Ever wondered what are the different parts of your sweet cue stick called? From top to bottom it consists of different parts and each area is given a specific name. Just in case you don’t know what are the different parts of your cue stick called, you’ll learn about them here.
In this article, we’ll not only discuss the Pool cue anatomy but also consider the different factors associated with each. So keep reading till the end.
So we’ll start from the top, yeah, you guessed it right, your cue tip and will go all the way down till we get to the bumper of your cue stick.
Pool cue tip is one of the most important parts of your cue stick. Though it is small, it makes a difference. A typical Pool cue tip is between 13mm to 14mm long. While when it comes to the material, people prefer leather made cue tips.
And when you talk about a Pool cue tip, that’s not all. They are further divided into three categories in terms of their feel.
Each of the three types is used by players with different flavors for the play. Soft tips offer better spin on the ball while hard tips absorb maximum energy on the ball therefore the spin is relatively less than what you get when you play with soft cue tips.
And medium cue tips fall somewhere in between.
If you want to learn more about how different types of cue tips perform, read our detailed article here.
When you see just underneath the tip, you’ll find ferrule. Actually it comes between the shaft and the tip. More often than not you’ll find this ferrule of white color, while on some cue sticks it could be of black color.
The purpose of this ferrule is to reinforce the cue tip so when you play a shot, you experience less vibration and ultimately get greater control and strength behind the shot.
If you are just starting out, this might not bother you much. But the more your game grows, the more it’ll take your attention because when you are playing at a competitive level, even such trivial things matter.
Then comes another important part of your cue stick, the shaft. A shaft serves as the longest half of a two-piece cue. These are manufactured by different woods, Canadian, American, or other woods. The better the quality of the wood, the durable it is made.
Fiber and Graphite shafts are also popular but wood made shafts are more common.
If we talk about the shape, the closer it gets towards the tip the narrower it gets.
A shaft can make a huge impact on the game. If it’s smooth, it gives you consistent flow while playing shot. During every shot this shaft goes from right under your hands, so the smoother the flow you get, the better control you enjoy.
And the good thing about it is, you can easily burnish it to improve the quality of play. If you want to know how it is done, read our detailed guide on “How to burnish a Cue Shaft”.
Also, shafts of 2-piece cue sticks are interchangeable, so if you own two or want to borrow a shaft from your friend who owns a 2-piece cue stick, you can certainly do that.
Most of the people might not pay any attention to it, or don’t recognize it as a separate part of a cue stick, but it is a vital part because it connects the shaft of the cue to the butt of the cue. This joint between the shaft and the cue provides the much needed strength and stability that you seek when playing a shot.
In case you don’t pay attention to it and keep playing if this point is getting weaker, you won’t be able to get the desired control on your shots.
This is the other part of the cue stick that’s used to connect one piece with the other. It is found at the top of the butt of the cue.
There are different types of Joint Pins available, Uni-Loc QR Pin, Uni-Loc Radial Pin, Thread Pin, etc.
The Pin lock takes very little turns to assemble while Radial and Thread pins take little more than that to perfectly connect the two pieces such that they offer great transition of power from one to another.
Then comes the butt collar, which is located just below the Joint pin. Most people prefer collars made of stainless steel as nobody likes to bear stains or any such spot in them that may mar the look of their precious cue stick.
If you remove this part, your two-piece cue would look odd. It is because of this collar the connection between the two cue sticks becomes hard to detect and hence, the overall beauty of cue sticks is preserved.
Next under it is Forearm. It takes a considerable amount of space in a cue as it is the longest part if you see it from the bottom half of the cue.
Forearms are normally made of wood and bear proactive glossy coating. This coating protects the cue stick when it goes through the abuse it can be subjected to if it’s used for casual play.
Another important part of a cue. No matter how good your cue stick is, a good wrap can further add comfort to your play. And professionals, too, understand the importance of wrap, that’s why they pick the wrap carefully.
There are three types of wraps, Irish Linen Wrap, Leather Wrap, and Rubber wrap.
Rubber Wrap: A simple wrap made of rubber that offers control but it’s not the first choice of people who want aesthetics.
Irish Linen Wrap: Though some people complain that Irish Linen is not the best of the wraps when it comes to control, it is still preferred by many because of the aesthetics it brings.
Leather Wrap: Leather wrap is one of the best wraps out there when it comes to the looks, control and durability. But they can be expensive.
Wrap has its own importance. So when choosing the wrap for their cue stick, people look to make the best choice within their budget.
If you want to learn more about pool cue wraps, you can read our detailed article.
When we go further down towards the end of the second piece, we reach butt cap – which is the second to last piece of the cue. It is also part of the interchangeable weight bolt system which has its own importance.
The importance of this piece is also substantial due to the weight. When it comes to the weight of the cue stick, people have different preferences. Some like to play with the heavier cue sticks while some feel comfortable with light ones.
In case, you want to change the weight of your cue stick, you can add some weight or take out some weight from this area by using this step by step guide.
The very last part of the cue stick is called a bumper. Bumper is made of rubber and absorbs the impact of your shot so you can maintain your position while hitting the ball and achieve utmost control.
With that being said, let’s discuss a bit about different types of cues.
Both one piece cue and two piece cue are pretty much the same, they have the same parts. You must be wondering, why do people play with two piece cue sticks rather than one-piece sticks?
The answer is simple, portability.
One-piece cue sticks are difficult to transport from one place to another. It’s quite big, so most of the players find it difficult to travel along with it.
On the other hand, a two-piece stick can be separated from the other part easily. And thus, you can keep both pieces together in little space (for instance, in your Pool/Snooker bag or case) and carry both without any problem.
What are the best Pool cues made of?
Durable and premium quality Pool cues are made from a straight-grained hard rock maple wood, especially the shaft.
Which cue stick should I buy, one-piece or two-piece?
Ideally, you should have a two-piece cue stick because it is easier to carry from one place to another.
That’s all we have. We have covered all the parts of a cue stick. From top to bottom, now you know what we call a certain part of a cue stick and what is its purpose. And most importantly, you have learnt what are the different types of these parts, and which type is the best for a particular use. So the next time you’ll buy any of these, not only you’ll know their names but also purchase the right one for your cue stick.
