What's the Difference Between Pool Balls and a Cue Ball?
The cue ball looks like just another ball on the table, but it's built to a different standard. Predator's Arcos II cue ball is made from the same phenolic resin as the object balls, but its surface is engineered for consistent contact across thousands of strikes — since it's the only ball that gets hit directly by the tip on every shot. Object balls (the numbered balls) only need to survive ball-on-ball contact; the cue ball has to hold up to tip contact, English, and repeated draw and follow shots without losing its true roll.
How Is the Cue Ball Different?
The cue ball is built to the same material and size standard as the rest of the set, but it takes far more direct contact — every shot starts with a tip striking the cue ball, while object balls only experience ball-on-ball contact. That's why cue ball wear (chalk marks, surface dulling) tends to show up well before the rest of the set needs replacing.
Predator Arcos II vs. Other Brands
Predator's Arcos II balls are engineered for the same tournament-level consistency players look for in brands like Aramith, with a finish designed to resist chalk buildup and hold its shine with regular cleaning (see our ball cleaning guide).
What Are Pool Balls Made Of?
Modern pool balls, including Predator's Arcos II line, are made from phenolic resin — a dense, impact-resistant polymer that holds a true, consistent roll far better than the clay or early plastic composites used decades ago. Phenolic resin is also what allows manufacturers like Aramith and Predator to hold tight size and weight tolerances across an entire set.
Regulation Size and Weight
Regulation pool balls measure 2.25 inches (57.15mm) in diameter and weigh approximately 6 ounces (170g) each. Consistency across the full set matters more than any single ball's spec — a set with even small size or weight variance between balls will play unpredictably, especially on break shots.
What's in a Standard Set?
A standard pool ball set includes 16 balls: one cue ball, seven solids (1–7), seven stripes (9–15), and the 8 ball. Some sets also include a numbered rack of just the cue ball and one object ball for practice or teaching use.
How to Clean the Predator Arcos 2 Pool Balls
We recommend cleaning the Predator Arcos II pool balls with a micro-fiber cloth and a non-wax cleaner, such as the Aramith ball cleaner to maintain the brilliance and color of the Predator.
Cleaning directions:
1. Shake the bottle well;
2. Apply the cleaner on the ball;
3. Rub well;
4. Make the ball shine with a micro-fiber cloth, a piece of dry cloth, or with an electrical ball buffer.
A ball buffing machine may be used, provided that the pads are in good shape and do not scratch the balls.
Avoid using other cleaning products and in particular products containing abrasives that may scratch the balls.
