 yellow, 1 green, 1 brown, 1 blue, 1 pink, 1 black and 1 white cue ball. The standard regulation size for all snooker balls in the set is 2 1/16″ in diameter, however you can also purchase smaller 2″ balls for use on small-sized tables.

American snooker balls are 2 1/8″ in diameter. Standard snooker balls are not numbered, however American snooker balls have numbered yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black balls.

American Snooker Ball Numbers

• Yellow – 2
• Green – 3
• Brown – 4
• Blue – 5
• Pink – 6
• Black – 7
• Red and white are un-numbered

Types of Pool Balls

There are three main types of pool games: American 8-Ball, American 9-Ball and English 8-Ball. Each type of pool game uses different balls, however American 8 and 9-Ball pool both use identical balls, except some of them are not needed for 9-Ball pool.

So if you want to play 9-ball pool, then simply use balls 1-9 from a standard 8-ball pool set and the cue ball.

The main difference is between English and American pool balls which vary in size, colour and design. American pool balls are 2 1/4″ in diameter and have a spots and stripes design, whereas English pool balls are red and yellow and have 2″ diameter for the object balls and 1 7/8″ diameter for the cue ball.

American Pool Balls	English Pool Balls
Spots and stripes	Red and yellow
2 1/4” diameter	2” diameter object balls and 1 7/8” cue ball
Cue and object balls are the same size	Cue ball is smaller than the object ball
All ball are numbered (except for the cue bal)	Only the black 8-ball is numbered

Here’s a quick rundown of the balls you’ll need for a standard game of American 8-ball, American 9-ball and English 8-ball pool.

American 8-Ball

• 2 1/4″ diameter
• Spots and stripes design
• 16 balls in total (7 spots, 7 stripes, 1 black, 1 white cue ball)
• Racked in a triangle

American 8-Ball Pool Balls	Color and Design
1	Yellow spot
2	Blue spot
3	Red spot
4	Purple spot
5	Orange spot
6	Green spot
7	Burgundy spot
8	Black 8-ball
9	Yellow stripe
10	Blue stripe
11	Red stripe
12	Purple stripe
13	Orange stripe
14	Green stripe
15	Burgundy stripe
Un-numbered	White cue ball

American 9-Ball Pool

• 2 1/4″ diameter
• Spots and stripes design
• 10 balls in total (7 spots, 1 stripe, 1 black, 1 white cue ball)
• Uses balls 1-9 from an 8-ball set, plus the cue ball
• Racked in a diamond

American 9-Ball Pool Balls	Color and Design
1	Yellow spot
2	Blue spot
3	Red spot
4	Purple spot
5	Orange spot
6	Green spot
7	Burgundy spot
8	Black 8-ball
9	Yellow stripe
Un-numbered	White cue ball

English 8-Ball Pool

• 2″ diameter object balls and 1 7/8″ diameter cue ball
• Reds and yellows design
• 16 balls in total (7 red, 7 yellow, 1 black 8-ball, 1 white cue ball)
• Only the black ball has a number (8), the rest of the balls are un-numbered in English pool
• Racked in a triangle

Pool vs Snooker Balls

So now we’ve been through the basics of the different types of pool and snooker balls, let’s compare them with one another.

Number of Balls in a Set

There are 16 balls in a set of pool balls (American and English) and 22 balls in a set of snooker balls. Pool balls sets contain a cue ball, black 8-ball and two sets of 7 object balls. Snooker balls contain a cue ball, black ball, yellow ball, green ball, brown ball, blue ball, pink ball, and 15 red balls.

Colours and Numbers

American pool balls have a spots and stripes design, whereas English pool balls and snooker balls use solid colours.

• American pool balls: set of spots and stripes (yellow, blue, red, purple, orange, green, burgundy), black and white
• English pool balls: set of reds and yellow solid colour balls, black and white
• Snooker balls: red, yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black, red and white (all solid colours)

American pool and American snooker balls have numbers, unlike standard snooker balls and English pool balls.

Sizes

American pool balls are larger than snooker balls, however English pool balls are smaller than snooker balls.

• American pool balls have a diameter of 2 1/4″ for both the object and cue ball
• Snooker balls have a diameter of 2 1/16″ for both the object and cue ball
• English pool balls have a diameter of 2″ for the object and 1 7/8″ for the cue ball

This also means that American pool balls weigh more than snooker balls and English pool balls. This is why it is not recommended to use an English pool or snooker cue for American pool balls, because the ferrule may damage because it is not designed to take the impact of the heavier balls.

However, it is possible to get larger snooker balls for use on an American pool table. It’s also possible to get standard-sized English pool balls in the spots and stripes design so they look like American balls, but are made to fit an English pool table.

Check out this article comparing pool and snooker cues.

The Similarities

You’ll have noticed now that there are quite a few differences between pool and snooker balls, but there are also a couple of similarities as well.

• Both pool and snooker balls are made from the same materials. Cheaper balls are usually made from plastic, but more premium sets are made from phenolic resin which is harder and offers a glossier finish.
• The same brands typically make snooker and pool balls. Aramith, is one of the most recognised manufacturers of both types of balls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some more questions you may have about the differences between pool and snooker balls.

Can you play pool with snooker balls?

It is not possible to play pool properly with a set of snooker balls. Snooker balls are a different colour to pool balls so the rules will not be applicable if you use them to play pool. Snooker balls are also a different size too pool balls, so will not fit the pockets correctly on a pool table.

Can you play snooker with pool balls?

It is not possible to play snooker with a set of pool balls because there will not be enough balls. A game of snooker requires a set of 22 balls, however a set of pool balls only contains 16 balls. Also, the colours of snooker and pool balls are different which will make the rules inapplicable when using them for snooker.

Which are bigger, pool or snooker balls?

Pool and snooker balls are not the same size. American pool balls are bigger than snooker balls, however English pool balls are smaller than snooker balls. American pool balls have a diameter of 2 1/4″, snooker balls have a diameter of 2 1/16″ and English pool balls have a diameter of 2″ for the object balls and 1 7/8″ for the cue ball.

Check out my comparison between pool and snooker tables to learn more about the differences between these cue sports.

Here are some more articles you might find useful:

• Cheap vs Expensive Aramith Pool Balls
• American vs English Pool Cues