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.

I played pool from when I was 5 years old until I went to college with cues that were TERRIBLE!!  The cues I used were yard-sale specials with screw-on tips or slide-on tips (EEEK)...one of them was a five-piece cue that my Dad bought for me at a FURNITURE STORE for God's sake (after I begged him to, of course).  It was in a cool little carrying case and had carved designs all over it.  It looked similar to this cue....

Stay away from cues like this if you want to play good pool.

I'm not trying to affend anyone that has a cue like this.   Just know that there are much better cues out there for the same amount of money as this one or just a tad more (I saw this one selling for $39).

I found a video that does a good job of explaining what to look for when searching for a good pool cue (the video is at the bottom of this post).  I tend to agree with everything in the video.  Here are some highlights of things to look for and things to avoid in a billiard cue.

AVOID

• screw on tips
• push on tips
• brass joints (note: There are good custom cues that use brass, but they are rare.  It would be easier to assume all brass jointed cues are bad, until you learn more about what to look for)
• cheap cues will, often, have a lacquer finish on the shaft of the cue
• cues with more than one joint, unless they are a quality jump/break cue
• budweiser cues
• crooked cues
• cues sold at any big-box store like wal-mart, k-mart and sporting goods stores

DO LOOK FOR

• a quality/brand name pool cue and/or shaft (see my suggestions below)
• a good quality ferrule...this is the short piece of material that the tip attaches to
• look for a wrap or grip section of the cue that is to your liking and of high quality...if there is a wrap, a nice Irish linnen or leather is a sign of high-quality.  Some cues don't have a wrap and this is ok if it fits your preference.  Some cheaper cues have very low-quality wraps.  I had a $6 cue that picked up at a yard sale.  It had a wrap that felt like it was made from nylon line.  I didn't know any better.
• look for quality craftsmanship of the inlays, joints and ferrule.   If you run your fingers over the transitions of the inlays, butt cap, ferrule, joint, etc., you shouldn't feel a transition from one piece to the other.  It should be perfectly smooth.
• look for straightness of the cue.  Even high-quality cues can warp if abused, so don't ever assume.
• look for a good quality tip.  The tip should not be spongey, in my opinion.  They should be a good quality leather tip.  If you push on the tip with your fingernail, it shouldn't feel soft or compressible.
• if possible, hit some balls with the cue and see how you like it.

Those are some suggestions that will help to keep you from getting ripped-off when shopping for a cue.  In general it is a good idea to stick with name brand cues.  There are a couple of different quality/value tiers to choose from IMO.  Everyone may not agree on this assessment, but it is a starting point.  Please, comment if you feel I'm off-base here...

Low-end production cues (a decent choice to start out with and will be solid cue to start with)

• Player Cues, Cuetec Cues, Mali Cues, Scorpion Cues, Stealth Cues, Helmstetter Cues

Quality high-volume production cues (a solid production cue that can last a lifetime of playing and look good, too...at an affordable price)

• Meucci Cues, Viking Cues, McDermott Cues, Lucasi Cues

Higher-end/lower-volume production cues (I might get some flack for these, but I think that these cues PERFORM better than other production cues and can compete with high-end custom cues)

• Schon Cues, J. Pechauer Cues, Predator Cues, Joss Cues

There are many great custom cue makers out there that make cues that rival or surpass even the best production cues on the market.  Browse through this site to find out more about them.

Anyhow...here is the video.  It is a good starting point with solid advice.

I hope this information was helpful. If I can be of any help with your cue search, let me know.

Cheers,
Skippy

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 ensures cue ball control
• Veneer inlays of exotic hard woods and Abalone shell
• Composite core controls deflection, squirt and prevents warpage
• Adjustable weight bolt system
• MSRP $300 (find better prices on this page)

Cuetec Python Cues
Features:

• Multi-layered leather tip
• Polycarbonate ferrule
• Tru-Glide Finish
• Stainless Joint
• Irish linen or Cuetec Softec grips
• Graphite core provides increased power
• Graphite core reduces cue ball deflection
• 15.5" pro taper shaft
• Power bonded fiberglass increases radial conistency
• Adjustable weight bolt system
• MSRP $300 (look on this page for great deals)

Cuetec Youth Model
Features:

• Specially sized for kids
• 14oz. weight
• 48" long
• All youth cues have full length SST shafts
• MSRP $69 (look on this page for great deals on Cuetec children's cue)

Cuetec Denali
Features:

• Polycarbonate ferrule
• Veltex and Irish linen grips
• Stainless Joint
• Tiger Everest multi-layer tip
• Adjustable weight bolt system
• Cuetec's power bonded fiberglass SST shaft
• Rubber bumber accepts the patented Cuetec Smart Extension
• MSRP $169 (look on this page for better prices)

Cuetec Meteor Break Cue
Features:

• Constructed for the perfect balance between control and power
• Meteor 5 layer cowhide tip
• Maple shaft & butt Power-Bonded with high tech composite material
• MSRP $130

Cuetec Sky Jump Cue
Features:

• The first jump cue to feature multiple weighted butts
• Quick-release joint to change butts quickly
• Use the short distance butt to jump balls as close as 1" apart.  Use the long distance butt to jump balls over 8" apart.
• Phenolic tip/ferrule combo

These are just a few of the more popular Cuetec lines of cues.  Look on this page for more options and deals.

I'm sure you've heard of Cuetec Cues if you've watched pool on ESPN over the last few decades. That is because they have endorsed a couple of pool legends that have had a lot of face-time on the mainstream sports network. Of course, the perennial champion, Allison Fisher, has been endorsed by Cuetec since 1995, shortly after she arrived in the U.S. from England. Since her arrival, she has dominated women's professional pool. She has over 50 WPBA titles and more than 20 international titles to her credit.

Needless to say, her cuetec cue has treated her very well. Here is what she has to say about cuetec...

Cuetec has supported me for many years now and I have been very happy with the equipment I am using. I played with the same butt and SST shaft from my signature line for 10 years, and recently switched to an inlayed Cuetec cue with the new R360 shaft. The cue is not only nice looking; it also has great balance and feel. Furthermore, because the R360 has minimal deflection, it takes much of the guess-work out of aiming. It’s making a big difference to my game and confidence.

Earl Strickland was another, long-time, proponent of Cuetec cues until recently. He was endorsed by Cuetec for many years and won many, many tournaments with their cues. He won the million-dollar challenge using a cuetec cue.

I haven't played with a Cuetec cue, so I can't give you a direct recommendation on one, but the results that Allison and Earl produced speak for themselves. I know that these two players are world-class pool legends that could probably play well with about any cue, but they both played at a high level for many years, dominating their respective fields. For the money, the Cuetec cues are a good option. You can pick them up pretty cheap...just check out the ones I found at the right of this page.----->

Do you own a Cuetec cue?  Have you played with one?  I'd love to hear what you think.  Other players would love to hear your opinion before they plop down some hard-earned cash for one of them.

Cheers,
Skippy

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 a lot of research on cue shaft design to reduce deflection.  They came out with their black dot shaft and the famous (or infamous) "Myth Destroyer" cue testing robot.  Bob Meucci (Company Founder) has travelled around the country using this robot/device to compare other shafts to his shafts to show the difference in deflection.  There are many people that question the validity of his device.  If you search about this on the internet, you'll find a lot of video and chats about the subject.  Personally, if you want a low deflection shaft, I would go with a Predator.

Overall, I think Meucci cues are a good choice for the occasional player or for someone that wants a unique design over-and-above playability at a low price.  Keep in mind, there have been many pro players sponsored by Meucci cues.  Many of them top players.  These players were PAYED to play with those cues.  Also, it is not clear if they have "off the shelf" shafts.  Most likely, they hand-picked the shafts out of many samples or they had higher quality shafts made for them by Meucci.  I don't see many top-level players playing with Meucci cues without being sponsored.  Please, comment if I'm wrong here.

Let me know what you think of Meucci cues.

Where to buy Meucci Cues:

I've searched and found some Meucci cues for sale, listed on the right of this page.  That is, also, a good place to view a variety of their cues to get a feel for their skills and to see the "market value" of Meucci cues.

Otherwise, you can order a cue from Meucci 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 or post a reply below. Also, click on the rating "stars" to indicate your opinion of this cue maker. Thanks for your participation.

If you own a cue made by Meucci Originals, Inc., send me a picture and I'll share it with everyone else. If you have a website to promote, include a link and I'll include it with the picture. People like to see examples and opinions of a cue maker's work before buying.

If you represent Meucci Originals and can provide me with more information, pictures, website, etc., then please contact me and I will gladly include that information on my site.

Here is the current contact info:

Meucci Originals Inc.
1 Meucci Center Drive
Sledge, MS 38670
Bob Meucci and Mark Patrick
800-563-8224
www.meuccicues.com

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.

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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 from Joss directly.  There 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 or post a reply below. Also, click on the rating "stars" to indicate your opinion of this cue maker. Thanks for your participation.

If you own a cue made by Joss Cues Ltd., send me a picture and I'll share it with everyone else. If you have a website to promote, include a link and I'll include it with the picture. People like to see examples and opinions of a cue maker's work before buying.

If you represent Joss Cues and can provide me with more information, pictures, website, etc., then please contact me and I will gladly include that information on my site.

Here is the current contact info:

Joss Cues Ltd.
8749 Mylander Ln.
Towson, MD 21204
410-821-0064
Dan Janes
www.josscues.com

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" of his cues.

Otherwise, you can order a cue from Schon directly.  There 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 or post a reply below. Also, click on the rating "stars" to indicate your opinion of this cue maker. Thanks for your participation.

If you own a cue made by Schon Cues, send me a picture and I'll share it with everyone else. If you have a website to promote, include a link and I'll include it with the picture. People like to see examples and opinions of a cue maker's work before buying.

If you represent Schon Cues and can provide me with more information, pictures, website, etc., then please contact me and I will gladly include that information on my site.

Here is the current contact info:

Schon Cues
3812 W. Burnham St.
Milwaukee, WI 53215
Evan Clarke
414-383-9661
www.schoncues.com

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 or post a reply below. Also, click on the rating "stars" to indicate your opinion of this cue maker. Thanks for your participation.

If you own a cue made by J. Pechauer, send me a picture and I'll share it with everyone else. If you have a website to promote, include a link and I'll include it with the picture. People like to see examples and opinions of a cue maker's work before buying.

If you represent J. Pechauer Custom Cues and can provide me with more information, pictures, website, etc., then please contact me and I will gladly include that information on my site.

Here is the current contact info:

J. Pechauer Custom Cues
4140 Velp Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54313
Jerry Pechauer
920-434-7755
www.pechauer.com

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 appeals to their fancy.

They have come out with a new line of shafts called the I-Shaft.  I don't have any experience playing with these shafts, though.  If you have played with one, please, comment below.  My readers would love to hear your opinion before they spend their hard-earned cash on them. Thanks.

In summary, I think McDermott makes a good cue.  Personally, I wouldn't recommend spending more than $300 on one, though.  They make cues that are 10 times that much, but I don't think the value is there at the high-end.  This is just my opinion, though.  There are many hundreds of players that own expensive McDermott cues that love them.  Everyone's preferences are different regarding how a cue looks and plays, so I encourage you to look at these cues and give them a try.

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 or post a reply below. Also, click on the rating "stars" to indicate your opinion of this cue maker. Thanks for your participation.

If you own a cue made by McDermott Cue Mfg., send me a picture and I'll share it with everyone else. If you have a website to promote, include a link and I'll include it with the picture. People like to see examples and opinions of a cue maker's work before buying.

If you represent McDermott Cue Mfg and can provide me with more information, pictures, website, etc., then please contact me and I will gladly include that information on my site.

Here is the current contact info:

McDermott Cue Mfg. Inc.
W146 N9560 Held Dr.
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Dave Law
414-251-4090
www.mcdermottcue.com

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 my blog.

Predator didn't stop there. To this day, they just keep on innovating. In 2000, they introduced an improved version of their 314 shaft, which was called P2.

In 2001, they introduced there BK break cue series, which is, specifically, designed for breaking.

In 2003, they introduced their very popular Z Shaft technology. I like this series, because the shaft is a small diameter, about 11.75mm with a strong taper.

In 2005, they improved their break technology with the BK2 series and in 2006 they introduced improved versions of the 314 and Z shaft technology. Also, they introduced new designs for the cue butt in 2006 called C4.

Most recently, they have introduced new jump cue technology called "Air Technology" and a "revolutionary" P3 Technology in 2008.

Most of the buzz about Predator Cues is a result of their shaft technology and the consistency that it provides for pool players. Many players have production or custom cue butts with Predator shafts on them. This includes many pro pool players. Predator makes shafts with threaded inserts to match standard cue pins. This means, most likely, if you already have a cue, you can get a predator shaft to fit it. This provides a cheap way to get a "new" cue without buying a whole new cue.

For many years, I resisted the trend of the spliced cue shaft and the hype that came with the introduction of Predator shafts. I thought it was just hype. Maybe I am just a pool-purist and I didn't want things to change. Finally, I think I am a convert. As of Sept. 2008, I sold my Bill McDaniel cue. My next cue will have a Predator Z shaft. I borrowed a friend's cue and really liked the feel of it. It was amazing that you can hit a shot with extreme english without compensating much for deflection. Predators cues tend to be more "modern" looking. They are different than a lot of traditional custom cues. I think I am leaning toward one of the sneaky pete models.

I like this Predator sneaky pete.

My next cue.

In summary, I would encourage ANY player to pick up a Predator cue and/or shaft and give it a try. You have to give it a chance, though. If you are used to a cue with a lot of deflection (like most cues), then you might miss a lot of shots at first. There is an adjustment phase that you must go through. In the long-run, they can improve the consistency of your game.

Cheers,
Skippy

P.S. If you have any personal knowledge, dealings, experience and/or opinions about this cue maker, please contact me or post a reply below. Also, click on the rating "stars" to indicate your opinion of this cue maker. Thanks for your participation.

If you own a cue made by Predator, send me a picture and I'll share it with everyone else. If you have a website to promote, include a link and I'll include it with the picture. People like to see examples of a cue maker's work before buying.

If you represent Predator Cues and can provide me with more information, pictures, website, etc., then please contact me and I will gladly include that information on my site.

Here is the current contact info:

Predator Cues
5055-5 St. Augustine Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Allen McCarty
904-448-8748
www.PredatorCues.com

Where to buy:

Check out the great deals on Predator Cues to the right on this page===>