Buying Guide: Choosing A Pool Cue (2024)

FAQs

Buying Guide: Choosing A Pool Cue? ›

For those who are between 5'8” and 6'5”, we would recommend a cue that's approximately 58 inches in length. For those who are shorter than 5'8”, we would recommend a cue that's between 28 and 52 inches in length. The key here is to ensure that your pool cue is comfortable, easy to control, and fits your length.

A good pool cue for beginners will cost between $100 and $150. More advanced players, on the other hand, will have to spend more money to buy a nice cue that is appropriate for their ability level. A skilled player might expect to spend between $300 and $500.

There is a big difference in the manufacture process. Making a Hand-spliced cue is a longer process and often involves extra splicing and includes more exotic woods. The cheapest cues that many suppliers sell are not spliced at all and are in fact painted to look like they are spliced.

That's why choosing the right pool cue tip is essential for your game. Soft tips tend to wear out quicker, but they are perfect for spin shots. Hard tips last much longer but don't work as well if you love adding some spin to your shots. Medium tips are more standard for most standard pool cues.

Like choosing your cue tip diameter, it is essential to consider your skill level when selecting your stick weight. The pros use cues that weigh 19 to 19.5 ounces. Available pool sticks range from a low of about 15 to 27 ounces, an extra half-pound over the pro cue.

The two most common tip shapes are a nickel or dime radius.

This means the dome at the top of the tip is approximately the same as the radius of a dime or of a nickel.

57-inch Cues

A full size pool cue is considered to be 57 inches in length, and sometimes 58 inches for two-piece cues. This size is ideal for an adult, allowing a long stretch across the baize so that your left arm is comfortably outstretched, and your right arm has plenty of recoil room for playing a powerful shot.

Good quality cues use North American Grade “A” Hard Rock Maple for their shafts because that type of wood has been found to provide the best feel, flexibility, and durability for all that is demanded of a pool cue shaft. A few manufacturers have begun making pool cues with carbon fiber shafts.

What is the best pool cue made today? ›

A hard tip lasts longer and holds its shape better over time, in general. Tip hardness (within the typical range) should not have a direct effect on the amount of spin that can be applied, per the info below. The amount of spin is limited by the tip offset that creates a miscue (see miscue limit).

Medium pool stick tips are often a perfect middle ground for most players, as they offer a great combination of cue ball control and consistency. Most medium tips will get you plenty of spin and will not get as misshapen or wear out as fast as softer tips.

Typical weights for pool cues range between 18-21 ounces. Most players begin with a 19 oz. cue stick. Using a lighter weight stick (18-19 oz.) will create more "snap" in your shot; your cue ball will be dynamic and your object ball will go into the pocket at a slower pace.

REVO® carbon fiber shafts are the best in billiards technology and performance. Not only the most accurate shaft ever made, REVO® provides effortless action and power with more consistency than wood shafts.