When it comes to billiards cues, there are certainly many options available to you for which to purchase. There are many manufactures that make this piece of equipment today, and finding the best one to purchase can become somewhat of a chore. Obviously, some of them are built better than others, so finding the right one is certainly essential.
First of all, you can certainly find a wide range of options available to you at the store. Whether you shop online or offline, there are many different cues available. The two biggest differences in the cues you can purchase are whether you decide to go with one or two piece sticks. Which is best?
Obviously, everybody has their own preferences on this matter. If you plan on traveling a lot, then two pieces is certainly the best because you can split them into two and therefore reduce the size of it. However, often times you will sacrifice some in quality with two pieces.
Here's an even better option: build your own cues. This option certainly isn't for everybody, but if you are industrious and want to save some cash, you might want to consider constructing the cue yourself. Keep in mind, the first pool cues were built much more for appearance than their actual effectiveness for playing. In fact, they were so artistic that they were often times more expensive than the actual pool table itself.
Unfortunately, because they technology was limited back then, there weren't a whole lot of options available to somebody when trying to decide which to purchase. That certainly isn't the case now. Now, you can choose which style you want, color, type of wood used to make it, etc.
Also, remember that there is a difference between pool sticks and billiards. Billiards are generally stiffer than pool cue sticks because the balls they will be striking weight more than pool balls, requiring this adjustment in the equipment.
For the wood, you can decide between which kind of kind to get, and you don't have to simply settle for some mass produced model. Whether it be mahogany, maple, walnut, cherry, there are many different variations of wood you can choose from, and it's certainly very easy to customize the stick to match the style and color you want. Remember, it's very important that you enjoy the look and feel of it in your hand, because this will go a long way to how well you play.
If you are set on building it yourself, remember that these are quite simple to make. In fact, just doing a quick internet search will give you all the instructions you need to accomplish this task.
Here are some quick tips for upkeep of your pool cues to keep them in top condition. First of all, you should probably spend some money on a scuffer and cube to help keep your stick in the best condition possible.
Obviously, billiard sticks are known for begin quite expensive, making it imperative to keep them in top condition. They have been known to give out quite easily when not cared for, and the more of these you have to purchase, the more money you have to part with. This situation could have been avoided with some simple upkeep.
The most important part of keeping up your billiard stick is to get a good scuffer that will help scuff the cue to keep it in shape. For this, get a tip about the size of a dime, and use this to chalk it.
Also remember to change the tip quite frequently. In addition, you should definitely keep your sticks on a rack, as this dramatically reduces the pressure on them versus simply leaning them against the wall, or worse yet, letting it slide to the ground.
Again, there are many different kinds of sticks available, ranging from Viking Pool Cues, custom pool cues, etc. To find the best one, take some time to read consumer reviews online or in a magazine, and find out which ones people seem to be happy with.
Finally, make sure you and only you are the one to use the stick. I know it sounds selfish, but when you are allowing friends to use these sticks, you can never be sure how well they will care for them. I know some of this might sound ridiculous; we are talking about billiards cues, after all! However, they are quite an investment, and you should certainly go the extra mile to keep them in top condition to improve your performance.
