Can stainless steel balls be used as billiard balls?

Stainless steel balls can theoretically be used as billiards, but in practical applications, they are not an ideal choice for billiards. Traditional billiards use plastic or resin balls, whose hardness and weight are usually designed to better suit the surface of the billiards table and the hitting requirements of the cue stick. Billiards balls need to rub against the fabric of the billiard table on the surface, while maintaining appropriate elasticity and durability. Although stainless steel balls have very high hardness and wear resistance, their high surface hardness may cause damage to the fabric of the billiard table, and their heavy weight and hardness can also affect the trajectory of the ball and the feeling of hitting.
Stainless steel balls are relatively heavy, which can cause them to bounce and move differently from traditional billiards balls when hitting other balls. Billiards balls are usually designed to have a certain degree of elasticity and appropriate weight to produce a regular rebound and rolling, while stainless steel balls are more difficult to simulate this effect. In addition, the surface hardness and friction coefficient of steel balls are different from the plastic surface of billiard balls, which may result in a more rigid hitting sensation and fail to provide the smooth hitting experience required by traditional billiard balls.
In addition, if the surface of the stainless steel ball is not properly coated or treated, it may also produce loud sounds during the impact process, affecting the gaming experience. Billiards balls usually use special coatings and surface treatments to reduce friction and provide ideal rebound effects.
Although stainless steel balls have excellent durability and strength, they are not suitable for standard billiards matches or casual games due to their weight, hardness, and surface characteristics. Using stainless steel balls as billiard balls may change the rules and experience of the game, resulting in physical characteristics that do not conform to traditional billiards.