Cue question

TrxR

Well-known member
Why are snooker cue generally 1 piece or 3/4 joint unlike a midle joint pool cue? and why ash over maple?
 

Greg M

Active member
A few reasons:

• Half-joints are not comfortable when cueing, as the join itself can snag on chin hair.
• Players generally prefer the feel and feedback from a cue hitting the cue ball with no joint or a joint at 16" or 12" from the butt.
• A 1/2 joint is more forward-balanced than a 3/4 joint or a one-piece, which are more rear-balanced, which can be a problem if a player likes cues on the lighter side.

As for the wood selection, I'm actually not sure why ash is prevalent for snooker cue production than maple. Maybe it was the availability at the time with contemporary cues back in the late 19th/early 20th century?

Personally, I hate 1/2 jointed cues. I will always take a 3/4 or a one-piece over them, any day, but my main preference is a one-piece. As far as woods are concerned, I do really like the look of maple on snooker and English pool cues, but I will always choose ash if given the choice. Both woods are still perfectly acceptable.
 

TrxR

Well-known member
A few reasons:

• Half-joints are not comfortable when cueing, as the join itself can snag on chin hair.
• Players generally prefer the feel and feedback from a cue hitting the cue ball with no joint or a joint at 16" or 12" from the butt.
• A 1/2 joint is more forward-balanced than a 3/4 joint or a one-piece, which are more rear-balanced, which can be a problem if a player likes cues on the lighter side.

As for the wood selection, I'm actually not sure why ash is prevalent for snooker cue production than maple. Maybe it was the availability at the time with contemporary cues back in the late 19th/early 20th century?

Personally, I hate 1/2 jointed cues. I will always take a 3/4 or a one-piece over them, any day, but my main preference is a one-piece. As far as woods are concerned, I do really like the look of maple on snooker and English pool cues, but I will always choose ash if given the choice. Both woods are still perfectly acceptable.
Thanks

One more thing i have wondered. Why do they have the tapered flat at the butt?
 

Greg M

Active member
Thanks

One more thing i have wondered. Why do they have the tapered flat at the butt?
I think it's a traditional holdover from the mace being used in early days, where the butt of the cue was used to shunt balls across a table. It also allows space for a cue maker to place their stamp.
 

Bob Jewett

AZB Osmium Member
Staff member
Gold Member
Silver Member
I think it's a traditional holdover from the mace being used in early days, where the butt of the cue was used to shunt balls across a table. It also allows space for a cue maker to place their stamp.
The other use of the flat is to usually hold it with your hand on it a certain way, causing the cue to have a consistent up/down rotation. That allows the player to adapt subconsciously to some bend in the cue. One of the top players from the 1970s (or so, I forget which one) describes his cue as rather bent but as the bend always hung down, it was of no concern.

Playing with the hand always on the flat removes one variable from the mechanics.
 

drsnooker

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The other use of the flat is to usually hold it with your hand on it a certain way, causing the cue to have a consistent up/down rotation. That allows the player to adapt subconsciously to some bend in the cue. One of the top players from the 1970s (or so, I forget which one) describes his cue as rather bent but as the bend always hung down, it was of no concern.

Playing with the hand always on the flat removes one variable from the mechanics.
Hendry's old cue was super bend (that he won all the world championships with), until the airline broke it!
 

Greg M

Active member
Hendry's old cue was super bend (that he won all the world championships with), until the airline broke it!
Ken Doherty's cue is also warped. He saw a cheap rack cue in his local snooker hall in Ranelagh and bought it from the owner for about £2. Had half the butt cut off and fitted with a 4/5 joint in it a few years ago, but he's still using the cue to this day. Honestly, it's one of the nicest looking cues I've seen a professional use. I'm a sucker for short-butted machine spliced cues.
 

TrxR

Well-known member
Talking about crooked cues I had an old guy in a bar tell me it didn't matter how crooked the cue was as long as it had a good tip and you indexed it the same each shot. The flat spot would help with that.
 

Greg M

Active member
Talking about crooked cues I had an old guy in a bar tell me it didn't matter how crooked the cue was as long as it had a good tip and you indexed it the same each shot. The flat spot would help with that.
The ash grain would also help. Read that Doherty has his eye trained on a space of grain on his cue that he uses to play shots straight.
 

WityBilstonCues

New member
Cuemakers experimented with different hardwoods from around the world then WW1 meant they could not get much from abroad and had to turn to home grown woods. Ash was plentiful and cheap thus it took a foothold.
 
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