subject: Which Snooker Cue? [print this page] Snooker cues are terrific to look at, there are so many to choose from as well. I just love the exotic coloured woods they use to decorate the butt or fat end of the cue, and bear in mind that is what determines the price, the action on the cues are much the same whether you pay 40 or 150. You can pay even more if you have a custom cue made for you, but remember, players with machine made cues have won major snooker tournaments.
For Snooker, the popular choice of cue is a three quarter split so you can put extensions on it like the pros do in the tournaments. Pool cues are very much the same as snooker cues in the UK in that the tip size is generally 9 mm although some of the pool players prefer an 8 mm tip. Historically, pool cues are finished in maple whilst snooker cues are constructed in ash. Both types of wood make excellent cues. American pool cues have a larger tip, 11-13 mm as they use larger balls for American pool at 2 inches. So what makes some snooker cues so expensive? It all depends on the type of timber used to make it, some of the wood costs a lot of money, and the amount of human labour required making the cue. The exotic bits of the cue are in the splices of wood used to make the butt. Butts are made by splicing the different types of wood together to give a decorative effect. These are spliced together to give different coloured patterns and can produce delightful results. It is also where the craftsmanship comes into making the cue and determines the good makers from the bad.
The choice of cue is yours, look after it: do not lean it on the wall, put it flat on the table between games to prevent it being bent accidentally. Make sure your cue is not bent by looking down it and turning it slowly. Any slight deviation will be obvious. Rolling the cue on the snooker table is not the best way as the butt end can cause the cue to wobble giving the impression of the cue not being straight.
It is also important to keep the cues clean with a cloth, just like the professional players do. Also ensure you keep your hands clean to ensure no dirt is transferred to the cue. Another tip is to keep the tip in top condition and change it as often as necessary, they are cheap enough. The old clich is true, treat your cue well and it will treat you well.
