1. A playing cue
Your own straight cue with a good tip beats a warped house cue every time. Most players start between 18 and 20 ounces, 58 inches long, with a 12 to 13 mm tip.
Pool Gear Guide: What You Actually Need
The gear worth owning when you start playing tournaments, what each one does, and what to look for. Start with a cue, a case and chalk; add the rest as your game grows.
2. A hard cue case
Protects the shaft from warping and dings in the car and at the hall. A 2x2 case holds a playing cue and a spare shaft or a break cue.
3. Good chalk
Better chalk grips the cue ball longer and means fewer miscues on draw and English shots. Chalk before every shot.
4. A billiard glove
Lets the cue slide smoothly through your bridge hand, especially on humid nights or in a sweaty tournament match.
5. A tip tool
Shapes and scuffs your tip so it holds chalk. A dome the shape of a nickel is a good starting point.
6. Replacement cue tips
A fresh tip is the cheapest way to make an old cue play like new. Layered tips hold their shape longest; match the size to your ferrule.
7. A pool table brush
A soft brush made for billiard cloth lifts chalk and dust without pulling the weave. Brush toward the head of the table.
8. A machinist level
A precise level shows how far off a table is. A cheap bubble level is not accurate enough for a slate table.
9. A break cue
A hard tip and a stiff shaft for a powerful, controlled break. It also saves the tip on your playing cue.
10. A jump cue
A short, light cue that makes jump shots possible when you are snookered. Check your event rules first.
11. A training cue ball
A cue ball with dots shows exactly how much spin you put on it. Great for learning draw, follow and English.
12. A rack template
Thin templates give a tight, frozen rack every time. Many tournaments use them now, so practice with one.
13. A pool instruction book
A good book on aiming, cue ball control and patterns is the cheapest lesson you will ever buy.
Buying guides
Buying tips
- Don't overspend on your first cue. A straight, solid cue with a good tip plays as well as one that costs ten times more. Spend the difference on table time.
- Roll it before you buy it if you can: a warped shaft wobbles when you roll it on a flat table.
- Keep it out of the car. Heat and cold warp shafts. A good case helps, but bring your cue inside.
Then put it to use: find a tournament tonight.
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