The best cue for you isn’t as hard to find as you might think. We have hundreds of snooker, American pool and traditional pool cues to choose from so the best thing is to narrow your search down to just what’s best for you.
First things first choose your sport. It isn’t possible to use a snooker cues to play American pool, the balls a far too heavy and will split the cue so you need to choose the right cue for what game you play most.
Snooker Cues.
Snooker Cues are available with an Ash or Maple shaft topped with a brass ferrule and a leather tip. The butt is spliced with any combination of exotic timber but most often ebony, a dense and heavy wood that gives cues natural weight and balance.
Snooker Cue Joint Type.
Snooker cues are available in 1 piece or with a ½ or ¾ joint.
Choosing the right joint type for you is entirely just picking what’s easiest for you. 1 piece cues are well balanced and beautiful to play with, you get a lovely flow to a single piece of wood with no break in it. If you have a table at home or live a short walk from your club then carrying a 1 piece case that is around 60 inches long won’t be a problem. ½ jointed cues are the easiest to store because they fit in to a small case and take up very little room. ¾ cues give you the best of both worlds and are far more popular over all.
The cue joint is just personal choice. The most important thing is that you are comfortable with your cue. You will never find two cues that feel exactly the same even if they have exactly the same specifications. The most important thing about a snooker cues is the tip because that is the part that does the work but we will get to that later.
Snooker Cue Extension.
When you are considering the right joint for your new cue you should also think about the cue extensions you may need because it may influence what choice you finally make. The selection of extension available depends on the make and joint of the snooker cues your viewing but most cue manufacturers provide a choice of fixed or telescopic mini butts and cue extensions. In our ¾ jointed section you can select the extensions you like as an option for the cue you choose or you can look in the 4 piece cue section to select cues and extensions as a package. If you need an extension with a 1 piece or a ½ jointed cue then you may need a butt joint that allows you to screw in an extension on to the end of your cue but with some ¾ jointed cues you may need to remove the bottom of the cue and attach the extension directly to the shaft.
Mini butts have become very popular over recent years and are mainly used just to give the cue a little extra reach allowing you to stretch for a shot without changing your cueing action which can be fatal.
There is always the option of a push on extension.
Cue Weight.
Cue weight is worth a quick mention and a variety is available but the most common is around 18oz. if you need a specific weight please let us know when you place your order and we will do our best to complete the order to your needs. In the unlikely event that your specifications are not available we will of course get in touch with you to talk over the options we can provide. Specific weights for handmade cues are often easier to arrange because the craftsmen are always willing to make a cue specifically. Cue power isn’t generated by cue weight but by delivery of the cue.
Cue Length.
Cue length should simply works out to about shoulder high when you stand you cue up next to you. Average cues are 58 inches / 147.5 cm but as with weight if you need something specific we can help provide that for you. We do have a short cue section where we provide cues from 36 to 54 inches.
Cue Tip Size.
Now tip size is really the most important thing about a new cue. A lot of players believe that 9mm is the ideal but that does depend on how confident you are. The tip as it makes contact with the ball is the point of control and it is possible that a smaller tip may give more control but it will also show up any error in your shot. 9.5 to 10mm gives the contact and cue ball control most players find perfect. While looking at tips it must be mentioned that modern cue tips are available in a wide range of densities but make sure you check our information section on the perfect way to re-tip your cue.
So you’ve decided what you want.
Now you have your perfectcue it all comes down to how you look after it and how you use it. Keep it safe and dry and never near heaters or radiators. If a cue rack isn’t possible keep it in a good quality case and laid flat. Keeping your cue clean is essential because most club tables are not cleaned as often as you may think and all the old chalk and beer finger prints from the perfect evening at the snooker club will make your cue stutter cross your bridge hand and affect the delivery of your shot.
Don’t let old chalk build up on your tip or use chalk cubes that are to warn. Cues that are not looked after carefully soon become stained down the shaft where loose chalk is left on the tip when it’s put away. All this does is allows the chalk to cover the inside of your case and to discolour the top couple of inches of your cue. Simply wipe down your cue with a clean cue towel as you put it safely away in your cue case and with a cue file gently remove any waste chalk.