The weight of your cue
Your cue weighs approximately 400 g (13 oz) in 122 cm or 540 g (19 oz) in 145 cm, with a tolerance of 10%. As cues are made of wood, the weight cannot be absolutely guaranteed: fiber density, even for the same wood species, varies from one forest to another; within the same tree there can be significant variations, depending on exposure to sunlight, the section exploited (bole, crown, top).
To start with, you should go for a rather heavy cue.
The size of your tail
Your American billiard cue measures 122 cm, or 48 inches (1 inch = 2.54 cm) or 145 cm (57 inches).
In the case of the 122 cm format , this will enable you to play more easily in smaller spaces. This size is also suitable for players of shorter stature, as the top of the cue is ideally at shoulder height.
Why can't we guarantee the straightness of our cues?
All our cues are made by hand. Each cue is checked for straightness, piece by piece, as it leaves the factory. However, as billiard cues are made of wood, variations in temperature and humidity during transport, storage and warehousing can upset the straightness requirement. This difficulty applies to all billiard cues on the market, at least those made of wood (maple, ash, poplar, ramin).
Why yellow poplar?
Poplar is a popular wood species: often used for interior furniture for its technical characteristics and accessibility, poplar has the advantage of drying quickly without warping. It also has the advantage of excellent natural straightness: poplars grow straight. This makes it an ideal choice for billiard cues, which need to be as straight as possible.
How to preserve your cue?
Our team advises you to keep your cue protected from humidity and temperature changes.
After each game, don't leave your cue leaning against a wall, as this could deform it. It's best to store it flat in a storage bag or case. Alternatively, keep your cue as upright as possible, using a cue rack for example: this will keep it straight and prevent warping.
Did you know? The process of your cue can be maintained.
Your cue, and in particular its tip, wears out from repeated impacts with the cue ball. In addition to this "compression" wear, the cue tip is damaged by abrasion (chalk is a powerful abrasive which removes the leather cue tip).
Hence the need to change your cue tip regularly. To change it, nothing could be simpler:
1/ Peel off the damaged process
2/ Sand the new process
3/ Glue the process
4/ Work the process
5/ Now all you have to do is play!
Why a one-piece tail?
Opt for simplicity and speed with this one-piece cue: a one-piece cue requires no assembly, and is ready to play, immediately!
The absence of half- or three-quarter joints makes the one-piece cue stronger and straighter than a detachable cue. Good straightness is influenced by two factors: the straightness over time of the arrow (the front part of the cue), and the alignment of the shaft and arrow at the joint.
Team tip: how to hold your cue properly?
When you're just starting out, holding your cue correctly is essential: a good grip will give you greater precision and optimize the success of your shots. Nicolas Henric, coach of the French Blackball teams, and Maeva Brionne, international player, explain how to hold your cue correctly so you can be more precise and efficient during your games > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbLFttSWOAA
Which cue for which use?
Billiards is rich in the diversity of its practices: American, English, French, snooker... and so many others!
Each discipline has its own rules, its own mindset... But also a specific use, for larger or smaller balls.
Choosing the right cue starts with knowing which discipline it will be used for!
Here are the process sizes generally used:
> US billiards: 13 mm
> French billiards: 11-12 mm
> snooker: 9-10 mm
> blackball: 8-9mm
