How to Choose a Pool Cue: Weight, Tip, Shaft and Price
You don't need an expensive cue to play well, but a straight cue that feels the same every time makes a real difference. Here is what matters, and what doesn't, when you buy one.
Weight
Most playing cues weigh 18 to 21 ounces, and 19 ounces is the most common. A lighter cue tends to feel quicker and easier to control on soft shots; a heavier cue can feel more solid. If a house cue around 19 ounces feels good to you, start there.
Length
A standard cue is 58 inches. Taller players or players with long arms sometimes like 59 to 61 inches. Shorter cues (48 to 52 inches) are made for kids and very tight rooms.
Tip size and hardness
Tips are usually 12 to 13 millimeters across. 13 mm is the most common and forgiving; a smaller tip can feel more precise. Tips come soft, medium and hard: soft tips grip well but wear faster and need more care; hard tips last longer and are less likely to mushroom. Medium is a good first choice. A good tip, kept shaped and chalked, matters more than the brand.
Shaft
- Maple shafts are the classic choice and are affordable.
- Low-deflection shafts push the cue ball off line less when you use side spin, so English is more predictable. Many good players use them, but they cost more.
- Carbon fiber shafts are a newer low-deflection option. They are stiff, don't warp, and are easy to clean, but they are the most expensive and some players don't like the feel.
- Taper is how the shaft narrows toward the tip. A "pro taper" stays thin for longer and feels smooth through a bridge.
Wrap
The grip area can be Irish linen (classic, absorbs sweat), leather (soft and grippy), rubber, or no wrap at all (smooth wood). It is mostly personal taste. If your hands sweat, linen or leather helps.
Joint
The joint is where the cue screws together. Different pins (such as 3/8-10, 5/16-14 and radial pins) change the feel slightly and decide which extra shafts fit your butt. It matters mostly if you plan to buy more shafts later.
Break and jump cues
Serious players often carry a second cue to break with, so the playing tip doesn't get crushed. Break cues usually have a very hard tip. Jump cues are short and light for jump shots, and many "break-jump" cues do both. Check your tournament's rules on jump cues before you use one.
How much to spend
- Under $100: fine to start, if it's straight and the tip is good.
- $100 to $300: where most players get a solid, good-hitting cue that lasts for years.
- $300 and up: low-deflection or carbon shafts, custom work and inlays. Better materials, but they won't make you a better player on their own.
Checking a cue
- Roll it on a flat table: it should roll smoothly without wobbling.
- Look down the shaft like a rifle while turning it. A warp shows as a wobble.
- Hit some balls if you can, and see how the tip feels on soft shots and draw shots.
Keep your cue in a case, out of hot cars and damp basements, and wipe the shaft after you play. Then put it to use: find a pool tournament near you.