How to Choose a Pool Cue: A 9-Step Buying Checklist
To choose a pool cue, decide what it's for and what you'll spend, then get the shaft and tip right, then fit weight, length and grip to your body. For most adults that lands on a two-piece maple cue, 58 inches, 19 ounces, with a 13mm medium leather tip and a warranty that names warpage, for about $110 to $200.
This page is the checklist, in the order the decisions matter. Each step gives you the short answer and links to the guide that covers it in depth.
How to choose a pool cue: the checklist
| Step | Decision | Start here | Change it if | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What the cue is for | A playing cue | You're stocking a home table rack (house cues) or already own a playing cue (break or jump cue) | One-piece vs two-piece |
| 2 | Budget | $110 to $200 | You play a few times a year (spend less) or you know exactly what more money fixes | Pool cue cost |
| 3 | Shaft | Hard rock maple, pro taper | Side spin keeps costing you position (low-deflection), or the cue lives in a car or damp room (carbon) | Wood vs carbon |
| 4 | Tip | 13mm, medium leather, glued on | You want less squirt (12 to 12.5mm) or a softer or firmer feel | Tip sizes |
| 5 | Weight | 19 oz | The cue feels slow (18) or you like a heavier hit (20 to 21) | Weight guide |
| 6 | Length | 58 in | You're under 5 ft, over about 6'4", a child, or the room is short | Cue size |
| 7 | Grip | Irish linen | Dry hands and you like smooth (leather), or you wear a glove (wrapless) | Wrap types |
| 8 | Joint | Whatever the cue comes with, if it's a stainless pin or a quality quick-release | You plan to buy extra shafts later (match the pin) | Joint types |
| 9 | Warranty and return | Covers warpage; return window you can use | Never; this one is not optional on a wood cue | Brand warranties |
If you're buying a first cue and want the short version, stop here: two-piece, maple, 58 inches, 19 ounces, 13mm medium tip, linen or wrapless, warpage warranty. Our beginner cue guide lists cues built to that spec.
Step 1: decide what the cue is for
Most people searching how to pick a pool cue want a playing cue, the one you shoot nearly every shot with. But the right answer changes if the cue has a different job.
- Your own cue for league night or the bar: a two-piece playing cue. It fits a case and you can swap the shaft later.
- Cues for a home table that guests will use: one-piece house cues in a spread of weights. They have no joint to cross-thread. See pool cue sets and one-piece vs two-piece.
- A second cue to protect your playing cue on the break: a break cue, or a break-jump combo if you also want to jump.
- The plain look of a bar cue in a cue you can carry: a sneaky pete.
- Snooker: a different animal, with ash shafts and 9 to 10mm tips. Use our snooker cue guide.
Step 2: set a budget by how often you play
Spend according to how much you'll use it, not how good you hope to get. A pricier cue won't make you a better player; Dr. Dave Alciatore's cue FAQ says it plainly, and a good player plays well with any decent cue that has a decent tip.
| How you play | Sensible spend | What the money buys | Where to look |
|---|---|---|---|
| A few times a year | Under $100 | A straight two-piece maple cue with a leather tip; short warranty | Cheap cues |
| Weekly, or joining a league | About $110 to $200 | Better tip and ferrule, tighter joint, lifetime warpage warranty from brands like Valhalla, Players and McDermott Lucky | Beginner cues, under $200 |
| Improving league player who uses spin | About $200 to $500 | A low-deflection maple shaft or entry carbon, and better balance | Intermediate cues, under $500 |
| Competitive player | $500 and up | Name-brand carbon or premium LD shafts, adjustable weight, craftsmanship | Advanced cues, are expensive cues worth it |
Retailers draw these lines in slightly different places. PoolDawg puts most beginner cues at $100 to $250, and Quarter King Billiards calls $200 to $400 its sweet spot. Our numbers sit in the same range. Leave room in the budget for a case and a glove; they do more for a new player than another $100 of cue.
Step 3: get the shaft right
The shaft is the part of the cue that touches your bridge hand and carries the tip, and it shapes how the cue plays more than anything behind the joint. Three choices:
- Standard hard rock maple. The right first shaft for almost everyone. It gives honest feedback, it's what most league players learned on, and it can be repaired and refinished. Its weakness is warp, so store it in a case.
- Low-deflection maple. Less mass at the tip end means the cue ball squirts less when you use side spin. Dr. Dave's measurements, summarized in our low-deflection explainer, show roughly 30% less squirt near maximum english. Worth it once you use english on purpose.
- Carbon fiber. Won't warp, needs no sanding, and usually squirts less than standard maple. It costs much more, and some players dislike the feel. Read wood vs carbon and whether carbon is worth it first.
Predator's own buying guide pushes low-deflection carbon even for beginners. We don't agree for a first cue under about $200: until your stroke is straight, squirt isn't what's costing you balls. Buy a two-piece and you can upgrade the shaft later without replacing the cue.
Fiberglass and graphite composite cues are a fourth option, mostly for house cues and damp basements. Our fiberglass vs graphite guide explains why most players find them duller.
Step 4: the tip matters more than the butt
An old piece of advice in Dr. Dave's FAQ still holds: the tip affects how a cue plays more than the butt does, and tips can be replaced. So judge a cue by its tip and ferrule before its inlays.
Size: 13mm is the forgiving standard and the right first size; 12 to 12.5mm suits spin-heavy 9-ball and 10-ball players and most carbon shafts. A smaller tip doesn't create more spin on its own. Our tip size chart explains why.
Hardness: medium is what most makers fit and what almost everyone should start with. Inside the normal playing range, soft and hard tips put the same spin on the ball at the same contact point; the differences are feel, chalk holding and how long the tip keeps its shape. See soft vs hard cue tips.
Construction: a glued-on leather tip, ideally layered. Skip screw-on plastic tips; they're the clearest sign of a toy cue.
Steps 5 to 7: fit weight, length and grip to your body
These three are about comfort, and the defaults fit most adults.
Weight: start at 19 ounces, the most common weight. Heavier doesn't mean more power; cue speed matters far more than mass. Most good cues let you change weight with a bolt under the bumper, so this decision is reversible. Details in our cue weight guide.
Length: 58 inches fits players from about 5 feet up to roughly 6'2". Taller players can add an extension or look at cues for tall players; kids need a shorter cue. The full height chart is in what size pool cue do I need.
Grip: Irish linen if your hands sweat or you can't decide, leather if your hands are dry and you like a smooth, fuller feel, wrapless if you wear a glove. Small hands may prefer linen or wrapless, both slimmer than leather; see cues for smaller hands and wrap types.
Step 8: the joint, briefly
Don't choose a cue for its joint. A stainless steel joint gives a firmer, crisper hit; wood-to-wood and radial joints feel softer. Neither plays better, and PoolDawg notes the joint has little effect on overall performance.
The pin type matters only for the future: every replacement or carbon shaft must match your butt's pin exactly. Beginner cues usually have 5/16x18 or 3/8x10 pins, and both have plenty of shaft options. Check the joint types guide before you buy a second shaft.
Step 9: read the warranty before the specs
Warp is the most common way a wood cue dies, so a warranty that names warpage is the best quality signal you can read off a listing. Viking (Valhalla included) and McDermott offer lifetime warranties that include warpage, and Players does on most of its line, each with conditions. Our brand guide compares the fine print.
Three conditions catch people out, and PoolDawg's guide lists all of them: warranties usually aren't transferable, they need proof of purchase from an authorized dealer, and some require you to register the cue. Viking, for example, wants registration within 60 days. A used cue almost never carries a warranty; see buying a used pool cue.
Check the cue in your hands
Whether you're in a shop or unboxing a delivery, run these checks the same day. Most return windows are short.
- Sight down the shaft from the butt end while you slowly rotate it. A curve that moves as you turn means warp.
- Roll the shaft alone, the butt alone, then the assembled cue on a flat table. If the pieces roll true apart but wobble together, look at the joint. Our warp guide shows how to read the roll.
- Screw the halves together by hand. They should seat snugly with no gap at the joint.
- Look at the ferrule for hairline cracks and check that the tip is firmly glued and not glazed shiny.
- If you can, take a handful of shots. Feel and sound are personal, and a cue you dislike the hit of won't grow on you.
Shopping a bar or pool hall rack? The same first four checks pick the best house cue on the wall.
Common mistakes when buying a pool cue
- Buying on looks. Inlays and graphics add cost, not performance. A plain butt with a good tip beats a fancy butt with a bad one.
- Assuming a heavier cue breaks or hits harder. Speed does that, and a heavy cue is harder to swing fast.
- Jumping to carbon or low-deflection before your stroke is ready, then blaming the cue when your aim shifts. Switching shafts means recalibrating how you aim with english.
- Breaking with your playing cue. It compresses and mushrooms the tip, can crack the ferrule and loosens the joint over time. A separate break cue takes that abuse.
- Buying a blister-pack big-box cue. PoolDawg warns these are often made of Ramin wood instead of maple.
- Changing cues every few months. Dr. Dave's advice is to pick a setup and stick with it long enough to learn the cue's speed and squirt.
Which cue for which player
| You are | Buy | Skip |
|---|---|---|
| A casual bar player, a few nights a year | A straight two-piece maple cue under $100 and a soft case | Carbon, LD shafts, anything with a screw-on tip |
| A new league player | A $110 to $200 maple cue with a warpage warranty, plus a 2x2 case for a future break cue | A pro-level cue until you know what you like |
| A 9-ball or 10-ball player who uses english | A low-deflection maple or carbon shaft with a 12 to 12.5mm tip | Big, soft tips that squirt more |
| Stocking a home table | One-piece house cues in 18, 19, 20 and 21 oz and a rack | A rack of cheap two-piece cues guests will cross-thread |
| Keeping cues in a damp basement or car | Carbon for your own cue, fiberglass composite for house cues | Unprotected maple |
| Very tall, short or small-handed | Standard cue plus extension, or a short or slim-grip cue | Forcing a standard 58-inch cue that doesn't fit |
Still deciding between brands? Our pool cue brands ranking takes it from here.
Sources
- Dr. Dave Pool Info (Colorado State University): how to select a pool cue
- PoolDawg: beginner guide to pool cues (budgets, pins, warranty conditions, Ramin-wood warning)
- Predator Cues: best pool cues of 2026 (manufacturer view on shafts and weight)
- Quarter King Billiards: pool cue buying guide 2026 (retailer budget tiers)
- Viking Cue: lifetime warranty terms
- Wikipedia: Cue stick (dimensions and cue types)
- Product specifications and warranties: the Amazon listings linked from each product card (checked October 15, 2026)
Our picks
Links open the current selection and price on Amazon so you can compare real reviews before buying.
Viking Valhalla 100 Two-Piece 58-Inch Cue
Best first cueHard rock maple with a pro-taper shaft, a stainless steel joint and pin, and a resin ferrule. The selling point is Viking's lifetime warranty against warpage, which covers the way most entry cues fail. Register it with Viking soon after it arrives.
Amazon price: $135.00 as of 11:47 AM EDT. Price and availability can change; Amazon’s price at purchase applies.
Check price on Amazon
McDermott Lucky L8 Cue with Soft Case
First cue that comes casedA 58-inch hard rock maple cue with a 29-inch pro-taper shaft, 13mm tip, Irish linen wrap and McDermott's 3/8-10 joint. A half-inch weight bolt system lets you move a 19 oz cue lighter or heavier later, and a branded 1x1 soft case comes in the box.
Check price on Amazon
HomeSeason 58 in. Maple Cue, 19 oz, 13 mm Layered Tip
Low-budget starterA two-piece maple cue at the standard 58 inches and 19 oz with a 13mm four-layer leather tip, a nylon-thread grip and a carry bag. It gets the core spec right for very little money; roll it the day it arrives, because budget cues live or die on straightness.
Check price on Amazon
Billmart PRO Low-Deflection Maple Cue
Spin and position playersA low-deflection shaft in North American hard rock maple with a 13mm six-layer medium tip, a wood-to-wood joint and a real leather handle. Worth a look once side spin is part of how you play position, since less squirt means less aim correction on every english shot.
Check price on Amazon
CRICAL Playing Cue and Jump Break Cue Set
Complete league setupA 58-inch low-deflection carbon fiber playing cue with a 12.5mm tip, plus a three-piece maple jump-break cue with a 13.5mm Bakelite (phenolic) tip, a six-hole case and an extension. Your playing tip never has to take a break shot, and both cues travel together.
Check price on Amazon
Viper Graphstrike 58 in. Fiberglass Composite Cue
House cue for damp roomsA fiberglass graphite composite cue with a pro taper shaft and a leather tip. It resists warping, water absorption and dents, which is what a basement table or a house rack needs. Expect a duller hit than maple; buy maple for your own cue.
Amazon price: $30.39 as of 11:44 AM EDT. Price and availability can change; Amazon’s price at purchase applies.
Check price on AmazonFrequently asked questions
How do I pick a pool cue as a beginner?
Buy a two-piece hard maple cue, 58 inches and 19 ounces, with a 13mm medium leather tip and a warranty that covers warpage. Expect about 110 to 200 dollars if you play weekly. Skip low-deflection and carbon shafts until your stroke is consistent.
What should I look for when buying a pool cue?
A straight shaft, a glued-on leather tip in good shape, a crack-free ferrule, a joint that screws together snugly with no gap, and a warranty that names warpage. Looks come last.
How much should I spend on my first pool cue?
About 110 to 200 dollars if you'll play weekly or join a league. Under 100 dollars is fine if you play a few times a year. Spend more only when you know what the extra money fixes, such as a low-deflection shaft.
Is a heavier pool cue better?
No. Weight is about comfort. Start at 19 ounces; go to 18 if the cue feels slow or 20 to 21 if you like a heavier hit. Speed, not mass, makes the cue ball move.
Should I buy a pool cue online or in a store?
Either works. In a store you can roll and hit the cue first. Online, buy from an authorized dealer so the warranty is valid, and check straightness the day it arrives while the return window is open.
Do I need a low-deflection or carbon shaft?
Not for a first cue. They help when you use side spin for position. Center-ball players and beginners do fine with a standard maple shaft, and a two-piece cue lets you add one later.
Do I need a separate break cue?
If you play weekly, yes. Breaking with your playing cue compresses the tip and can crack the ferrule and loosen the joint. A break cue with a hard tip takes that abuse instead.
Related guides
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