# What the heck are these balls for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 21, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-these-balls-for/510939 "2009-09-21T13:18:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-these-balls-for/510939/1 "2009-09-21T13:18:45Z")
These balls were donated to a legion and we are trying to figure out what they are and what they were used for - they are the same size and weight as billard balls. They are both white (or off-white). [Mystery balls](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/3941207114_8aba86248d.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-these-balls-for/510939/2 "2009-09-21T13:32:49Z")
If they are the same size & weight as billiard balls, why do you think they’re anything else? Cue balls can be any color from very pure almost blueish white to a very light tan color like real ivory. Or do you mean they’re more or less similar in size & weight to billiard balls, but not exactly the same as other you’ve seen? Are there any markings on either one? A true billiards (not pool) player could easily have their own cue balls which they bring to contests. But you’d expect one of them to be marked in an obvious way, e.g. a couple of dots on opposite hemispheres. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-these-balls-for/510939/3 "2009-09-21T13:40:40Z")
Are they translucent? They appear to be refracting light. They also appear to be sitting on a dark colored base. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-these-balls-for/510939/4 "2009-09-21T13:41:28Z")
I guess that would be the simplest explanation. I just never heard of anyone bringing their own cue balls before. As for any markings - I don’t have access to the actual items, but will forward the query… ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-these-balls-for/510939/5 "2009-09-21T13:57:43Z")
The base is wood - I am waiting to find out if the base came with the balls, or if it was made to display them. They do look translucent… ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-these-balls-for/510939/6 "2009-09-21T14:30:54Z")
bocce balls ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-these-balls-for/510939/7 "2009-09-21T15:02:35Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > bocce balls I don’t think so. Bocce balls are either larger (the ones you throw) or the smaller white one (you try to hit). ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-these-balls-for/510939/8 "2009-09-21T15:50:34Z")
They look like ivory billiard balls, which would mean they may be 100+ years old.