Decal cues are the best

[Paul Bell]

An AZer claimed today that a decal cue was amazing. He asked whether the cue, Cuetec's $900 Nine-Ball, is made of decals/stickers. Yes was the response.

I like what looks like a wood stain and points above the wrap, but, I presume, are decals or paint.

See two posts below and complete posting at
https://forums.azbilliards.com/thre...igns-of-cuetec-cynergy-nineball-series.581315

Thread 'Questions about the designs of Cuetec Cynergy Nineball Series'

Oct 28, 2025

I just saw the new Cuetec "Nineball" series in collaboration with Matchroom WNT on Matchroom’s Facebook page and in videos from the Hanoi Open and the Philippines Open, and it looks amazing, at least to me. Plus, the whole cue (with a Cuetec carbon shaft) is under $1,000, so I’d definitely get one LOL. Yes, I know I should only spend $50 on a cue but heck LOL.

I’ve been playing with a 13mm wood shaft, then switched to Predator (Vantage and 12.9 Revo) for years, and I still can’t run out a single rack of 9-ball on a 4.75mm pocket table yet, definitely because of the cue, so I’m switching...

• july9x
• Replies: 41
• Forum: Main Forum

the Cuetec Cynergy Nineball Series looks incredibly good, at least in pictures and YouTube videos, but is the design on the butt just decals/stickers, or are they actually pieces of inlaid wood and other materials?

Decals
I don’t think that CueTec have any cue with real inlays.
A cue like this with real inlays these days would have cost well over $3000

 

[muskyed]

Ebonizing is and was a thing before moooochie used the term. It involves using iron and chemicals to darken woods. Often used on oak. Ebonized wood can be beautiful and takes a bit of work. Using the term for slapping some shite on top of wood is a travesty.

This is ebonized wood, actually is blacker than it looks in the photo. Yes, it's done with vinegar and steel wool. You can use this solution on any wood, but nowhere the effect you get on oak. In maple you will get a transparent blue black look, but not very black.
It dramatically raises the grain, and brings out the pores in wood also.
When a cuemaker uses the word ebonized, it's just a play on words as nothing about that cue has went through an ebonizing process. You have to flood the surface to get this result.

 

[Amaury]

This is ebonized wood, actually is blacker than it looks in the photo. Yes, it's done with vinegar and steel wool. You can use this solution on any wood, but nowhere the effect you get on oak. In maple you will get a transparent blue black look, but not very black.
It dramatically raises the grain, and brings out the pores in wood also.
When a cuemaker uses the word ebonized, it's just a play on words as nothing about that cue has went through an ebonizing process. You have to flood the surface to get this result.
View attachment 860510

Sir, that is a strange pool cue you have here!

 

[Chopdoc]

Sir, that is a strange pool cue you have here!

The real issue is...How does it hit?

 

[JasonATX]

The real issue is...How does it hit?

Pretty hollow, I'd bet.

 

[Paul Bell]

If you are going to use overlays instead of inlays and exotic wood, go full tilt. Here is a $190 Moyerly selling on Facebook for $100 that looks nice if gaudy:

 

[Paul Bell]

Action is okay, too:

_

 

[Hail Mary Shot]

I must say, comparing the decals/sticker cues in the past and what they are offering now is a big step forward. I would have been happy if they had these options 20 years ago. A friend of mine has a better starter cue than I had more than 25 years ago and he spend practically the same amount I did back then.

 

[Paul Bell]

More flash:
Evo's $150 Meg Series cues named Crimson Jaw, Abyss Blade, and Ember Fang. Shaft of fiberglass and butt of carbon fiber and fiberglass:

 

[Paul Bell]

Company on Etsy, XCueCustom, puts photos on cues. Some are lame but some are interesting art images. $170 with fiberglass shaft.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4465278544/urban-typo-pitbull-carbon-fiber-pool-cue

 

[july9x]

An AZer claimed today that a decal cue was amazing. He asked whether the cue, Cuetec's $900 Nine-Ball, is made of decals/stickers. Yes was the response.

I like what looks like a wood stain and points above the wrap, but, I presume, are decals or paint.

See two posts below and complete posting at

Thread 'Questions about the designs of Cuetec Cynergy Nineball Series'

Oct 28, 2025

I just saw the new Cuetec "Nineball" series in collaboration with Matchroom WNT on Matchroom’s Facebook page and in videos from the Hanoi Open and the Philippines Open, and it looks amazing, at least to me. Plus, the whole cue (with a Cuetec carbon shaft) is under $1,000, so I’d definitely get one LOL. Yes, I know I should only spend $50 on a cue but heck LOL.

I’ve been playing with a 13mm wood shaft, then switched to Predator (Vantage and 12.9 Revo) for years, and I still can’t run out a single rack of 9-ball on a 4.75mm pocket table yet, definitely because of the cue, so I’m switching...

• july9x
• Replies: 41
• Forum: Main Forum

View attachment 860501View attachment 860500View attachment 860498

If you are going to use overlays instead of inlays and exotic wood, go full tilt. Here is a $190 Moyerly selling on Facebook for $100 that looks nice if gaudy:
View attachment 873093View attachment 873094View attachment 873095View attachment 873096

Action is okay, too:

View attachment 875636_View attachment 875637

View attachment 883828More flash:
Evo's $150 Meg Series cues named Crimson Jaw, Abyss Blade, and Ember Fang. Shaft of fiberglass and butt of carbon fiber and fiberglass:

I just saw this LOL. I never claimed that “a decal cue was amazing” back then. I said it looked really good and that I was going to get one to try.

Now that I’ve had it for a while, it actually does play amazing. The Cynergy shaft is one of the best carbon fiber shafts out there right up there with Revo and Ignite.

Say all you want, but it’s not 1985 anymore Hell, it’s not even 2005 anymore. Times changed, tastes changed, and the industry shifted. The cues you posted above honestly look funny to me. Even if you paid me, I probably wouldn’t use them just like the Cuetec Nineball series probably looks funny to you, but most people like it nowsaday because of social media and players/influencers.

Call them production, decal, Chinese-made, whatever people want to call, but companies like Cuetec and Predator have an incredible level of detail and finish on their cues. Decal or not, the materials, consistency, fit/finish, and warranty are top tier. I can buy 10 of the same Cuetec or Predator cues and they’ll all play 99.99% identical. That consistency is part of why people are willing to pay $1,000 for a “decal cue”