There’re two types of pool player: those that drunkenly play in pool halls or bars and those that want to improve every aspect of their game. If you’re the latter, you’re probably looking for the perfect cue to help lift your game up to the next level. It’s amazing what difference a high-quality cue will make, especially when you’ve been playing with the old, warped cues you find in bars.
With a fantastic selection of billiards products, CueTec offers just what you need to complete your game room. The CueTec catalog includes quality pool cues and pool accessories that make great gifts for any pool fan – from a billiard novice to a pool shark!
In this article, we’ve selected our ten best pool cues on the market. Some of them are professional standard cues, with price tags to match, and some are beginner cues. But all of them are high-quality and good value. We’ve also created a handy Buying Guide at the bottom of the article, to provide you with a better knowledge of the pool cue market.
Best Pool Cue
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We’ve selected a bit of a wildcard as our Best Choice product this week. The first thing you’ll notice about EastPoint Sports Composite Billiard Pool Cue when you look at the picture is that it’s not made from maple, like most pool cues. It looks like it’s made from a metal and is going weigh a ton when you pick it up, but fortunately, it’s not. It’s made from fiberglass and weighs 20.1 ounces. That means it’s just on the heavy side of standard pool cues, but still light enough to be really maneuverable. There’s an argument to say that, if you’re a beginner, you might want something a little bit lighter (say 19 ounces), but that’s a personal preference and you probably won’t be able to notice the difference when you’re starting out. The fiberglass material is reinforced by titanium to stop it from warping. Of course, no pool cue is completely warp-proof, so you should still make sure you take care of it. It’s not indestructible!
The tip is a screw-on, with a 13mm thread. It’s not a high-performance tip but should provide solid shots and is replaceable if necessary. You also get a bit of vibration through the aluminum ferrule. In the product description they say it’s designed for both “competitive and casual players”, but we’d have to disagree with that. If you’re competing, you will probably want to spend a bit more money and get a higher-quality cue. The reason we’ve selected this as our Best Choice cue is that it’s absolutely ideal for use at home. The material makes it durable and it’s still good enough to let you play really well. If you’re entering the World Pool Championships, look elsewhere. If you want the best pool cue for your man cave at home, you’ve found it. make sure you also check our guide to the best ping pong tables.
58 inches long
Weighs 20.1 ounces
Fiberglass and titanium construction
Micro-fiber grip
- BrandEastPoint Sports
- Model1-1-01227-HF
- Weight1.3 pounds
Viper Commercial/House 1-Piece Canadian Maple Pool Cue
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This next cue is an interesting one. It’s not the best pool stick on this list by any means, but we thought it deserved a place for a few reasons, which will get into later. First, though, it’s worth talking about the company that makes these products, GLD. They were initially a company selling darts supplies to the Milwaukee darts scene, in the early 1980s. Since then, they’ve grown into a leading supplier of all thing’s darts, billiards, and table games in general. They know how to make cheap pools cues that are really high-quality and that’s immediately obvious with the Viper Commercial.
Viper Commercial/House 1-Piece Canadian Maple Billiard/Pool Cue is a 57-inch cue that weighs 20 ounces. That puts it on the shorter side of standard-sized cues and slap-bang in the middle of the expected weight. It’s made from hard Canadian maple and then finished with nine layers of varnish for added protection. This makes it really durable, which is exactly what you want from cheap pool cues. You can tell that it’s designed to withstand years of regular use. It’s also worth mentioning that it’s a one-piece cue. That means you can’t screw it in half to fit it into a smaller case. That shouldn’t be a problem for anyone buying this cue for home use, but if you’re transporting it around regularly, you might want to look elsewhere.
It’s finished off with a 13mm Le Pro leather tip. This medium-hard tip gives you a really solid grip on the ball and helps to reduce miscues, so you don’t make a fool of yourself in front of your friends. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better cue for the price. It’s not competition standard, but it’s a great cue and will withstand years of abuse.
57 inches long
Weighs 20 ounces
Hard Canadian maple construction
No grip
- BrandViper by GLD Products
- Model50-0100-20
- Weight1.25 pounds
Players Technology Series HXT15 Two-Piece Pool Cue
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The HXT15 pool cue is pretty well respected in the pool industry. It pops up on pretty much every list of the top-rated pool cues on the internet. It’s not surprising when you look at the product description, however, this pool cue isn’t for beginners. When you get into the details, it quickly becomes apparent that this cue is made with intermediate and advanced players in mind. It’s definitely suitable for competition standard pool and it has the price tag to match. Having said that, you can spend a lot more money on pool cues that aren’t any better than this one.
It’s made from a mixture of North American hard rock maple and Nelsonite. This rare blend of materials makes it lightweight and also extremely durable. One of the best advantages of this material is that it’s resistant to changes in the atmosphere, so it shouldn’t warp if it gets too hot or cold. The Irish Linen grip makes this cue feel extremely well-balanced and secure in your hand. There’s an obvious difference in quality when you compare it to one of the cheaper cues available.
The 14mm Kamui Soft Black tip is one of the best out there. It’s made from pigskin, instead of standard leather and gives you better spin and grip. When you add this to the low-deflection HXT ferrule, you get one of the most powerful and accurate cues out there. We can’t say it’ll turn you into a master pool player, but it will immediately improve your game if you’re ready to handle this sort of cue. The other thing worthy of note is the beautiful black and white diamond pattern on the forearm. It makes this one of the most attractive cues here. The only real downside is that it’s not suitable for beginners. Our handy guide to the best air hockey tables features more great products like this.
58.5 inches long
Weighs 19 ounces
Maple and Nelsonite construction
Irish linen grip
- BrandPlayers
- Model1
- Weight 1.2 pounds
Imperial Eliminator Hard Rock Maple Pool House Cue
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Imperial is a company that lives and breathes billiards. Their main focus is on making high-quality pool tables, but they also make a whole range of accessories to go with them. They’re not well-known for their pool cues, but the Imperial Eliminator is definitely a diamond in the rough. When we were choosing our Best Value product this week, this was one of the strongest contenders. In fact, it was almost impossible to choose between this cue and the Viper Commercial. They’re both really good pool cues and both around the $30 mark.
This cue is made from kiln-dried hard rock maple, which is the standard material used by cue makers. Some of the more expensive cue makers infuse maple with other materials to give it even better durability, but essentially this cue is made from the same stuff. It’s 52-inches long, which makes it slightly shorter than standard pool cues. That makes it perfect for a shorter pool player or even a teenager who is just starting out. The other reason to buy a pool cue this length is if you have restricted access to your pool table. It’s a fantastic option to make a great shot without hitting the wall behind you. Oddly, they don’t publish the weight, but we think it’s between 18 and 20oz.
The leather tip is glued on and could be replaced by something better. Some reviewers on Amazon have said this is the perfect pool cue for hustling people if you put a professional-standard tip on it. Could be worth a try?
52 inches long
Weighs between 18-20 ounces
Hardrock maple construction
No grip
- BrandImperial
- Model12-136
- Weight1.2 pounds
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Viking is one of those legends in the pool cue business that seems to have been around forever. Since the early 1960s, they’ve been making awesome custom pool cues and, in the last ten years, have developed a range of pool cues that are perfect for the intermediate pool player. This cue, the Viking Valhalla, sits in the middle of the price range at around $60. It’s not a huge expense, but you know you’re going to get a quality product.
They also offer one thing that a lot of pool cue manufacturers haven’t thought of: a color option. You can get your Viking Valhalla in nine different colors, ranging from beautifully stained mahogany to bright pink. This might not be important to everyone, but to some, it means you can really adopt your own style when you head down to the pool hall. You’ve just got to have the skills to back it up.
Like most of the cues on this list, it’s made from hard rock maple, which makes it pretty tough. It’s also got one of the best ferrules money can buy. Viking claim that their ferrules are indestructible – they say ‘250,000 in play and no cracked ferrules, you know we’ve done our homework’. Other features include a premium leather tip, that comes shaped and ready to play, and a linen grip, that provides a really comfortable feel. This is easily one of the coolest looking pool cues out there and the company really knows what they’re doing. Every part of the cue has been thought out in great detail and that’s resulted in one of the best mid-range cues we could find. Our guide to the best foosball tables offers more great products like this.
58 inches long
Weighs between 18-20 ounces
Hardrock maple construction
Linen grip
9 color options
- BrandViking
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Now that we’ve seen everything from affordable to competition standard cues, it’s time to take a look at our Premium Choice pool cue. The Cuetec R360 Edge Series is the most expensive cue on this list, which means it has to be pretty impressive to warrant the price tag. At around $200, you are starting to get into the territory of professional cues. This cue has actually been endorsed by Shane Van Boening, the former US number one. He said “The Cuetec R360 has a better feel, better aiming system, and more important, better control. Cuetec has a great product at a reasonable price and I am happy to endorse them.” So, if the professionals love it, it’s definitely good enough for the intermediate or advanced pool player.
It’s made from ‘A-plus’ grade Canadian maple that is precision-engineered using computer-guided cutting tools. It has a fantastic Tiger Everest 10-layer pig skin tip and an ABS ferrule, which combine together to give you an awesome amount of control over every shot. The wrap is made from genuine Irish linen and is easily one of the most comfortable cues on the list.
But, the most impressive feature of this cue is the 360-degree radial consistency, they’ve even named the cue after it. If you don’t know what we’re talking about, it basically means that cue provides a consistent shot, every time, regardless of the orientation. It’s perfectly round and perfectly balanced. There are a lot of features on this cue that make every shot feel just right. If there was any downside to it, it’s that it’s not suitable for beginners. But then again, there aren’t many beginners willing to put down $200 on their first cue.
58 inches long
Weighs 18 ounces
‘A-plus’ grade maple construction
Irish linen grip
360-degree radial consistency
- BrandCuetec
- Model13-694
- Weight1.3 pounds
Cuetec Professional Series 1-Piece Canadian Maple Pool House Cue
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Cuetec isn’t just makers of high-end pool cues. They make pool cues for all standard of player, including beginners and intermediates. That’s what this cue is all about. Cuetec Professional Series 1-Piece is relatively inexpensive when you consider the quality of the cue, but it’s still better than the cheaper cues. It’s perfect if you’re just starting out but want to spend a little bit more money to get a better-quality cue.
Like the Cuetec R360, it’s made from ‘A-plus’ grade Canadian maple, which is a great quality material for the price. This material is then covered with a composite coating that is designed to prevent any warping, scratching or dents. It’s also super easy to clean, which is great for those of you who like to keep your man den in perfect condition.
Instead of the Irish linen grip, you get a Veltex grip, which is slightly cheaper but still gives it a really solid feel and prevents any moisture from throwing you off your game. It doesn’t specify anything about the ferrule, but the tip is made from deluxe brown leather. The size we’re looking at is the 57 inch, which weighs 18 to 21 ounces, but it also comes in 36 or 42 inches. These are great for kids, teenagers, or rooms with limited access to the table. Of course, it’s not going to be as good as the R360, but it’s a fantastic quality cue from a company that really knows what they’re doing.
57 inches long
Weighs between 18-21 ounces
‘A-plus’ grade maple construction
Veltex grip
- BrandCuetec
- ModelIMP 12-99521-Parent
- Weight1.3 pounds
GSE Games & Sports Expert 1-Piece Canadian Hardwood Maple Pool Cue
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This next product is a little different from the other products we’ve featured. It’s not just a pool cue, it’s a pack of four pool cues, all of them different sizes. That makes it absolutely ideal for someone who has just bought a pool table, but it didn’t come with any cues. Or someone who just wants to upgrade their existing set of pool cues. GSE Games & Sports Expert 1-Piece Canadian Hardwood Maple Pool Cue is also pretty handy that they’re all different sizes. For starters, you’ve got a short cue if your pool table is too close to a wall. But also, if you’ve got kids who are learning to play, this is the perfect way for them to move through the different sizes until they’re ready to handle a full-sized cue.
The great thing about this pack of four cues is that they’re actually decent quality. They’re made from premium Canadian hardwood maple and have a 4-prong construction, like the more expensive cues. It is covered in multiple layers of varnish, to ensure that it doesn’t warp or fade. Plus, it’s got a multi-layered leather tip that’s glued on and a high-quality fiber ferrule. If those things all sound familiar, that’s because you’ll find them on cues that we’ve already covered.
The 58-inch stick weighs in at 20 ounces, which is right in the middle of where it needs to be. Sure, these cues aren’t going to win you any competitions, but they’re absolutely perfect for use around the house and would even be suitable for use in a commercial environment.
Pack of four
36, 42, 48 & 57 inches long
57-inch weighs 20 ounces
Premium maple construction
No grip
- BrandGSE Games & Sports Expert
- Weight4 pounds
Players C-9921 Classic Smoke-Stained Birds-Eye Maple Cue
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Now, back to something a bit more suited to those serious pool players among you. A good pool player could make any of the cues on this list play well, but a cue like the Players C-9921 will completely improve their game. This is the second Players cue that we’ve featured and it’s not dissimilar to the first. Players C-9921 Classic Smoke-Stained pool cue is slightly more expensive and it’s a bit of a step up, but the construction is basically the same.
Before we get into the features, it’s definitely worth talking about the beautiful design on this cue. They call it the ‘classic smoke-stained birds-eye maple’ and it gives the cue a really elegant and timeless look, that stands out from all of the other cues we’ve chosen. Wherever you play, you’re going to have one of the coolest cues in the room. That alone doesn’t warrant the price tag, but it certainly helps.
It’s made from North American Grade-A hard rock maple, which we’ve already seen on a few different cues. The difference is that Players turn and dry the wood seven times during the curing process and then add Nelsonite to make it resistant to atmospheric changes. This is then covered with a high-gloss super UV coating, which stops it from cracking or chipping. The ferrule is specially designed to be high-impact and comes with its own lifetime guarantee. That shows how much confidence Players have in their product! The tip is a Le Pro hard oak leather tip that holds its shape for years and gives a consistent shot every time. Plus, it’s available in sizes from 18-21 ounces in half inch increments. This is, without question, one of the best cues on the market for less than $200.
58 inches long
Weighs 18-21 ounces
Hardrock Grade A Maple
Irish linen wrap
- BrandPlayers
- Model C-9921-P
- Weight1 pound
Imperial Officially Licensed NHL 57-Inch Pool Cue
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For the last pool cue on our list, we had to choose something that was a little different. It’s still a pool cue, but Imperial Officially Licensed NHL 57-Inch Pool Cue is aimed specifically at fans of the NHL (National Hockey League). If you’ve never been to an NHL game, you won’t know how dedicated their fans are, but we’ll just say that it’s no surprise that they have their own team pool cues. There are seven different teams you can get one for: The Boston Bruins, the Detroit Red Wings, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Winnipeg Jets, the Chicago Blackhawks, the New York Rangers, & the Vancouver Chucks. So, if one of those is your team, you’re in luck.
What about the cue though? Well, as you might expect from Imperial, they are pretty high-quality. It’s a two-piece cue made from solid maple wood. On the official website, they claim that it’s the most warp-resistant and smoothest hitting cue in the world. We’re not exactly sure if that’s the truth, but they’re definitely good quality. It’s got a standard leather tip, an ABS ferrule, and a Veltex grip to stop your hand from slipping.
Of course, the best thing about the cue is that it has your team’s logo emblazoned on. They do a fantastic job of digitally recreating the logo to make sure it has the perfect colors and sizes. Then, they go a step further and silk-screen the logo onto a pool bag that’s included in the price. If you really want to fly your team’s flags, you can buy the matching pool balls, cue case, and even table cloths. We wouldn’t say this is the best cue for the price, but if you’re crazy about NHL, it’s a no-brainer.
57 inches long
Weighs 18-21 ounces
Solid maple wood
NHL logo emblazoned on cue
Free soft bag
- BrandImperial
- Model72-5006
- Weight2 pounds
PROS
Type
Weights
Extras
Using a range of high-quality materials for their models, the folks behind the Players company have been responsible for some of the most impressive pieces of billiards equipment currently on the market.
It features a double-pressed Irish linen wrap. It’s easy to handle with its slip-free grip. There’s a lifetime warranty included.
There can sometimes be some bubbles towards the end of the cue. (a minor imperfection)
Bird's Eye Maple
20 x 4 x 4 inches
Producing pretty much every piece of equipment you may require to have a great game of billiards, the Imperial company delivers once again with this small but plucky beginner's pool companion.
The cue is two-piece so carrying it around is not a problem. It's made of strong maple. It's equipped with some glue on top for easier handling.
Not the best model for experienced players, though.
Hard Rock Maple
42 inches
Boasting an impressive roster of billiards superstars as well as an equally attractive list of pool-related products, the Cuetec Company is a business that has quality ascribed to its name.
It features a patented power-bonded shaft. There is a Veltex Grip for easier handling. The weight bolt system is fully adjustable.
The quality of coloring seems to be a bit off in some instances.
Canadian Maple
58 inches
Selling a wide variety of table and board game products, the GLD company's been making a name for itself with its recent lines of products.
It comes with some lightweight ABS joints. This model is available in 16 different weights. Built from tough Canadian maple wood.
The visuals, although impressive, might not be suitable for all people.
Canadian Maple
48 inches
Iszy is a well-known brand that markets well and has speedy delivery. They have a knack for picking up tough 'n' plucky cues for future champions.
It's made from rugged Canadian maple. There's a convenient fiber ferrule (in white). The handle features an attractive black/red finish with some decorative motifs.
Perhaps not the best option for advanced players who like to work with more features (like added weights).
Canadian Maple
58 inches