The future of the snooker cue...

[SouthPaw]

Was having a conversation with a friend, if snooker was to get as popular as say tennis or golf in the UK and overseas, how would that effect the handmade market?

I came to the conclusion that i believe more people would try their luck at making cues as the demand would be higher, thus prices coming down, equaling a win win for us snooker cue addicts...

What's your thoughts on this?

[Wayne G]

I think that prices would be higher as demand rises. Also, waiting time for the top cue makers would get longer, therefore bumping up the resale market. That's my take on it.

[SouthPaw]

I think that prices would be higher as demand rises. Also, waiting time for the top cue makers would get longer, therefore bumping up the resale market. That's my take on it.

Yes that's pretty much what my friend said but i didn't agree, though i see the logic, another thing we discussed was how could a cue be improved? Be interesting to see what happens in the future...

[cueman]

I think the hand made market could take a hit because if snooker became as popular as say tennis or football the reality is even if many people took the game up there would be a bigger market for the mass produced cue makers from China who would step up their game and it could have a big knock on effect for the premium cue makers as they would struggle to compete on prices for cues that would probably be as good playing wise as anything you could produce, its just it won't carry a premium label which is what you are really paying for in essence.

Look at Dunns cues for instance, already becoming a bigger brand and sponsoring players in this PTC in Bulgaria. A couple of pros are using their cues now including Scott Donaldson who did very well in this event and is one of the brightest young prospects in Scotland with a good future ahead of him. You can buy a very good quality cue from them for about £130 which will play every bit as well as cues from the bigger names cost 3-4 times that amount of money. The reality is most people have a limited budget so the wise person would look for the best playing cues possible for money and its very hard to argue against the likes of Phoenix, Dunns, Mastercue as their cues hold up against anything that is produced on the market for a fraction of the price.

[SouthPaw]

Very true cueman, also with snooker growing in china at a fast rate it'll be interesting to see just how big their higher end cue brands become, Dunns certainly seem to be on the up...