First Cue

[anjo2]

I need an advise, i dont play professional, only with friends, and i'm thinking to buy a cue, should i buy a cue? I've seen some on ebay, some are too cheap to believe on quality, it's very confusing, i dont know any models...

I like low weight and low length cues, middle tip, and i play 8-ball.

btw, i'm from Portugal...

[anjo2]

I cant edit,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STEPHEN-MAGUIR...item255e24c407
This is bad for an amateur? low weight...

[nrage]

Weight is ok, depends on what you're used to. My current 'snooker' cue is 17oz, and feels heavier than my previous cue which I also liked.

I think the tip is too small for 8-ball.. I play snooker with a 9mm tip, and most pool cues are larger i.e. 10mm or even more.

A larger tip makes it easier to play center/plain ball, and as pool/8-ball balls are larger you do not need as small a tip to play screw etc.

[Bulkie]

I'd stay away from those cheapo cues as they are not that much different from the cues on the rack in your local club.

Save up and buy a cue which is gonna last you for a long while. Look around our "Snooker Items For Sale" section, you'll see some pretty good deals popping up every now and then. Omin, Mastercue and GBL cues are very good hitters and represent excellent value for money.

[Bigmeek]

anjo2 If you could give us an idea of your budget it would be easier to point you in the right direction. If you're only playing for fun you don't need any of the top of the range handmade cues mentioned in other posts. (Trevor White, John Parris etc). A nice machine spliced cue would be good enough. Take a look at the Craftsman Cues website. They do some nice machine spliced cues which might suit you. Various sizes and weights.

[anjo2]

£30-£40, i only play for fun.

[jrc750]

....I think the tip is too small for 8-ball.. I play snooker with a 9mm tip, and most pool cues are larger i.e. 10mm or even more.....

I think you will find you have that the wrong way around, 8 ball pool players prefer smaller tips, anything from 7mm up to 9mm, whereas snooker players usually go for between 9mm & 10mm. 9 ball pool players on the other hand is where players go from 11mm up to 13mm.

[Krypton]

if he's speaking about the american pool style 8-ball, then 10mm is quite correct. As he's from Portugal, that might be the case...

[nrage]

I was assuming American pool style 8-ball..

[anjo2]

This is 8-ball that i play, i dont know if there is more than one.

The cues on the rack of the local club are all with a bit large tips, most balls a thin tip is better, maybe 9mm.

Any links for shops or ebay, that send to Portugal.