- ByAdmin
- •
- 21 Nov, 2017
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If you just started playing billiards or have been considering starting, it is important to know how to choose the right cue stick. You may not realize just how much using the wrong cue stick can affect your play, but once you begin using the right stick, you'll be shocked at how much your game improves.
Read on to learn the four steps to choosing the perfect cue stick.
1. Choose Your Cue Tip Diameter
Cue tips come in many sizes, and the diameter of the cue tip can affect your play greatly. While pool cue tips of smaller diameters help more advanced players put a side-spin on the cue ball called English, cue tips with larger diameters help newer players pocket the balls more easily.
It is generally recommended that newer players start with cue tips that are large (about 13 mm) in diameter. The greater surface area of the cue tip can help you land even those tough shots more easily. As your pool skills advance, you can experiment with smaller cue tips and master that sidespin.
2. Select the Right Cue Stick Weight
Cue sticks also come in many different weights. Just like choosing your cue tip diameter, it is important to take your skill level into consideration when choosing your stick weight.
While professional billiards players tend to use pool sticks that weigh about 19 ounces, it is a better idea for beginners to use pool sticks that are a bit lighter (around 15 ounces) while they are still learning how to pocket those tough shots with ease. When you strike the cue ball with a lighter cue stick, it is more likely to travel in the direction you are aiming, even if you strike the ball a little off-center.
3. Consider Your Hand Size When Choosing Your Shaft Diameter
Because the shaft is the longest part of a pool stick, choosing the right shaft diameter is a very important part of your cue selection. Shaft diameters typically range from 12 mm to 13 mm. While this is a small range, shaft sizes increase by 1/4 mm increments because even 1/4 mm can greatly affect hand comfort when playing.
The most important factor to take into consideration when choosing your pool cue shaft diameter as a new player is your hand size. If you have small hands, then you want a smaller shaft diameter so your hand doesn't experience discomfort as it slides down the shaft when you make those shots.
The best way to ensure that you choose a cue stick with the right shaft diameter is to try a variety of them at a
billiards supply shopand see which one works best for you.
4. Go with a Shaft Taper That Is Most Forgiving for New Players
The shaft of a pool cue is tapered, meaning it is thicker near the base (often called the butt) of the pool cue and thinner near the tip. There are three main styles of shaft tapers: standard tapers, pro tapers and double tapers.
Standard tapers gradually decrease in diameter from butt to tip in an even and continuous fashion. A cue stick with a pro taper maintains an even diameter for the first twelve inches of the stick near the butt before it begins tapering near the cue tip. A cue stick with a double taper is thickest near the cue butt and tip and thinnest in the middle of the shaft.
New pool players typically play best with pool cues that have standard tapers, which provide the most stable stroke.
Follow these four main steps to choosing the best pool cue for you to improve your comfort when playing and even increase your accuracy when making those tough shots!
