Choosing The Proper Cue
        The selection of the billiards cue is a very important decision for the pool player, the cue should match his or her style of play.  The cue should also make the player feel good about the cue they are using.  The player should take good care of his cue as a soldier would take care of his rifle in combat.  The cue should have the correct feel and weight for the player.  Good cues are not always the most expensive ones, in fact there are some very good cues available for around 50 to 100 dollars.  Here are some factors that you should think about while selecting your own personal cue.
 

Weight

        The weight of a cue seems to be a constant argument among players.  Cue weights usually are around 15-22 ounces, however most cues are in the 18-21 ounce range.  The best advice to decide on what weight is best for you is to visit your local billiards parlor and choose some various house cues from the rack in different weights and just shoot around for a while take notice to the different characteristics of the cues.  Especially pay attention if you notice that you shoot better with a certain weight cue.  Also take note of what feels good, chances are you will be playing with the cue you select for several years so it better be comfortable for you.

Balance

        Cue Balance is also an important factor to look at. Some cheaper cues tend to be butt heavy and therefore do not balance well at all and will throw your shot off.  A well made cue should balance at a point approximately 4 to 5 inches from the joint.  Other than that its totally up to you as far as whether you like a perfectly balanced cue or a little heavier on one end.

Grip

        The grip of your cue is up to your personal preference.  I prefer a cue without any grip at all, I feel it helps me to feel how the tip contacts the ball better.  However this is strictly personal preference with several choices available.  Some types are irish linen, leather, and coated irish linen.

Taper

        The taper of a cue is another item of personal preference, but it will affect how the cue plays and how long it will last.  Some cues taper in a gentle slope all the way to the tip while others slope more sharply for the firs few inches of the shaft then gently level out for the rest of the cue.  The latter style tends to be called "Pro Taper".  The way a cue is tapered will affect the sqirt(Explained later), and it will affect the durability of the cue, a thinner cue will be more subject to warping under humid conditions or improper storage.
 

Diameter

        The diameter of the cue should  be well matched to your hand size just like the diameter of a tennis racket,  when you form your bridge notice how large of a hole your hand creates the better the cue fits this hole the more accurate your shots can be.  This is one point of the selection process that seems to get overlooked by everyone however I feel there is a strong point to be made for cue diameter.  Cue diameters are usually between 11 and 13 millimeters at the tip.
 

The Cue Tip

        There are as many different types of cue tips as there are stars in the sky,  your best bet is to get a good working knowledge of what's available and how the different types perform then decide for yourself which type will help you the most.  Some tips are very hard while others are soft,  some are rubbery and some flex very little.  Its a good idea to buy some tools to keep your cue tip in tip top shape, a shaper for maintaining the proper shape as the tip wears down,  a scuffer to roughen up the tip so it will hold chalk well.  There are several different styles and types of these tools available choose which one you like the best, they are just like hand tools you get what you pay for.  In a later page I will explain how to properly maintain the cue tip to make sure your cue plays as good as the day it was new.
 

Look

        How a cue looks to the eye will not affect how well it plays however it can give the player some added self esteem that he needs.  There is no better feeling than walking into a pool hall opening up your case to reveal a beautifully handcrafted cue it makes you smile every time you see it.  However select your cue based on quality rather than how it looks, if you have a little extra to spend on a more decorated cue go ahead and get whatever you like.
 

Squirt

        Squirt is how much a cue flexes after hitting a ball off center.  When a cue hits a ball off center it tends to flex a little away from the side of the ball it just hit, for example if you hit a ball with left english the cue will flex a little to the left as a result of the pressure of the ball pushing back on the cue.  All cues have different amounts of squirt and it varies from cue to cue even if they are the same make.  It has to do with the particular piece of wood that was used to make the cue.  Some players use squirt to their advantage allowing them to enhance the effects of the english they use wile others like a cue that doesn't respond as much to squirt.  This is also a personal preference thing however it is important and should not be overlooked.
 

Any Questions,Comments, or Corrections to this page should be sent to the author wjh@afn.org
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