Best Pool Cues

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 16, 2024
Pool is a great game but, without the right stick, hitting even the worst leaves can be a nightmare. These pool cues will help you ...Read more
PROS

The cue will enable breaking and shooting without switching sticks. The thin shaft that reduces the weight at the tip makes curve shots less challenging and backspins not quite as difficult to apply as they usually are. 

CONS

The tip does not hold chalk very well. 

OUR VERDICT

The Meucci SB1-S Handcrafted Billiards Cue combines high-end craftsmanship, experience, and finesse. Its appearance is both mature and understated but also smooth and elegant. Using this cue, you'll have no trouble landing the sickest cut shots.

detailed parameters
Form Factor

Two-piece

Material and Design

Smoke-stained maple butt sleeve and forearm with checkered rings. Lacquer-coated white linen wrap with black specks.

Length

58"

Weight

19 oz 

Pin Joint

5/16 x 18 steel 

Tip

12.75-mm leather tip

Set

Hard case

Warranty

90 days

PROS

The joint protector makes sure the stick's joint end does not accumulate dirt, sand, lint, and various debris particles. It also protects the pin from damage. Coated with 9 varnish layers, the stick is protected against moisture as well as warping. 

CONS

The wrap on the handle looks a little lame. 

OUR VERDICT

The CUESOUL Maple Pool Cue Set does more than most pool sticks. First, you can regulate the cue's weight. Second, besides the stick, the package includes a join protector, a cue cleaning towel, and a carry case that enables transporting these accessories along with the cue.

detailed parameters
Form Factor

Two-piece

Material and Design

Canadian maple wood with union design decal butt 

Length

58"

Weight

19 oz, weight-adjustable

Pin Joint

5/16 x 18 steel 

Tip

11.5-mm / 13-mm leather tip

Set

Joint protector, cue cleaning towel 

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy 

PROS

Polished into a wavy shape, unlike cues that employ linen butts, this stick improves its anti-slip properties, so you can aim and shoot without worrying that the cue might slide. The stick weighs 21 ounces, making cross-table shots less challenging. 

CONS

The bumper can fall off sometimes. 

OUR VERDICT

The AB Earth 2-Piece Pool Cue is a balanced stick with a dead-straight medium-deflection shaft, so you can keep different-strength shots consistent with this stick. Plus, you can choose between almost countless colors and pattern arrangement options.

detailed parameters
Form Factor

Two-piece

Material and Design

Canadian hard maple butt hand-polished into a wavy shape  

Length

58"

Weight

21 oz 

Pin Joint

5/16 x 18 steel 

Tip

13-mm leather tip

Set

Cue cleaning towel 

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The available colors include black, white, red, green, blue, purple, pink, mahogany, ad autumn orange. The rubber bumper on the bottom protects the stick from chipping/cracking. The high-impact ferrule makes sure the contact is always crisp. 

CONS

The paintwork looks a bit different from advertised. 

OUR VERDICT

The Viking Valhalla 2-Piece Pool Cue is a premium-class stick. With its Irish linen wrap, the stick's butt keeps the grip perfect. Made from Canadian hard rock maple and Michigan maple, the cue hits like a dream. The tip is shipped scuffed and shaped, so no preparation is required before the first match.

detailed parameters
Form Factor

Two-piece

Material and Design

Hard rock maple forearm & sleeve, North American hard rock maple shaft, Michigan maple forearm, ultraviolet urethane finish 

Length

58"

Weight

18 / 19 / 20 / 21 oz 

Pin Joint

5/16 x 18 steel 

Tip

13-mm leather tip

Set

Cue cleaning towel

Warranty

Lifetime, including warpage

PROS

With the triangle tips, you'll be landing long shots with unmatched consistency. The Aegis linen, incorporating linen-based plastic, hits like ivory. Made from stainless steel, the pin joint will not start corroding or forming rust patches with time.

CONS

Not the best stick for beginners. 

OUR VERDICT

Professionals and even Hollywood stars have been known to use the Joss Maple JOS01 Cue. The reason? The high-quality maple with six ebony circles and six mother-of-pearl notched diamond-shaped inlays, making the cue attractive, tough, and reliable.

detailed parameters
Form Factor

Two-piece

Material and Design

Maple with six ebony circles and six mother-of-pearl notched diamond-shaped inlays, Black/white Irish linen wrap

Length

58"

Weight

19 oz

Pin Joint

5/16" 14 pitch, stainless steel 

Tip

13-mm triangle tip

Set

Case

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

Smoke-Stained Maple

The Meucci SB1-S Handcrafted Billiards Cue is top-notch craftsmanship, skill, and finesse. With this stick, you can land the toughest cut shots without worrying that the wood or the tip might fail you. Adopting a smoke-stained maple butt sleeve and forearm with checkered rings, this cue is a beaut. Aside from making the stick look polished and expensive, the same materials also ensure extensive longevity, preventing the cue from deforming with time. Besides that, the stick is lacquer-coated with white linen wrap that features black specks.

Unlike cheap pool cues, this model enables both breaking and shooting. As it is usually the case with Meucci, the ferrule is made from polycarbonate and not metal, facilitating soft shots. But the pin joint behind the ferrule is made from metal. To be more precise, it is made from 5/16 x 18 steel, while the tip measures 12.75 centimeters.

Where the stick falls a little flat is with the same tip. From what we've read, the cue sometimes arrives not shaved down at all. As a result, the tip does not hold chalk.

Nevertheless, you can always finish the tip yourself. Since the Meucci SB1-S Handcrafted Billiards Cue has no other major flaws to speak of, we feel confident putting this product atop the list anyway.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $310.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B07BLPWL58

Pool Cues Set

The CUESOUL Maple Pool Cue Set is not the most extensive set but, as far as high-end sticks are concerned, this cue is packing a little more. To go with the stick, you're shipped a joint protector and a cue cleaning towel.

With the former, you can prevent the cue's joint end from accumulating dirt, sand, lint, and different small debris particles. Apart from that, joint protectors also guard the pin from damage. Using the cleaning towel, you can maintain/upkeep the cue without worrying that it might fail you in the foreseeable future. Setting aside these two accessories, the stick comes with a nice carry case that holds not just the cue but also the joint protector and the towel, so you can bring the entire package with you.

Construction-wise, the high-quality Canadian maple wood meets the most charming overlay decal. Coated with 9 varnish layers, the cue's protected from moisture and warping. But, despite its otherwise sleek appearance, the wrap on the handle looks a little lame, which's a little unfortunate considering that everything else about/on this cue looks exquisite.

In short, the CUESOUL Maple Pool Cue Set is a more complete package than most, supplying you with more accessories without compromising the stick quality.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00ZWSMLB6

Follow the Waves

The AB Earth 2-Piece Pool Cue blasts from the past without eschewing the future. Despite its old-school appearance, the model borrows inspiration from modern-day pool sticks in more ways than one. With its Canadian hard maple butt, the cue was hand-polished into a wavy shape. Compared with linen butts, the stick's wavy shape offers improved anti-slip qualities, preventing the stick from slipping during aiming or shooting.

According to the people behind it, the cosmos is what inspired the paintwork on the butt. Featuring manual painting with trendy colors, each and every cue from this line looks special. You can choose between black, white, green, purple, blue, pink, silver, wine, and more. Aside from different colors, the cues also sport different pattern arrangements which, again, make them unique.

What's not unique about this stick is the 5/16 x 18 steel pin joint, which is a staple today in the poolsphere. What's also not unique is the leather tip measuring 13 millimeters and the cue cleaning towel that arrives with the stick.

In other words, those pool enthusiasts who want something that is unique but also tried and tested at the same time will not be disappointed with the AB Earth 2-Piece Pool.

Last updated price $45.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B0088LZI1O

Going with What's Working

Not unlike the previous stick, the Viking Valhalla 2-Piece Pool Cue also goes with what's been working these past few decades or so. And we're not mad about that. Pool is a traditional sport, where very few changes are required or make sense to begin with.

First things first, design. Same as most 2-piece pool sticks, this cue enables easy transportation without worrying that you might bend or even break it on the road. You can select between 9 colors, including mahogany, black, white, red, green, blue, autumn orange, pink, and purple.

From the construction angle, the cue's butt features an Irish linen wrap, lending you the perfect grip. The rubber bumper on the stick's bottom will make sure the cue is protected from chipping and cracking. Stretching 13 millimeters and made from high-quality leather, the tip ensures excellent ball control. Plus, the tip arrives scuffed and shaped, so you can unpack the stick and hit the break shot right away. Likewise, the high-impact ferrule keeps the contact crisp. Crafted from Canadian maple, the stick hits like a dream. Wrapping an already attractive package, the metal threading in the shaft provides a secure, long-lasting lock.

In short, the Viking Valhalla 2-Piece Pool Cue will put considerable distance between you and opponents with middling pool sticks.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07M5HS36Z

Built Different, Hits Different

The Joss Maple JOS01 Cue is what high-end, premium-class pool cues look like. For starters, the stick is made with high-quality North American Maple. Between the six ebony circles and six mother-of-pearl notched diamond-shaped inlays, the cue looks fantastic and ensures an equally fantastic grip. Plus, with the plate made from Herculite, the stick will not chip, crack, or break.

The more important part, however, is the so-called Aegis linen. Using linen-based plastic, the ferrule hits like ivory. That said, the black-and-white Irish linen wrap plays its part as well, preventing the cue from slipping and keeping the grip firm.

Of course, even premium pool cues like this one are not without their flaws. In this case, the biggest problem with the cue is that beginners will have a hard time with it, primarily due to the triangle tip feeling different than generic tips. On the upside, the stainless steel pin joint will not rust or corrode with time. Removing the cue from the equation, the box comes with a carry case, so you'll be able to transport this stick knowing that it will be safe with you.

In closing, as long as you're okay with the price and the triangle tip, you cannot go wrong with the Joss Maple JOS01 Cue.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B0036D8HFS

What Are Pool Cues?

Pool is a noble sport. Back in the days, billiards was a privilege, a privilege that only the royalty was privy to. Today, you can find pool tables practically anywhere, from bars to dedicated pool clubs. You can pay a few bucks and the staff at one of these establishments will even lend you a cue. But, truth be told, these cues are usually trash. Once you graduate from the newbie academy, we recommend buying your own pool cue.

The cues that we've listed here hit different, both literally and figuratively. More often than not, they have their butts wrapped in Irish linen, preventing the stick from slipping and sliding. The bumpers, normally made from hard-wearing rubber(s), protect thees cues against chipping/cracking. The tips, dissimilar to cheap rental cues, ensure uncompromised ball control. What is more, they usually come scuffed and shaped, so you can start playing right away without chalking 'em up. Finally, above-average pool cue sticks are seldom complete without high-impact ferrules, keeping the contact point crisp and consistent.

Got the stick? Time to start looking into pool tables and pool balls.

Other reviews