 |
 22 Piece Snooker Ball Set 2 1 16 $24.95 Time Remaining: 15d 23h 13m Buy It Now for only: $24.95 |
 22 Piece Snooker Billiard Ball Set 2 1 16 $24.95 Time Remaining: 1d 14h 42m |
 Pioneer Billiard Pool Snooker Chalk 12 pieces Green $1.29 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 58m Buy It Now for only: $1.29 |
 Snooker cue 2 piece Ash and maple $70.00 Time Remaining: 1d 18h 47m Buy It Now for only: $70.00 |
 Snooker cue 2 piece Ash shaft Cherry wood spliced butt $110.00 Time Remaining: 1d 18h 52m Buy It Now for only: $110.00 |
Which snooker cue to buy?
I have been playing snooker for a while but only recently decided to take the sport seriously.
The first step now is to acquire my own snooker cue.
Have been considering various brands like Riley, Peradon, BCE, even some Thailand made cues like Master & O'min. Heard they are also really good.
Can't really settle on one cue as of now. I know buying a cue is personal choice but would greatly appreciate help from anyone & everyone who knows about the game. What are your choices?
Any other tips would also be helpful.
I don't want a 1 piece cue as of now. 3/4 jointed cue is what I am looking for currently.
Please help me out.
Thank you
Ok, It would be easier of you knew your ideal budget, but anyway
Before you buy a cue, you should know what specs you would like/feel comfortable playing with
i.e. Length, Weight, Tip size, Butt Diameter. The most the average specs are 57" Length, 18 Oz Weight, 9.5mm Tip & 30mm Butt Diameter. (Not to say that the average specs will suit everyone.)
I would advise you to try as many cues as you can in order to determine what length, weight, tip size, and butt diameter you feel comfortable with. There is nothing worse than forking out a wad of cash for a cue that feels uncomfortable when you play with it.
Cues to avoid (Mass produced in china and are of exceptionally poor quality)
eBay cues listed as silent knight, JX cues, robin scott, dark horse, kevin sharland etc
BCE
Riley
MBS
Buffalo
Unicorn
MBE
and most cues endorsed by players
Cues to look at for a first cue (Well Built and reasonably priced)
Craftsman Cues
Green Baize ltd
Welshpool Trading
Master Cue (have had problems with their joints in the past)
O'min
I would recommend the Craftsman cues, Green Baize ltd and Welshpool Trading over the others as IMO, they are slightly better made than the others.
If you are serious about playing snooker, but don't want to spend too much, I would advise a "machine spliced" cue. A machine spliced cue is usually a lower budget cue, The reason for this is because there is a lower production cost (Machine spliced cues are turned in a lathe at later stages of production in comparison to "Hand spliced cues" that are hand made. The quality of machine spliced cues can vary, not to say that they aren't well built or good quality.
If you are interested in buying a machine spliced cue I would definitely recommend the Craftsman "Victor" cue in the provided link below
http://www.craftsmancues.com/acatalog/Cr…
I realise that the craftsman cue is a little more than you want to pay (going by the cue examples you shown in the title), but unless you buy second hand, this is the cheapest "Real cue" you will find, and you have the luxury of choosing your own specs, rather than having to adapt to a stock cue
No cue can make anyone play better, but a nice cue, IMO, will make you want to play more because you have a nice cue and you want to enjoy it.
If you aren't serious about playing snooker, you can find a cue at your local JJB Sports, but these are mass produced in china and imported as are most internet shops, basically just a broom handle with splices painted on (JJB don't use ash or maple like actual cues.)
I would also advise you to ask/look for a cue that has been linseed oil finished, rather than varnished or laquered as seen on most cheap mass produced cues. Linseed oil treated cues will feel smoother than lauqered or varnished cues and will also require less cleaning.
Finally, Price does not determine the quality of the cue. On most occasions the higher priced cues are as such because of -
Exotic wood splices
Hand selected shaft timber
custom made spec
Wood quality
Labour in building
I have owned quite a few £500+ cues that have been poor quality in relation to the money spent so just remember that paying extra will not allways guarantee you getting a better cue.
sorry for the essay = )
Music room blues 5 Doug wood piece snooker tune