Poker Tips and News

Survey would reveal that players pay up to thousand dollars for a cue stick. One may wonder whether they are actually paying for the make, quality, decoration or playability of the stick. It is possible to even get a decent playable cue stick for twenty dollars. Hence it can be very confusing for a layman to look for the right cue, especially so if he bases his search on the basis of the cost.

Certain things can not be overlooked while looking for a cue stick, for instance the tip of the cue is  very important, a soft tip may be preferred by some for that added feel but most players specially professionals will vouch or a hard tip. In fact most pros will go for a very hard tip. It increases the life of the cue as well.

Like cue sticks, cue tips too vary. The best tips are made of leather. Widths vary from 11 to 14 millimeters in diameter, though there are exceptions the average is 12 to 13 mm.

The surface -be it leather or compressed fiber allows the tip to compress slightly at impact, which imparts the spin to the ball eventually. After the hit, the tip bounces back into shape.

The next important factor requiring attention is the weight, a twenty or twenty-one ounce stick is better for beginners, as they get advantage due to the mass but for more sophisticated playing the standard nineteen ounce stick is better. Some very mature players may even play with an eighteen ounce stick.

The wrap is also important, most sticks are covered with either linen or nylon sometimes even leather or other exotic material to cover the wood finish. Players have to choose according to their preference, leather absorbs moisture so those with excessive sweating tendencies should choose a leather coated stick.

The joint needs to be done with precision for a long lasting stick, a weak or defective joint would spoil the game completely. The ferrule is the section of the stick that supports the tip that cushions the force of impact hence it protects the shaft from breakage. Ferrules are known to be best when made in solid plastic; some very fancy antique cues may even have ivory ferrules. It is fixed to the top of the shaft. Ferrules are smooth and slide through the fingers easily. This helps the stroke. The ferrule is usually white in color, so a few players paint their ferrule bright red or some other color, for fun. Hollow ferrules that are slightly wider than the shaft slide over the shaft for play, these are simple to replace but they don't absorb the stress they are supposed to, so the stick shakes in the player's hands during the stroke.

If these basic facts are looked into, finding the right cue should not be a problem even for a beginner.