What Are The Best Woods For Snooker Cues?

Ash and Maple are the two main sources of wood used to make snooker cues.

- Ash wood, comes straight from an Ash Tree (hence the word "ash"), has visibly darker grain lines and is considered the toughest out of the two. While...

- Maple wood, comes straight from a Maple Tree, is mainly used for pool cues and has many tighter grain lines (close together) than Ash wood.

Try them both; cuz wood type is largely a matter of feel. But if you want my personal opinion, go for the Ash wood. It's stronger and built to last.

How Much Do Snooker Cues Weigh?

Because of its long length, snooker cues have a metal bolt skewed in at the thicker end, typically called the butt. This helps maintain an even balance when playing a friend and allows you to strike the "cue ball" (white ball) with enough force.

Snooker cues come in 3 different weights, 17 - 19 ounces (oz), and weighs no more than your average "Baked Beans" tin (give or take a bean).

- 17 ounces (oz), is the lightest from the bunch. It's perfect for beginners as it gives a better feel for a shot.

- 19 ounces (oz), is the heaviest and has the tendency to tire out inexperienced players. These cues are brilliant for intermediate to advanced players, as it is ideal for those power shots.

So what weight do you go for?

Mmm... let me see... in the wisdom of "Goldie locks and the three bears", I'd stick with middle (18 ounce). That way, you'd get the best of both worlds, by future proofing yourself as you grow into your cue.

Does Size Really matter?

You know... there's this strange method in the snooker world, which allows you to check and see if a snooker cues length is right for you...

Wanna know how?

Well, first of all, stand the cue upright so that the "tip" (skinny end of the cue) is pointing to the ceiling. If the cues tip measures just below your shoulder, it's perfect.

But in reality... it doesn't matter.

The standard length for snooker cues are anywhere between 57 - 58 inches long. However, 57 inches should be ideal for just about 99% of players, unless your exceptionally tall (a giraffe), or very small (a grain of salt).

What Tip Sizes For Snooker Cues Do You Go For?

Your snooker cues tip is one of the most important part for playing any game, cuz without it... there is NO game.

Cue tips come in different sizes starting from 9mm all the way up to 13mm. Generally speaking, tip sizes for snooker cues are between 8 - 10mm and 10 - 13mm are for pool cues. Although, you do see some pool players with 8mm tips, which is pretty strange. Oh... and by the way...

If your snooker cue comes with a "GREEN" chalk, don't go using "BLUE", as this could damage your cues tip. And you don't want that to happen... now do you?

Chalk is used to add grip to the tip to prevent you from a "miss hit" (a foul). That's why you see many players chalking their cue right before a shot.

Tip 7 - Finding That Perfect Price

So What's A Decent Price For Snooker Cues?

Believe it or not, there are snooker cues that cost more than £300. So I know first hand, it could cost you an arm or your spine. But here's the thing...

You don't wanna go too cheap, cuz it might snap into pieces when you take your first shot. And you don't wanna spend your spine, cuz you need that. And besides, spending £300 might break your bank.

So what do you do?

Don't go cheap, you will soon regret it. Spend at least £50 or more on a decent cue with a good quality tip. Oh... and by the way...

Spend a little more on extra chalks and tips. They're cheep and last for a very long time. That way you could maintain your cue, as well as enjoying yourself.