Pool Cue Specifications

Series Summary

The game of pool, or billiards, was developed, like other cue sports, from outdoor stick-and-ball lawn games similar to golf or croquet. Pool was originally played on tables without pockets. Holes were added later, used first as a hazard and later as a means of scoring. The term 'pool' was derived from 'poolrooms,' which were off-track betting facilities where gamblers would 'pool' their money to determine the odds on horse races. These facilities were often equipped with a few billiards tables, and the words 'pool' and 'billiards' soon became interchangeable.

In this free video series, our expert Roger Long will teach you everything you need to know about cues. He'll teach you about cue specifications, choices, construction, and price ranges. He'll also tell you about tip curvature, the tip shoulder, and tip maintenance. He'll even talk a bit about shaft maintenance, wraps, and pool cue care.

Video Transcript

"Before we get started on actually playing the game of pool, we need to discuss the first and most important thing about actually playing the game and that is the pool cue. Most of today's pool cues are all production made, that means as opposed to being custom made where you have a choice as far as your specifications go. So, being production cues, you are limited as to the tip diameter, the diameter of the butt section down here, the length of the cue and the weight. Now, production cues all come in one standard tip diameter, up here at the top of the shaft, that's thirteen millimeters. The length on production cues is 58 inches long. The butt diameter down at the end here, is roughly one and a quarter on every one of them. And, the weights, you're limited to four choices. Those choices are 18 ounce, 19 ounce, 20 ounce, and 21 ounce. Now that we have our specifications, we'll be able to get into the game."