after playing pool for 35 years and making cues since 92 for me pau ferro is the best cue wood there is. the two woods i use alot is coco and b.e. maple. but to me pau ferro is the cuemakers dream wood. plays great, turns great, and finishes great, and is strong. i have hit with about 900 of my cues when test hitting a few racks before shipping for me this is outstanding cue wood for pool cues .its a little harder than b.e and a tad softer hit than coco. i like this wood alot for a sweet hitting cue and it doesnt matter which joint pin. any body else feel the same way about pau ferro/. jeff olney