A lot of new players tend to ask “What’s the best pool cue for a beginner?”
I know when I first started shooting pool, all I used were the terribly crooked house cues. Immediately, I knew I needed to get my own pool cue and started asking for people’s opinion. I ended up with mixed answers, biased opinions and ultimately unsatisfied with their replies. If I had known these few tips below, I would’ve probably been better off and chose a better cue for my first cue instead of a very low-quality no-name Wal-Mart cue.
What’s most important to a beginner player when selecting a cue?
Beginner players do not need to spend hundreds of dollars on their very first pool cue and it’s recommended they stay in the range of $100-150. Most good pool cues will perform similarly and will not have a high impact on player performance (especially for anyone below an intermediate-to-pro level). Below you’ll find a short buyer’s guide for beginners purchasing a pool cue. Here are a couple things that you should pay attention to:
COMFORT
One of the most important factors in choosing a pool cue is that the pool cue feels overall comfortable to you. Does the wrap texture feel weird? Is it too heavy? Does it make a weird sound when you strike a ball? You want your pool cue to feel natural in your hands as if it were an extension of your arm.
Pool is a feel-type of game and if the pool cue feels odd or weird, it’s best to trust your gut and try the next one.
WEIGHT
The weight is very important because depending on the player, a person may like a real heavyweight like 20oz or 21oz+. Most pool cue weights range from 18oz to 21oz (but don’t worry, many of them are changeable by adjusting the weight and adding/removing weights through the bottom rubber piece of the pool cue butt).
I personally favor the 18oz weight.
TIP PREFERENCE (SOFT OR HARD)
Tips on pool cues vary from Ultra Soft, Soft, Medium, Hard and Extra Hard. There are also other types of Tips like phenolic tips (Usually on a break cue). It’s best to make sure you know your preference. Most players today prefer a medium tip and it is the most common.
Tip Diameter – 13mm is the most common pool cue tip diameter (12.5mm is usually the true diameter that’s been shaved or taken down to that size). A majority of pool cues will come with a diameter at this range or near it. (I wouldn’t worry too much about this)
Recommended Tip: MEDIUM or SOFT!
STYLE, GRIP, AND WRAP
Pool cues come in so many different styles of wraps and grips, you are bound to have a preference. This is a big factor because let’s be honest – you want your pool cue to look bad ass too (Who doesn’t?!).
Here are some examples:
- Irish Linen
- Leather (huge variety)
- Stack leather
MATERIAL
Pool cues or pool sticks are primarily made of wood but can sometimes use other materials. One example is if you prefer a lighter weight, then you may want to look into a pool cue made out of carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is much lighter compared to wood.
Examples:
- Wood (Maple Wood, etc.)
- Graphite
- Carbon Fiber
- Fiberglass
Recommend sticking to the classic wood material.
If you guys want to know more about choosing the best pool cue under $100, I recommend you checking out my post about it here titled “Best pool cues for beginners under $100“. Thanks again for reading guys!