Buying Guide: Pool Cues and Accessories

Don't let a pool cue fool you - it's more than just a stick.

A pool cue is the essential driving force in any pool game. Though the pool table itself has evolved over time, the pool cue has undergone the most dramatic transformations. In 15th-Century Europe, billiards games were played with maces. Unlike a cue, a mace was a type of mallet; players often used the handle, or "queue," of the mace to hit the ball; and thus, the modern pool cue was born.

Today's Cues
Today's cues are made of single or two-part pieces of wood; different types of wood are used for different types of cues (for example, a cue used for English snooker versus a cue used for traditional American 8-ball pool). Both single and two-part pool cues are tapered in design; two-part pool cues are joined at the middle with a metal or resin joint.

Deciding what type of pool cue to buy, then, really depends on how you're going to use it. If you want to play a variety of billiard games, you might consider buying several cues made of different types of wood - an ash cue for snooker, for example, and a maple cue for pool.

Consider how serious you are about the game. If you're looking for cues for your family's basement pool table, you're probably best to go with a lower-priced cue made of a single piece of inexpensive wood with a plastic tip. More serious players will probably want to go with a higher-quality, two-piece cue in finer wood with a leather tip.

Finally, keep in mind the size of your pool table. Cues come in different lengths, each appropriate for varied playing fields.

A few additional pool accessories to pick up: the essential chalk - which increases friction between the cue tip and the ball, resulting in better shots - and a bridge, a grooved piece of metal used to extend players' reach.