Pool Cue Specs (English)

[Shockerz]

I'm trying to find out from pool players what the standard specs might be for English Pool cues?

I'm being told it is around:

Tip: 8mm
Butt: 29mm
Weight: 17oz
Length: 57"


No 3/4 joint (so 1 piece)
No Butt extension

I realise it is personal but just trying to find what guys generally use as I don't play myself.

[jamesg19851]

I wouldn't go any smaller than a 8.5mm tip, especially if you're used to a snooker cue. Personally I use the same cue for snooker and pool, with a 9.7mm tip. In terms of weight while uk 8 ball pool cues do tend to be lighter in general there are plenty of people who use more heavy cues. My cue is 18oz.

[Shockerz]

I wouldn't go any smaller than a 8.5mm tip, especially if you're used to a snooker cue. Personally I use the same cue for snooker and pool, with a 9.7mm tip. In terms of weight while uk 8 ball pool cues do tend to be lighter in general there are plenty of people who use more heavy cues. My cue is 18oz.

This is mainly for me stocking a pool cue selection to sell, I could have explained it a bit better!!

I also play with a guy who has a 9.5mm snooker cue and at 58" but he finds it a struggle and is looking for something specific to pool.

[Dave Walton]

My pool cue is 57" 17.5oz and 8.6mm, 3/4. It's a Connoissuer replica jointed at 16" through the splices, I prefer 3/4 cues due to venues often having limited space and having a mini butt that screws into the shaft helps in these venues.
My previous cue was down to a 7.5mm tip at one point and it's fine when you're cuing well but easy to put unintentional side on under pressure, personally I think anything between 8-9mm is good for pool with a length of 55-58" and weights of 16-19oz.

[Shockerz]

My pool cue is 57" 17.5oz and 8.6mm, 3/4. It's a Connoissuer replica jointed at 16" through the splices, I prefer 3/4 cues due to venues often having limited space and having a mini butt that screws into the shaft helps in these venues.
My previous cue was down to a 7.5mm tip at one point and it's fine when you're cuing well but easy to put unintentional side on under pressure, personally I think anything between 8-9mm is good for pool with a length of 55-58" and weights of 16-19oz.

Cheers Dave, it's good to get some feedback from people that play pool; obviously I have an opinion but it's been years since I've had a go. I ought to take a stick out for a test drive and see how it goes but then it would still be from a snooker player!

[Shockerz]

My pool cue is 57" 17.5oz and 8.6mm, 3/4. It's a Connoissuer replica jointed at 16" through the splices, I prefer 3/4 cues due to venues often having limited space and having a mini butt that screws into the shaft helps in these venues.
My previous cue was down to a 7.5mm tip at one point and it's fine when you're cuing well but easy to put unintentional side on under pressure, personally I think anything between 8-9mm is good for pool with a length of 55-58" and weights of 16-19oz.

The limited space thing was something I'd forgotten about.

I know Peradon (from memory) made a cue with 2 butts to help with this problem, seems like a good idea for me to think on.

[old school]

Tend to agree with Dave , I use anything from 7.75 mm up to 9.5 mm and from 12.5 oz to 20 oz , lengths between 55 " and 59 " , one of my favourite playing cues has 2 x shafts ( 1 x for playing at 8.75 mm and 1 x for breaking at 10 mm ) and a short butt for tight tables , weight is 17.5 oz . I should state that if you have the female joint in the shaft and the male in the butts you can get away with shorter cases as well . Quick release joints are a must if you are changing shafts and butts to suit i.e. breaking or tight tables . I own 6 or so cues that I have had short butts made for , all go straight to the shaft and make cues of 47 " - 51 " for those tight tables that pub league players come across . Mike Wooldridge , as an example , did small butts on his Black Shark range , making a cue of 51 " when put on the shaft , this is not a new idea and I wish more manufacturers would do this , at the moment I know Welshpool do a mini butt that fits their shafts and I have found this to be an excellent way to get a " multi purpose " cue at a reasonable cost . Cues of 8 mm - 9.5 mm and 55 " - 57 " and 15 oz - 19 oz would generally be an " average " spec if you were looking to create a range of cues to stock .

[DeanH]

My pool cue is 8.3/57/18.2/28.5/16.5; my previous cue that I had used for donkey's years was 8.2 so no change for me. This cue is a 3/4 for those tight tables as well as easier to transport in a small car with 6 other players and their cues crammed in
Also, a smaller case is often easier in those small pubs where the only space left for the visiting team is the titchy niche in the corner!
The only thing I would change would be to have the joints turned around so the mini butt can be put on the shaft
I had a case made which is just enough for the shaft and no more, all the bits & bobs fit in the other channel; so the case is much shorter than usual 3/4 cases
Many of my team mates use a 9+ tip, no problem

[Shockerz]

Tend to agree with Dave , I use anything from 7.75 mm up to 9.5 mm and from 12.5 oz to 20 oz , lengths between 55 " and 59 " , one of my favourite playing cues has 2 x shafts ( 1 x for playing at 8.75 mm and 1 x for breaking at 10 mm ) and a short butt for tight tables , weight is 17.5 oz . I should state that if you have the female joint in the shaft and the male in the butts you can get away with shorter cases as well . Quick release joints are a must if you are changing shafts and butts to suit i.e. breaking or tight tables . I own 6 or so cues that I have had short butts made for , all go straight to the shaft and make cues of 47 " - 51 " for those tight tables that pub league players come across . Mike Wooldridge , as an example , did small butts on his Black Shark range , making a cue of 51 " when put on the shaft , this is not a new idea and I wish more manufacturers would do this , at the moment I know Welshpool do a mini butt that fits their shafts and I have found this to be an excellent way to get a " multi purpose " cue at a reasonable cost . Cues of 8 mm - 9.5 mm and 55 " - 57 " and 15 oz - 19 oz would generally be an " average " spec if you were looking to create a range of cues to stock .

Nice post and that's certainly got the old grey matter going.

I certainly didn't realise so many sizes were used and the swapping of butts adds a different train of thought to the whole thing.

Last time I asked on a Facebook (from memory) it seemed more people seemed to like an 8.4/8.5 tip but that is only an average of the people that respond and that's not always the actual average as we know.

Some interesting points coming out for me anyway.

[Shockerz]

My pool cue is 8.3/57/18.2/28.5/16.5; my previous cue that I had used for donkey's years was 8.2 so no change for me. This cue is a 3/4 for those tight tables as well as easier to transport in a small car with 6 other players and their cues crammed in
Also, a smaller case is often easier in those small pubs where the only space left for the visiting team is the titchy niche in the corner!
The only thing I would change would be to have the joints turned around so the mini butt can be put on the shaft
I had a case made which is just enough for the shaft and no more, all the bits & bobs fit in the other channel; so the case is much shorter than usual 3/4 cases
Many of my team mates use a 9+ tip, no problem

I'm glad you mentioned cases as well as I am looking to get more leather after Xmas and would like to do something a little different for pool cases, we'll have to see on that one.

Turning the joint around seems like a good option if yo can use your mini butt, can't see any reasons why not?

[aucott80]

Pool Cue Specs (English)

8.75mm
58 long
17oz-17.5oz
28mm
With the pro cups 8.75mm is like playing with 8.5mm in my opinion

[PDH]

I use an 8.8mm 58" one piece Ton Praram, can't remember the rest of the specs I bought online from green baize, I wanted something with a bigger tip as I was playing with a 7.5mm and got fed up with missing balls when I know that I cued across the white, the larger tip has virtually wiped that out completely, 58" is considered quite long for pool in my experience, particularly when playing in cramped pubs etc

[mrbluejay]

8mm 58" 17oz are my specs, always try to get a round butt and definitely always 3/4.

[Ninja.cues]

My pool cue is 8.8 and up from 8.5.
I made them both.
This one is 58"¼, 17.5oz and 29.5mm butt.

Like a lot have said, tips range from 5.5mm (yes have own a couple of guy's play with tips that small), most are around 7.5-9.5, 57-58 but don't see many guy's with anything much lighter than 17oz but up to 19.5 Oz.

[Simon_c]

I've got a 3/4 Dave Coutts
57"
9mm tip
17oz
28mm butt

Have to agree with others when they recommend a mini butt which joins to the shaft for them tight spaces.

I didn't want to go down the ultra small tip route but still wanted to get plenty of action so had a super soft tip fitted (Blue Impact Laminated) which I can't recommend enough.

Hope that helps.