What pool cue should I buy for under $300?

Question

I want a good cue, but don't care much about looks, just performance. I like the feel of a narrow shaft (12mm), but don't know if it would work well for breaks. Do I need a second shaft for breaks? Do I need a heavier cue for breaks? What about cues that you can add weights to? I like Cuetec cues, but have read about McDermott, Scorpion, Joss, and Viking. Cuetec seems to be about utility and quality and not about a diamond-studded cue, which for me is not practical. Another thing is the joint and how hard or soft it is. Should I pick a weight for playing and stick with it for consistency (I like 18 oz cues)? And what about fiberglass coating? What are the advantages of that? Thanks!!

Answer 1

Perfect cue for you right here bro. I started out with a stick very similar to this one with Viking and have been with them since. I also have a Predator cue and custom made Parot sneeky pete. Those are sort of expensive though. Viking is an excellent cue though. You dont want a fiber glass cue. Wood is so much better. If your not that much of an experienced player, I wouldnt advise breaking with your main cue. If your an experienced player and know what your doing, then by all means break with your stick. I break with all my cues. It has never hurt them. If it is a good cue and you know what your doing it will be fine. I know pros who break with $2000+ cues all the time. I was worried about breaking with my cues but they told me the same thing. Hope I helped..Oh yeah here is the link to the Viking cue....

http://www.cheapcues.com/Viking_Pool_Cue...

Answer 2

What I did is got a break stick to use for breaking.  You do not want to use your cue you play with all the time for breaking as to the impact starts to take a toll on your cue and then you waste your money.  I bought a Mucci cue for $350 and I love it much better than some vikings I have used.  I have had it for 4 years I shoot on a VNEA pool league in Florida.

Answer 3

McDermott makes some great quality cues for under $300. I'm a big fan of having a seperate cue for breaking..maybe 21oz. and play a 19oz. cue for control.  The cue you use for breaking doesn't have to be as high quality, just straight and have a high quality tip..Elk probably

Answer 4

There are several great cues out there for under 300 bucks. I would suggest trying some out to see what feeels comfortable to you. I would suggest a separate cue for breaking. The break shot can take a toll on the tip and ferrule and you don't want that for your playing cue. A break cue with a very hard tip and an unbreakable ferrule is the way to go. As far as the weight of the break cue I prefer a light weight. You can generate more speed on your stroke with a light weight cue and actually get a better break out of it. It's like baseball , you don't want the heavy bat because you can't swing it very fast, or in golf you get better speed with a lighter club head. It's the same way for the break shot in pool , A lighter stick means a faster stroke wich means a more powerful break. I use a cheap 17 ounce stick for breaking and a McDermott 19 ounce stick for playing. I have other cues that I play with once in awhile but when I'm in a serious game I always use my McDermott. I don't care for graphite or fiberglass cues. They just never felt right to me , never liked the hit you get from them. Good luck to ya!