Cyclop Named Official Balls of Poison Lone Star and Gulf Coast Billiard Tours

Dec 18, 2016

The name “Cylcop” has become synonymous with world-class billiard events throughout Asia, Europe, and the U.S., becoming one of the most “talked about” new products in the billiard industry. Now, Cyclop Pool Balls have been named the “official” balls of the Texas-based Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour and the WPBA sanctioned, Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour. Cyclop U.S. Sales Representative, Steve McDonald, had this to say about the new relationship with the Texas tours. “We are so proud to be involved with Kim and her tours, she is truly an icon and great advocate for the sport.  Together we hope to put Cyclop Pool Balls on top here in the U.S.”
Cyclop shipment hits Texas
Cyclop joins an elite list of industry sponsors that warrants no introduction. Poison by Predator Cues, Ozone Billiards, and the APA of North Harris County have sponsored the tours for over 8 years. “It’s what we do best – get the word out. We use social media marketing through a number of different platforms, we believe in advertising in the right places, and we’re always recruiting new players. That’s what works for us, on all fronts”, says Poison Lone Star and Gulf Coast Tours’ owner and operator, Kim Newsome. “We believe in the Cyclop products and couldn’t be happier about the new relationship. We look forward to promoting this brand, and placing these balls in the hands of players, all across the United States.”
Since their debut here in the U.S., sporting unusually vibrant, pastel colors, Cyclop Tournament TV Ball Sets are affectionately described as “skittles” or “Easter egg” balls, set in pure phenolic resin with a smooth, high tech, surface finish. Each ball must undergo a 16-step coloring process which takes 23 days to complete. “Cyclop balls are different, and that’s not a bad thing” says Newsome. “Many new products introduced in the billiard industry in the last 20 years, which came across odd looking or different at first, became the industry standard. History has taught us, that change can be good.” Not only was Newsome impressed with the balls, but also the story behind the color of the balls. Turns out, the colors of the balls weren’t chosen because they stood out on television, they were chosen by the daughter of one of the men behind the Cyclop brand, and the man who worked closely with Newsome to facilitate the sponsorship, Adrian Wang. “It’s not too often that a manufacturer relies upon the acumen of a small child, but in this case, it worked” she says.
With their brilliant colors and high-gloss shine, they’re not just another pretty face in the billiards industry. There is a back story, an ideology, behind Cyclop Balls. In Greek mythology, the Cyclopes were a race of strong giants who were master builders and craftsmen, and persistently pursued perfection. Like these mythological icons, the Shanhai, China-based company Xhin Biing, the rubber company who created Cyclop Pool Balls, have dedicated themselves over the past decade to the pursuit of the perfect billiard ball material. Their pursuit resulted in the development of a proprietary and revolutionary resin composite, the ultimate in durability, strength, anti-wear, and heat resistant properties, ideal for pool balls. The newest edition to the Cyclop family, the Red Dot TV edition cue ball, as seen in the 2016 Chinese World 8-Ball Championships, has exceeded all expectations, and both tours will be playing with these new cue balls, throughout their 2017 season.
Cyclop Tournament TV set with new Red Dot TV cue ball
Cyclop is the birth of another legendary brand for Xhin Biing. These balls tout a higher percentage of true liquid phenolic resin which makes them smoother and stronger, with surface finish technology that makes them chalk resistant and easy to clean, more sensitive with faster reaction times, with a ball shine that outlasts other balls. Poison Lone Star Tour player, David Kurjan, had this to say about his Cyclop Pool Balls. "I bought a set before Derby City one year. I love the way they roll and the way they deflect off one another. When you break playing one pocket, they get great separation. They're easy to clean, and they keep their luster. If you use Cyclop Balls, you'll be satisfied every time."
A common accolade by players is that the balls play true. “They’re very consistent balls”, says 2015-16 Gulf Coast Tour Champion and BCA State Champion, Ricki Casper. “Our BCA league in Houston plays with Cyclop Balls, and when the BCA State tournament started using these balls in 2015, I won the event two years in a row.” Gulf Coast Tour player Loretta Lindgren owns her own set of Cyclop Balls. “They’re a great set of pool balls. The hit, the roll, and the resistance to pick up debris from the table and your hands, is fantastic. I’ve been playing with them for about 3 years now.”
Although players may have something a little different to say about their experiences with Cyclop Balls, a common theme remains; consistency. The 2016 Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour Champion, and 2015 APA 8-Ball Singles Champion, Ernesto Bayaua, wouldn’t part with his Cyclop Balls. “They’re consistent balls”, says Bayaua, “plain and simple”.
Cyclop balls truly are ultra-clean and pure; a billiard ball that boasts more phenolic resin than any billiard ball on the market today, and more players in the U.S. are coming to this realization. Along with sponsoring a number of professional billiard events including the CBSA 9-Ball International Open, Women’s 9-Ball World Championships, and the World 9-Ball China Open, Cyclop has been named the official balls of the 2017 World Games, and is a major contributor and vendor at the 11th China Guangzhou International Billiards Exhibition (2017 GBE), one of the largest billiard tradeshows in the world.
New look, new packaging
“Cyclop has made its mark in the Asian markets, and it’s definitely a brand we’re going to be seeing more and more of here in the United States”, says Newsome.
To order your set of Cyclop TV Balls with the new Red Dot TV edition cue ball, contact Kim Newsome at 713.825.1411, or email lonestartour@gmail.com.
Photos by Kim Newsome