Pool/Billiards cue stick

thejck

Does anyone play billiards at a more serious level? I have a Brunswick table in my basement and I was thinking about getting better at the game. I was wondering if I should get me a good pool cue stick.
Looking for suggestions. Something cheap to get started with but that could help improve my control of the ball.

I am more of a soft touch player than a power hitter. I would consider myself a step above novice and nothing special.

pitdogg2

A good pool player can use a broom stick as well as a cue, but yes a good cue is a must much more ability to control the cue ball with a good tip and balanced cue. One word of advice use a solid stick to break with. All the hustlers at the local pool hall never use their good cue on the break.

wayne3burk

my brother is a shark, and he always buys a snooker cue.... not for breaking of course - you use a house stick for that. But a snooker cue has a smaller more rounded tip, so you can get more fine control on your engrish.

just saying

thejck

I want to buy a break cue for use at home. I am guessing it doesnt have to be anything fancy? Where can I get one of these.

How much can I think about spending on a nice cue stick. I read that Fury are good values and plain sticks.
I cant break the bank here cause I got the first kid on the way.

thejck

I want to buy a break cue for use at home. I am guessing it doesnt have to be anything fancy? Where can I get one of these.

How much can I think about spending on a nice cue stick. I read that Fury are good values and plain sticks.
I cant break the bank here cause I got the first kid on the way.

mara5

Cue sticks range in price from cheap ($20)expensive ($600/700+), pick your own poison. I would suggest that you at least handle some at your local pool acc. store. They range widely in style,weight,length,diameter,etc. The better sticks are weight adjustable.

Poee7R

Depending on budget I would say a Mcdermott or Mucci to start. I really like the feel of the wood joint on a Mcd, or try a sneaky pete from Mucci, I always have one in the bag. Plus you dont have to worry about someone walking away with it at a pool hall as much, as it looks like a bar stick. You can order your preferences as far as weight, length and tip size. After a while, you can work up to the likes of Joss or a Schon.

I warn you though, its easy to get sucked into the finer cue's, just like audio equipment or instruments.


Dave

Upstatemax

I have this cue at home and I've been very happy with the cue. Good control and the stock tip is very nice compared to "standard" cues.

http://www.ozonebilliards.com/playerscuec960.html

[Deleted User]

I would stay away from any modern Mucci and McDermott cues. The older ones from the 80s to early 90s are much better. I would recommend anything from Jim Ingram, George Balabushka or Woody Woodworth. Go with tapered tips. I have all of the cue sticks that I listed, the Ingram and Woodworth are by far the best for balance, feel and quality. Go with less inlays and the cost goes down drastically. I am not a fan of metal joints, but that is a personal feedback feel. You will also want to have real Irish Linen wrap.

As a bonus. If you hate using powder/scotch pads to have a smooth feel; take a $1 bill, wrap it around the shaft(come on now) and act like you are sanding it. This will provide the silkiest, smoothest feel. Guaranteed.

Many of the pros frequent the pool halls in Oklahoma. I have seen Buddy Hall, Black Widow and several others in action there. I actually bought Buddy Hall's cue stick from the man himself back in the 90s. I lost that cue stick and can not remember the name of it for the life of me.

Have fun on your venture.

Halen

dorokusai

We have our own pool table and are heavy in billiards at home and sometimes outside. There's no need to spend big dollars for a good cue and we've got cues across the board. Check out Action, Scorpion or Outlaw for starter cues but of course there are others.

We use www.pooldawg.com for most of our supplies and cues historically. I just bought this for my wife last week http://www.pooldawg.com/product/3631/45196, this is one of our guest cues we grabbed on sale http://www.pooldawg.com/product/105/30565 and this is our Break stick http://www.pooldawg.com/product/854/8239. That's all that they still sell since our other cues are disco'd. That's where we grabbed our darts for the new board as well since we just posted a Black Canyon board and regulation Triumph throw line to keep everyone honest.

I'd look in the $100-150 category for a cue that is well made and will last a long time. You also get a choice of FREEBIE if you buy from Pooldawg and most other online companies. Don't get exotic, worry about inlays or think you have to spend big bucks, just spend a decent amount of money for something solid and not a single pole bar toothpick.

As far as weights, that's moreso on you as a shooter. I'm a heavy hitter so I tend to choose a lighter 19 but if i had any light touch, a 21 is nice to have. It's so weird to try and weight you vs not even knowing how you shoot. You can't lose with a 19 as you can drop in on it if you want but its heay and standard enough to be used by anyone.
Mark

thejck

so i think i should go with a heavier stick since i prefer a light touch. I will try and get to the local dicks and see what I like. Buy i probably will end up buying online. Thanks for all your tips.

As far as buying a pool stick for the house for anyone to break with can I just use any old cheap stick and save the money or should I get one that is solid. I dont want people to use the nicer sticks to break anymore.

dorokusai

An old cheap stick is fine for breaks.

Roy Munson

Get a Tad Kohara!

dkg999

If you have a local Woodcraft or other woodworking store that's heavy into lathes and turning supplies, ask if they have someone making custom cues. Many woodturners love to make pool cues and the high quality supplies are readily available (such as the tips, connectors, etc.). As long as they understand how to select and temper the wood shaft, it's not a difficult project. I have two that were made for me in exchange for using my shop/lathe to make about a dozen cues for a local Brunswick dealer. Once he had the wood ready and the patterns for my lathe duplicator made, it didn't take long at all to turn and finish. Wrapping the handles was pretty easy using the lowest speed on the lathe.