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Last updated: November 07, 2024
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Billiards is actually a highly competitive sport and not just a game you like to play in your local bar, and if you are getting into the pool scene it makes sense that you’d begin looking at investing in the best pool cues for beginners. These tools should be easy to handle, durable, straight, and sized correctly for your arm span and general reach. So before you rack those balls and break them, consider our review on these top beginner pool cues.
The main features which will ensure a great pool cue include their whole body materials as well as their wrap materials – depending on the wood used in each design your break might come with a little more strength, finesse, or even better natural aim; likewise the wrap material can greatly affect the weight of the pool cue as well as your grip. Other features covered in our review are the length, overall weight, and even warranty for these beginner cues.
In researching this sport and the best cues for someone just beginning we consulted professional billiard players about the cues they first started with and their opinions on how different brand cues might change a players overall game. We also spoke with manufacturers for the products listed below and consulted verified customers to see what they liked or didn’t like about their purchase. The following results are organized into a comprehensive product chart listing in-detail reviews of each product, as well as a buying guide included at the end.
For beginners this is one of the top pool cues in the industry and is available in over 4 sizes that include 18 ounce, 19 ounce, 20 ounce, and 21 ounce player weight options. The cue itself is constructed from the finest hard Canadian Maple wood and designed with a stylish tattoo-style down the connecting length of the cue.
This wood makes for a strong yet controlled impact with added grip control from a silicone infused felt wrap; additionally the wood is finished off in 9 coats of sleek varnish finish. Coupling between the two shafts includes stainless steel jointing, and this will give excellent and consistent feedback during a play. The tip is uniquely designed 13mm Le Pro leather, and offers a refined contact against the ball for equally distributed weight and the perfect angled shot.
At standard size 58 millimeters and meeting the parameters for professional competition play, and also including the steel refinements and fine wood type, this pool cue comes with the finest warranty and offers 3-year protection for your purchase. Other technical advancements include adjustable joints so the player can alter the weight system and customize the cue for the best feel, and the base of the cue which includes a built in removable scuffer.
Why did it make our list?
Silicone infused felt wrap with excellent grip.
13mm Le Pro leather tip.
Comes with a fantastic 3-year warranty.
What is not ideal about it?
The graphics don’t go all the way around the cue.
Customers have complained about receiving the wrong sizes.
Where the last reviewed cue had a modern design with tattoo styling, this Players Pool Cue C-960 fashions a stylish old fashioned look with the romantic finesse and styling for any low-lit bar or professional game.
Classically-styled, this cue features a crimson-stained birds-eye maple wood forearm and butt, and includes a genuine sold black double-pressed Irish linen wrap. Overall these design choices make for a heftier back weight and therefore more power behind each shot, as well as an added grip advantage over sharp angles and technical shots. A stainless steel joint collar connects the classy bottom with a standard top piece, and overall the most impressive feature about this pool cue are its adjustable and stylish triple silver rings.
The specific wood type is 100% North American Grade A Hard Rock Maple and is available in player weighted sizes between 18 ounces and 21 ounces; point 5 increment adjustments are also available. The tip is classes French Le Pro leather, allowing for slower and more refined strikes while still capable of rock hard power shots; design specifics also include high-impact ferrule.
Therefore it makes sense that this cue comes with a Lifetime Warranty which specifically covers all chipping or cracking. Finally, the entire rod features a 15-inch professional taper, and a high-gloss super UV finish ensures protection against all fading and chiping.
What makes it stand out?
15-inch professional taper.
Most technical weight sizes available for a beginner cue.
Lifetime Guaranteed Warranty.
Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
With constant play expect the butt’s wrap to unravel and need repairs.
Weight bolt can come loose and rattle; but this is typically an easy fix.
Cuetec offers one of the more popular beginner cue’s on the market, first because these cues feature some of the finest beginner advancements for the game, and second because each cue is available in a range of unique styles for each particular player.
Components include a S.S.T shaft made from fiberglass bonded maple wood – this ensure the cue is lighter than most while still giving it the striking advantage of hard wood. Also, with this particular design you receive the styled black implex joint collar and butt cam with chrome trim rings, along with two top pieces with different weight adjustments. Both top pieces feature a 13mm Tiger Everest ten layer Pigskin tip, and attach on a 3/8” x 14” joint pin for an excellent and tight fit. The butt piece is wrapped with Veltex for a sure grip, and all pieces are finished in Tru-Glide that’s resistant against scratches and breaks.
Style options include ebony coloring, coloring in candy apple red, pearl white, and steel blue – weight options on the other hand are limited to 19 ounces. Finally, for general play the patented S.S.T. with a 15 1/2″ Pro Taper power bonded shaft gives a true feel and true strike every time, making this one of the best beginner choices.
What are our favorite features?
Largest number of selectable styles.
Fiberglass bonded maple wood shaft.
Comes with an excellent taper rate.
Limited Lifetime Guarantee Warranty.
What could be better?
You will have to buy separate weights to adjust your cue.
Removable rubber foot has a tendency to fall off while you’re playing.
As Cuetec offers the finest affordable cues for beginners, it makes sense that our budget pick would be from their wide collection of cues. This pool cue under $100 is made from Grade A Plus North American Maple and offers that true weighted feel as well as a dependable strike every time for every single one of your shots.
Its deluxe brown leather tip can handle any kind of blow and offers soft knocks for those close technical pocket shots as well as sharp volleys for angled or long-range pocket shots. Not only is the shaft made from high quality wood with the standard “Sneaky Pete” look, but this cue comes with one of the longest pro tapers of any production cue made today: 15 ½ inch Super Slim Taper (S.S.T). All components are constructed with a composite coating to help maintain the cues alignment throughout years of games, also ensuring that the wood and construction is dent proof and ding/scratch resistant.
Such polishing also makes this one of the easiest cues to clean without the fear of compromising the leather or metal elements. Sturdy steel jointing and a 4-prong handle design, along with an adjustable weight bolt system and polycarbonate ferrule, together ensure that each time you play you have the maximum amount of adjustments for your preferred style of play.
What do we love it for?
This cue represents the budget pick for our list.
Made with a 4-prong handle design.
Lifetime limited warranty protection.
What were we disappointed with?
Weight options are limited to 19 ounces.
After a while the tip hardens and gets a little dry/needs replacing for continued exact shots.
Features
Material: maple
Length: 57’’
Weight: 19 oz
Wrap: fiberglass sheath
Warranty: lifetime limited
More features: 4-prong handle design, 13 mm Deluxe hard brown leather tip, polycarbonate ferrule, adjustable weight bolt system
As Cuetec offers the finest affordable cues for beginners, it makes sense that our budget pick would be from their wide collection of cues. This pick is made from Grade A Plus North American Maple and offers that true weighted feel as well as a dependable strike every time for every single one of your shots.
Its deluxe brown leather tip can handle any kind of blow and offers soft knocks for those close technical pocket shots as well as sharp volleys for angled or long-range pocket shots. Not only is the shaft made from high quality wood with the standard “Sneaky Pete” look, but this cue comes with one of the longest pro tapers of any production cue made today: 15 ½ inch Super Slim Taper (S.S.T). All components are constructed with a composite coating to help maintain the cues alignment throughout years of games, also ensuring that the wood and construction is dent proof and ding/scratch resistant.
Such polishing also makes this one of the easiest cues to clean without the fear of compromising the leather or metal elements. Sturdy steel jointing and a 4-prong handle design, along with an adjustable weight bolt system and polycarbonate ferrule, together ensure that each time you play you have the maximum amount of adjustments for your preferred style of play.
PROS:
This cue represents the budget pick for our list.
Made with a 4-prong handle design.
Lifetime limited warranty protection.
CONS:
Weight options are limited to 19 ounces.
After a while the tip hardens and gets a little dry/needs replacing for continued exact shots.
Things to Consider
The remainder of our guide is designed to explain certain facets of pool cue’s and even just playing the game of pool (or Billiards). Additionally we’ve included information on product features – many of which were listed above – and explained how each feature matters and can affect your overall game. We’ve even listed certain cues which best represent some of these features. Frequently asked questions and our top nominations are listed at the end.
It all starts with a cue – how to choose a pool stick
A brand new pool cue, whether it is a break cue or a playing cue, should be perfect to the touch, but obviously this is not something you can judge when it comes to an online purchase. Still, first and foremost upon arrival run your hand along the cue and feel for any blemishes, burrs, or scratches. Additionally, any glue is a sign of bad craftsmanship – always make sure you have an included warranty so you’re safe to return any sub-par products.
When just looking online though, ask the manufacturer to tell you more about the smoothness between these parts: the tip, ferrule, shaft, and butt. The answer should actually not be that complicated, because the best pool cues are perfectly straight and therefore the smoothness will run perfectly along all features. Also, for double checking this you should always read customer reviews as they give you the truth about their experience and the look/handle of their new purchase.
How to hold pool cue – tips for beginners
Holding a pool cue correctly isn’t just about impressing your date, it can also greatly affect your game play and ability to make a shot. If you don’t hold your cue correctly odds are you’ll end up hitting the ball way off mark or even – and this is a great way to embarrass yourself on a date – right off the table. It’s important to know the following basics, especially if you’re just beginning:
First, hold the pool cue right at your hip and do so with you dominant hand – typically you’ll hold at the point along your stick where the rear is balanced (this point might even already have tape or a faint marker). Put even more specifically, your hand should grip around 4 to 5 inches back with your back hand at a 90 degree angle. Next, relax your grip slightly – too much tension and you’ll actually limit the amount of control you have during any given shot. Your body should come into line with the cue while you aim your shot, and then you’ll bring your free hand/arm forward toward the top-middle of the cue for further lining up your shot.
Depending on how you play, you can vary this next part. Typically though, most players make a shot through their loose non-dominant hand, and don’t move it off the table. For example, if your dominant hand is the right one, you’ll grip the back of your cue with the right hand; meanwhile your left hand will center the cue’s tip on your shot. You’ll take the shot without removing your left hand, and instead will use this forward hand as a loosened guide for the perfect connection against the ball… and CRACK! You’ve made your shot. Straight into the pocket!
Price tag
What most beginners don’t know is that professionals typically prefer cues with a little more meat – heavier weights and even thicker sizes – but these cues are also much more expensive. For now, until you’ve worked hard and started competing in leagues or tournaments, resist the urge to buy expensive heavier cues and instead think about your pocket book. What can you afford? Typically the best mix is length with a medium weight (between 19 and 21 ounces). Anything over this weight is typically more expensive, although the lighter weights (like 18 ounces) will easily offer the cheapest starting prices.
For beginners there is no reason to break the bank. Any pool cue under $200 will do just fine. First and foremost you want to learn the technique of the game and nothing else, you won’t even be able to tell what weights you prefer on a cue for probably at least the first 6 months of game play. Because of this any medium weight cue is ideal and will serve you well as you become a better and better player.
Features to consider while buying the perfect pool cue for beginners
These features are the brunt of what makes up each cue and that cues performance during a game. In this section we’ve elaborated on these features and even include suggestions of products which best match a features ideal qualities.
Size and weight
Size and weight can actually come down to something as simple as personal preference; there are professionals out there who greatly prefer a lighter cue over a heavier cue, and this can have anything to do with the way they play or the natural force they’re aware of typically applying to a shot. The average weigh of a pool cue is between 18 and 22 ounce, whereas the average length is between 57 and 59 inches.
As you’ll see from the products on our list, not many of these beginner cues come with multiple length options, but many – such as the Players Pool Cue C-960 and Viper Revolution Spider – come with plenty of weight options. As you start playing in leagues and trying to figure out your preferred cue weight or length, try handling other players cues and make a couple shots to test the feel for yourself.
Until then, 20 ounces is generally an ideal weight for beginners. This is because the heft can result in a better ball spin.
Material
Put very simply, the harder the materials used, the more power a shot will have. This is why you’ll see most beginner cues using maple; maple wood offers great control but also a ton of power when you need it. As you play against other, test their cues out and ask them what material their using. Some professionals actually prefer lighter materials – for instance, blended materials like fiberglass and maple as you see in the Cuetec Prestige Series – since these materials equal better control overall.
Another added perk to fiberglass or even graphite designs is that these are resistant to natural warping and even maintenance issues; however, you will see that most professionals prefer wood every time. Hybrid cues are only just finding a place in the market, but its worth mentioning that many experts claim these hybrids offer the best mix of power and control than they’ve ever seen with other models.
Tipping the cue
You’ll hear it argued that the tip of the cue is the most important feature of the entire stick. The reason this is so important is because the hardness of the tip has a large impact on how a ball will react to a players strike. Tips made with leather – pretty much the vast majority of tips out there – are actually somewhat difficult to judge as leather can offer a varying degree of hardness. One major perk however, is that leather tips rarely need to be reshaped and almost never mushroom the way softer tips do. Leather is longer lasting, actually gets harder over time, and is the easiest material to maintain.
Oils can keep your leather tip softer, as can other treatments; whereas chock typically keeps the tip harder. There are drawbacks and perks to both. Harder tips give more power but typically result in lower control, softer tips on the other hand work in the reverse with more control but less of a bashing power effect behind each shot.
As your tip ages and you want to replace it, there are also “slip-on tips” now available on the market. These literally slip over the end of the cue stick and glue in place; though a wide range of these are generally low quality
Wrap
It makes sense that most beginners wouldn’t know what wrap they prefer, and again the best wrap depends greatly on the player. The wrap you choose can also depend on the cost of the cue, seeing as wrap-type will drive the cost higher. Genuine leather wraps, for instance, are easily some of the most expensive – these wraps are soft in the hand, but while playing many players agree that they make your grip weak because leather promotes sweating.
Leatherette is cheaper for a wrap, but again the problem of sweat. We suggest Irish linen, seeing as this is the number one preferred wrap for billiards players. This classic cue wrap offers the ideal middle grip and doesn’t promote sweating. From our selection, this makes the Players Pool Cue C-960 one of the best.
Two-piece or one-piece cues?
Two-piece cues are almost always a step up from a one-piece cue. Almost always, because some big box retail stores do sell two-piece cues made out lower quality plastics rather than wooden bar cues with attaching joints. With a two-piece cue, you get better quality, more selection and the option of having a wrap to grip onto. Not to mention, a two-piece cue will fit in a case for easy portability!
Joint
The joint of the cue should be flush to the wood and match when screwed together. There should be no light showing at any point between the shaft and butt facing when screwed together. The pin should be perfectly centered in the butt. If it not then it could mean that the wood was cut at an angle to force it into shape, which can then mean that it is in a state of stress instead of a state of rest. The pin should be free of glue and polished. The parts should go together easily and snugly. It’s our opinion that all the cues on our list match this feature with their high quality jointing and design.
Warranty
Choosing a warranty which best protects the value of the purchase depends on what you can afford and the warranty which comes with the specific cue. If your cue is anywhere over $100.00’s make sure you have a warranty of at least 2-3 years which covers scratching, nicks, and bumps, and even the unlikeliest breakage. For truly the best deal and best warranty, consider our budget pick – the Cuetec Recreational Series Sneaky Pete – or better yet the semi-professional Cuetec Prestige Series cue; both with lifetime limited warranties.
You’ll see from the market that there are plenty of misleading cue types aimed specifically at women – these are made “for women” – but this is not at all true. You do not have to buy a particular cue for your gender; instead the same rules apply for all players: the best cue depends on your skill level and personal preference. Shorter and longer length don’t necessarily have to do as much with body type and player height, as they do with preferred method of shot making.
Two piece designs typically come with a carrying case; if they do not there are a wide range of excellent cases on the market for these cues, such as the 2×2 Hard Pool Cue Billiard Stick Carrying Case.
If you’re under 4’11” you should certainly consider playing with a kids pool cue, but always keep in mind that even kids cues come in varying sizes for preferred play. Most other heights should have no trouble handling a 58” cue comfortably.
Our Verdict
Finally, we love to leave our readers with the top three nominations based on affordability, quality, and overall best usage for a beginner. These best pool cues for beginners are:
Viper Revolution Spider. Although this is somewhat expensive if you’re on a budget, this cue has one of the finest options for weight preference and is fantastically designed from the greatest elements for professional-grade game play while you’re learning.
Players Pool Cue C-960. This cue is highly adjustable and quite affordable, additionally it comes with a lifetime warranty and an excellent wrap for insane grip and added control.
Cuetec Recreational Series Sneaky Pete. The budget pick for our list, this cue is the most affordable and one of the market favorites for customers just starting to play pool and wanting to get good at the sport in a short amount of time.
A brand new pool cue, whether it is 
These features are the brunt of what makes up each cue and that cues performance during a game. In this section we’ve elaborated on these features and even include suggestions of products which best match a features ideal qualities.
Put very simply, the harder the materials used, the more power a shot will have. This is why you’ll see most beginner cues using maple; maple wood offers great control but also a ton of power when you need it. As you play against other, test their cues out and ask them what material their using. Some professionals actually prefer lighter materials – for instance, blended materials like fiberglass and maple as you see in the 
It makes sense that most beginners wouldn’t know what wrap they prefer, and again the best wrap depends greatly on the player. The wrap you choose can also depend on the cost of the cue, seeing as wrap-type will drive the cost higher. Genuine leather wraps, for instance, are easily some of the most expensive – these wraps are soft in the hand, but while playing many players agree that they make your grip weak because leather promotes sweating.
The joint of the cue should be flush to the wood and match when screwed together. There should be no light showing at any point between the shaft and butt facing when screwed together. The pin should be perfectly centered in the butt. If it not then it could mean that the wood was cut at an angle to force it into shape, which can then mean that it is in a state of stress instead of a state of rest. The pin should be free of glue and polished. The parts should go together easily and snugly. It’s our opinion that all the cues on our list match this feature with their high quality jointing and design.
