I Have Pool ( Billiards ) Question about Cues and other things!?

Question

Okay well first im trying to find a nice a cue pool stick been looking on ebay but the thing is i dont know much about brands materials and what not and what makes the best i usually play with friends cues and the halls sticks but idealy im looking for something that fits rgulations because i plan to train and enter tournaments

now i need to know rules and regulations for tournaments

and if anyone knows where i could find listings of arizona tournaments been idealy trying to find "teen" "amature" tourns

then back to th cues if anyone could let me know good brands good materials things to look for if i go ebay

k well ty think thats all appreciate the help :)

Answer 1

Good brands are Viking, Mcdermit, Schon, Cuetech,and Stealth. For rules try the link below they should have what you are looking for. I am actually getting a Viking because they have a really good warranty on there cues but it depend what you like.

Answer 2

I Wouldnt buy a stick from ebay thats like a mail order bride the picture may be ok but no telling what you will wind up with At least hold them before you make a deal..

As for rules and regs BCA any and everything you need to know

Answer 3

All good answers so far. Just wanted to add that you pay a lot for design too. Usually the less fancy designs of name brand manufacturers are just as fine and they are a lot cheaper than the ones with complex inlays and expensive materials. Don't buy a cue just for the looks. Stay away from ivory, no matter what. Elephants still get slaughterd for their tusks.

PS: Stay away from Meucci Cues. Although I play one since 89 I invested a lot of money to get it overhauled and customized.

I also like Joss Cues and Eurowest however, the latter are hard to find.

Answer 4

As for the brand of pool cue to use, Viking, McDermott or an older Meucci (10+ years old) are great cues and you will not be disappointed.  When you look at these cue brands, you will expect to pay at least $150.00 or more.  Anything above that, you are getting the same stick as their cheaper models,  your just paying for the inlay and design.

I would not recommend purchasing a cue from ebay.  First off, if you buy either a Viking or a McDermott from an authorized dealer, it comes with a lifetime warranty.  Cues from ebay do not.  The most important reason though, is feel.  Every cue plays different.  Even if it is the same cue your best friend has, or the same one you played with at the local pool room, each stick is different.  Before you buy one, you should definately try it out to make sure it suits you.

As for the rules, the bca website is a great place to start.

www.bca-pool.com

Be cautious though, regardless of what the rules say on their web-site, every place you play could have different variations of these rules.  It is always best to ask for clarification on the rules before you begin "serious play" anywhere.

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

The other answers are good.....I just want to add one comment.  Please remember that a cue is a very personal item.  The game of pool has a lot to do with touch/feel.  I would never purchase a cue that I couldn't actually get my hands on and "feel" it.  Play with it first.  There are many places that sell cues that will let you "try it out" (on their premises, of course) first.

Answer 6

I would shy away from any brand you don't know or you might get screwed. The following list of cues should be in the price range of 100 to 200.  Any more expensive and you don't need it while you are starting out.  

McDermott

Meucci

Joss

Shamrock

Schon ( a little more expensive)

Gilbert

As far as tournaments i would look in your home town.  Unless you live in a really small town there are probably local tournaments.  Otherwise you can find them on line.  I don't know the URL but the site name is A to Z Billiards.  They have a pretty good list of tournaments and pool players.

Answer 7

I played in leagues all around Houston for years. You can start by contacting the BCA or Billiard Congress of America if you want to enter tournaments. You can also simply find a local pool hall and ask around about league play and their requirements. Go with a friend or family member and rent a table a few times. Stay alert and watch other players around you, and ask the bartender when league night is. Ask if they have an in house league or a travelling one. Try to stay out of the more rundown pool halls as a lot of crime takes place in the bad ones. Watch out and don't get hussled either, a LOT of people will ask you to play for money. Don't, unless you've got a lot of experience and money to burn.  

On the issue of finding a good cue - I bought a two peice Hubbler cue from a local Billiard Factory store for 180 bucks and had no complaints about it. Cues range in price from just under a hundred dollars to extravagant cues costing several thousand. There are two ways to think about buying a cue. You can either buy one that a large name brand company makes or you can find a local cue maker. Every city has them but they are usually expensive custom made cues. Try talking to some people in a store that specializes in selling billiard equipment to learn more. Just stay away from cheap cues that Wal-Mart or other retail store sells. Good cues won't have glue on tips or more than two peices.

Addendum - You can also visit local colleges if you want to find amateur or teen matches or just to practice in a quiet setting. If the colleges there are like the ones here, each should have a recreational center for students with tables for rent. This might be the best environment to practice for novices and/or teens. You probably won't have to deal with the hassle of being asked for money games, or at least not to the extent that you would in a pool hall.

Answer 8

has anyone heard of the supposedly "best"..... **BALABUSHKA**?? awheck..i'd love to get my game with one of those, but...dammmmmnnnn.....for that price, i wouldn't wanna even play with the sucker..haha....anyway, I happen to like Lucasi the best...depending on your hand shape, you'll wanna get the feel on the cue....like all here are saying...some ppl who have smaller fingers prefer the thinner shafts...Ebay's great to find a cheaper stick, but don't you just wanna hit up your local billiards supply store and check one out yourself?...you can even have one custom made for you...name and all :) :)