The first pool cue was actually a crudely developed stick with a pointed end to strike the balls. Cue was taken from the word "queue" which means tail. Originally the stick was large at one end and narrowed at the other to a sharp point.
An imprisoned soldier in the Bastille refined the stick to a slender size. The Frenchman, Minguad, was fortunate to have a pool table in his cell and spent most of his imprisonment practicing the game. He rounded the sharp tip of the cue making multiple shots possible.
An average American cue weighs 19-20 ounces. There are usually two parts to a cue; the shaft and the thicker bottom horizontal bar, normally called the butt end. Some cues have three parts enabling the player to shorten the cue for special shots. Special cues are also available for jumping balls that are blocking the shooter and are used as a masse (curving around the ball).
Today, the laser-sighted or high-tech cue has been developed as an aid to assisting players with their stroke. A laser in the cue tip shines straight on the cue ball and one can see exactly the errors in their stroke, enabling them to correct the error then.
Maple is the most predominant wood for making cues. Although some cues are made of graphite or carbon, they are unfavorably looked upon by master craftsmen who look on cue making as an American art. In 1992, eight cue makers in Columbia, South Carolina formed the American Cue Makers Association. Cue making is a definite art and the final product cannot be rushed if it is to be good. The wood needs to be cut a little at a time to allow the wood to move and then cut it again, repeating the process until the wood doesn't move anymore. This will allow for a constant moisture level so the wood will stay straight. Some manufacturers have tried harsh chemicals to petrify the wood but this method to stabilize the wood deadens the feel considerably.
Pool cues are precise instruments - well honed and made to allow the most control over the ball. If one begins with a good cue, one can adapt it for himself by changing the tip, ferrule, weight, wrap or joint. Whether you are a novice or a pro, a well honed cue will always give you the confidence you are looking for to improve your stroke and game.
An imprisoned soldier in the Bastille refined the stick to a slender size. The Frenchman, Minguad, was fortunate to have a pool table in his cell and spent most of his imprisonment practicing the game. He rounded the sharp tip of the cue making multiple shots possible.
An average American cue weighs 19-20 ounces. There are usually two parts to a cue; the shaft and the thicker bottom horizontal bar, normally called the butt end. Some cues have three parts enabling the player to shorten the cue for special shots. Special cues are also available for jumping balls that are blocking the shooter and are used as a masse (curving around the ball).
Today, the laser-sighted or high-tech cue has been developed as an aid to assisting players with their stroke. A laser in the cue tip shines straight on the cue ball and one can see exactly the errors in their stroke, enabling them to correct the error then.
Maple is the most predominant wood for making cues. Although some cues are made of graphite or carbon, they are unfavorably looked upon by master craftsmen who look on cue making as an American art. In 1992, eight cue makers in Columbia, South Carolina formed the American Cue Makers Association. Cue making is a definite art and the final product cannot be rushed if it is to be good. The wood needs to be cut a little at a time to allow the wood to move and then cut it again, repeating the process until the wood doesn't move anymore. This will allow for a constant moisture level so the wood will stay straight. Some manufacturers have tried harsh chemicals to petrify the wood but this method to stabilize the wood deadens the feel considerably.
Pool cues are precise instruments - well honed and made to allow the most control over the ball. If one begins with a good cue, one can adapt it for himself by changing the tip, ferrule, weight, wrap or joint. Whether you are a novice or a pro, a well honed cue will always give you the confidence you are looking for to improve your stroke and game.
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