The forearm is commonly made of figured hardwood, carefully chosen from dried and seasoned stock to insure stability and to endure many turnings. The forearm is often decorated with inlays. Its surface area is coated with an impregnable high-gloss finish to help protect the wood from cracking and warping. The most common inlay, points vary in style and design. While a popular medium for creative expression, points also reinforce the forearm, curtail warping, and enhance the balance of the cue.
Some points are even in number but staggered in height, while others remain the same length.
They may have colored veneers on either side, or contrast starkly with the basewood of the forearm. Often, points are inlaid into a flat routed pocket, others are fitted into a spliced V-groove. Since inlay materials vary in weight and density, these considerations cannot be avoided. Hand cutting is often required afterward to make pocket corners square and points sharp. The inlay piece, which initially extends above the surface of the surrounding area, will be turned down to match the base wood's intended circumference.