What Pool Cues are Made Of (And Why It Matters) Billiards Billiard Resource Center What Pool Cues are Made Of (And Why It Matters) What Pool Cues are Made Of (And Why It Matters) Author: Curt Riedy We strongly encourage any reader who finds this information beneficial to share it with their friends or other interested parties. Our readers are encouraged to link to this article from their own websites. Small Price Tags (Can They Still Mean Quality?) Itï¿½s not the kind of stick you useï¿½itï¿½s how you use it. In many ways, the above statement is absolutely true. However, itï¿½s undeniable that the choice of materials used in the construction of a pool cue plays a huge role in oneï¿½s enjoyment - and ultimate performance ï¿½ of the game of billiards. Enter the Woods: Customarily, a pool cue of exceptional quality is made from a straight-grained hard rock maple wood, especially the shaft. Today, many different types of woods are being utilized amongst cue makers, and continue to increase in popularity.

Some of the favorite woods used amongst today's cue makers are Red Ivory, Ebony, Brazilian Rosewood, Cocobolo, Blackwood, Olive Wood, Zircote, Bocote, in addition to a whole slew of other exotic woods. While certain woodland materials like pine and ebony are very consistent and easy to pinpoint, the appearance of exotic wood can be so varied in color and figuring that even experienced woodworkers have difficulty identifying them. Oddly enough, Burls - a deformed, wart-like growth on the trunk or root of a tree, are also increasing in popularity, and often used for various cue points and inlays. The popularity of Burls can be attributed to the large number of cue builders that utilize these woods by coring them out and placing laminated dowels inside to strengthen the fragile wood. In fact, there are dozens of woods suitable for use in a pool cue, just as long as they are seasoned and treated in the proper manner. Despite what some manufacturers might lead you to believe, many of these beautiful woods arenï¿½t even all that expensive.

Warping (and the Alternative): While there are some cues out there made entirely of materials such as aluminum, titanium, or acrylic, theyï¿½re generally frowned upon by the majority of the authentic pool playing community. Many of these non-wood cue sticks (especially the aluminum) can be very sensitive to temperature, and will often bend over time. In contrast, some players insist that fiberglass or graphite cues are a good, cheap alternative to wood, and are less prone to warping and dings. Still, with fiberglass or graphite, you might be sacrificing performance. A quality wood cue should never warp unless it is subjected to large temperature fluctuations, or improper storage. Basically, if this has happened to your cue, itï¿½s probably because you allowed it to happen by not taking the proper precautions (for more information on this, please see our Pool Cue Maintenance Guide ). To prevent warpage, a quality cue company such as Viking can take four to six months to make just one cue shaft. The cue is slowly lathed down over time, sometimes taking up to 2 months before the next lathing.

This elongated process allows the wood to dry, and by the final shaping, the wood has finished the majority of the warping it will do naturally. The Future of the Craft: Using the above Viking example, it's easy to see why the process behind the art of cue making is widely known to be long and arduous. The craft itself is a skill that takes years to learn. However, several advances have been made amongst several manufacturers to make the process move much quicker. Much to the dismay of the older generation of skilled cue craftsmen (and sheer joy of the new guys), the use of machines has aided much in the production of high quality inlays as well as other ornaments. True marks of quality, these exceptional inlays are set perfectly in the wood without a hint of extra space. In addition, theyï¿½re also perfectly symmetrical on all sides and clean cut so that all the points are nice and sharp. The woods can be stained to be absorbed into the wood and transparent or painted upon. Still, as long as the game of billiards exists, the craftsmen behind the cues will continue to thrive.

While machines can be a valuable aid in the cue making process when it comes to determining perfect alignment, it's the natural appeal of a handmade product that makes a custom cue so desirable...and much more costly. The Expensive: Is It Worth It? When it comes to constructing a high-end pool stick, the fine materials and painstaking artistry of the design can lead to a work of remarkable beauty, in addition to an astronomical price tag. Oftentimes, once a cue reaches a certain level of extravagance, there's a very small chance it will ever see any actual play. As price tags begin to soar, these highly sought-after collector cues tend to be purchased strictly as just that...collectibles. Occasionally, these cues can reach all the way up to the 100K price range, depending on their limited nature and exquisite nature of their craftsmanship. Once a cue reaches this level of value, it often has less to do with the performance quality of the cue, but the beautiful - and largely unnecessary - added materials included meant to increase it's monetary value.

For instance, these "collector" cues often contain highly ornate inlays with various assortments of precious metals and stones, in addition to varying woods that display elaborate designs and works of fine art. Names to know amongst the great cue makers are; George Balabushka, Herman Rambow, John Parris, Palmer, Longoni, and Samsara. The blend of superior workmanship and top-grade materials found within these legendary cues can often lead to astronomical prices, but also some of the finest pieces of equipment you'll ever experience. It's up to you how far you want them to go, and if your intention is to ultimately get out there and play the game. It all comes down to the type of billiards enthusiast you are. Sure, these cues would probably give you the greatest billiards performance of your life, but are you willing to take that risk? In other words, if you have any kids, not only should they go nowhere near itï¿½they probably shouldnï¿½t even know you own it. Small Price Tags: Can They Still Mean Quality?

In attempts to stay towards the head of the pack, competitors of custom cue makers will often try to make their cues look like they were made out of the same expensive materials used by the pros, and is accomplished by using generic or misleading overlays and decals. Unless youï¿½re easily fooled, itï¿½s fairly simple to tell a decal from the real thing. In defense of these cues, a decal may deter the cost, but they do not degrade its effectiveness when it comes down to the game play itself. In fact, a decaled cue can oftentimes be the best way to combine high style and solid craftmanship at a low price. Several of the bigger manufacturers that offer inexpensive decal cues, such as Players and Rage , combine style with genuine, uncompromised quality, and play just as well as a cue that would cost hundreds of dollars more. When purchasing a pool cue , the best way to ensure its quality is to test the cue out and get a feel for its weight and quality, rather than its ornamentation. If youï¿½re purchasing online and don't have the opportunity to test the product yourself, just make sure you've done your research (hey, it's the reason why God created Customer Reviews).

Fun Facts About Pool All Items Ship Free When Purchased With a Pool Table or Furniture! Fun Facts About Pool Fun Facts About Billiards: Here are a few fun facts that we have put together for your entertainment: Did you know that Billiards or Pool evolved from a lawn game similar to croquet played sometime during the 15th century in Northern Europe (probably in France). The word "cue" is derived from the French queue, meaning tail. Before the cue stick was designed, billiards was played with a mace. The mace consisted of a curved wooden (or metal) head used to push the ball forward, attached to a narrow handle. Since the bulkiness of the mace head made shots along the rail difficult, it was often turned around and the tail end was used. Players eventually realized this method was far more effective, and the cue as a separate instrument grew out of the maces tail. Throughout history, billiards has bridged the gap between the aristocracy and the masses. Both gentlemen and street toughs played. In 1586, the castle of Mary, Queen of Scots, was invaded and captured. The Invaders made a note of forbidding her the use of her billiard table.

They then killed her, and used the covering of the table to cover her body. In 1765 A.D., the first billiard room was built in England. Played there was One-Pocket, which was a table with one pocket and four balls. The term "pool room" now means a place where billiards is played, but in the 19th century a pool room was a betting parlor for horse racing. Billiards / pool tables were installed so patrons could pass the time between races. The game of billiards and the pool room became connected in the public's mind. Today, the two terms are used interchangeably. Pool is one of the safest sports in the world (unless you get smacked in the face with the cue ball, that's never fun!). What is billiard cloth made of Amazingly, the main component of billiard cloth has remained unchanged for over 400 years. Wool was used in the 1500's, and remains the fabric of choice today. It has, of course, undergone some perfecting (and some wool/nylon blends are also produced). The dome on Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, conceals a billiard room.

In Jefferson's day, billiards was illegal in Virginia. (What a Scandal) The term scratch, as applied to a pocketing the cue ball, was derived from the penalty assessed for such a foul. In pool's early days, the score was often kept on a chalkboard. When a player pocketed the cue ball, his opponent scratched a point off the shooter's score. There's another common name for a Billiard Cue. It can also be called a what? Pool Cue. Billiard Cues are generally thinner than a standard Pool Cue, but either is accepted as a generic term for what you use to strike the balls with. There are 15 colored balls in billiards, 7 solid, 7 striped and the black 8-ball. An illegal shot attempt where the Cue is used to shove the Cue ball after it has made contact with the object ball is called what kind of shot? A Push Shot. Push shots usually occur when the cue ball and the object ball are kissing (touching) each other even before the shot is attempted. What is the small sleeve at the end of a Pool Cue called that the tip is adhered to? The Ferrule.

The Ferrule is used to prevent the end of your cue from splitting and also provides a solid, stable point to which the tip can be fastened. Most quality cues are made into two pieces (a Top and Bottom) that are screwed together before using for game play. What are these pieces called? Shaft & Butt. Shafts can vary in thickness and taper to accommodate each user's tastes. The butt can also utilize different coverings and finishes to ensure a comfortable grip. According to research conducted a few years back, billiard champions have the highest average age of any sport, 35.6 years. So you still have a shot at the pro's. Billiards was the first sport to have a world championship (1873). The act of swinging your arm like a pendulum and forcing the tip forward to hit the cue ball is required to make a shot. What is this act called? A Stroke. Strokes are different between each player, but it is important to maintain a smooth and consistent one to excel in the game. Some Pool games require the use of a bottle containing numbered balls to be drawn at random. These little balls have a couple different common references. What are they? Peas or Pills.

Pills or Peas are drawn at random from the bottle for use in certain games or just to draw for the order in which you would shoot. These are also sometimes referred to as jug and dice. Chalk is applied to the tip to aid in good contact with the Cue ball. After considerable use the tip may get compressed and smooth at the end. This causes the tip to lose its ability to hold the chalk. What is a common term for a utensil used to restore this ability? A Pic. Pics can soften then tip by creating tiny holes and contours in the tip which allow the chalk to adhere to. The first coin-operated billiard table was patented in 1903. The cost of a game on the first pay-for-play table: one penny. The Break is the first shot beginning a game of pool. A legal shot that once announced can be done only immediately following the break where the player intentionally avoids the object ball has a specific name. What is it called? Push Out. Push Outs are generally done when the shooter that is up immediately after the break does not have a clear shot on the object ball.

After the Push Out is completed, it is the following players option to shoot at the object ball himself or let the original shooter continue. Quality two piece pool cues may allow the user to adjust how light or heavy it is by replacing something in the butt of the cue. What are these things called? Weight Rods. Weight Rods can vary from a quarter of an ounce to several ounces to create the desirable weight for the user. Before the invention of celluloid and other new-age plastics, billiard balls were made out of ivory. The elephants can thank their present existence on the invention of plastics. Because billiard balls had to be cut from the dead center of a tusk, the average tusk yielded only 3 to 4 balls. The texture on a cue's butt can range from bare wood to a variety of resins and shellacs. You may also choose a covering around the butt such as animal hides or linens. What are these coverings referred to as? A Wrap. Wraps can be used to aid in the comfort and traction of your grip or simply to add to the appearance of the cue. Captain Mingaud, the inventor of the leather cue tip, was imprisoned for political reasons during the French Revolution.

With the help of a fellow prisoner, he was able to have a billiard table installed in his cell. It was during his incarceration that be became obsessed with the game, that he devised and perfected his invention. His obsession became so intense, that at the end of his prison term, he actually asked for a longer sentence so that he could complete his study of the game. (Talk about dedication!) The world's largest billiard hall was built during billiards Golden Age. The Recreation, a mammoth seven-story health spa, was a bustling Detroit business in the 1920's. It featured 103 tables, 88 bowling lanes, 20 barber chairs, three manicuring stands, 14 cigar stands, a lunch counter on each floor, a restaurant that could seat 300, and an exhibition room with theater seating, that could accommodate 250 spectators. (Now that sounds like a great place to go for Family Night!) Charles Goodyear the inventor of vulcanized rubber, which revolutionized billiard cushions and countless other industries died a virtual pauper. His company failed, he was imprisoned for debt, and he profited little from his breakthrough invention.

The Hustler was based on a novel by Walter Tevis. The novel, however, was based on a short story he had earlier submitted to Playboy. Before "The Hustler" was released, the Philco TV Theater aired an episode called "Goodbye, Johnny", which bore an uncanny resemblance to the Playboy short story. In it, Cliff Robertson portrayed the cocky young hustler, making Robertson not Newman the original "Fast Eddie" Felson. Marquetry the art of making pictures or designs with thin slices of wood, shell or other materials has long enhanced the beauty of tables and cues. The art form is hardly a recent development. It has been practiced in Egypt and the Orient for more than 3,000 years. Throughout most of the 1800's, the chalk used on the new leather cue tips was carbonate of lime, better known as blackboard chalk. Most chalk used today is comprised of fine abrasives and does not contain a speck of chalk. The Church has long been a part of billiard history. From its earliest days, the game was often denounced as a sinful, dangerous, morally corrupt activity.

In 15th century France, billiards play was forbidden, by the Church, as well as the King. In early American history, actual laws were passed (thanks to religious influences), outlawing the game in many parts of the land. Until almost 1920, American billiards was dominated by the carom games. Pool was a dead, or dying sport. When the first championship pool tournament was held in 1878, the winner, and the event itself, all but went unnoticed. The first 18.2 Balkline Championship was held in Paris, in 1913. It will probably be the only world championship in history ever decided by the courts. After six days of play, three contestants were tied for the first place. When a tie-breaking playoff was suggested, Maurice Vignaux, the French champion and notorious whiner when things weren't going his way, scoffed at the suggestion. He insisted the title should be awarded based on the highest overall average (which he, of course, had at the time). Vignaux refused to continue, and the matter wound up in the French courts.

(Which of course awarded Vignaux, their countryman, the title after a delay of more than two months? I guess the squeaky wheel does get greased!). No one knows exactly who, when or where the first billiard table was built. The earliest documented record of a billiard table was made in 1470. In an inventory of the possessions of King Louis XI of France, his table was said to have contained the following: a bed of stone, a cloth covering, and a hole in the middle of the playing field, into which balls could be driven. Behind the eight-ball A dangerous position from which it is unlikely one can escape. From a version of the game of pool. The balls are numbered and must be potted in order. The game is forfeited if a player's cue ball hits the (black) eight-ball first. A behind the eight-ball position leaves a player in imminent danger of losing. In the course of play, one day a visiting military cadet remarked that first-year cadets at this particular academy were known as "snookers".

When the cadet missed a particularly east pot, a remark was made "Why, you're a regular snooker!" Tables originally had flat vertical walls for rails and their only function was to keep the balls from falling off. They resembled riverbanks and even used to be called "banks". Players discovered that balls could bounce off the rails and began deliberately aiming at them. Thus a "bank shot" is one in which a ball is made to rebound from a cushion as part of the shot. At times, including during the Civil War, billiard results received wider coverage than war news. Players were so renowned that cigarette cards were issued featuring them. Why do many bars and pool halls make it off-limits for patrons to try the ever-popular "masse" shot? The casual player can actually rip the cloth of the table by trying this shot. If the cloth is properly stretched, it's unlikely but it can happen, especially when inebriation is involved as it frequently is. Breaking the cue ball with the cue is essentially impossible.

The tip of the cue is generally a type of leather (or in cheap bars, plastic), and the ball is much too hard to be damaged by it (pool balls used to be made of ivory, now most are made synthetically). Jumping a ball off the table can happen, and often does, but jumping it high enough and hard enough to injure anyone while trying a masse shot is extremely unlikely. The slate does have some give to it, but denting it permanently with the cue tip isn't possible in the course of normal play. Which shape do you rack the balls in for 8 ball? A Triangle Which shape do you rack the balls in for 9 ball? A diamond Which number is the solid yellow ball? The one ball. What is the shot where the cue ball first caroms off a rail and then strikes the object ball sending it into the pocket? Banking or Kicking. What is a masse shot? When you hit down on the cue ball at an extremely steep angle in an attempt to curve it around an obstruction. There is a much easier variation, used by many good players from time to time, called (less obtusely) a "curve" shot.

This shot is accomplished by hitting down at just a slight angle on one side or the other of the cue ball, to get it to gently curve in that direction as it rolls. The curving is caused by the spin imparted to the ball as it travels, and grips the cloth and the spin alters its path. A "masse" shot is a much more extreme version of a curve, whereby the player attempts to make the ball bend its path wildly. In most cases, it's much more practical to either just hit the ball off a rail first, or to jump it, rather than try a masse. Even the best players possess too little control over what happens to the ball during a masse shot to use it very often. What color is the ball you hit with the pool stick? White What were cue balls originally made out of? Ivory Is the proper way to "jump" the cue-ball to hit under it with your cue, causing it to pop into the air? NO! Popping the ball up in the air by hitting underneath it with your cue is actually considered a foul by most common rule sets.

The proper way to "jump" the cue ball is to hit down on it with the butt-end of your cue "jacked up" (raised) in the air. Although counter intuitive to a certain extent, this will cause the ball to jump in the air, due to the slightly compressible nature of slate (the material that forms the surface of most pool tables, under the cloth covering). The ball will squish down into the surface of the table ever so slightly, and if you hit hard enough at the proper angle, the pressure of the cue pushing down and the slate pushing up, will launch the cue ball into the air, hopefully far enough to clear whatever obstruction was in its path. Some top-level players still consider jump shots to be the "lesser player's" way of escaping? This is true. Pool is closely related to a game called, variously, "billiards" or "carom". These games are played on a similar table but without pockets, and the object is to bounce around the table, contacting the other balls in order to get points.

Especially in the Philippines, but in many countries to some extent, these games are a popular way of learning the angles around the table; hence Philippinos are known for their deadly angle-play. Some players consider jump-shots to detract from the "pure" spirit of the game. Earl "The Pearl" Strickland is an American, but is the most famous of the anti-jump-shot brigade; in one famous match against Kunihiko Takahashi of Japan, Strickland verbally taunted Takahashi so much for using his jump cue repeatedly to get out of difficult positions that several complaints were lodged against Strickland for being unsportsmanlike. Do many good players have a special cue just for jump shots? Yes! Especially at the highest level, in world championship play and in the national championships of most countries, a majority of the players will either have a specific jump cue, or a multi-purpose cue that can be shortened by taking off a segment and made into a jump cue that way. Since you have to raise the butt of the cue severely for a jump shot, having a shorter cue makes it easier.

In many bars where space is limited, they will have a shortened cue similar to a jump cue that can be used on shots where a longer cue (standard length is 57 or 58 inches) would be impeded by a wall or chair. If you hit a ball hard and at an angle into the rail, it will come off at an identical angle, if measured from the other side? False, actually, it will come off at a slightly steeper angle. This is what makes the so-called "bank shot" and the "rail-first" shot so difficult. It's often said that you can judge such a shot by imagining another table right next to your table, and aiming for the spot on the other table that you want your ball to bank to, as if you were playing into a giant mirror. This is incorrect to some extent, because of the steepening of the angle off the rail, although it is a good place to start visualizing. The steepening occurs due to the rubber rail actually indenting somewhat when a ball contacts it, and "slinging" the ball back out into the table at a bit less of an angle. The harder you hit it, the greater this effect is.

By hitting it very slowly, you can almost negate the effect altogether. How many pockets are there on a standard billiards table? 6: one for each corner and two side pockets. Will a heavier cue make you be able to break harder? NO. A vast majority of players, even good players, harbor the false belief that a heavy cue (some upwards of 25 ounces, where the standard cue is between 18 and 21 ounces) will help you break, or scatter the balls from the rack, with greater power. It seems intuitive that a heavier cue will result in a higher speed and therefore a better break. In reality, the physics of it pretty much negates this idea. In order to get the heavier cue up to the same speed as you could swing a lighter cue, you'd have to put in more effort. With the same amount of extra effort applied to a break with a lighter cue, you could achieve a higher speed. Force is equal to mass times acceleration; the higher the mass, the lower the acceleration you will be able to put into the swing. The total force imparted to the cue ball will remain about the same, whether you swing with an 18 ounce cue or a 26 ounce.

The key to a good break is to impact the rack as squarely as possible, not to swing wildly. This is especially true if you are a smaller person; wielding a cue that's too heavy for you can actually make it more difficult to break. What's the difference between Billiards, Pool, and Snooker? My understanding is that billiards originally involved a pocketless table with 3 balls, the object of which was to carom (bank) and strike the object ball for a score. Billiards and pool became synonymous somewhere in America, and involves a table with 6 pockets, a cue ball and 15 object balls that may or may not be pocketed in order, depending on whether you're playing 8 or 9 ball pool. Snooker is similar to pool in that the object is to pocket scoring balls, but the balls are smaller, the table larger, the pockets smaller than in pool. In all 3 games, an essential part is the 'leave', or snookering, which involves creating as difficult a shot for your opponent as possible when it's his turn. Billiards is the oldest of them with very few balls and to me incomprehensible rules.

Snooker came from it, devised by people that fancied something a bit easier to understand. You have a quantity of red balls, a number of colored ones, and a white cue ball. Essentially, you break the reds up and try to put them down the holes. When you pot one, it stays down. When you pot one, you can also then try to pot a colored one each having and assigned number of points to them. If you do, it comes back up and is replaced as near to where it started as is possible. If you miss, the other player has a go. When all the reds are gone, the colors are sunk in a set order. Highest score wins! Pool has two sets of balls - Solids and stripes. You decide which you are potting by the first player to sink one in a pocket that is their ball style for the rest of the game. When a ball is sunk, it stays down. The 8 ball (black) is the last to be sunk. There are other sets of rules for pool, but 8 Ball is the most common. 9 ball is probably second then so on. What number is the solid purple ball in pool? The four ball.

Which US president installed the first pool table in the White House and had an alligator as a pet? John Quincy Adams owned a pet alligator which he kept in the East Room of the White House and also had the first pool table installed in the White House. Who and from what country is the world billiard/pool champion who rarely plays with his dentures on? Efren "Bata" Reyes of the Philippines. In the game Pool, the British use the term "side" for putting spin on the ball. The Americans call this shot "English". Where did this terminology originate and why the word "English"? Apparently English visitors to the USA showed us how to use the spin technique which is why Americans are the only ones to use that term. What does the term "nursery cannon" mean in relation to Billiards? It is an easy cannon where the other two balls are very close together, but means you can hit them softly and leave them in a similar position and keep on getting numerous more cannons. It usually means they're on the cushion, and there's a limit of 75 in a row. What billiards game shares its name with British military slang for a lowly first-year cadet? Snooker.

The military slang usage is confirmed by a quotation in the Oxford English Dictionary dated 1872, shortly before the game appeared in the mid- 1870's. Another quotation suggests that the original name was "Snooker's Pool." Billiards and Pool Facts and History FAQs What are some interesting billiards facts? from 8Ball48043: 1. Billiards evolved from a lawn game similar to croquet played sometime during the 15th century in Northern Europe (probably in France). 2. The term "poolroom" now means a place where billiards is played, but in the 19th century a poolroom was a betting parlor for horse racing. Billiard tables were installed so patrons could pass the time between races. The game of billiards and the poolroom became connected in the public's mind. Today, the two terms are used interchangeably. 3. Pool is one of the safest sports in the world. 4. The dome on Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, conceals a billiard room. In Jefferson's day, billiards was illegal in Virginia. 5.

The term "scratch", as applied to a pocketing of the cue ball, was derived from the penalty assessed for such a foul. In pool's early days, the score was often kept on a chalkboard. When a player pocketed the cue ball, his opponent "scratched" a point off the shooter's score. 6. According to research conducted a few years back, billiard champions have the highest average age of any sport, 35.6 years. 7. Tom Cruise did his own trick billiard shots for the 1986 film, The Color of Money, except for one in which he had to jump two balls to sink another. Director Martin Scorsese said he wanted to let Cruise learn the shot, but it would have taken two extra days of practice, which would have held up production and cost thousands of dollars. The shot was instead performed by professional billiards player Mike Sigel. 8. Billiards was the first sport to have a world championship (1873). 9. In 1586, the castle of Mary, Queen of Scots, was invaded and captured. The Invaders made a note of forbidding her the use of her billiard table.

They then killed her, and used the covering of the table to cover her body. 10. In 1765 A.D., the first billiard room was built in England. Played there was One-Pocket, which was a table with one pocket and four balls. 11. The first coin-operated billiard table was patented in 1903. The cost of a game on the first pay-for-play table: one penny. 12. Before the invention of celluloid and other new-age plastics, billiard balls were made out of ivory. The elephants can thank their present existence on the invention of plastics. Because billiard balls had to be cut from the dead center of a tusk, the average tusk yielded only 3 to 4 balls. 13. Captain Mingaud, the inventor of the leather cue tip, was imprisoned for political reasons during the French Revolution. With the help of a fellow prisoner, he was able to have a billiard table installed in his cell. It was during his incarceration that be became obsessed with the game, that he devised and perfected his invention.

His obsession became so intense, that at the end of his prison term, he actually asked for a longer sentence so that he could complete his study of the game. 14. The world's largest billiard hall was built during billiards' "Golden Age". "The Recreation", a mammoth seven-story health spa, was a bustling Detroit business in the 1920's. It featured 103 tables, 88 bowling lanes, 20 barber chairs, three manicuring stands, 14 cigar stands, a lunch counter on each floor, a restaurant that could seat 300, and an exhibition room with theater seating, that could accommodate 250 spectators. 15. The Hustler was based on a novel by Walter Tevis. The novel, however, was based on a short story he had earlier submitted to Playboy. Before "The Hustler" was released, the "Philco TV Theater" aired an episode called "Goodbye, Johnny", which bore an uncanny resemblance to the Playboy short story. In it, Cliff Robertson portrayed the cocky young hustler, making Robertson - not Newman - the original "Fast Eddie" Felson. 16.

Marquetry - the art of making pictures or designs with thin slices of wood, shell or other materials - has long enhanced the beauty of tables and cues. The art form is hardly a recent development. It has been practiced in Egypt and the Orient for more than 3,000 years. 17. Wille Hoppe was truly a legendary player. Yet, his most famous match strangely had more to do with a penknife, than his unequaled wizardry of the game. In 1925, he met Robert Cannefax, the Three-Cushion champion. After several games, Cannefax, who preferred a fast cloth, asked to move the match to a different table. Hoppe, who was leading, said the cloth was just fine, and refused to allow a change. An incensed Cannefax drew a penknife and savagely cut the cloth down the center of the table. Hoppe was immediately awarded the match, and Cannefax was suspended from competition for a year. Ironically, Cannefax never played another match. He toured vaudeville for several years, and then died of meningitis in 1928. 18.

Throughout most of the 1800's, the chalk used on the new leather cue tips was carbonate of lime, better known as blackboard chalk. 19. Most chalk used today is comprised of fine abrasives and does not contain a speck of chalk. 20. The Church has long been a part of billiard history. From its earliest days, the game was often denounced as a sinful, dangerous, morally corrupt activity. In 15th century France, billiards play was forbidden, by the Church, as well as the King. In early American history, actual laws were passed (thanks to religious influences), outlawing the game in many parts of the land. 21. The first 18.2 Balkline Championship was held in Paris, in 1913. It will probably be the only world championship in history ever decided by the courts. After six days of play, three contestants were tied for the first place. When a tie-breaking playoff was suggested, Maurice Vignaux, the French champion and notorious whiner when things weren't going his way, scoffed at the suggestion. He insisted the title should be awarded based on the highest overall average (which he, of course, had at the time).

Vignaux refused to continue, and the matter wound up in the French courts. (Which, of course, awarded Vignaux, their countryman, the title, after a delay of more than two months). 22. No one knows exactly who, when or where the first billiard table was built. The earliest documented record of a billiard table was made in 1470. In an inventory of the possessions of King Louis XI of France, his table was said to have contained the following: a bed of stone, a cloth covering, and a hole in the middle of the playing field, into which balls could be driven. 23. What is billiard cloth made of? Amazingly, the main component of billiard cloth has remained unchanged for over 400 years. Wool was used in the 1500's, and remains the fabric of choice today. It has, of course, undergone some perfecting (and some wool/nylon blends are also produced). 24. Tables originally had flat vertical walls for rails and their only function was to keep the balls from falling off. They resembled riverbanks and even used to be called "banks".

Players discovered that balls could bounce off the rails and began deliberately aiming at them. Thus a "bank shot" is one in which a ball is made to rebound from a cushion as part of the shot. 25. At times, including during the Civil War, billiard results received wider coverage than war news. Players were so renowned that cigarette cards were issued featuring them. from Jason Janosik (via e-mail), concerning item 4 above: It's a common misconception that billiards was illegal VA in Thomas Jefferson's day. The truth is that the whole story is fiction. I have lived in VA my whole life and been to Monticello a few times as it is less than an hour drive from me; so when I heard this I was interested and went digging. Virginia did levy a 50 pound tax per table in the late 1700's and it was illegal to play for betting purposes (and still is) but it was never illegal in homes. Check out the article on Monticello's web site . history What is the history of pool and billiards? See "history of pool and billiards" in the reference section of the instructor and student resource page . Who contributed the most important historical inventions in billiards?

from jason: CHARLES GOODYEAR - Gave us rubber and gave billiards bank shots Discovered the process for the vulcanization of rubber. Applications of his discovery revolutionized the billiard cushion (as well as a hundred other industries). Vulcanized rubber was stable and consistent. Unlike previous rubbers, it retained its resiliency in the most searing heat and the bitterest cold. John Thurston was the first to use Goodyear's discovery in the construction of billiard cushions. The result was a consistent, reliable cushion. Bank shots, once unpredictable, became integral parts of the game. Vulcanized rubber has proven so unsurpassed, it is still used in cushions today. Charles Goodyear, sadly, profited little from his discovery. He was imprisoned for debt, his company folded, and he died a veritable pauper. JOHN WESLEY HYATT - Inventor of the composite billiard ball The inventor of the world's first plastic. His discovery of celluloid, in 1869, revolutionized not only the billiard ball, but countless industries worldwide. Strangely, his discovery had more to do with billiards than any plastic-related vision or enterprise.

His search began as a result of a $10,000 prize, being offered for a substitute for ivory, in the composition of billiard balls. Though his discovery was not deemed worthy of the prize, later advances in plastics led to the balls of today, and forever changed the face of the world. It can thusly be stated that the world's first plastic was actually the result of a billiard-related quest: the search for a new material, for the perfect billiard ball. CAPTAIN MINGAUD - Invented the modern cue tip & Masse shots...honed the scientific edge of shotmaking Invented the leather cue tip in the early 1800's. Imprisoned in France for political reasons. Was allowed the use of a billiard table inside his prison cell, and became obsessed with the game. Became a student of the physics of shotmaking, and truly transformed the cue into a scientific instrument.

Revolutionized the "magic" one could impart on the cue ball, through the use of "spin" and "english." Mingaud also discovered that by raising the cue almost vertically - in fact into the position in which the mace would be used - extraordinary spin effects could be obtained by striking a sharp downwards glancing blow to the left and right across the cue ball. This type of shot or stroke became known as the masse - French for mace. No other invention so dramatically affected "touch," control, positioning, and overall strategic play. JOHN THURSTON - Brought table making into the Industrial Age..invented the first Slate table English inventor and table maker. Among the first to mass-produce tables, with the onset of industrialization. Inventor of the slate table bed. Unsatisfied with the playability and warping tendency of wood, he set out in search of a new material. His discovery came in the form of slate, in 1826. Slate was cheap, readily available, and offered a far smoother surface. Its immense weight led to the construction of far sturdier tables. His innovation has truly withstood the test of time.

Slate continues to be the material of choice in quality tables today. JOHN M. BRUNSWICK - The first big name in the American Billiards Industry Swiss immigrant and woodworker. Emigrated to America in 1819. Built a billiard table factory in 1845. For nearly 150 years, Brunswick has been the most visible name in American billiards. Merged with his two largest competitors—Julius Balke, in 1873; and Phelan and Collender, in 1884. Officially became "Goliath," the largest billiard company in the world. Passed control to his family, upon his death, in 1886. For over forty years (until the Depression), the company enjoyed an incredible upward spiral of profits, growth and success. Entered (and soon monopolized) the bowling industry. Worked hard to improve billiards reputation, by teaching and donating tables to charitable groups. Drastically cut product lines during the Depression. Survived and grew again as economy improved. Sponsored thousands of tournaments over the course of the centuries. In the world of billiards, Brunswick remains the dominant name in American pool rooms and homes.

What Hollywood movies have been made featuring pool and billiards? The most popular and successful, along with featured shots, are described and illustrated here: Frequently Asked Questions : Parris Cues - Handmade Snooker Cues, Pool Cues, Billiards Cues & Cue Cases as used by World Champions 32mm is very thick. Should I have a 1pc or jointed cue? I think a cue with a well fitted 3/4 joint plays just as well as a 1pc, it is also much easier to transport and carry. There are top players with 1pc cues and with jointed cues it does not seem to affect them it is only their personal preference. We have in the past converted some very famous players 1pc cues to a 3/4 joint with no adverse affect. What type of joints do you use and why? For Snooker and English Pool cues The joints in the cues are precision made from a single piece of solid brass. A 3/8” male and female thread joins the cue with an interlocking face that continues to the outside edge of the cue. I chose to use a normal thread because I think it is stronger and more reliable than a quick release joint.

The standard male and female thread of our joint is easier to keep clean than the inside out so called airlock type joint (used by most far eastern cue makers) they do not actually use any air to lock them together but merely make a noise when they are pulled apart. With the brass to brass faces of our joints locked together they give a very solid positive feel. The brass faces on the joint also have two other functions. One is to protect and reinforce the outside edge of the cue, a wooden edge would chip and wear very easily. The second is to glue the back of the brass face to the end grain of the cue this strengthens the end grain and stops it splitting open if the cue is knocked or dropped. The SD joints are a brass quick release joints with our own special thread. I will not use quick release joints to join the cues themselves but I think it is ok for the extensions where you only play one shot and then unscrew them, with speed being an important factor. For American pool cues The joints are brass 5/16” 18 TPI male and female threads. The male joint is electro-polished for a bright finish.

The wood to wood faces of the joint are protected with outside collars made of black thermo-set double linen phenolic impregnated plastic. What is an SD joint? The SD joint is a quick release joint fitted in the very end of the cue butt, this allows the fast attachment of an SD telescopic extension to play shots beyond the reach of a normal rest shot. Also the use of the SD mini butt a 6” long solid Ebony extension that allows shots to be played without the use of a rest that would normally be out of reach when using your normal cue action. What is Hand Splicing? A hand spliced cue has the main Ash or Maple shaft Planed by hand to a tapper towards the butt end on two opposites sides. Decorative wood usually Ebony or Rosewood is then glued onto the shaft to replace the timber removed by planning. This is then repeated on the other two sides of the shaft. The decorative wood is then planed down to follow the shape and taper of the original shaft, leaving the distinctive hand spliced design. This process can be repeated again lower down the butt with other woods and veneers to give a more decorative appearance.

Hand splicing adds to the look of the cue but also the use of heavy woods such as Ebony help to give the cue natural weight and balance. What type of finish should I have on my cue? I think the best finish is Raw Linseed Oil. This protects the cue from moisture in damp or humid conditions and also stops it from drying out in hot and dry conditions. It gives the cue a smooth finish that does not drag on your bridge when cueing and also enhances the natural beauty of the wood. The butt should have a hard wax burnish that gives it a natural smooth feel and a silky shine. The shafts should not be waxed as this will make the cue drag on your bridge hand when cueing All Parris cues are oil finished with a wax burnish on the butt. Oil finished cues should be re oiled on a regular basis. See our cue care section for details also the Accessories section for Cue Oil and Wax. What are the delivery times for cues and cases? We do have cues in our shop for customers visiting us to try out and buy on the day.

With mail order cues I do prefer to make these to order, so that I can insure you get exactly what you want rather than trying to find something in stock that is close to your requirements. The delivery times for cues vary depending on model and style. In general 3/4 cues are quicker than 1pc.

Approximate Delivery Times Parris Collection Cues 10-16 weeks for 16” 3/4 cues and 20-30 weeks for 1pc, 2pc and 12” joint butt cues American Pool Cues 16-25 weeks Limited Edition Cues 20-30 weeks Special Cues 24-32 weeks for 16” 3/4 cues and 12-14 months for 1pc, 2pc and 12” butt joint cues Paragon Cues 24-32 weeks for 16” 3/4 cues and 12-14 months for 1pc, 2pc and 12” butt joint cues Ultimate Cues 12-18 months for 16” 3/4 cues and 40-50 months for 1pc, 2pc and 12” butt joint cues Leather Cases 16-24 weeks depending on design Delivery times do depend on the availability of the correct shaft for your cue. The shaft has to have the correct weight, balance, rigidity, feel and of course the right look.

All shafts are individually selected for each cue by John. We have shafts constantly in various stages of production with a new batch being finished every 2-3 weeks. Shafts take from 6 to 12 months to produce depending on the model, it is important they are made slowly to ensure stability. Although every effort will be made to complete your cue as soon as possible, delivery times quoted are approximate and can with some of the higher end cues take considerably longer. If we are taking longer it is only because we are perfectionists and trying to find the ideal shaft to make your perfect cue. Demand for Ultimate cues has increased considerably over the last few years which has caused an increase in delivery times for these cues. Parris Cues cannot be held liable for cues taking longer than the approximate times above. How do you send my cue? All cues or cues/cases are securely packaged. They are sent by courier and are fully insured in transit at no risk to the customer. All items must be signed for at time of delivery. All items must be checked for damage at time of delivery and signed for as damaged if not in perfect condition. UK mainland deliveries are sent on a next day service. UK highlands and islands are normally a two day service.

Overseas deliveries are by UPS air courier and normally take between two and five days. Accessories are sent by First Class post or Air Mail depending on destination. Delivery times may vary depending on local post. What if I cannot get on with my new cue? In the unlikely event that your cue is not suitable i.e. too light, too heavy or you just cannot get along with it, you have a two week trial period in which as long as the cue is still in perfect condition you may exchange it for another one (subject to any postal cost and excluding cues with unusual designs or dimensions). We are totally committed to happy customers. Is my cue straight, and how do I check it? The first thing most players do is roll their cue on a Snooker table to check it. This does not necessarily give a true indication of straightness. A lot of cues (Parris included) are not a straight taper, there may be one or two taper changes along the length. This tends to make the cue seem cigar shaped and when it is then rolled on a table it tends to pivot and wobble usually at the point just above the splicing.

The best way to test for straightness is to close one eye and sight down the cue turning it as you look to make sure it looks straight. This after all is what you look at when you are sighting on a shot. How do I maintain my cue? Please refer to the Cue Care section. A video guide to Cleaning Your Cue is also available. How do I re tip my cue? Please refer to the Cue Care section. A video guide to Re Tipping your Cue is also available. See Cue Accessories to purchase Tips and Re Tipping equipment How do I clean and maintain my cue joint To maintain a good contact with a brass jointed cue, it is important to keep the brass faces of the joint clean. A build up of dirt, grease and oxidisation on the faces stops the joint from locking together properly and can make the cue sound as though something is loose when striking the ball. To keep the joint clean, using a small pad of fine grade (00-00) wire wool carefully clean the faces and thread of the joint with a circular twisting motion taking care not to touch the wood of the butt with the wire wool, as it will mark the polished surface of the butt.

Metal cue joints can sometimes make an annoying squeaking noise when screwing or unscrewing the cue. If this happens clean the cue as above and apply a tiny amount (a pin head size) of Parris Joint Glide to the end of the male thread of the joint then screw the cue together. This will lubricate the joint and make it silent. Care must be taken not to get any Joint glide on the flat faces of the joint, this needs to be kept clean and dry, only a tiny amount is needed. See Cue Accessories to purchase Parris Joint Glide How do I keep the sheen on the butt of my cue If the Butt of your Cue loses its Sheen this can be restored by using Parris Cue Polish. Apply Cue Polish to the Butt of your cue sparingly, allow to dry for approximately 10 minutes and then buff with a soft cloth until desired sheen is obtained. Only apply Cue Polish to the butt of your cue, not the shaft. Use Parris Cue Oil to protect the cue shaft. See Cue Accessories to purchase Parris Cue Polish & Parris Cue Oil What is 3D Secure?

- Verify by Visa™ & MasterCard SecureCode™ 3D Secure is the online security standard developed by Visa and MasterCard designed to combat online credit card fraud. Cardholders who have registered for Verify by Visa™ or MasterCard SecureCode™ use their password to validate their identity whenever they make a purchase online at a participating site. During the Payment Process the page requesting your 3D Secure password is supplied by your bank, customers already enrolled in the scheme should enter their password when prompted, customers that have not previously enrolled may be presented with the opportunity to register and then continue with the transaction, this is dependent on your bank. If not please contact your bank directly to register. Parris Cues requires Verify by Visa™ or MasterCard SecureCode™ authorisation for all Online Credit and Debit Card transactions. Alternatively you can opt to pay via Bank Transfer during the Checkout process. How do I Register/Enrol for Verify by Visa™ & MasterCard SecureCode™? If you haven’t yet registered your card for the Verify by Visa™ or MasterCard SecureCode™ scheme, your bank may offer the option to register during the payment process, if so follow the steps shown on screen to set up a secure password between you and your bank.

You only need to set your password once for use every time you shop online with that card. If you are not presented with the registration page during the payment process please contact your bank directly to register. Parris Cues requires Verify by Visa™ or MasterCard SecureCode™ authorisation for all Online Credit and Debit Card transactions. Alternatively you can opt to pay via Bank Transfer during the Checkout process. What if my bank’s 3D Secure page doesn’t load? It may take up to a minute for your banks 3D Secure page to load. If the page doesn’t load, please return to the payment page and resubmit your details. Your card will not be charged and order won’t be completed until the order confirmation page with your order number is displayed. What if I forget my 3D Secure password? If you’ve forgotten the 3D Secure password you set up with your bank, you may be offer a ‘forgotten password’ link on the 3D secure page, follow the steps shown on screen to change your password with your bank. If not you will need to telephone you bank to have your 3D Secure password reset.

Do I pay any Tax on my cue All cues sold in the UK or within the European Union countries are subject to UK VAT tax. In most cases prices shown on the website will include tax if applicable. Any cues being sent by us to a destination outside of the European Union countries will be Tax free but will be liable to any local tax or import duty charges when they arrive at there destination. Please note Parris Cues cannot be liable for any of these charges and it is the customers responsibility to check what these charges may be. Cues purchased and collected from our London Shop that are being taken outside of the EU by a non EU resident are subject to UK VAT tax but a tax reclaim form can be supplied with these cues. Your Order Contains 0 Products “I've played with Parris Cues all my career and they are second to no one. Anyone who wants to improve their game can't go wrong with Johns cues. 1st class service and always willing to help. ” Stephen Maguire. Snooker Professional Should I Use A Low Squirt (Deflection) Shaft?

| Pool Cues and Billiards Supplies at PoolDawg.com home > pooldawg academy > Tom Simpson > Should i use a low squirt shaft Should I Use A Low Squirt (Deflection) Shaft? Posted by : Tom Simpson Ask The Master - Should I Use A Low Squirt Shaft? There is a lot of confusion out there with respect to this issue, but for almost all of us, the answer, in my opinion, is YES. Squirt is cueball deviation from the stick line. It happens every time you use sidespin. It's an angle change for the cueball that happens during the instant when your tip strikes the ball. Squirt is caused by your shaft. All shafts cause squirt – some less than others. Less is good. Note that most of the high-tech shaft marketing information will say things such as "low-deflection shaft." You'll rarely see the word "squirt," but that's what they mean. From a technical perspective, we prefer to say that the shaft deflects (bends toward the side of the cueball), while the cueball squirts away from the sidespin. For example, if you use left english, the cueball will squirt to the right.

Since squirt is an angle change in the cueball's travel line (not a curve), the farther the ball travels before it hits its target, the bigger a factor this is. You must accommodate squirt in your aim to make the cueball go where you want it to go. A "squirty" shaft is one that causes a fairly large angle change in the cueball. Let's talk about the practical difference between standard shaft and a low-squirt shaft. Imagine we're trying for a full hit on an object ball six feet away, and we're hitting 50% of the maximum sidespin with each shaft. Aim straight at the target ball. Now shift the stick over in parallel and aim to hit 50% sidespin on the cueball, pointing at the same spot on the target ball (to produce a repeatable experiment). Shaft A (a standard shaft) might squirt the cueball enough that it completely misses the target ball, while Shaft B (a low-squirt shaft) causes the cueball to be only an inch off target at impact.

So, to hit that target squarely with Shaft A, you would have to aim about a ball's width (2-1/4") to the side of the target! If you used left english, the cueball squirts to the right, so you'd have to aim 2-1/4" to the left to make it work. On the other hand, with Shaft B, you only need to adjust your aim an inch. Less adjustment is less adjustment. Your accuracy goes up. Factors: The more tip offset (english) applied to the cueball, the more squirt. The squirtier your shaft, the more squirt. More squirt means more aim adjustment. Good news – speed is not a factor. You get the same squirt for a given offset at whatever speed you hit. What causes squirt? If you look down at your tip about to touch the cueball with english, you can see that most of the energy in the stick is going to push the cueball in the direction the stick is pointing. However, a small portion of that energy is pushing the ball to the side, away from the tip. That's what causes squirt.

There is no such thing as a no-squirt shaft, but the low-squirt shafts certainly make a real and useful difference. To the extent the shaft can happily bend off the side of the cueball, the ball squirts less. That doesn't mean a whippy shaft is appropriate. It means the shaft taper and internals have to be engineered for the purpose. Yes, low-squirt shafts are generally more flexible – more flexible in the right way. What makes low-squirt shafts work? The main factor is "end mass," the amount of weight at the tip end of the shaft. Reducing end-mass allows the shaft to not push so much against the side of the cueball, thus reducing squirt. Some manufacturers accomplish this by using shorter ferrules or wooden ferrules (plastic weighs more than wood, so less plastic at the end of the stick reduces end-mass). In addition, they use various ways to further reduce the mass. One manufacturer drills a hole through the center of the stick from the tip down about six inches or so, and leaves it hollow. Another drills the hole and then re-fills it with balsa, which is much lighter than maple.

Another drills the whole shaft and then fills the hole with a foam rubber type of material. Yet another uses a carbon fiber rod inside the shaft. So they all get to a similar result. Which one is right for you? Most of the high-tech shaft manufacturers offer two models. Typically, one will have a 12.75mm tip and the other will have an 11.75mm tip. Skinnier shaft tapers also reduce end-mass, so the 11.75's squirt even less than the 12.75's. However, the 11.75's are not necessarily better for every player. My opinion is that while they squirt less, they require the player to be more accurate on where exactly they touch the ball (they are less forgiving). On the plus side, the 11.75's, being a smaller tip, allow you to more precisely see where your tip will touch the ball. Conclusion: If you use sidespin, your accuracy will improve with a low-squirt shaft. They each feel a little different, so my advice is to try a couple before you decide which one you want.

Usually, you can find several players with the shafts you'd like to try. Hit some sidespin and see how close the ball comes to landing where you aimed, and how you like the feel of that shaft. This may be the best equipment money you can spend. To learn more about the different low deflection shafts check out PoolDawg's full selection: PoolDawg Low deflection (squirt) shafts Cue Components, Joe Barringer, pre ban legal ivory, illegal ivory - Cue Building, cue making, cue tips, custom cue parts, exotic woods for custom cue makers. Barringer Cues, Cue repairs, Pool Cues, Pool Sticks; Cues, Cue Sticks,Two Piece Billiard Cues & Custom Cue Building Lathes, Inlay machines & Accessories. The Morakami II� Black Cue Tip Morakami II� Brown Cue Tips For an exceptional alternative to Moori Tips , you have to try Morakami II� Brown Layered tips from Japan. All Morakami II� cue tips are engineered for maximum performance using the latest leather and adhesives while providing you with Chalk and Shoot� technology.

These are in fact, the very best alternative to Moori that are available. We have limited supplies in Soft, Medium and Quick (hard). They are priced slightly less than Moori and play as well where you'll be pleasantly surprised. They do in fact play like the old Moori! Morakami II� Brown Layered Tips - The Moori Alternative Morakami II� Black Clear Cue Tips are engineered for maximum performance using the latest leather and adhesives while providing you with Chalk and Shoot� technology. You can pay more and support large advertising campaigns and dealer mark-ups or you can pay less and buy the real deal for much less! Samson V Professional Cue Tips Unsolicited Testimonial "I don't know how you guys stay in business but I hope that you're not planning on going anywhere anytime soon....because you guys are THE BEST!!!! Your prices are unbeatable, and the way that you conduct business/treat the customer is unparalleled! I'm telling everybody about CueComponents! Y'all are some of the "Last Of The Good Guys!" M.S. Ontario, CA Hi Joe, the moori tips arrived yesterday. WOW that was fast! Thanks for the great service. Keep up the good work with your honest prices.

Many thanks. T.J.D., Cambodia. SHAFT WOOD! We are the leading suppliers of shaft wood, handle wood and coring dowels for cue building. The shaft wood you are buying today will always be at least 1 year old whether you buy squares, rounds or tapered. Our squares and rounds are well over 1 year old and our tapered shafts can be up to 4 years old depending on taper. We don't get our wood in from our supplier and then immediately sell it directly off the pallet. We're selling this years shaft wood deliveries next year. Our inventory is that deep. We do all our doweling in-house and not in the back of a pick-up truck. We are professional dealers; not fly-by-night quick buck artists looking to make a buck selling to newbie cue makers. Whether you need 1, 100 or 1,000 we can ship today. Shaft squares, doweled or tapered, we have them all and even down to almost final cuts. Our shaft wood is cut to high specifications and you'll find our shafts to be the most stable in the industry due to careful cutting, drying and ongoing care in our shop.

Take a look at our vast shaft wood, handle wood as well as coring dowels . Check our two new products at the bottom of the page. Shaft wood is in stock and we have the most and best available. We bring in 20,000++ shafts per year to sell to our clientele each and every year. As such we can pass the quality and savings on to you. And due to our large inventory of 10,000+ tapered shafts we can offer aged shaft wood as well. If you require shafts that have been hanging around (literally), we have them up to 4 and 5 years old. Check out all our shaft offerings here . Pictured above to your left is the finest set of informational cue building DVD's available anywhere and at any price! Everything is included. You can check them out here: Joe Barringer Cue Building DVD's . A recent unsolicited testimonial... "The merchandise is excellent. Their web site is one of the best out there. It's easy to use and the pictures of the merchandise are perfect. Great wood selection. You can even choose the exact piece of wood you want.

They carry their own line of sealer and finish that is the best I have used. The delivery time is slower than other companies that I have bought from. The products are worth the wait. Best to allow a couple of weeks lead time when ordering". William Porter, LA William... we appreciate the comments! Our lead time is usually better but we were extremely busy at the time. We usually ship within 24 to 72 hours of receiving an order. Thank you. Shop Tour: Our Shop Tour page is now complete. Take a look at all the different equipment which we use daily to build quality, precision Cue Components. You may even get some ideas of your own. All products listed are available for immediate delivery including items without photos. We are Cue Components of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. We're a small family run business with a large inventory offering friendly and personal service. You're not a number but a name with us as we endeavor to service your cue building needs. Advice is only a phone call or email away. We are located just 15 minutes south of Daytona Beach. Additionally, we treat all our component parts with Our Wood Stabilization to ensure the same stability in your area.

As such all our products are incredibly stable and crafted by perfectionists. You know, in today's world with all the do-gooders trying to satisfy the 'minute minority' for every belief and who want to take the 'Pledge of Allegiance' out of our schools, who want to take, 'In God We Trust' off our money and who just want to change hundreds of years of America, I have this to say, deal with it or leave as it's your right. So with that in mind.... I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. How It's Made-Billiard Cues (Pool Sticks) - YouTube How It's Made-Billiard Cues (Pool Sticks) Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Uploaded on Jul 9, 2008 Today they will show you how Billiard Cues(Pool Sticks)are made! A cue stick (or simply cue, or more specifically pool cue, snooker cue, or billiards cue), is an item of sporting equipment essential to the games of pool, snooker and carom billiards. It is used to strike a ball, usually the cue ball. Cues are tapered sticks, typically about 1.5 m (58 in) and 510--600 g (18--21 oz). Most cues are made of wood, but occasionally the wood is covered or bonded with other materials including carbon fiber, fiberglass and/or aluminum. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!!!

Question: What is the main material out of which a pool cue is usually made?
Answer: Wood