Billiards Articles

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.

Ferrules are at the end of the cue shaft before the tip. They are there to absorb the impact of the tip hitting the balls that would otherwise stress the wood of the cue stick. They are often made of ivory, metal, carbon fiber or resin-based materials that offer great resiliency in absorbing the impact of hitting a hard surface at nearly 20 mph or more. Brass is also used as in snooker cues.

The ferrule would have to be in such a bad shape to have to be replaced. Most frequently used cues often develop discoloration on the ferrule due to improper use of chalks. It will take some thorough and proper cleaning to restore it to near-pristine condition.

The ferrule and the tip would be of higher concern in break cues than for normal playing cues. The ferrule in break cues absorb the most energy and are vulnerable to the most wear or damage. But it is worth noting that break cues are often specially equipped with fiber and resin-based ferrules that are almost indestructible.

So if you have to replace it for whatever reason, it is recommended that the same type of ferrule be used or the one that came as a spare part when you first bought the cue. Using anything else could upset the overall balance of the cue stick and will render it less impact absorbent or change the “hit” of the cue.

But if you have to use a new ferrule that is different from what the cue came with, there are some things to bear in mind.

First be very careful, for inexperienced players, sending your cue to a professional cue repair is strongly advised. You could practice on older cues if you have one.

Second, some cue sticks are made with a specific ferrule material. You can use a ferrule of any material but you have to adjust to its new “feel” than the original.

Third, the diameter of the ferrule must match that of the cue shaft. Different ferrules come in different diameters. So make sure they match each other. Likewise, the tenon diameters or center holes in the cue shaft may differ with the new ferrule.

There are other tips on the net on how to get the ferrule out of the cue stick you can browse on them for a more detailed instruction. You will also consider the type of glue to use that will match the type of ferrule material. For first timers, do read all you can about it. And try it out first on old cue sticks. As they say practice makes perfect.