A training cue ball can help take your game to the next level. These balls are specifically designed to provide visual aids for you to practice and improve your shots. But some training cue balls are higher quality and better suited to your needs than others.
The seven best training cue balls for 2023 include:
- Aramith Jim Rempe Training Cue Ball
- GSE AAA-Grade PRO Cup Practice Training Cue Ball
- Marhynchus Practice Training Cue Ball
- Loto AAA-Grade PRO Cup Cue Ball
- McDermott Jump Trainer Cue Ball
- Iszy 6-Dot Spot Pool Training Cue Ball
- Aramith 6-Dot Super PRO Cue Ball
In this article, we will list the top seven best training cue balls you’ll want to consider purchasing in 2023. As you read, you’ll learn which balls are made with the best materials, how their various designs are meant to assist you, their cost, and other influential factors.
The Best Training Cue Balls for 2023
As a pool or billiards player, you know that countless hours of practice paired with the right equipment are essential to playing your best. A training cue ball is definitely considered “the right equipment.”
Here are our seven best training cue balls for 2023:
- Aramith Jim Rempe Training Cue Ball
- GSE AAA-Grade PRO Cup Practice Training Cue Ball
- Marhynchus Practice Training Cue Ball
- Loto AAA-Grade PRO Cup Cue Ball
- McDermott Jump Trainer Cue Ball
- Iszy 6-Dot Spot Pool Training Cue Ball
- Aramith 6-Dot Super PRO Cue Ball
Any of these training cue ball options are a great addition to your billiards training routine.
Looking for somewhere to watch the best of the best? There are numerous places to watch them on YouTube, and other cool platforms.
Aramith Jim Rempe Training Cue Ball
As indicated by the name, the Aramith Jim Rempe Training Cue Ball is the product of a collaborated effort between the renowned billiard brand Aramith and famed professional pocket billiards player James Rempe.
The regulation-sized ball is made of high-quality phenolic resin and features various marking to assist players with practicing their topspin, sidespin, backspin, and other crucial forms of cue ball control.
It’s also paired with a 56-page instruction manual that helps guide the reader through the process of using this tool correctly to improve their skills. Of all the training cue balls you’ll see listed on online sources, this is by the most highly recommended.
However, its quality materials and reputation come with a hefty price tag you’ll want to consider heavily prior to purchase.
GSE AAA-Grade PRO Cup Practice Training Cue Ball
A much more budget-friendly but still impressively effective training cue ball you might prefer is the GSE AAA-Grade PRO Cup Practice Training Cue Ball.
This cue ball features a much more simplistic design than some of the other options listed here, and we’ve found that this is actually preferable for many billiards and pool players.
It’s marked with three lines and five dots that help players better visualize exactly where to strike the ball for the ideal angle and direction of rotation.
A common opinion seems to be that visualizing these markings on a blank cue ball is much easier than those on the Aramith Jim Rempe training cue ball, which is why this is such a popular choice.
Another benefit of this option is that you can choose from a variety of colors for the markings to ensure they are easy to see when shooting and don’t blend in with your table’s bed cloth.
Marhynchus Practice Training Cue Ball
If you’re looking for a training cue ball that is a bit cheaper than the Aramith Jim Rempe but has more markings than the GSE AAA-Grade PRO Cup, then look no further than the Marhynchus Practice Training Cue Ball.
One side of the ball has more detailed markings meant for advanced training, which depict where your stick should hit according to your intended direction and spin. The reverse side provides a more simplified diagram intended for beginner training.
Unfortunately, neither this nor the GSE AAA-Grade PRO ball come with a manual, making it difficult for beginners and even experienced players to understand how the tool is supposed to be used to improve their game.
Loto AAA-Grade PRO Cup Cue Ball
Surprisingly, one of the most highly rated and frequently purchased training cue balls you can find is the overtly simple Loto AAA-Grade PRO Cup Standard Pool-Billiard Cue Ball.
This budget-friendly, regulation-sized cue ball only features 6 dots of your preferred color that are placed equidistant from each other on the ball. The purpose of these markings is to help players visualize the rotation of the ball following their shot and gauge the spin for the next shot.
Because it is made of high-grade phenolic resin, it isn’t the most durable option and might have a shorter lifespan than you’d like. That being said, many players find the investment worthwhile, particularly at the price it’s offered.
McDermott Jump Trainer Cue Ball
Most players searching for a training cue ball intend to use it for visualizing the ideal angle and stick placement for their next shot, but the assumption is that the ball will remain more or less flat on the table.
But what if you want to practice jump shots? If this is the case, then you’ll want to use the unique McDermott Jump Training Cue Ball.
There are very few training cue balls on the market designed for this purpose, so we recommend purchasing yours while you can. The McDermott features markings to assist with nine different jump shots, such as a standard jump, a jump draw, a jump follow, and more.
It might be a bit pricier than most players are willing to spend (cost is comparable to the Aramith Jim Rempe), but it is made of durable, high-quality materials guaranteed to last and has virtually no rival as a jump training ball.
Iszy 6-Dot Spot Pool Training Cue Ball
If you liked the look and feel of the Loto AAA-Grade PRO Cup ball, then you’ll want to compare it to the Iszy 6-Dot Spot Pool Training Cue Ball before making a decision.
In terms of markings, these two balls are exactly the same featuring the simplistic 6-dot design. They are also near equivalent in cost, with the Iszy being slightly less, and are each lightweight and regulation-sized, making them perfect for English and masse.
The only potential difference between the Loto and the Iszy is that the Iszy appears to be more durable, as there are significantly fewer reviews depicting cracks and damage. Other than that, the only real distinction is which brand you choose to support.
Aramith 6-Dot Super PRO Cue Ball
Aramith gets to make another appearance on our list to contend with the Iszy and Loto training cue balls.
The classic 6-dot markings seem to be a common choice for training cue balls, so it comes as no surprise that a high-quality brand like Aramith decided they had to make one of its own.
Unsurprisingly, this Aramith 6-Dot Super PRO Cue Ball is double the cost of its two competitors, but if you’re a fan of the 6-dot training design and want to purchase a cue ball that you’re certain will last, then this is the way to go.
Just like the Aramith Jim Rempe, this ball is made with the highest quality phenolic resin that is scratch and impact resistant. This means you can take practice shots after practice shots for years before you’ll see any signs of wear.
Final Thoughts
Training cue balls aren’t for every pool player, but if you think the visualization they provide will help you improve your shots and elevate your skills, then we highly recommend purchasing any of the options listed here.
You might have to test a few different marking designs or research how best to use this tool when you first start, but once you know what you’re doing, you’ll be amazed at how quickly this ball helps your game.