A pool cue is a sporting equipment used in snooker, pool, and carom billiards. It is used to strike the ball, which is known as the cue ball. However, choosing a pool cue is not a walk in the park with so many options to consider. In this article, we have put together actionable tips on choosing pool cues for beginners.
With that said, you need to experiment with different pool cues and examine the length, diameter of the tips, and cue’s weight. While you will need to pick something comfortable, here are more things you need to consider when choosing your first pool cue.
Most people looking for their first cue will go out and spend hundreds of dollars. However, this is counteractive. We recommend that you start by understanding the features of a cue stick.
Type of Shaft
There are several types of shafts for various reasons and picking the ideal one depends on your needs. However, beginners ought to look out for a shaft made from maple wood. The standard shaft has a long plastic ferrule.
On the other hand, low deflection shafts come in a variety of ferrules, including a lightweight wooden ferrule, a shorter ferrule, and a hollow shaft. You could also use a low deflection shaft that has a carbon fiber shaft.
Pool Cue Length
You need to pick out a perfectly straight cue with the appropriate length when you go shopping. Ideally, the perfect cue ought to fit your arm’s length to give you full control of the game.
For example:
- The standard two-piece cue has a length of 58 inches compared to the one-piece that is 57 inches long. The two-piece can be used by someone between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet and 5 inches
- For taller people, they may need to order a custom cue that is 61 inches on average
- Children and people shorter than the average height should use a cue that is between 48 and 52 inches
The two-piece cue is preferred since it is easier to carry around. However, you need to ensure that the joined pieces are perfectly straight.
Weight of the Cue
The average weight of a pool cue ranges between 17 and 21 ounces. The weight you pick is dependent on your comfort level, but most players choose cues weighing between 19 and 21 ounces. Here are things you need to know about a cue’s weight:
- The butt end is thicker than the shaft and packs more weight. If a cue feels too heavy in your backhand when playing, then you will need a lighter one
- For short pool players, a lighter cue is better since it helps avoid lowering the butt and raising the tip when making a shot
Professional players tend to use cues of different weights. For example, they use heavier cues for breaking shots and lighter cues for making skill shots
Type of Wrap
Pool cues come with a variety of wraps such as linen, leather, while others do not have a wrap. You hold the wrap with your backhand, which means that the type of wrap, or lack of, will affect your grip. Here are several things to consider:
- If you sweat a lot, you had better pick a cue with a fine leather or linen wrap that can absorb a good amount of sweat
- Rubber wraps are good when new, but they wear out fast, and they will later become slippery
- Avoid fiberglass and bare wood since they do not provide a good grip and tend to slip after short usage
Cue Tip
The cue tip is the front part of the pool cue that hits the ball. For this reason, you need to pick a pool cue with a tip that resonates with your playing style. A soft tip loses its shape and wears out much faster. However, they are ideal if you prefer spinning the cue ball when playing a shot.
A hard tip lasts much longer than the sift tip, but they are not good for spin shots. A medium hardened tip pool cues are the standard for beginners. As your game improves, you can buy all three.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that you need to choose a cue that is well made. We hope that the above tips on choosing pool cues for beginners will help you make the best buying decision. If you are buying from a brick-and-mortar store, choose something that feels good in your hand and test if the store has a demo table. If you are still puzzled by what to look pout for when shopping, here are more tips on choosing pool cues for beginners.
