Billiards Articles

It’s interesting to hear a guy who recycles old warped or bent pool cue sticks by making walking canes out of them. That’s probably telling enough to say that warped and bent cues are no longer usable.

Cues are built to withstand the normal straight line impact occurring in the game. However, wood cues, as they are mostly made of one, may not hold up well with side impact.

Being dropped on the floor or persistently leaning the cue against a wall result in side impact pressures that may seem insignificant, with no visible damage on a cue’s finish.

But repeated side pressure can cause internal fractures to the wood that will later show as a crack or warpage. Not only can this be aesthetically unsightly, but in severe cases, the warpage can cause the cue stick to lose its straight line shape that it becomes difficult to use in a pool game.

(Some good players have been known to stick with their warped cues and still win games.)

Bear in mind that the straightness of a cue is crucial in hitting the ball in the direction your want and in the proper consistency. And two-piece cues are often more vulnerable to warpage than one-piece cues.

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Regular use of a cue stick over time inevitably wears it out. It loses its perfect shape, smoothness, cleanliness and feel that it had when it was brand new. Tips start to somewhat balloon if they are soft and begin to hold less chalk. Ferrules attain this “blue-ring” color common in pool joints especially when you use blue chalk.

One of the things you do to restore an aging cue after replacing the tip is to also replace the ferrule. But first consider that while it may be relatively easy for a homeowner to replace a cue tip, replacing ferrules is another matter.

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Pool cue cases are there to protect your cue from accidental damage and the trauma of daily wear and tear so that they can last longer. They also make it easier to bring with you when traveling.

Before making your own billiard cue case, there are certain things worth noting. Cue cases come in various sizes, shapes, colors, materials and prices. Some pool cue cases keeps one cue, while others can hold multiple butts and shafts. They can be constructed of soft or hard materials.

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