Buying the Right Cue Stick for the Intermediate or Advanced Player

It is always important to remember the budget and skill level of a player before purchasing a cue stick. Cue sticks should vary from beginning players to the advanced or intermediate player. Beginner’s pool sticks should be more in the inexpensive range, really not over one hundred and fifty dollars. On the other hand, the cue stick of the advanced player should cost about three hundred dollars on average. If an intermediate or advanced player pays any less for a cue stick than that, they should be buying a cue stick that is on sale that was three hundred dollars and is now marked down.

There are a few things that an intermediate or advanced player will want to look at when buying a cue stick. Of course, at this point a player knows what they are personally looking for in a cue stick. An advanced player will know to look for a light weight cue stick to best fit them. A good weight for a cue stick is anywhere from eighteen to twenty one ounces. An advanced player will want the shaft to be around thirteen millimeters. A good way to measure how long the shaft of your cue stick should be is by comparing it your arm. The longer the arm is, the longer the cue stick should be. One can always ask a billiards retailer for their personal recommendations on what they think the length should be.

There are also special cues to look at. Cues such as these are meant only for the intermediate or advanced players. Beyond what we know to be a normal playing cue, there are separate cues for breaking and other special shots. Cues sticks that are made for special purposes can give a player an extra edge on their game. A player who considers themselves intermediate or advanced will want to greatly consider a cue like this, especially if they find themselves playing in tournaments or just playing games for money. These cues really are for the serious players who are looking for that extra little boost on their game. Some special shot cues are made for shots like jump shots.

Cues are made of several different materials such as: wood, graphite, and fiberglass. Most advanced players claim that wood billiard cues are much better than graphite and fiberglass cues. However, for a casual player this is not really an issue. Wooden cues are known to have a better feel to them, which makes them desirable to the intermediate or advanced player. They are said to not be as sticky as fiberglass or graphite and they have better feedback. All cues, no matter what material or make, need a certain amount of maintenance. As wooden cues go, they are more susceptible to dents, scratches, and moisture. However, these cues are still praised by the advanced players. So, for the intermediate or advanced player, a wooden cue is the way to go. Of course, for the beginner, most any cue stick will do.