Snooker Cue Information - What Should You Look At When Buying A Snooker Cue?
Snooker Cue Information - What Should You Look At When Buying A Snooker Cue
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Selecting a new snooker cue can be a tough decision and because a cue should last many years it should be taken wisely. The main differences between various cues are the types of split, the weight, the size and the wood type.
One piece cues are more of the tradionalists choice - they look wonderful and don't have a seam which means a smoother feathering action, yet they can be difficult to carry about because of their size. The next type of cue is the 2 piecee and as the name suggests this type of cue splits equally into 2 parts. Two piece snooker cues are probably the most popular type of cues - there advantages are that they can be shortened easily and transported without taking up to much space, there disadvantages are mainly that there is a seam in the center of the cue which can disrupt the feathering action. The three quarter length cue is probably the cue of choice for most advanced and professional snooker players. These cues break around 8 inches from the base of the cue which means there are no problems with feathering and the possibility of adding a longer extension is also there.
Other things to think about when purchasing a new cue are the size of the cue, the weight and the type of material the cue is made from.
A heavy weight cue makes the cue sluggish - this is beneficial for beginners and hides a poor shot. A light cue accelerates faster and can impart more force and spin on the cue ball.
Most snooker cues are made to the ordinary length of 4 ft 10 inches however some manufacturers make slightly shorter and longer cues depending on the model.
The majority of snooker cues are made from ash wood, however some cues are made from fiberglass or carbon fiber and on occasion you see some made out of maple.
Every snooker cue needs a cue tip as this is the main point of contact between the cue and the cue ball. Virtually all tips are made from leather and the densities and hardness changes between manufacturers. The cue tip should be shaped using a file or with sandpaper into a dome like shape. By shaping the tip into a dome the player is able to impart spin onto the white ball more easily making positional play easier. The cue tip is attached to the cue with glue or occassionly screwed into the cue directly.
The end of the cue body has a metallic cuff which is known as the Ferrule. The function of the Ferrule is to attach the cue tip to the cue and take the majority of the impact when a shot is played. Without the ferrule the snooker cue could split when a high impact shot is played
Most of the factors mentioned above such as material type, length and weight come down to personal preference so consequently experimenting with lots of different snooker cues will give you a better understanding of which you prefer.