A pool cue can meet your expectations only when it is designed to suit your specific requirements. Whether you are a beginner or a professional with years of expertise, your skills can be displayed only with the right pool cue. Thus, it is crucial to look for the best one in the market.
Choosing the best model out of tons of options available in the market is quite a tough task. You may have to consider every single aspect of the billiard sticks and compare it with others. It is quite time-consuming and chances are you may overlook the best models. But, not now anymore!
Here are the few most essential factors by considering which you can easily crack the best deal from the market. All you have to do is go through these factors in an itinerary way.
#1 Finalize a budget:
It is crucial to set a budget before starting your quest for the best pool cue due to the variable price bracket. Besides, pool cues don’t come into the affordable price range. You can get a good pool cue under $200, but you can also get a professional cue at $500 too.
Pool cue is one of the few items with a great price gap between mid-range and flagship range. Thus, by fixing a price initially, you could be more selective about the cue you require. All you have to do is filter out the cues under your chosen budget.
#2 Choosing the Type of Cue
Pool cues can be differentiated with tons of factors from its size to the material it is made of. But, the basic requirement for a casual player would be whether it is one-piece or two-piece.
If you play at your home pool table, the one-piece cue is a fair option. Although these cues can’t come apart you can take out your usage with its performance. It is a bit cheaper and is not meant for travel.
On the other hand, two-piece pool cues are meant for competitions and thus travel as well. You can easily break it into two pieces so that it can fit in your travel bag and join it before your game starts. These are available in many sizes and are a bit more expensive than the one-piece models.
#3 Length of the pool cue:
Pool cues are available in different sizes ranging from 48 inches to 58 inches. One must choose the cue based on their height and comfort to handle. Normally, a one-piece cue comes in 57-inches, but multiple options are available in it.
The two-piece or professional cue starts from 58 inches. But, kids or people with average height can also opt for the cue below 50-inch length. The best way to check whether the length is suitable is to check it practically by holding it in your hands.
#4 Weight balance:
After considering length, weight is the next crucial factor one should consider. Weight decides the effectiveness of your shot on the table. The weight of the pool cues ranges from 17 to 21 ounces. You should test the stick by taking a few shots to ensure it.
Most of the cue’s weight lies on the tail as the head is thinner than the tail. Most of the modern cues have proper weight balance, but choosing the lighter models is quite beneficial for any kind of shots.
#5 Holding comfort:
You can’t go for your best shot every time if you don’t have proper comfort in your hand. The wrap of the cue plays a major role in a good hold and stability. You can choose between grip or bare wood stick considering whether your hand is often sweaty or rough.
If you are looking for a good grip, make sure it is made of high-quality rubber and lasts longer. Try to hold the cue in your hand to test whether you are feeling it comfortably in your hands while delivering shots.
#6 Selection of Tip:
Tips of the pool cues vary at a soft, medium, and hard level. Every model of the tip has different purposes and brings a great difference while playing the same shot. Hard tips last longer but are weak at shock absorption and thus not good for ball spin.
Medium tips are good from all aspects and most professional players prefer medium tips over softer or hard ones. If you are not worried about the lasting, then soft tips are quite a good option for some shots but they wear out faster.
#7 Anti-vibration:
The sound of professional cues varies from the mid-range pool cues. You can easily spot the difference at a glance. But, the vibration which results in the sound is important here. If you feel a strong vibration after every shot, better not to choose the stick.
Go for the cues which are making less vibration compared to other options in the table. The quality of the tip depicts a lot about the vibration level. Thus, it is also an important aspect that one should check personally.
By considering all those aspects, you can easily get the best pool cue from the wide variety of options available. Make sure to go through all of them so that your pool cue lasts longer and gives proper value for your money.