A cue should be manufactured to a high quality, depending on its origin and its specific use for a comfortable game, and its shape, weight and material are criteria for its correct use. The cue used in American pool weighs between 18 and 20 ounces. A proper cue is usually made up of two parts, joined together by screwing the top part onto the shaft of the second part. The upper part is called the “shaft” and the lower part is called the ” butt”.
In some versions, the lower part has a joint designed to shorten the length in special cases, for more comfortable hitting from certain positions, such as with a vertical grip. These cues are designed for standard play only, but professional players use them as the “breack cue”. This means that they are used to break the pyramid at the very beginning of the game, to perform jump shots and masses. Today, manufacturers of quality cues, such as CueTec, have launched the production of one-piece cue models, called by the players a “house cue”, which are intended to complete the game halls, and having the same characteristics in comparison with the sports models.
The cues of unsatisfactory quality that were used to equip the playing halls in the past are finally disappearing. But even today, when cues have become more universal and of better quality, each player needs a cue for individual use, tailored to his own needs.
Components
The shaft includes the ferrule, the joint, the tip and the most important part of the whole cue – taper. The shaft has the most influence on the quality of the shots and the smoothness of the cue, and it is worth paying special attention to its choice. The cue is measured by the diameter of the tip, the average size is about 13 mm, some use a diameter of 13.5 mm, others are narrower than 12 mm, some are made individually, taking into account the wishes of the customer. The protaper or pro profile strictly regulates the shape of the shaft, it should only be in the shape of a cylinder, 15-45cm in length. Traditionally, American pool shafts are made from solid maple logs, and some manufacturers, such as Predator Cues, use the technology of gluing sections cut from the same tree. This method makes the cues more versatile and durable, it affects the quality of the billiard game and durability.
The most important thing in the cue maker’s business is the grip, and today there are many ways of manufacturing it. The difficulty is to achieve both firmness and a balanced weight. For this reason, most cues have a front part made of light wood, and a back part that is correspondingly heavier, in which a weight is placed for even better balance.
The next thing to look at is the wrapping, which plays an important role in providing a comfortable grip. Most cues have no wrapping, but players prefer cues with a dense material that does not slip in the palm of the hand. For many years nylon was used as the wrapping material, but over the years it has been replaced by a material that absorbs sweat from the palms – Irish linen.
There are also cues made without the use of wooden materials, which are incredibly durable, and it is not difficult to find a cue that meets all the requirements of professional play. The only disadvantage is that playing with such a cue is radically different from playing with an ordinary cue and it takes some time to get used to it.