Selecting a snooker cue isn't just about aesthetics—it's about finding a tool that complements your technique and enhances your performance. With so many options available, knowing what to look for can make all the difference. Lets have a look at cue length, weight, tip size, choice of tip, ferrule choice, material and balance points. Here's a detailed breakdown of the key factors when choosing a snooker cue.
1) Snooker Cue Material
The two main materials for snooker cues has long been ash and maple. Ash snooker cues will always have a very visible grain, many players like to look down the arrows of an ash cue. Some use it as a reference to how far they bring their cue back on a given shot. I feel ash cues can be a little more forgiving in terms of how much cue ball deflection they produce. Cue ball deflection occurs when we strike low with side spin, if we strike low with right hand side spin, the cue ball will deflect off to the left of the line of aim. The deflection will be slightly less compared to a maple cue. So we don't have to be quite as accurate.
A maple cue will generally be a very clean piece of wood, well suited to those who don`t like to see any grain whilst looking down the cue. As mentioned above, maple cues will have slightly more deflection than ash. So if you're a player who likes playing with a lot side spin, consider these points before purchasing.
2) Snooker Cue Length
Most cues will range between 57" and 58", for shorter or younger players, they may prefer to go slightly less, the same for the taller player, 58.5" or 59" may be better suited.
I am 6 foot and i use a 58" cue. I would say if you're between 5 foot 8 and 6 foot. 58" will be ideal. The main thing we're looking for is when you get down on your shot and your back arm is at vertical (so forearm pointing straight down) we have a couple of inches of cue left at the back and between 9 and 11 inches at the front off the bridge hand. The reason we want that little extra at the back of the cue is for when we're stretching on shots. We can use that extra length instead of reaching for the extension or rest.
When players choose a cue that is too long, generally they will hold the cue too far up the butt which would give you a very slim feel or they have more than the recommended 9-11" off the bridge hand. When we exceed this length, the cue becomes a little unstable on the bridge hand. There is simple too much potential for movement, and we ultimately lose accuracy. Luca Brecel being an exemption.
3) Weight of a Snooker Cue
I feel anything from 17.5 oz to 18.5 oz is the ideal weight, we don't want anything too heavy, players will argue that the heavier the cue the more power and spin you can produce. This is true but we also start to lose feel for the cue as it just sits too heavy in the hands. I feel it is about finding that middle ground. Something we can generate good spin with but wont feel uncomfortable in the hands.
We can say the opposite for anything lighter than 17.5 oz, it may feel nicer in the hands but ultimately you will struggle to produce spin, a reaction due to the lack of weight behind the shot.
4) Balance Point of a Snooker Cue
The way we find the balance point of a snooker cue is pretty simple. Try and balance the cue length ways on your finger until it balances. Mark that point and measure from the butt end of the cue up to where the mark is. This will give us our balance point.
Most snooker cues balance point will be between 16.5" and 18". If you fine the balance point is less than 16.5", the butt of the cue becomes heavier and the cue may feel light on the bridge hand. This will cause you to lose feel of the stroke.
5) Tip Size of a Snooker Cue
You will find that snooker cue tip sizes will range between 9.2mm and 9.8mm. My cue is 9mm, but i don't want a lot of cue ball deflection. We will get on to that later. I would advise trying 9.5mm as a starting point. Anything above 9.8mm will simple have too much deflection, will be harder to judge when playing with side spin and will generate less spin than a smaller sized tip.
You may ask the question then, why don't we just use the smallest tip possible? Because the smaller the tip, the more accurate we need to be when striking the cue ball. Yes, you will get more spin and less cue ball deflection, but hitting where intended will become a little harder.
Lets just mention the actual tip whilst we're on the subject. There are hundreds of tips on the market these days, and like anything, its finding one that suits your game. Basically there are a few things to consider when selecting a cue tip.
1) How much spin you want - the softer the tip, less cue ball spin you will get. Harder the tip, more cue ball spin you will get.
2) How much deflection do you want - Softer the tip, more cue ball deflection. Harder the tip, less cue ball deflection
3) Tip shape - I believe a more domed tip will give you more spin than a flatter tip. This is personal preference.
So now imagine you have a 9.8mm cue tip and a soft tip to match, the deflection will be very high. Of course the cue itself may have high deflection. Whereas a smaller harder tip, will deflect less.
As i mentioned earlier, i don't want a lot of deflection. playing on the No. 10 cloths on the World Snooker Tour, they are very reactive and slippy. I don't want a lot of deflection, This would make it harder to control the cue ball. A club player on the other hand, a 9.5mm middle of the road tip size may be perfect. This will give you a little deflection on slightly heavier cloths. Not a bad combination.
6) Ferrule Choice
This has become more of a talking point in recent years. Especially with titanium ferrules now becoming very popular. For years it was predominantly brass ferrules. So what do titanium ferrules do? Basically they are lighter and stronger than brass. So they deflect the cue ball less.
When we think of cue ball deflection, its all about end mass at the end of the cue. Again, imagine now my snooker cue. 9mm tip, extra hard in firmness and a titanium ferrule. deflection is next to none. Now think of the player with a 9.8mm tip, soft in firmness and a brass ferrule. Deflection will be much greater.
7) How Much Should I Pay For A Snooker Cue
Now this can be misleading, the price of of snooker cue doesn't dictate how well you will play. You can literally pay thousands of pounds for a cue. Will it make you a better player? not necessarily. My cue was around £450 and it is a lovely piece of ash. A lot of cues are priced because of the name on the badge, how well the grain looks and the work that has gone in to the cue (splices, veneers). I have plenty of great cues at great prices on the site. I've tried every one of them. Of course i'm not saying go and buy a £9.99 snooker cue from the local sports shop. There has to be a certain standard. Anything from £150-£300 will get you a brilliant snooker cue. Its all about your preferences.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the right snooker cue is about comfort, control and compatibility with your playing style. Whether you're investing in your first cue or upgrading to a professional model, understanding these factors ensures you'll fine the perfect match for your game. A well chosen cue not only improves performance but also deepens your connection to the sport.