Some basic knowledge about a custom cue that a 1st time buyer needs to know?

[haminh]

Hi everyone,

I decided to order a custom cue. However, as a first time buyer, I am in lack of knowledge about the cue world. For example, I don't know the differences between 4 points and 6 or 8 points, what kind of wraps that are available. So basically I don't know much about the cue in order to discuss with the builder to have the cue done the way I want it. So could you please all share with me what a 1st time buyer as me needs to know about the cue before get it done by the cue maker?

Thanks so much for reading this.

Best,

PS: Could you please help me with the question about the points and the wraps?

 

[poohkiller]

Hello,

The first answer to your questions is a question itself: what is your budget and who is the cuemaker you are looking to order a cuemaker from?

To help you understand the point- and wrap issues:
Cues most often have 4-6-8 points and less often have more than those or have 5 or 10 points.
Here is a cue that I currently own:

By clicking HERE you may see a 6 point or 6-prong cue, I hope you can see the difference now.

It has four points - the points are the ebony triangular parts above the wrap.
The points have other trim "lines" around it that are called veneers and on this cue they are black-green-black-natural.

The wrap on a cue can be leather (pig skin, exotic skins such as lizard or elephant) or linen and scarcely cork.

When ordering a cue the most important thing is to have the cue suit you, and the factors that mostly determine this are: weight, balance point, shaft and butt diameters (mostly below the top of the shaft) and below the wrap or at the butt cap. What also matters are the joint and ferrule material, the taper of the cue (the latter greatly determines the stiffness of the cue or the shaft and hence has an effect on playability) and there are several less major factors as well beyond those that I forgot in this rush

Your questions are about an entire cue which is an extremely complex piece of engineering despite whether it's done well or not so well.

To make your things a lot easier you should publish your budget and contact a well known and respected cue maker in the first place, hence your chances of getting a good cue are much better.

For a kick off, I hope that I could help, just ask here if you have any further questions.