Best Pool Cues – Top 5 Rated For 2022

I’m not the best pool player, but I continue to work on my game. For years people asked what cue is your favorite, and all they get from me is a confused look followed by “I don’t know.” So I decided to learn about pool cues and buy myself a new one.

Pool cues can be made from different materials, including wood or graphite, and come in various prices, sizes, and craftmanship to suit players of all skill levels. The best pool cues are well balanced, straight, fit your personality and budget.

The pool cue, or pool stick, is one of the essential things you require when playing pool. Without a pool stick, you really can’t play a game. Many pool tables come with cues in the packaging; however, these cues are usually made of low-quality materials and deteriorate after a short period.

I recommend buying your pool cues separate from your table purchase. Many manufacturers specialize in high-quality pool sticks that perform well and last long. Before compiling this list, we have reviewed hundreds of cues on the market.

We considered the vital factors that make up the best pool cues and, after many hours shooting pool, feel qualified to provide you with this unbiased list of the best pool cues on the market today.

Furthermore, we provide a guide of the essential factors that you must consider when choosing a pool cue. By reading this information, you will gain knowledge of the market and be able to pick the best pool cue for yourself.

Best Pool Cues

1. AB Earth 2-Piece 58 Inches Pool Cue – Best Cue Under $40

The AB Earth 2-Piece pool stick is beautiful, comfortable to hold, and an attractive pool stick that is great for beginners and expert players. It has features common to high-quality pool cues, and many users have complimented the overall performance.

For us, we believe it is a beautiful blend of creativity and durability. The design is quite appealing to all users. The butt of the cue is hand-painted in different designs that make it very attractive.

The AB Earth comes with an ergonomic design that ensures impressive gameplay. Holding the pool cue is comfortable. Performance is silky smooth, but don’t be carried away; the excellent performance is dependent on the textured grip.

The pool cue is made of high-quality materials and will last for a long time. It might be fashionable in appearance, but it delivers a mean, impressive performance. It is sturdy while allowing for optimal flexibility. The butt is made of Canadian maple, which ensures that it is durable and offers an excellent grip.

Despite all of these features, the pool cue comes at an affordable price. Click here to see the best price.

2. Iszy Billiards Canadian Maple Pool Cues – Best 2-Piece Pool Cue

The Iszy Billiards pool cue is one of our favorite pool cues on the market. If you check the over 100 reviews on Amazon, you will discover that we aren’t the only ones left impressed by this cue. It comes in a classic, durable design that makes it attractive to almost every user.

Made of Canadian Maplewood, it is built to last. The colors are muted and classic, with the cue coming in a brown and black design.

It doesn’t come with any bells and whistles but delivers an excellent performance as promised. It comes in a 2-piece design, and we found it very easy to fold and store.

The joint of the cue is made of steel, which enhances durability and allows you to line up the pool stick perfectly. The tip on this cue is made of leather and offers some of the best control we have seen from any of the pool sticks we reviewed. It comes in an average length that allows different folks, especially short people, to use it comfortably.

The handle of your cue affects gameplay, and to our relief, the handle on this pool cue is designed to make playing more enjoyable. Encased in Irish linen, the handle looks great and offers adequate grip. A bumper set at the rear of the butt ensures that impacts from the floor or walls are absorbed and do not damage the cue. Click here to see the best price.

3. Players HXT15 Two-Piece Pool Cue – Best Pool Cue For Expert Players

Players Technology HXT15 Two-Piece Pool Cue is a pool cue that not only looks incredibly attractive but has features that make it a great pool cue even for the professional player. The construction and design are superb.

From our test of the pool cue, we immediately knew we stumbled onto a gem of a pool cue. The pool cue is made of Hard Rock Maple without any other materials combined with it. As a result, the construction and durability are quite impressive.

Furthermore, durability is assured by the coating and finish on the pool cue. The wood is coated in an epoxy finish. The finish ensures that despite sweaty palms, your pool stick won’t lose its quality.

It has an epoxy finish that protects the wood from warping. Additionally, the pool stick’s Nelsonite treatment during manufacture serves as added protection against warping from humidity.

All of these features conspire to provide an excellent cue that will last for an extended period.

The stick has a length of 58″. Therefore, it is not suited to small places and can be difficult for folks that are “vertically challenged.” If you are used to a standard cue length, you will adjust to this pool cue in no time. Click here to see the best price. These cues come in various weights if one isn’t available check for other sizes.

4. TaiBA 2-Piece Canadian Maple Pool Stick – Durable Pool Cue

The TaiBA 2-Piece Pool Stick is designed to last through heavy use and is excellent for all folks, either beginner or expert. It is manufactured using genuine Maple wood, which makes it look great and durable.

Furthermore, it comes with multiple coats of varnish to give it a lasting appearance. The cue stick ranges from 19 to 22 ounces in weight.

So you can adjust the weight depending on what you desire. With a handle designed to offer a secure grip, many users have complimented the overall design of the cue.

During testing, we observed that the multi-varnish layers on the stick make it highly resistant to moisture; even when your hands are wet and sweaty, it doesn’t affect the performance or durability of the cue. Furthermore, it is resistant to warping.

As a 2-piece set, the joint is made of brass. This construction is durable and will serve users for a long time. Furthermore, it is flexible. Hence, you can assemble the stick with ease. This feature also aids movement and storage.

The leather wrap of the cue delivers a beautiful appearance. The design ensures that there is no unnecessary movement during gameplay. You don’t have to adjust the tip of this cue as it is already designed correctly. Click here to see the best price.

5. CUESOUL 57″ Maple Pool Cue – Best Value For Money

Cuesoul is a famed manufacturer of quality pool cues, and the CUESOUL 57″ pool cue is an impressive addition to their line of high-quality pool cues.

The appearance of the pool stick exudes the high-quality materials used in manufacturing it. The weight ranges between 19 and 21 ounces; therefore, you have the chance to choose that which sits right in your hand.

Whether you are a beginner or an expert player, you will enjoy the feel of this cue in your hands. It is perfectly weighted to deliver the best pool experience.

In spite of the high-quality materials and features, it comes at an affordable price. Click here to see the best price.

How to Buy The Best Pool Cue

The first step to improving your gameplay and understanding the game of pool is by getting the right cue. However, if you are a beginner who hasn’t any experience with pool sticks, choosing the right one can be a challenge. Even expert player might at times scratch their head in puzzlement about the right cue to choose.

There are thousands of options on the market. This section is dedicated to explaining the features you need to know before selecting a pool stick.

While there is no universal “best pool cue or stick,” knowing about the essential features of a pool cue will help you select the best one for you. Let’s start by looking at what makes up a pool cue.

Parts of a Pool Cue

A first step in choosing the right pool cue is identifying the various parts that make up a pool stick. Let take a look at the elements of a pool stick and why they are important.

Tip

The tip of the pool cue is the part that strikes the ball. As the name implies, it is at the apex of the stick. There are different ways of attaching the tip to the stick. One way is by gluing it to the stick, while another is by screwing it.

Either way, you must ensure it is done correctly and will not come off during use. To ensure durability, the rip is often made of compressed and treated leather. Depending on the style of the game or your preference, the tip can vary in hardness: from very soft to super-hard tips.

Tips are essential as they affect your gameplay, so you must regularly maintain them and keep them in good working condition. If you fail to maintain them regularly, they lose their smoothness.

Substandard pool stick tips make it difficult to get a good strike on the cue ball and will result in mishits or miscues every time you line a shot. If, as a beginner, you have wondered why there is always chalk on the pool table, the reason is to keep the cue in a suitable form and enhance durability.

Hard tips are great for jump and break cues. Therefore, the hit is without any spin, but it is still powerful. The size of the tips ranges from 11.75 mm to 14 mm.

Ferrule

The ferrule is the part of the pool cue between the tip and the shaft. When choosing a pool cue, you should scrutinize this part. Why? Because it strengthens the tip and can affect your gameplay. The ferrule ensures that vibration from hitting the ball is reduced.

It is attached to the shaft by threading, gluing, or slipping.

Shaft

The shaft makes up the bulk of the pool cue. It comes in different lengths and is made from various materials such as wood, fiberglass, and graphite. The most common material the shaft is made of is hard rock maple wood. When making a shaft or choosing one, attention is focused on the tapering of the part. The shaft is vital because it affects the smoothness of your stroke.

Joint

Just as the ferrule is between the shaft and the tip, the joint lies between the butt and the shaft; it is the part that ensures the cue butt and shaft are aligned. It ensures your stick is firm and steady. Made of a male and female threaded screw, this part provides a smooth transition of energy from the shaft to the butt of the pool stick.

Materials used in making this part include stainless steel, bones, ivory, wood, etc. These materials ensure that you have a pleasant playing experience. It determines the energy flow during your play.

Ring

The ring is a regular part of the cue located on the collar of the shaft and butt. It holds the joint in place for reinforcement. It has a similar design to that of the butt.

Collar

Located at the rear of the shaft is the collar. It lies on the forearm and reinforces the pin. Just as the joint, it offers a consistent flow of energy during play. The collar is made of phenolic resin, ivory, or stainless steel.

Bumper

The bumper lies at the tail end of the stick. It is made of leather or rubber, and for a good reason! This part serves to absorb all the impact and pressure from forcefully hitting the cue balls. It protects the cue from damage by receiving the bulk of the collisions, either with the cue balls or the wall.

Features to Consider

Dimensions

The dimensions of pool cues vary greatly. The most common cue length is between 145 cm and 150 cm. However, when it comes to sizes, the best dimensions for you are those that you find comfortable to use.

Shorter dimensions are dependent on the height of the player. Furthermore, if the space you are playing in is small, it would be more convenient to play with a pool cue with a shorter length. Some pool cues have a maximum length of 100 cm which ensures you can move freely without any issues.

Another dimension apart from the length of the pool cue is the tip dimension. Tips come in various sizes as well. The general range is between 9 to 13 mm. The tip’s size means that you hit a larger surface area, which will impact the force of the blow and affect the English you can put on the cue ball.

Weight of the cue

The cue weight is another essential factor to take under consideration. Heavier cues are ideal for people starting to learn how to play pool. With these cues, it is easier to spin the cue balls. However, lighter pool cues are the best bet for experts or those who have graduated from being beginners. They add loads of power to your shot and allow you to control the speed the cue ball travels.

Assembly and Construction

As we pointed out in the preceding section, pool cues come with various components. The shaft, tip, bumper, joiner, and other parts work together to deliver good or bad performance. Hence, ensure that the pool cue has good solidity. All the components of the pool cue must be correctly joined. If a part is out of place or faulty, it can significantly affect your gameplay.

There are different means of joining the components of a pool stick. Some feature screwed parts, while others are glued. Whichever method of assembly, the best pool stick will have a strong, sturdy construction. Therefore, when you hit the ball, it will transfer the desired amount of force with ease.

Texture

The texture of the cue affects gameplay. The grip must not be slippery, else the force applied and accuracy will be negatively affected. The materials used for improving grip include rubber, leather, or linen. Ensure that you test out the grip before purchasing, as it can make or mar your playing experience. The studs should feature a smooth, careful polishing as well.

One-piece or Two-piece

The construction of the cue is a factor to consider. In this case, you have to decide whether to opt for a one-piece design or a two-piece design.

A two-piece cue is your best bet if you want to use the pool cue for serious gameplay, like in tournaments or competitions. It can be folded and usually comes with a carry case. On the other hand, the one-piece cue is excellent for recreational games and beginners.

Build material

Cues can be made from a wide variety of materials. However, the best material for pool cues is wood. The wood is often maple or ash since these woods are durable and provide an excellent, good-looking finish. Nevertheless, other woods are used as well. Some cues come with an interior made of carbon fiber. This material ensures that the pool stick is more durable.

Price

Cues come in a wide range of prices. While some are cheap and can be bought for less than $60, others are pretty expensive and cost over $500. The expensive cues are made of higher quality materials and have features that increase their cost.

You do not have to spend a large amount of money to get the pool cue that will work for you. Some cues fall in the mid-range of prices, yet they offer impressive performance. One way to find out if the pool cue is worth your money is by considering reviews from folks who have used it.

Brand

Several brands are on the market, with each claiming to offer the best pool cue available. However, while some unpopular brands might make perfect pool cues, the best pool cues are usually made by renowned brands.

These guys have been in the business for a long time and know what works and what doesn’t work, so for beginners, I recommend erring on the safe side and buying from a renowned brand. 

Design and Aesthetics

Appearance is not a significant factor for most folks, as long as it gets the job done. The fancier the cue appears, the more it often costs. You should examine the physical appearance or state of the pool cue with a keen eye.

Ensure that before you pay for the stick, whether online or offline, you check the condition of the pool cue. If you notice any cracks or defects, be sure to point them out. A straight pool cue is essential to your gameplay. One way to test if the pool cue is straight is by rolling it on the pool table or any available plane surface.

If you are buying it online, you might not be able to check for any physical defects. That is more reason why the pool cue must come with a warranty. Therefore, if you notice any errors on delivery, you will be able to return or replace the pool cue.

Conclusion

Enjoying a game of pool is dependent on the pool cue. Finding the right one can be challenging. However, by using this review and guide, you can make an informed decision.

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