A Quick Guide to Buying a Snooker Cue
Pete Williams asked:
1. Learn about splicing.
The **** timber is spliced (joined) onto the ash shaft, this is done in one of two ways, by machine or by hand. The two methods produce snooker cues of very different appearance.
Machine splicing is less expensive than hand splicing but is a very effective way of adding the **** timber to the shaft. The **** timber (usually ebony) is cut to provide four points, which are glued into four slots machined into the shaft timber. The finished cue has a distinctive four point pattern where the **** meets the shaft.
Hand splicing is the traditional method developed by Peradon for splicing the **** timber to the shaft. The shaft has two flats planed on opposite sides of the **** end. The hardwood **** timber is glued to these flats. The cue is then rotated through 90 degrees and two further flats are planed and two more pieces of **** timber glued into place. The cue is then shaped to produce the distinctive four rounded point pattern where the **** meets the shaft.
The appearance of both machine and hand spliced cues can be enhanced with additional exotic wood splices or coloured veneers.
(This section has been adapted from the Peradon sales brochure)
2. Look for Matching grain.
You can always tell the quality of a snooker cue based on whether the grain of the wood matches across the joint.
Having a cue with matching grain affords the user a more consistent and fluid feel to every stroke. A cue that is constructed in this manner will also have a more even balance and the weight will be distributed more evenly.
3. Looks don’t equal feel.
This is such an obvious statement but it is very true. The most expensive cue in a range is generally expensive because of the materials that have been used. Another factor is the actual man hours that it takes to produce each individual cue. By purchasing the top of the range snooker cue you are not getting a higher performance model but just a cue that is more aesthetically pleasing. You can get the same performance out of a cheaper more plain looking cue.
It is important that you only take this as advice, you might personally find the top of the range cue suits you best. You can always come in to Billiards Boutique and handle a few cues before you purchase.
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1. Learn about splicing.
The **** timber is spliced (joined) onto the ash shaft, this is done in one of two ways, by machine or by hand. The two methods produce snooker cues of very different appearance.
Machine splicing is less expensive than hand splicing but is a very effective way of adding the **** timber to the shaft. The **** timber (usually ebony) is cut to provide four points, which are glued into four slots machined into the shaft timber. The finished cue has a distinctive four point pattern where the **** meets the shaft.
Hand splicing is the traditional method developed by Peradon for splicing the **** timber to the shaft. The shaft has two flats planed on opposite sides of the **** end. The hardwood **** timber is glued to these flats. The cue is then rotated through 90 degrees and two further flats are planed and two more pieces of **** timber glued into place. The cue is then shaped to produce the distinctive four rounded point pattern where the **** meets the shaft.
The appearance of both machine and hand spliced cues can be enhanced with additional exotic wood splices or coloured veneers.
(This section has been adapted from the Peradon sales brochure)
2. Look for Matching grain.
You can always tell the quality of a snooker cue based on whether the grain of the wood matches across the joint.
Having a cue with matching grain affords the user a more consistent and fluid feel to every stroke. A cue that is constructed in this manner will also have a more even balance and the weight will be distributed more evenly.
3. Looks don’t equal feel.
This is such an obvious statement but it is very true. The most expensive cue in a range is generally expensive because of the materials that have been used. Another factor is the actual man hours that it takes to produce each individual cue. By purchasing the top of the range snooker cue you are not getting a higher performance model but just a cue that is more aesthetically pleasing. You can get the same performance out of a cheaper more plain looking cue.
It is important that you only take this as advice, you might personally find the top of the range cue suits you best. You can always come in to Billiards Boutique and handle a few cues before you purchase.
Create a video blog
Memories of Grandfather’s Billiard Room
Nathaniel Jacobson asked:
I always loved that my Grandfather had a billiard room in his home. I used to spend a lot of time with him when I was young. He taught me to “shoot stick”, as he called it, when I was maybe 8 years old.
My Grandparents would entertain quite frequently, and they would regularly invite some of their closest friends over for a banquet and cocktails. Their gatherings would often run into the wee hours, by which time I was expected to be sleeping. I would usually spend an hour or so reading each night, but nights like those were too exciting to miss out on. Honestly, how could they expect me to sleep with all that activity going on downstairs?
After dinner, Grandmother would be in the parlor room having tea and chatting with the other ladies. Grandfather and his guests would retire to the billiard room or the “lounge” as he liked to call it. The odd time I would sneak out of bed, and sit on the staircase just listening to all the activity and laughter. The gents smoked cigars, sipped brandy, and talked about whatever older men talked about back then. Snooker was the game of choice.
The “lounge” was a gorgeous and stately room. It had sixteen foot ceilings with stunning plaster moldings. The walls were covered with some of the finest oak I have ever seen, and there were vast bookcases built into them. Along one wall was a beautifully carved bar, and behind that a seemingly endless supply of spirits. Grandfather kept his phonograph in there, along with his prized collection of jazz records.
One night it was rather late and, again, I was unable to sleep. So I got out of bed and got dressed in my Sunday best. I ventured downstairs and made my way into the “lounge” as though I were one of the guests. When he finally noticed me, Grandfather seemed so completely bemused by the sight before him. He welcomed me into the lounge as though I were his long lost friend, and asked if I would be interested in “shooting some stick”. “Aye! Rack ‘em up, Pops!” I exclaimed.
We played a quick game, which I am sure he let me win, and when I finished my tea I went back up to bed. That is truly one of the fondest memories of my youth. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of that dear, sweet man. Not a day goes by that I don’t “shoot some stick”.
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I always loved that my Grandfather had a billiard room in his home. I used to spend a lot of time with him when I was young. He taught me to “shoot stick”, as he called it, when I was maybe 8 years old.
My Grandparents would entertain quite frequently, and they would regularly invite some of their closest friends over for a banquet and cocktails. Their gatherings would often run into the wee hours, by which time I was expected to be sleeping. I would usually spend an hour or so reading each night, but nights like those were too exciting to miss out on. Honestly, how could they expect me to sleep with all that activity going on downstairs?
After dinner, Grandmother would be in the parlor room having tea and chatting with the other ladies. Grandfather and his guests would retire to the billiard room or the “lounge” as he liked to call it. The odd time I would sneak out of bed, and sit on the staircase just listening to all the activity and laughter. The gents smoked cigars, sipped brandy, and talked about whatever older men talked about back then. Snooker was the game of choice.
The “lounge” was a gorgeous and stately room. It had sixteen foot ceilings with stunning plaster moldings. The walls were covered with some of the finest oak I have ever seen, and there were vast bookcases built into them. Along one wall was a beautifully carved bar, and behind that a seemingly endless supply of spirits. Grandfather kept his phonograph in there, along with his prized collection of jazz records.
One night it was rather late and, again, I was unable to sleep. So I got out of bed and got dressed in my Sunday best. I ventured downstairs and made my way into the “lounge” as though I were one of the guests. When he finally noticed me, Grandfather seemed so completely bemused by the sight before him. He welcomed me into the lounge as though I were his long lost friend, and asked if I would be interested in “shooting some stick”. “Aye! Rack ‘em up, Pops!” I exclaimed.
We played a quick game, which I am sure he let me win, and when I finished my tea I went back up to bed. That is truly one of the fondest memories of my youth. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of that dear, sweet man. Not a day goes by that I don’t “shoot some stick”.
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