House cue, or any other cue that you had chance to know how it behaves when English is applied at different bridge length. Make sure it is nice and smooth.
+1 for South West... I THOUGHT my favorite was my full spliced Hill /w micarta ferrules but now it plays second fiddle to my SW. It's pretty much magical.
I know it seems odd that I didn't say a GinaCue, a Richard Black, a Szambotti, Joss West, and Black Boar and I've hit with all of those over the years. I just like the Jim Buss and the Greg Pierce the best so far. Perhaps I will change my mind when my new Bender arrives.
My beloved Lucasi of course.
Now to be real. I had a Meucci in the mid 80's that was magic in my hands.
But the pure best hitting cue was a Gus Szamboti that I got to play with but not own.And the McFadden I have now plays so smooth it's like silk.
my masonh, bryan mordt and gilbert j/b are next on the list in that order. i played with a really great sw years ago but imo dollar for dollar any of the other cues are more cue for the money