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Mezz Cues: Every Series, Shaft and Joint Explained

Updated Oct 15, 2026 · The LeaguePool Team

Mezz cues are made by Miki Co. in Tomioka, Gunma, Japan, a family company that turned its first cues at the end of the 1950s and spent years building them for other brands before the Mezz name appeared at the 1995 BCA Expo in Las Vegas. Today the US lineup runs from the EC9 (about $750 at PoolDawg) to the Avant butt at about $2,277, and almost every playing cue ships with the WX-Sigma low-deflection maple shaft.

The part that trips up buyers isn't the price. It's the joints. Mezz builds on four different joint systems, and a shaft from one won't fit a butt built on another. Get that straight first and the rest of the decision is easy.

Mezz pool cues at a glance

These are the current pool playing cues on Mezz's own site, with the joint and stock shaft Mezz lists for each. Prices are PoolDawg's on October 15, 2026; several EC9 models were out of stock that day.

All five play cues list 19 to 19.5 ounces (except the Avant, which you weight yourself) and a Kamui soft tip. The EC9 is Mezz's own successor to the EC7, which is why you still see EC7 cues on the used market.

Who makes Mezz cues

Miki Co. dates its woodworking to 1924, when Fukujiro Miki started making wooden parts in Tomioka. His son Yuji saw one-piece billiard cues in Tokyo in the late 1950s, built a lathe for them, and landed an order for 500 cues a month. The company was incorporated in 1965.

For most of the 1970s and 1980s Miki made cues under contract for Adam, at around 2,000 cues a month by its own count. It went independent in 1988, launched the Mezz name in 1995, and released the first United Joint cues in 1996. Miki also owns the Exceed brand.

The pro list is real and current: Mika Immonen signed in 2003 and played Mezz until his death in September 2025, Alex Pagulayan has had a signature model since 2012, and Allison Fisher signed in 2023. Older articles often add Efren Reyes to that list. Miki's own history doesn't mention him, so we've left him out.

The four Mezz joints, and why they matter

Mezz shafts are sold by joint, and the joints aren't interchangeable. Before you buy a spare shaft, a used cue or an Ignite, find out which one you have.

• United Joint (UJ). A 5/16-14 pin and insert machined to Mezz's own tolerances. Dealers list it as a modified 5/16x14. It's on the EC9, ASTR23 and the Power Break cues.
• Wavy Joint (WJ). The 2002 design: a metal pin with a double thread, a longer shoulder that guides the pin in, and a flat wood-to-wood face. You'll find it on many older Mezz cues.
• Wavy 2 Joint (W2J). Announced in 2021. The double-thread pin now seats into a phenolic insert in the shaft, which Mezz says holds steadier through humidity and temperature swings and suits carbon shafts. It's on the ACE218 and CP-26.
• D2. A quick-release joint that goes together in about two turns, used on the Airdrive 3 jump cue and the Dual Force break/jump cue.

Mezz doesn't say whether a Wavy shaft fits a Wavy 2 butt, and the shaft retailer CuesPlus says to match the exact joint. Treat them as separate. If you might want a Cuetec Cynergy or other aftermarket shaft one day, the United joint gives you the most choices; our carbon shaft guide lists which shafts come in Mezz joints.

Mezz cue shafts: Origin, WX-Sigma and Ignite

Mezz sells more shafts than cues, and the shaft is where most of the playing difference lives.

WX-Sigma

The stock shaft on every current play cue. It's a 12.5mm maple shaft with a straight pro taper and Mezz's XJ Powerplate at the tip end, which Mezz says cuts deflection. There are Slim and Thick versions if 12.5mm doesn't suit your bridge.

Origin

The name Mezz gave its solid maple shafts in 2026. Canadian maple, a 12.8mm tip and the original ST Pro taper, treated with a stabilizer against warping. This is the one for players who want a traditional full-size maple hit rather than low deflection.

Ignite (carbon)

Mezz announced the Ignite 12.2 in 2019 and now makes it in 11.5, 12.2 and 12.6mm. It's a carbon composite shaft with a constant pro taper and a lighter front end to cut squirt. PoolDawg lists all three sizes at $599 ($639 for a 30-inch shaft) in United or Wavy joints. Quarter King's 2026 shaft comparison calls it the most maple-like carbon shaft of the big four, a little softer than a Predator Revo.

Predator shafts in Mezz joints

Mezz's site also lists the Predator 314-3, Z-3 and Vantage among its shafts, so a Mezz owner who already likes Predator's feel has a factory-supported route. Our low-deflection shaft guide compares those.

If you're starting from scratch, buy the cue with the WX-Sigma, play it for a season, and only then decide if carbon is worth $599.

Which Mezz to buy

Our pick for most league players is the EC9. It's the least expensive Mezz play cue, it uses the United joint (the easiest to find shafts for), and it comes with the same WX-Sigma shaft as the dearer cues. You aren't buying a lesser shaft by buying the cheapest butt.

Choose the ASTR23 if the EC9 you want is sold out, which happens a lot; it's the other United-joint cue in the current line. Choose the ACE218 or CP-26 if you plan to keep the cue a long time and want the newer phenolic-insert joint. Buy the Avant only if you'll actually use eight weight bolts and 0.25-ounce steps; it's sold without a shaft, so budget for one.

Skip Mezz entirely if your budget stops around $500. You'll get more cue for the money from the options in our best cues for the money guide, and a used EC9 can come later.

Mezz break and jump cues

These are expensive for what they do. A Mezz break cue makes sense if you want the whole case to match or you already trust the brand. If you only want a good break, our break cue and break-jump cue guides cover strong options for far less.

Warranty: what Miki actually promises

Miki's own warranty page describes a limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for as long as the original buyer owns the cue. The conditions are strict:

• You must buy from an authorized Miki dealer and keep proof of purchase.
• It's non-transferable, so a used Mezz has no factory warranty.
• Claims must be made within 30 days of finding the defect; cosmetic claims within one year of purchase.
• Wear, misuse, unauthorized repairs and environmental damage (heat, humidity, chemicals) are excluded.

Some US dealer listings say something different. PoolDawg's EC9 page, for example, lists a one-year manufacturer warranty. Ask your dealer which terms they honor before you pay, and register the cue if they tell you to.

Are Mezz cues worth it?

Yes, if you'll play a Mezz for years and care about consistent build quality. The WX-Sigma shaft that comes on a $750 EC9 is the same one on the higher play cues, and Mezz has developed its own shafts since it filed for its Hybrid shaft patent in 2000. That continuity is worth something when you want a spare shaft five years from now.

No, if you're paying for the name. Past the EC9, most of the extra money buys cosmetics and joint choice, not a straighter shot, which is true of every brand (our expensive cues guide goes into why). And a Mezz is a poor first cue: you'll know far more about the taper and weight you like after a season with something cheaper.

Two practical cautions. Stock is thin in the US, so the exact model you saw last month may be gone. And used Mezz cues carry no factory warranty, so check the joint type, roll both pieces on a flat table and look for a cracked ferrule before you pay.

Mezz vs Predator and the other upgrade brands

Mezz sits beside Predator and Cuetec in the price band where players buy their second cue. Predator built its name on the 314 and Revo shafts; Cuetec on Cynergy carbon. Mezz's case is a wood-first lineup with carbon as an option, made in one Japanese factory. If you want carbon from day one, start with our Predator or Cuetec guide. If you want an American-built cue near the same money, look at Pechauer. For the full brand picture, see best pool cue brands.

Sources

• Miki Co.: company history
• Miki Co.: warranty terms
• Mezz Cues: current cues and shafts
• Mezz: joint technology (UJ, WJ, W2J, D2)
• Mezz: EC9 series specs
• PoolDawg: Mezz prices (checked October 15, 2026)
• CuesPlus: shaft pin compatibility by brand

Our picks

Links open the current selection and price on Amazon so you can compare real reviews before buying.

Mezz EC9 Series Cue

Best first Mezz

The least expensive current Mezz play cue, on the United joint with the same WX-Sigma 12.5mm shaft as the dearer models. Buy this one and spend the difference on a case.

Check price on Amazon →

Mezz ASTR23 Series Cue

United joint, newer butt

Mezz's other United-joint play cue, with a tapered-core butt and the stock WX-Sigma shaft. The sensible pick when the EC9 you wanted is sold out.

Check price on Amazon →

Mezz CP-26 Series Cue

Wavy 2 joint

Stained curly maple prongs on the Wavy 2 joint, whose phenolic shaft insert Mezz built to stay steady through humidity changes and to suit carbon shafts.

Check price on Amazon →

Mezz Ignite 12.2 Carbon Shaft

Carbon for a Mezz butt

Mezz's carbon composite shaft with a constant pro taper, made in United and Wavy versions. Order the joint that matches your butt, and decide on 11.5, 12.2 or 12.6mm before you check out.

Check price on Amazon →

Frequently asked questions

Where are Mezz cues made?

In Japan, by Miki Co. in Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture. Miki has made cues since the late 1950s, built them for other brands for years, and launched the Mezz name in 1995.

How much do Mezz pool cues cost?

At PoolDawg on October 15, 2026, Mezz play cues started around $750 for the EC9 and reached about $2,277 for an Avant butt with no shaft. Break cues ran about $726 to $1,099, and an Ignite carbon shaft was $599.

What is the Mezz United Joint?

It's Mezz's 5/16-14 pin and insert joint, which dealers list as a modified 5/16x14. It's used on the EC9, ASTR23 and Power Break cues. Shafts for it are sold as United joint and won't fit a Wavy or Wavy 2 butt.

What is the difference between the Wavy and Wavy 2 joints?

Both use a double-thread metal pin with a long guiding shoulder. The Wavy 2, announced in 2021, seats that pin in a phenolic insert in the shaft, which Mezz says is steadier in humidity and better suited to carbon shafts. Buy shafts for the exact joint you have.

Which Mezz shaft should I get?

Most players should keep the stock WX-Sigma 12.5mm, a low-deflection maple shaft. Pick the Origin (12.8mm solid maple) for a traditional hit, or an Ignite carbon shaft in 11.5, 12.2 or 12.6mm if you want carbon.

Do Mezz cues have a lifetime warranty?

Miki's own warranty page describes a limited lifetime warranty on defects for the original buyer, purchased through an authorized dealer. Some dealer listings show one year, so ask your dealer which terms apply. A used Mezz has no factory warranty.

Can I buy Mezz cues on Amazon?

We couldn't find genuine Mezz cues we could verify on Amazon. Buy from an authorized billiards dealer instead, since Miki's warranty only covers cues bought through its dealers.

Is a Mezz a good first cue?

Usually not. It's a cue to buy once you know the shaft size, weight and joint you like. A season with a less expensive cue will tell you that.

Related guides

• Predator Cues: Lines, Shafts, Prices and Which to Buy
• McDermott Cues: Every Line, Shaft and Warranty Compared
• Players Pool Cues Review: Who Makes Them, Best Models
• Pechauer Cues: JP vs Pro Series, Shafts and Warranty

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