What the desired size in a shaft ? what is your prefernce.

[Geosnooker]

I play all billiards with my 10 mm snooker cue. I can play American pool with a 13mm pool cue but a small table and large pockets doesn’t call for for accuracy in potting balls.

In contrast, I can’t get the needed spin with a pool cue on a snooker able. Especially when potting balls with an exaggerated back spin, etc.

My take on cue size is newbies find the larger shaft and tip initially easier for sinking balls. Then they stick with what is familiar. Once potting is second nature on an American table then ‘moderate’ quality league Pool is mostly about cueball placement. No real need for finesse as a wobbly ball down the rail will sink...as will a ball that is not dead centred pocket. Great Pool players can do things with 13 mm shaft that I can’t.

Anyone can grab a 13 mm house cue off the wall and enjoy a game of pool. Anyone doing the same with a 10mm cue on a 12 foot snooker table would be frustrated 10 minutes later trying to pot their first Red.

 

[HawaiianEye]

My old friend who was a great player and pool room owner, Dickie Todd. He passed away a year ago, but he was only person I have met that played with a 14mm shaft. He played with a Joey Gold cue, and had shafts made to this incredible 14mm.

Can you even imagine?

Ken

Imagine all the people.

It's easy if you can.

Up until a few years ago, I always played with 14mm shafts and I always ordered my cues (custom and production) with 14mm shafts.

 

[9ball5032]

12.6 to 13mm
I chose 12.9 for my Revo (helps me use more center ball)
I do have a Z-3 and WX900 though

 

[SeaBrisket]

Mine have gone from 13 mm to 12.75 to 12.5. I threw an 11.75 in there but couldn't get used to it and it's in the For Sale section. Now I'm in a dilemma where I suspect I pocket better with a thicker shaft while thinner feels more comfortable in my hand. I've similarly gone from preferring 21oz (as a banger shooting off the wall) down to 18 oz and now back up to a preference of a little over 19 oz. I think lighter, thinner cues make my stroke feel more agile while heavier, thicker cues make it feel more steady and I'm not sure of a sweet spot that will feel just right nor do I want to spend a bunch of money to find it.

 

[S.Vaskovskyi]

Why is it that snooker plays seem to favor conical taper over pro-taper shafts??
Do snooker players even use anything other than conical tapers??

The answers are so simple and pretty logical. You would not ask this would you ever played snooker with a good snooker cue, no matter one piece or 3/4. Have you seen many snooker players using closed bridge, glove ...so on? They are old school and still improve using 0,40$ chalks and not so expensive tips)

 

[S.Vaskovskyi]

Theure using 8mm tips, conical tapers offer the proper stiffness, if they went american taper, the stick would be flimsy. 3 cushion cues are conical tapers as well, the ball is heavy,

8 mm tips in snooker is the same extreme as lets say 11 mm tip at american pool.
I don't think the majority plays pool with 11mm tip so as most in snooker use from 9 to 9,5 mm at the tip. At least that is my observation and what I'm comfortable with.
You're absolutely right about conical taper offering the proper stiffness though.

 

[Straightpool_99]

8 mm tips in snooker is the same extreme as lets say 11 mm tip at american pool.
I don't think the majority plays pool with 11mm tip so as most in snooker use from 9 to 9,5 mm at the tip. At least that is my observation and what I'm comfortable with.
You're absolutely right about conical taper offering the proper stiffness though.

Shaun Murphy uses an 8.7mm tip, I believe, but he is the anomaly. Most players use above 9mm tips. The standard is probably 9.5mm. Personally I prefer 10mm. I tend to pot better and get better control with a larger tip.

The English pool games (Black ball, world rules etc), use an even smaller cue ball than snooker, and here the standard is 8.5mm. You'll frequently see cues advertised for "pool and snooker" with 8.5mm tips. Those would primarily be aimed at pool players, though. You CAN of course play snooker with such a cue, but it's not recommended. It's however perfectly reasonable to play English pool with a snooker cue.

 

[S.Vaskovskyi]

Shaun Murphy uses an 8.7mm tip, I believe, but he is the anomaly. Most players use above 9mm tips. The standard is probably 9.5mm. Personally I prefer 10mm. I tend to pot better and get better control with a larger tip.

The English pool games (Black ball, world rules etc), use an even smaller cue ball than snooker, and here the standard is 8.5mm. You'll frequently see cues advertised for "pool and snooker" with 8.5mm tips. Those would primarily be aimed at pool players, though. You CAN of course play snooker with such a cue, but it's not recommended. It's however perfectly reasonable to play English pool with a snooker cue.

Absolutely agreed).
It's a pity I've never had possibility to play english pool (there are no tables for english pool in my country) and just a few times I could try carom when there was possibility. It's fun and useful to try new games which demand some new knowledge and skills.