Snoker Cue

Today the typical snooker cue measures 147 cm (58 inches) in length and can be made from carefully turned wood or in the case of some of the newest ones on the market from fiberglass. The most common wood used to create the finest snooker cues is ash wood. You may occasionally come across one made from maple but typically maple is used to make pool cues as it is stiffer and better for use on the larger pool balls.

Before the advent of modern snooker cues the game of billiards was played using a "mace", this unusual device was a long stick with a foot on the end that allowed the player to shove the cue ball instead of striking it. Unfortunately when the cue snooker ball was resting against the cushion the mace could not be used. To overcome this, players began to use the butt end of the "mace" to strike the ball. The name cue comes from the French term "queue" which translates to tail meaning the tail end of the billiards stick.

There are several different styles of snooker cue available today, depending on what the cue is to be used for and how much the player wishes to spend on it. If the cue is to be placed in a snooker hall or a pub the best bet is to stick with a cheap snooker cue that usually consists of a one piece cue with a uniform taper that narrows towards the tip end. The second style of cue is the two piece cue that is split in the middle to make it easy to fit into a case. This style is preferred by many pool players but not so common among snooker players.

The most popular and best snooker cue is the "three quarter-two piece" which while still a two piece snooker cue is split into two pieces with the joint at either 30 cm (12 inches) or 41 cm (16 inches) from the butt end. There are also several different specialty cues available from various manufacturers that are designed to help with specific shots. The break cue is made with at thinner tip that is made from hard leather or phenolic to make sure that the when the break stroke is made the full force of it transfers to the cue ball. It also keeps the player from wearing out the ferrule and softer tip of his good cue.

Other snooker cues include those that disassemble into multiple pieces that allow the player to customize the weight and balance to better suit the way he plays. You can also buy cues with screw on butt extension to help make the cue longer and reduce the player's dependence on using a bridge for some of the harder to reach shots. Many professional players carry several different cues in order to have one available for any situation.

There are two basic shaft designs being made today the professional taper and the European taper. The pro taper retains the same diameter from the tip to a point 30-35 cm (12- 14 inches) up the shaft where it then begins to widen. The European shaft starts to taper from the tip all the joint. Oddly enough you will find the European taper used for most house cues.

Other than the cue itself the most important part of the cue is the t. Snooker cue tips are made from a layer of leather that have varying degrees of curvature and are either glued or screwed into a ferrule which is attached to the end of the cue. The curvature can be adjusted by sanding the tip gently but you need to keep the rounded shape in order to provide the best ball control. Snooker cue tips are generally 10 to 14 millimeters in diameter.

If you want more spin on the ball you need to have a tip with a tighter radius, on the other hand when you need to make a more forceful shot such as break shot you will need a flatter tip. The hardness of the tip is equally important as the softer ones hold chalk better and offer more control, however they tend to mushroom faster. The harder tips hold their shape well, offer less control as they do not hold the chalk well.

Finding the right snooker cue for your personal use may take some trial and error until you find one that suits your style of play. More than likely unless you are a professional player a good middle of the road cue will do you well, there is no need to rush out and try to buy a Balabushka or a John Parris.

Snooker Cues with Cue Box In stock. Dispatched from United Kingdom. Want guaranteed delivery within 3 days?  Press the More Info Button Now, and choose Express delivery at checkout. Price: £ 59.99 Price is subject to change. FullSizeSnookerTables.co.uk is not responsible for any price changes.