Buying a cue... what should I look out for?

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In the last month or so I've started playing pool an awful lot more, mostly American pool in the 'Plex in Coolock but I've been playing English pool and some 9 ball as well. I'm getting really fed up of the ****e cues you get in the 'Plex and also that place in Bray as well. I was in Breaks in Drumcondra a couple of weeks go and they had a really nice cue I used... it had a bit of weight in it, wasn't too long and the tip had a much bigger diameter than any cue I'd use before.

Anyway, if it matters I'm almost six foot and I'm sure that my own personal feeling for the cue is the most importang thing but apart from rolling it across a table and making sure it's smooth what can I look out for when buying my first cue?

Couple of side notes:
1. Where's the best place to buy a cue? The only cue sports shop I know is the place down near the Abbey Theatre.

2. Where's the cheapest place to play pool on the Northside or in town? The €8.60 an hour in the 'Plex is killing me.

Thanks a lot lads,
Bob.

gerire

Just go into the shop,EJ Riley, at the Abbey Theatre. Have a budget in mind and also allow for a little more.
Give yourself time to take to pick the cue and try out as many as you can.

Go in and ask for Ger in the shop and Ill look after you from there.

thegills

Pool q's are different to snooker q's, much heavier and wider tip. The q should generally be up to shoulder height. The tip depends on what you normally play with - if you like playing back-spin and side/ swerve then you should go for the smaller tip. If you normally just roll the balls in then go for the thicker tip. Also buy a q that allows you to change the weights just in case you want to increase / decrease later on.

If its for snooker you might look at a 2-piece q with an extra long extension.

get a decent case too.

OFDM

Also remember to roll the cue on the table to make sure there's no warp in it.

gerire

A common error this; Rolling a cue on a table can lead to confusion as the butt end has a champherd area and when this rolls on the table it can cause the cue to appear to be bent when in fact it isn't.

The best way to check for straightness is looking down the length of a cue as if sighting a gun

trotter_inc

thegills wrote:

Pool q's are different to snooker q's, much heavier and wider tip.

I much prefer the narrower tip - even for pool!

Try it!

Brendygg

i find its easier to play wit a narrower tip i get more control wit the cue ball