Who does not love playing pool with friends and family? We spend our quality time in pool rooms, playing away pool and laughing, having a good and fun time.
But no matter how passionate we are about the game, the physical cost of everything related to the pool has its toll on us. The pool is rumored to be an expensive sport but that is not true.
Usually, we see that different cues have different price rates. The price can vary from $50 or below, and they can go up to $1000 or more. There are almost more than 40+ brands which are manufacturing cues.
But we should remember that every sport has the best and top-quality products which are usually the most expensive. Pool game is no different. Pool cues are just as important equipment of the pool games as a pool table. But why are the costs of the pool cues so different?
Different types of cues have different values. There are more than 3 or 4 types of cues which are currently in the market.
We are here today discussing and presenting the idea which will explain why the pool cues prices differ so much? Our budget sometimes forces us to take such steps which we regret so much in the future.
Imagine buying a good pool table, but the cues we bought are either too expensive or too low level. How to determine which pool cue is perfect for you in terms of cost?
After a deep survey and carefully learning and physically examining different cues, we are going to explain the affecting factors in the price range.
As you can clearly see from the examples mentioned above, the price difference is visible. Many times, the same brand is offering cues at different prices. Why such fluctuations in the cost of these pool cues? What makes them different from each other?
Below are those factors which play a vital role in the tagging of the price. It is because of these factors that pool cues are divided into different categories and allotted with the wide price range.
Just like any other sport, the manufacturer plays one of the most important roles in determining the price of the cue.
If the makers are well known, and their cues are being used in the international competitions, then their cues will have high prices.
Those brands which are relatively new as compared to the older brands will have a somewhat low price as they are entering the market and wants to make a place.
Those makers of the pool cues which are in the market for decades; they get regarded as the pioneers, and naturally, they put a price range which can be placed on the top of the chart. These cues are usually legends.
The materials used in the manufacturing of the cues are so much necessary. It is that factor which determines how good a cue will be. Wood; majorly the pool cue is made out of wood.
Now wood can be of any type. But with the passage of the time, more innovation is being added in the manufacturing of cue.
From early times, when the cues were first start to be produced, they were made out of wood. Wood is the primary product used in the making of the cue specialty the shaft.
For decades, different kinds of wood, from all around the world were being used. From Maple to cherry, from blueberry to oak; every kind of wood was used. Different methods and techniques were used in the making.
That piece of wood was considered ideal for the pool cue which would be strong and intact but weighted very less for easy holding and hitting.
Modern cues have ivory, ebony, and pine in the cues along with more exotic wood such as cocobolo, Brazilian rosewood, and others.
If the wood used is an exotic kind, then obviously the price will be high. Moreover, if the wood used is obtained from somewhere far, this adds to the price value as well.
After some decades, when the pool game was going through the phase of the revolution, news changes were being made; new techniques were being introduced; new materials were being brought in for the making of the cue.
Fiberglass was introduced because it is cheaper than wood. It is basically made in such way that fiberglass is bonded together to form a spherical shape around the wood core inside the stick.
It is majorly used by the beginners or the intermediate level players who are looking for cheaper cues and wants long stability and durability.
This is one of the latest technologies which are introduced in the making of the pool cues. It is basically the fiberglass thing but with more precision and machinery works and cuts.
Usually the cue makers have targeted their crowds. This helps in finalizing their cues prices. By crowds, I mean the different levels of players. As beginners need related to cue is different from a professional.
Same goes for those who occasionally plays pool at the pool bar or those who are enthusiastic players and try to play as much as possible.
Beginners can use a cue which may be of less price value, say $50 or less and that works perfectly for them as they are learning to handle the cues. But a professional player needs to feel their cues, and he or she can pay any amount to get a perfect cue for them.
Pool cue have a lot of space on them for designing. This adds a lot to the cue cost.
Many times, this factor is attached to those cues which are custom made. People want their cues to represent them, and that is why they add the designing touch. A custom-made cue can start from anywhere near $250, and the sky is the limit.
Usually, the designing is added to the butt region when the grip is not placed or removed as per the request of the customer. Removing the grip on the butt can be slippery to some, but everyone has their own preferences.
A joint is an area where the shaft and the butt are attached together. Joint is the part which causes the feel of the cue stick. It is now being made in phenolic plastic, stainless steel, and wood.
The joint which makes a cue stick more relax and flexible get high cost while those materials which cause the pool cue to get stiff get a lower price.
Cue made out of stainless-steel joint is referred to as the stiff hit. Means when you hit the ball, the feel of the hit does not run across the whole cue. The price range of such pool cues can vary from $150 and can go up to $800.
Cues made out of wood joints are called as the fluid or soft. Because the shaft is made out of wood and the butt region too.
So, the whole cue stick is made out of wood. Everything is equal and complementary with each other; the hit feeling is definitely there. Cues with wood joints can have a price worth of $60 to $500 and plus.
Those cues which have composite joints such as phenolic plastic, their feel is somewhere between stiff and soft. Such cues have increased demands because of their price which is usually around $100.
The tip plays a big role in the hitting of the balls. There are different types of tips; small; large. The size of the tip usually gives you the result which you are looking for because it is this part which hits the balls and makes the pot.
The same rule applies to the other sizes as well such as 8 mm and 9 mm and many others.
Wraps are those parts which are usually seen on the butt region. They are cloth pieces tightly wrapped around the butt to avoid the slipping of the cue. The wrap of the cue must be neatly done and must be sleek. There are usually three types of wraps – Irish Linen, leather and rubber but there are other options as well to select a wrap from.
You must keep in your mind that the wrap should not be oily.
The price is affected by the level of the tightness and material used in the wraps. The wraps can usually cost from $20 – $50.
Different levels of cues have different price worth. Makers have made us understand that over a long period that a beginner level cue is such a different price while a mid-level player cue is such a different price.
These prices are set after analyzing that which level player demands what kind of cue. It is also determined by the fact that how many cues will be used and how much durability of the cue is expected by the player.
If you have an open budget, then the sky is your limit when you are out purchasing a pool cue. But if you are on a tight budget, then you must keep all your option alive. Search online and go in the market. Keep your eyes and ears open about any sale regarding the pool game items.
Though it is mentioned in the last it is the defining factor in the pricing issue. The weight of the cue stick can cause a lot of change in the player’s game.
How well the cue is maintained by the player and how easy it was for the player to hit and shot the cue ball. All this is determined by the weight of the cue.
Weight is responsible for the balance of the cue. If the weight is not equally shifted through-out the cue, then the balance will be out. If the right balance is not achieved by the maker of the pool cue, it will not bring any fruitful results to its player.
Many players and customers’ demands their cues to be light weighted because they are so easy to be handled. Lightweight cues are easy to use in making a hit or in handling. Any player with a light weighted cue know that how the balancing becomes easy with such cues.
All kind of players with almost every kind of sizes can use these cues. Whether you are of small build or you are tall, you can easily use light weighted cues.
All those players who are tall and strong and have a strong grip, they prefer heavy weighted cues. Now, heavyweight does not actually mean that these cues are heavy to pick. Yes, it means that too, but the real pointer is the way they hit, strong and hard. But not everyone prefers such cues, but those who are totally benefited by this heavy weight.
By now you must have understood what factor play what kind of role in the pricing of the cue stick. We are done with the detailing of the elements, let’s talk about the different types of the pool stick.
Usually, people think there is one or two type of cue but no. There is more than one type of cue, and they are explained as under.
English cues are one of those cues which are almost the same as snooker cues with the difference being between weight and the size.
The English cues are usually 57” in size, and they have an additional butt facility which allows players to take long shot easily. That extra butt piece is usually attached at the end of the stick.
The tips of the English cues are usually around 8-9 mm wide. The ferrule is commonly made of brass, and it adds to the strength of the cue.
The wood used in the English cues is typically ash, so the cue has a visible grain-like structure.
This type of cue sticks is usually made with the maple wood, so they are made with bigger tips. The tips usually have the size of 12-13 mm which is big. So, the ball must be as big as any English pool game ball.
They have the length of 57-58” which is a standard size length for any cue stick. They have a variety in the weight department. With the American cue stick weighing from 18-21 oz. You can have your pick from quite a lot.
These cues are visibly different from all other cues. The ferrule is larger than other cues and made of plastic. This gives the cue, the shock absorbing quality and hence is preferred widely.
Customs cues are those cues which are produced on the demands of the customer. Usually, a customer explains what kind of wood they want, what type and size of tip and butt they are expecting on their cues.
They order the styling and detailed designing on their cues and also the cue cases.
These custom-made cues are priced according to the makers and as per the wishes of the customer.
I want to add here that there are other types of cues also being manufactured which are purpose-based, but they fall in the categories mentioned above. Few of them are named as under;
A pool game cannot be played without a cue. To have a cue, one must go through all hard work of searching and feeling. This torture ends here. You should check your cue before you want to buy it. Check it thoroughly and try some shots with that before purchase.
Everyone has their own choices when it comes to the cues, but you must go through all the details mentioned above to find the perfect cue for you. It is not an easy job but once you get your hands on such an item, trust me when I say this! Playing pool will be like never before.
