In my opinion those silver Vernet balls do look tacky. Also those bumps hurt my fingers when manipulating them. So I ditched them ages ago.

That is why I never liked the Vernet balls. The texture is too rough and if you drop them, they chip.

Kyle

I had a set of Vernet balls and I hated them. They don't look good on stage ( they look like wads of aluminium foil), they are too rough, and you cannot do some of the more advanced billiard ball moves. I finally sold mine at a swap and sell.

Buy a set of Fakinis, it is money well spent.

I agree on that it is money well spent. It is an investment but they will last you a long time if taken care of.

Some great advice here. Buying a bunch of 1 3/4 inch bouncy balls from a toy store, if you’re just starting out, is a great idea. You can practice all kinds of moves (without the shell) and color changes. You can learn some great routines without ever using a shell. Then see if you really enjoy it. Spending a lot of money on the Fakini balls and maybe realizing that ball manipulation is not for you would be...a drag. Go to the toy store, buy, play, have fun and check it out.

Al

AL:
I totally agree with you. You can ghet nice 1 3/4 inch colored bouncy balls at most toy stores or dollar stores. They feel good in the hands and are wonderful for learning the basics of billiard ball manipulation.

In fact I still do a 3 min billiard ball act that does not use a shell at all. They are also great for practicing color changes and getting used to billiard ball manipulative sequences.

Kyle

U.S. Toys besides having a great magic division has a section of balls near their carnival section.

I used to do an 8 ball W/O shell with some of their rubber balls.

Fakinis were fun to play with. (I don't own a set)

It is easier than you think, was one of the first set of books I bought.(back in the 70's)

Buckley I believe also has a section in one of his books on the subject.

Happy HOYC.

Harris

Harris:
It is the US Toy bouncy balls that I use in my practicing as well as for my color changes. They are so cheap but work real nice. I bought several bags just to have and use for this purpose.

I also have Buckingham's book, "it's Easier Then You Think." It is a wonderful book with very good information on billiard balls and a great section on clips,loads and body steals.

Kyle

Ouchhhhh!
Wow, my package arrived today, and I tried out the golf balls.
The only multiplying balls I worked with years ago wer just a little bigger than marbles, these...well...ouchhhh!

They are really nice for the money and appear to be just what I was looking for.
I love The Magic Warehouse. Howard has been great and I have had an e-mail within hours of each order and the packages have arrived within two days!

Their prices are among the lowest I have found and the shipping charges are minimal considering how quickly my stuff has arrived.
5 Stars for http://www.themagicwarehouse.com
Thanks to all.
Nick Zender

OK, I'll answer my own question. The highest price set of multiplying billiard balls currently on the market, are those manufactured and sold by Owen Magic Supreme. These are traditional wooden balls in either red or white. A set of 3 balls and a shell will cost you $275.

Yikes, 275.00? I would rather have my Fakini set. They bounce and don't chip and I love the texture.

Kyle

Hope this isn't a repeat question but does anybody do exercises?
Would it be a good idea to sit around with the balls between your fingers, or perhaps buy a ball just slightly larger and use it?
Maybe squeezing a soft rubber ball between the fingers?
Any tips or ideas in this direction?
Nick

Many years ago I bought an Owen set for about 130 dollars, if I recall correctly. This would be about 20 years ago. They are absolutely beautiful. They appear to be as round as it is possible to lathe an object, and painted with coat after coat. The problem is, they were too nice to use. I was always afraid of dropping them. For this reason, although I haven't done manipulation in close to 20 years, I would recommend either the Ireland golf balls, or the Fakini balls.

--Chris

McBride Manipulation Videos(Balls,Coins and Thimbles) have some interesting stuff.

I have tried to find them in DVD. Does anyone know of a source for the McBride Manipulation in DVD?

On Ebay there is 4 sets of balls. (Without any shells)
I e-mailed the seller and he confirmed them.

Last I checked the price was about $30 dollars for four different colored balls. With 4 or 5 of each colored ball.

Speaking of lowest price I bid on a Himber Signet Ring
(Plated) with a low price.

Harris

Do you guys know that Daytona Magic sells 100% silicone balls? Two sizes. 1 1/2" and 2". These sell for about $65.00 and $75.00. They also come 4 balls and 2 shells to the set. I thing they are made by Puppets and Props. I have asked if they could get 1 3/4", but apparently they can't.
Did you know that your Vernet s**** fits your 1 3/4" bouncy balls? Mine fits so well that I can toss them in the air as one, and still dislodge the s**** with very little effort. I will use these for practice until I can afford Fakini's.

I noticed these silicone balls at daytona too. Has anyone purchasedused them?
any reccomendations?
I will be seeing Harry at the "magic at the red sea" convention at the end of september.
I have been using vernets set for the past 8 years and have got so used to them. Although I think it is time to change them and it is true that they don't sparkle so well after a lot of use so I keep having to buy a new set. I would like to go silicone.

Enjoy,

Dani

The cheapest set of multiplying balls for a beginner would still have to be Goshman's multiplying sponge balls. The color is visual, the balls are easy to handle and, if you find you don't like the routine, you still have a very nice set of sponge balls.

That's the set I started with. Then I moved on to Empire's multiplying golf balls. Again, the price is very affordable. However, I found the balls a little too light for my liking.

Now I use the Fakini's and I love them. The texture and the weight of the balls make them extremely easy to manipulate.

Kent

Hank lee sells them for $75. does this sound reasonable for the original Fakini set?

Dani

Yes, I would say $75 is a deal, as I payed 90 for mine from stevens.

Its the cheapst set of 1 3/4 inches the you will find. its also where got my first sets.

graham fishman