Pool Cues
Choose the Right One and Play Like A Pro

How often have you seen actors playing pool in various movies? The answer is probably several times in your life. If you have some leisure time, then playing pool can be great fun. If you can get some friends to play with you, then you may even find it tough to leave the game and continue with your normal life. Playing pool requires several balls of different colors, a pool cue, and a pool table. You may think that a pool table is similar to a snooker or a billiards table. In reality, there are certain differences between them.

There are various types of pool games played in different parts of the world. These are eight-ball, nine-ball, three-ball, bank pool, and one pocket. To any person playing pool may seem like the simplest thing in this world. However, it is not so at all. You need hours of practice to master the game. If you wish to learn the art of playing pool like a professional, then you have to understand the art of buying the right pool cue. There are several types of cues in the market. Choosing the right one may take longer than you may think.

Tips To Choose the Right Pool Cue

Many of you may think that a good quality pool cue would cost you a small fortune. In reality, if you shell out just $100, you can easily lay your hands on such a cue. On the other hand, a great quality cue would cost less than $500 and an exotic one with intricate designs would cost less than $1000. Here are some tips to help you find a good cue to play pool.

The Quality of The Body: If you run your fingers over the body of a cue, do you feel any edges poking out of it? Does the texture appear to be smooth to your touch? Do you see any scratches on the body of the cue? Do you find signs of glue on any section of the cue? Even if you notice one of these factors on a pool cue, you may be assured that the cue is not of a good quality. Better look for other options.
Tip and Ferrule: This is also the business end of a pool cue. As a pool player, the ferrule, tip, and the first 12 inches of the shaft will be the only sections of the cue you will be intimate with. In a good quality cue, you will find that the ferrule is flush all the way to the shaft. At the same time, the tip will also be flush all the way to the ferrule. There should be no sign of any glue visible on the cue. It is important for the tip to be properly attached and shaped like a nice little dome. Many players reject a cue the moment they find something wrong with the tip of a cue.
Pin and Joint: The moment you lay your hands on a good quality cue, you will notice that its joint is flush to the wood. It will also match the size and texture of the wood once it is screwed together. It is mandatory for a good quality cue to not allow any light to pass through it at any point in-between the butt and the shaft once they are screwed together. The pin should be right at the center of the butt.
Straightness: If you find an assembled pool cue, then try to roll it on the ground. If it rolls on a flat surface without wobbling, then it is indeed of a good quality. Many players check whether a pool cue is straight or not just by sighting it. All you need to do is hold the cue just like you hold a rifle and look down the entire length of the cue. This is a better way to judge the straightness of a cue instead of rolling it on a flat surface. This is simply because a surface may not be as flat as it may appear to be. If you still prefer to roll it on a flat surface, then make sure that the tip of the cue always touches the surface. At the same time, the joint should also touch the surface at all times. If these two points touch the surface all the time, then the cue is indeed straight.
Bumper and Buttcap: There should be no sign of glue at these points and the wood should also be smooth at the touch.
Rings: If there are any rings on a pool cue, it should be nicely done. There should not be any bubble under the rings. A neatly done ring is a sign of the expertness and skills of the maker. The right type of rings should be used with the proper technique to make it stick to the wood with precision.
Shaft: Since ages people had the idea that pool cue shafts made of maple wood is the best. This impression was initiated by a cue maker. The manufacturer used to bleach the shaft wood in order to make it white. It is needless to say that bleaching makes the wood weak and breaks the cellular structure of the maple wood. As a result of this, it tends to break very easily. In other words, bleaching would make a low grade shaft wood appear high grade. It is good to know that shaft woods are rated on a scale of AA to D. This rating is based upon the tightness of the wood grain and the number of visible lines on the wood. However, such ratings used to indicate the appearance of the wood. For a pool player, it is important to remember that a cue remains straight at all times, even if the quality of the wood is not that good.

Simple Facts about Pool Cues

There are several interesting and important facts about pool cues, which can help a player understand his cue and play like a professional. Some of these facts are listed below.

If the materials used to manufacture a cue is harder than normal, your shots will have more power. Thus hitting the ball without much power is always better if you use such a cue.
As a pool player, do you require better control to play the game properly? The best solution for this problem is to use a cue made of softer materials. Such a cue will always provide better control over any other type of cue.
There are basically two distinctive types of materials used to make a pool cue. These are wood and either fiberglass or graphite. You will notice that experienced and serious poll players will always opt for wooden cues. However, those made of graphite or fiberglass do not require much maintenance and are also resistant to warping. Many new age cues are made out of a combination of graphite, wood, and carbon fiber. This allows a player to put in more power in his shots with better control.
An average cue will weight somewhere between 18 to 21 oz. There are several organizations which do not allow cues which weigh outside this range. You will come across several players who use cues of 25 or 27oz. However, these may not be allowed by several organizations in various tournaments. The type of cue you use is not at all dependent upon your own physical strength. It is based upon your preference. Most of the professional players use lighter cues to play.
Most of the pool cues are between 57 to 58 inches in length. You will find many players using a longer and more tapered cue to play. Such cues help you to get more spin and also control your shots more than others.

How To Buy Pool Cues Online?

There are several types of cues in the market. Similarly, there are numerous online shopping sites which sell pool cues. Most of you may think that buying a cue from a physical store is always recommended. This will allow you to touch the stick and also check it properly before you purchase it. However, there are some vital points to remember if you wish to buy it online. If you keep these factors in mind, it will help you buy the right cue even from an online shopping site.

First and foremost, check the reputation of the online dealer. Is he popular amongst his customers? How long has the dealer been in the world of online business? What are the guarantees provided and what are the return policy of the seller? These are some of the questions to answer. The best way to find out is to read through his customer reviews. Always choose a reputed online seller from whom you can buy a pool cue.
Secondly, check the quality of the photos of the cues. Are the photos large and clear or small and unclear? A seller, who has got nothing to hide, will always provide photos of the cues in high resolution. The details shown in the photos will also be clear. Always avoid dealers who provide images with low resolution.
Lastly, does the dealer stand behind the cues he sells on his online shopping site? Although there is nothing as a “bad” cue, it still makes sense to buy from a seller who provides 100% customer satisfaction.

Parts of a Cue Which Play a Vital Role in Your Shots

It is needless to say that there are certain parts of a cue which play a vital role in your shots. If you break a cue, there will basically be 2 separate parts, the shaft and the butt. The shaft is the top portion of a cue and is much thinner than the butt. The lower half of the cue is known as the butt and is much heavier than the shaft. One of the most important parts of a cue to play a shot is the joint. This basically a metal screw which connects the shaft with the butt.

The “feel” of a shot is determined by the joint of a cue. If any other material is used, other than metal, for the joint, then the feel of a shot also changes. If you are looking for a jump or break cue, then you should opt for one with a wider and longer joint. These joints are long lasting. However, the feel may not be the same as the thinner ones.

If you talk about the handle or the wrap of a cue, there are several options to choose from for this section of a cue. Do you tend to perspire a lot while playing pool? In such a case, choosing a leather wrap will be a good idea. It can easily absorb your perspiration. Other material used to make the wrap of a cue are Irish linen, nylon, and wood. However, many modern day cues come with rubber wraps. It is said that the idea of including rubber wraps came from the golfing industry. The tip of a shaft is usually made of leather and also play a critical role while striking the pool ball. Leather tips are softer and provide a better control over your shots.

Are you planning to play pool for the first time in your life? In that case, it would be for your own good to try and find out as much as possible about the game and the various equipment used to play pool. If you have a friend or a family member, who has been playing the game seriously for quite some time, then you may seek his advice. Getting to know about the cues, the different parts of a cue, and the materials used to manufacture a cue is crucial for you to master the game. Once you find out about such topics, you will find it very simple to play pool.

Pool CuesChoose the Right One and Play Like A Pro

Tips To Choose the Right Pool Cue

Simple Facts about Pool Cues

How To Buy Pool Cues Online?

Parts of a Cue Which Play a Vital Role in Your Shots

Pool Cues
Choose the Right One and Play Like A Pro