Picking a pool cue can be quite intimidating, because of the vast selection of cues out there.  Ironically, for the average, casual, pool player, finding a good cue might be difficult, depending on where you live.  There is a lot of junk out there at the low end of the market for cues. I know, because I've bought them and learned the hard way.

Cuetec cues are different than most of the cues on the market today. Their shafts are not solid maple like most cues out there. They are made of a wood core coated with a "power-bonded" hi-tech synthetic material. The idea being to create a shell that protects the cue from dings and warping. The result is a cue that feels different, to the touch, compared to a traditional cue. This may or may-not be to your liking. It is a matter of personal preference. Their cues, also, feature a system for you to adjust the weight of the cue. This is nice for people that have different preferences. Your preference for the weight may change over time. This gives you the option to change it later. Also, they use Tiger tips on their cues. They have several lines of products... Cuetec Edge 360 Cues Features: The R360 is constructed with a tubular composite core surrounded by 4 computer cut "A Plus" grade Canadian maple pieces to ensure an exact fit. Exclusive Explorer tip (11 layers) Polished stainless steel joint Irish linen wrap Graphit core - reduced cue ball deflection Cuetec's exclusive shaft/ferrule construction 15.5" pro tapered shaft Maximum radial consistency ...

Meucci Originals Inc has been around for decades and is one of the most popular cues in the marketplace.  I think their popularity is mainly due to their aggressive marketing, low price point and good value.  They are a high-volume production cue company. I played with a Meucci cue for years when I was in college.  It was what I would consider my first major upgrade to a "good" cue.  I had played many, many years with some very crappy cues.  Once I was exposed to better players and better cues, I realized that the $6 yard-sale special that I had was not cutting it.  So I payed way too much ($300) for a new Meucci cue.  This was in 1987.  I played with that cue for about 2 years until my game reached some new levels.  At that point I got frustrated with how the Meucci shaft played.  It was very "whippy" and hard to control the cue. I ended up selling it and getting a Schon cue, which I played with for several years. Keep in mind, this is my personal opinion on how the cue played.  Others love the way Meucci cues play.  I don't. Since then, Meucci has done ...

I haven't played with any Joss Cues.  From being around other players, Joss seems to have a good reputation.  Dan Janes and Bill Stroud started the company way back in 1968.  They split-up in 1972.  Since then, Bill Stroud has been making cues under the name of Joss West.  Dan Janes continues making cues with the Joss name.  Dan makes nice looking cues that play well.  I often compare them to Schon as far as craftsmanship, cost, performance and consistency. Mike Sigel played with a Joss cue when he was dominating proffesional pool in the 80's.  They also made the cue that Tom Cruise used in The Color of Money.  It was a knock-off of the legendary cue maker George Balabushka.  That cue is pictured below. [singlepic=1,320,240,,] Dan has made cues for many great players and many well known people.  Check out his cues if you have a chance. Where to buy a Joss Cue: I've searched and found some Joss cues for sale, listed on the right of this page.  That is, also, a good place to view a variety of Dan's cues to get a feel for his skills and to see the "market value" of his cues. Otherwise, you can order a cue ...

I played with a custom Schon cue for several years when I was in college (PSU).  I bought it from Ed Matushonek up in PA.  I really like that cue.  I had "upgraded" from a Meucci, which I didn't like at the time. Anyhow, enough about me, Schon cues are beautiful cues that play very good.  I classify them as a high-end production cue.  The term production cue is a bit misleading, though.  They are built by Evan Clarke and a few other helpers.  He has a number of standard designs, some limited additions and many unique cues.  Schon cues have been around since 1981.  They have a solid reputation.  They do not make a lot of cues compared to large production cue companies like McDermott.  Each cue is designed, finished and tested, personally, by Evan. If you are looking for a cue in the $300 - $800 range, then Schon would be a good pick IMHO. Where to buy Schon Cues: I've searched and found some Schon cues for sale, listed on the right of this page.  That is, also, a good place to view a variety of Schon cues to get a feel for his skills and to see the "market value" ...

J. Pechauer cues are made by Jerry Pechauer and his son Joseph.  Jerry started working on and building cues over 30 years ago.  I've heard a lot of good things about Jerry's choice of wood for his shafts.  He has developed a process for harvesting, grading, drying and turning his shafts. I've played with his cues and I liked the way they hit, especially the cues with a Duralite joint.  Most of his cues that I've seen have the stainless joint. I would classify Pechauer Cues as a high-end production cue much like a Schon or Joss.  Personally, I think his shaft quality is superior, therefore, I'd recommend his cues over those for playability. Where to buy J. Pechauer Custom Cues: I've searched and found some Pechauer cues for sale, listed on the right of this page.  That is, also, a good place to view a variety of Jerry and Joseph's cues to get a feel for his skills and to see the "market value" of his cues. Otherwise, you can order a cue from Pechauer directly.  His contact information is below. Best of luck on your cue search. Cheers, Skippy P.S. If you have any personal knowledge, dealings, experience and/or opinions about this cue maker, please contact me ...

McDermott Cues have been around for a long time.  The company was started by Jim McDermott.  Jim started doing cue repairs in the mid 60's and worked with another cue maker up until he started his company in 1975. When I was playing a lot in the 80's, these cues were very popular, as they are today.  The C and D series cues were well known back then.  They have since added many different series of cues.  The wildlife series is one that was much different than the other cues in the market.  They depict different wildlife scenes in the wood inlays.  They also have introduced the Harley Davidson cues, Jack Daniels Limited Editions, Metal X Series cues, E and M lines, Prestige series cues, and a new design every month. McDermott manufactures many cues.  I would, definitely, classify them as a production cuemaker.  This is not to take anything away from their cues.  For the money, they make a nice cue, especially on the low end of their product lines.  This is a great cue for the casual player or a starting player.  They have such an array of designs, that I'm sure most people would find a McDermott cue that ...

Predator cues are, truly, unique and innovative. When considering buying a predator cue, you should be considering the technology and performance features that they provide. If your not familiar with predator products and your looking for a cue, then you MUST, at least give one a try before you make a final decision, IMHO. There are many players that play with Predator cue products, including many top level players. Some of them are endorsed by Predator, but there are far more, high-level, pool players that play with them, because they like the performance and characteristics that there pool cue provides. The main difference with Predator cues is their shaft technology. They started back around 1994 when they launched their revolutionary 314 shaft. This was a shaft that was made of 10 pieces of wood spliced together. The net result was a shaft that had much less cue ball deflection than your typical cue shaft. This shaft technology changed the cue world and changed pool players expectations about there pool cues. Also, it set in action a never-ending discussion about cue-ball deflection, squirt, swerve, etc. You can read more about cue ball deflection on ...