Buying the right cue for your table is more important than you may think, especially when the cues differ so much.
Why do Different Types of Cue Exist?
The simple answer why every game has its own cue largely boils down to the size of each game’s cue ball being a unique size. Depending on what game you play, the size of the cue ball can vary dramatically. An English cue ball measures in at 1 7/8 inches, a snooker ball measures in at 2 1/16 inches and an American cue ball measures up at 2 1/4 inches in diameter.
These ball sizes and their respective weights are what require cues to be built differently depending on what game you play. Each type of cue gives the player the optimum amount of control for the game it’s designed for. After all, imagine how difficult it would be to control a large American cue ball with the small tip found on an English cue and vice versa!
English Pool Cues
Of all the types of cue, English cues tend to be the thinnest bodied cue with the smallest tip. At its tip, an English pool cue normally measures about 8-9 mm wide, and uses a small ferrule made of brass for added strength. The wood used in the cue’s construction is typically ash, which is what gives English cues their noticeable grain.
As is standard across all cues, the tip has a rough leather coating, which is to ensure that the cue tip has sufficient grip when striking the cue ball.
Snooker Cues
In many ways, a snooker cue has many similarities to an English pool cue. It is constructed using the same ash wood, but uses a slightly larger leather tip to accommodate the bigger sized cue ball, measuring 9-10 mm across. The ferrule on a snooker cue also tends to be made of stainless steel instead of brass.
American Pool Cues
An American pool cue is the most noticeably different of all the types of cues. The body of an American cue is principally made out of a lighter maple wood. The tip and ferrule is also noticeable different from the other two cues. Not only is the tip larger still (at 13-14 mm in size to be suitable for the larger cue ball) but the ferrule is much larger, and made of plastic. This plastic actually gives the cue some shock absorbing qualities; ideal for striking the larger and heavier cue ball that is used.
Common Features
Whilst there are a number of differences between each of these cues, there are actually quite a few similarities too!
Firstly is the tip itself. Each cue will tend to use a leather tip that is deliberately roughened up, and as a result feels rough to the touch. This rough tip is purposely rough to allow chalk to adhere to the tip well (without a rough edge, the chalk would simply slide off). You may find that certain cues use different tips depending on their function. For example an American jump cue will use a phenolic resin tip for applying more force to the cue ball on jump shots.
The cue itself in many cases will use a segmented design too, usually being comprised of two pieces that can be separated by unscrewing for the sake of easier storage and transportation. Some cues can even come apart in three different places, which allows for further customisation (such as using different butts for certain shots).
The Importance of Using the Right Cue
As you can probably tell, each type of cue is designed and built for a specific game. Using the incorrect cue could have one of two outcomes: Loss of control whilst playing, or potentially damage to the cue itself. This is especially true if using the smaller and thinner English cues on the large and heavy 2 1/4 inch American pool balls.
These are all the basic differences between the three different types of cues, but there are plenty more individual cues that will have their own sets of features and designs. In fact, we currently hold over 200 different cues in stock in our Bristol showrooms, so you'll be surprised at just how different some of the cues can be. If you would like to get any more information or advice on the type of cue you should get, then give our team at the showroom a call on 0800 622 6464 or 01454 413 636