You might be looking to buy a snooker cue but upon researching you realise there are a few things to be looking out for. If you haven’t thought about these things already, you’ll definitely come across these factors when looking to purchase a new cue for your game.
• Material – Maple or Ash?
The main types of wood you’ll come across when researching cues are maple and ash – which surprisingly, have more of an impact than you would initially think. Maple is a harder, denser material which can have the effect of deflecting the cue ball particularly when playing with side. It also has a plainer look, so it doesn’t have the darker lines along the cue that ash would have. The darker gradients can also help with aiming. Most professionals use ash-carved cues.
However, if you’ve used a maple cue for quite some time, you may prefer sticking to a cue of that weight which you are comfortable with. Also, some do prefer maple cues as the smoother finish doesn’t catch on their chin as they feather and play the shot. The main choice between maple and ash will come to your preference when it comes to weight and feel which you’ll get from experimenting with both.
• One piece vs. Two Piece vs. ¾ Jointed Cue?
Most would recommend a One-Piece cue where there are no joints but this may not be practical for all players. One must consider travel as well as the extra cost of purchasing a One-Piece cue. A Two-Piece cue jointed halfway is a reasonable starter cue which I am sure most fans started with, but eventually you may want to change up as a common issue lies where you can catch the joint on your bridge as you strike.
Lastly, a ¾ piece cue is a practical compromise between the formers as the joint is positioned further down the cue and is not as expensive as handcrafted One-Piece cues. Most pros use One-Piece cues but you do see many that use ¾ jointed cues as well.
The main difference between a One-Piece and a jointed cue is that jointed cues will feel a little heavier. Due to the lack of joints in a One-Piece, you can get extra feel from the stroke which may make certain shots like the soft screw easier to play.
• Tip*
Tip sizes in snooker generally fall between 9.5-10mm in diameter. This isn’t something you will think about too much particularly if you are a newcomer, but certain players as they increase their skill may prefer smaller tips. Shaun Murphy once mentioned his usage of an 8.75mm tip. My main advice is to stay away from screw tips if you can as they offer a noticeable difference in your strike which you likely won’t be happy with. What some tend to do is if they buy a cue online, they immediately get their tip changed as the default can often be too hard to play with.
*There will be a follow-up Short post looking at the impact of cue tips.
• Accessories
Whether you purchased online or in person, you are going to want to make sure you get a carry case with the expensive cue you just bought. A lot of cues purchased online can have set packages which come with cases but also the necessary extensions and butt-ends. This can come in handy if you’re not a fan of the extra-long cue and extension at your local club.
These are the main factors to take into consideration when buying a snooker cue. The most important thing a cue will come down to is personal preference. That’s why I didn’t mention things like height or weight of a cue because those will differ among individuals. I would recommend to go to a shop if possible to try out various cues to find what is suitable for you but a lot won’t have that luxury so are limited to what they can find online.
You will have a snooker cue for quite a long period of time so it’s important to ensure you get the right one. The best approach is to assess your cue right now. Or if you use a cue provided by the club then what things do you think you would benefit from? Is the cue you are currently using a little too light? Is the tip too hard? Is there any irritation against your skin when gliding the cue? Or maybe you would benefit from a One-Piece? Having a few of these things in mind will aid in what to look for when purchasing a new cue.