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7 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Pool Cue Stick

So, you're ready to buy your own pool cue. If you've done any looking around at all, you may have more questions than answers. Pool cues can range from around $50.00 to $5,000.00. How do you know which one is the "perfect" cue for you?

First of all, you need to know some of the terminology. There are two basic types of Pool cues -- called production or custom.

Production cues are computer designed and mass produced. Custom cues are handmade, often from exotic materials, and are created just for you -- based on the length of your arms, the size of your hands, how you shoot, etc.

While choosing the right Pool cue stick is a largely a matter of personal preference and style, there are some basic tips that can help you find the perfect stick for you.

1. Size does matter! It's actually related to the length of your arms. Longer arms -- longer stick. Cue sticks typically start at around 57 inches.

2. Make sure that the stock of the stick is completely straight and not crooked. It's fairly simple to figure out. Put the stick on a flat surface like a table, and roll it under your palm a couple of times. If it's crooked, you'll know it. You can also hold the stick tip pointed down, and site down along the length.

3. Experts agree that the tip is the most important part of the stick, although they are divided as to which type of tip is best. For example, a soft tip is believed to be better if you use a lot of English when playing. A hard tip gives you more control and power. However, a soft tip will have to be replaced more often than a hard tip.

4. The size of the tip is also important. Tips vary in diameter between 12 mm and 14 mm. Make sure that the tip is round, and not flat. A larger tip is thought to be better for English.

5. Next check the weight of the stick. Depending on the manufacturer, cue sticks weigh between 18 and 21 ounces. Find a weight that is comfortable for you, and feels well-balanced.

6. If you can afford it, purchase a separate stick for breaking. This will protect your tip, and help to keep your stick in top form longer. The tip for your breaking cue should be larger than your playing one.

7. When purchasing your stick, don't forget to buy a case for it. Properly cared for, some sticks can last a lifetime.

Whether you choose a production or custom cue, take the time to look around before buying. Check out different manufacturers. Play with a couple of different ones, to get a feel for them. Find out if the dealer offers a money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied with it. The main thing when purchasing a Pool cue stick is to find one that feels right and that you're comfortable using. You never know, it just might help your game!

Proper Pool Cue Balance

There has been over the years a lot of conversation about the balance of cue sticks, both in the U.S. and overseas, so let us look at all the aspects so you might be an informed buyer when making a purchase.


## How should a cue be balanced? ## The late Willie Mosconi stated in his books to hold the cue in your right hand 5-6 inches behind the balance point. On his particular cue and with his shorter arms taken into consideration, and the fact that he played 14-1 predominately, he could get by with that statement -- but can you?

The point of balance of most 58 inch custom cues today (which has become the standard) is between 15 1/2 and 20 inches from the bottom of the butt plate. Taking into account that most pros, including the top snooker players in England will say that to properly position your hands you must; extend 10-13 inches from the point that the cue rests on your bridge hand to the point of contact on the cue ball with your left hand (if your right-handed) and your right hand griping the cue, so that you create an 88 to 90 degree angle with your right elbow. Be sure to be in shooting position with the tip extended to the point of impact with the cue ball.

The reason for this is, to diminish the error in your stroke by bringing only one joint into play (your elbow joint) while following through. This also gives you the maximum amount of power at the moment of impact, this means the shoulder joint will not be employed which would double your error.

Further, this will allow you to automatically strike the cue ball at its intended point of impact, because your stroke is at its levelest, when your at an 88 to 90 degree angle at your elbow. With this in mind, and taking note that most players with an average height of 5 foot 10 inches, when extending 11 inches of the shaft, they will find that they are gripping the cue with their right hand 5 inches or closer to the bottom of the cue.

It should be clear then, that the further back the balance can be, the better the chance that the average player has of getting closer to the balance point without diminishing cue control.

Why do you want your grip hand closer to the balance point? ## The obvious answer is to keep from having so much of the weight of the cue resting on your bridge hand, thereby obtaining a much lighter touch with the bridge hand. It appears that snooker players, those who must shoot the most accurately of all table games, heartily agree with this scenario. They will be quick to tell you, that they like the balance to be fifteen inches from the butt of the cue.

Another very important reason for gripping the back of the cue, is to control the amount of side sway by diminishing the overall angle of change in the cue, by as nearly as possible controlling both ends.

Here is a simple test to understand this concept. Lay your cue on the table, holding the tip and ferrule of your cue stable in one hand and grasp the joint with your other hand moving the joint a quarter of an inch from side to side. You will note that the butt of the cue moves one half of an inch side to side. Obviously, if you were to move the back of the cue a quarter of an inch side to side, you just reduced the error by half.

With the tapers of cues built today, taking grip size and types of joints into account, it is nearly impossible to get a cue balanced as far back as fifteen inches from the butt, without the cue weighing 21 ounces or more. Therefore, at Meucci Originals, we strive for an obtainable sixteen and one half inches from the butt, plus or minus a half inch, depending on the overall weight of the cue.

There has been some uneducated individuals who have made the statement that a proper balance evenly distributes the weight of the cue between both hands. This would mean that the balance would then fall at twenty-six inches from the butt, or three inches below the joint of the cue, putting nine or ten ounces of weight on your bridge hand. This is obviously a ludicrous statement.

In conclusion, a well balanced cue will have a tendency to cause a player to grip the cue further back, thereby allowing less room for side sway, while automatically positioning the elbow at the proper angle for a level follow through.

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