Information About Pool Cues

Billiards, sometimes known as pool, has been around for hundreds of years. The term pool most likely derived from 19th-century America, where billiards were played in betting houses known as pool rooms. There are many different variations of the game, such as snooker and carom billiards, and the cue you use may depend on the type of game you are playing.

  1. History

    • When the game was first developed the player used a mace, a stick with a foot at the end, to shove the ball. When the ball would end up against the rail, using the foot of the mace proved difficult. Players started to use the other end to get the ball off of the rail, leading to the development of the pool cue. In the early 19th-century, leather tips were placed on the ends of the cues. Also, chalk was introduced at this time to apply to the cue tip. These innovations helped players handle the cue easier and reduced the chances of a miscue.

    Types

    • A pool cue is generally around 57 inches long. One-piece cues are the simplest types, but two-piece cues are more common. The two-piece cue can be unscrewed in the middle and carried in a case for easier transport. There are special cues for specific pool shots and snooker and carom billiards have specific types of cues.

    Features

    • The shaft is the tapered, narrower end of the cue. The cue tip is at the very end of the shaft and is usually made from leather. The tip is attached to the shaft with a ferrule made from ivory, carbon fiber or plastic. The ferrule lessens the impact from the tip to the wood of the shaft. The majority of the weight is in the butt of the cue. A wrap is often placed on this end to create a better grip. In two-piece cues, the butt and shaft are assembled together at the joint by a screw from one end. The end of the butt is the bumper, which is normally made from hard rubber.

    Materials

    • Shafts are usually made from hard maple but fiberglass and graphite cues are available. The butt can be made from a variety of materials. and will sometimes contain artwork or some other personal design. If there is a grip on the butt of the cue, the material is typically Irish linen, leather or fiberglass.

    Brands and Prices

    • A cue can cost as little as $15 and as much as $1,500. The less expensive cues are usually one-piece or made from graphite. Higher priced cues tend to have intricate designs and are made from expensive materials such as ebony, ivory and even precious stones. As of 2010, common brands of pool cues are McDermott, Viking, Predator and Meucci.