Best cue sticks & accessories according to redditors

Options:

• Ignore it. Minor mushrooming shouldn't affect your shot, so if you can ignore it completely then you'll be fine. Easier said than done for most.
  
  
• Fresh (i.e. sharp!) razor blade/exacto knife. Just trim it off like you're peeling an apple. Then use a tip tool or sandpaper to dome it.
  
  
• Coarse-grit sandpaper. Fold it up or tape it to a block (or use a sander like the other guy linked). I press the tip against the sandpaper with my thumb and spin the shaft with my hands to grind it off. Be extra careful not to scratch the heck out of your ferrule tho. I use the scuffer on my It's George tool for this purpose to good effect—good tip tool btw, would recommend.
  
  
• Mushroom grazer. Never used one, but I assume that it would work well given its reputation. I try to avoid unitaskers, but it's cheap enough.
  
  
• Have it done on a lathe. Should take less than 5 minutes. If you were a regular at my pool hall, I wouldn't charge for this. Otherwise maybe $5.
  
  
  Edit: I totally forgot to mention that emery boards work perfectly for this procedure and are actually my preferred tool.

i disagree on saving for a 200 cue. sure if your going to be playing in a couple years and you know it for a fact then its a good idea , but if you want something cheap and reliable just to see if its even something you want to stick with your current budget is fine imo.

a lucky by mcdermott or valhalla by viking will suit your needs.

all your looking for at this price range is a consistent cue that you can get used to.

I have personal experience with a lucky cue, my friend shoots with it and it is exactly what you seem to want right now a bare bones solid cue.

hes been playing with it for around three years and the shaft is still straight.

Im going to tell you something if you end up sticking with this game you will probably want to upgrade even if you buy a 150 or 200 dollar cue.

lucky -
https://www.seyberts.com/lucky-cue-l7


valhalla -
https://www.amazon.com/Valhalla-Viking-Piece-Stick-Irish/dp/B076BVFHWQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522192879&sr=8-1&keywords=valhalla%2Bcue&th=1

just my .02

Unnecessary, I think this is the same case.

https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Billiard-Stick-Carrying-Black/dp/B0060BANBO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468277792&sr=8-2&keywords=2x4+cue+case

I use Xiguan layered tips from China, they come in packs of 10 for under £7, so that's under 70p per tip. Thought I'd give them a punt cause at that price why not, and I love them. They play softer than your standard layered tip, which some might not like but to me that's a bonus, and I've never had a bad one.

Also, with laminated tips you're better off trimming them around rather than downwards. I use one of these tip trimmers, basically like a giant pencil sharpener, just put it over the tip level with the ferrule and shave around. Trims a tip flush to the ferrule in less than a minute.

Tarnish is a reaction of silver to sulfur in the air. Air flow around the flute will expose it to more sulfides, tarnishing it faster. A case prevents air flow, which keeps new sulfides from getting to the flute. The anti-tarnish strips absorb existing sulfides.

That being said, if you don't want to disassemble the flute in order to case it, you can stop stop airflow other ways. Like a glass display case, or a full length flute case. I have a pool cue case which is the correct length for an assembled b foot flute that I lined with foam. Whatever you use, put anti-tarnish strips in it.

Warning! If you leave your flute assembled ALL THE TIME (like, years..) the metal will bind up and it will be difficult to disassemble. Don't leave it assembled forever.

Actually it looks like Players does make some in your price range.

Players C-960 Classic Crimson Birds-Eye Maple with Triple Silver Rings Cue, 19-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00140FYOW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_mHctDbVMMVM97

I had the same problem and looked forever.

I ended up buying and Aska uniloc butt from Amazon for $100 Canadian and it is great. It's mostly black with a linen wrap. The quality is great and didn't have to wait months for a 'special order' predator butt.

I put a Revo 12.4 on it.

https://www.amazon.ca/Black-Uni-Loc-Shaft-Inches-Irish/dp/B07BX7YCRV

I have these. They're entirely adequate. I still use them regularly if I'm too lazy to go get my cue out of it's case.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ECZU9U

Seems to be a good deal

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001FYI0XE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1418247258&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40

The house cues around my area always seem to be Valley cues, similar to these.

I recommend you to read about cue tips. This is an exact point of impact . Having a good cue tip is crucial for decent сueing.

Here is some short tables for begginers, just to understand the difference.
When you look at the number of pool cue tips there are available today, it can be extremely overwhelming. That's why I've created this Cue Tip Tables. I hope it would help people. Anyway:
>You will just have to experiment & find what works best for you.


The methodology we use for testing tip density is as follows:

• Use a standard Shore A Durometer (0-100 hardness scale)
  
• 1Kg (2.2 lbs) of pressure
  
• Measure the density of three tips per brand
  
• Take the average of the three measurements to determine a density rating
  
  Soft tips
  
  
• more cue ball spin
  
• more maintenance
  
• frequent replacement
  
  Tip Brand | Tip Size | Hardness
  :--------|:--------:|---------:
  Kamui Black (Super Soft)| 14mm | 67.5
  Elk Master | 10mm-14mm | 66.8
  Moori soft | 14mm | 72.8
  
  Medium tips
  
  
• balance between cue ball control and consistency
  
• usually preinstalled by manufacturers as the standard tip
  
• plays consistently with less maintenance
  
  
  Tip Brand | Tip Size | Hardness
  :--------|:--------:|---------:
  Fuji (Medium)| 13mm | 78.5
  Tiger Emerald | 10mm-14mm | 78.2
  Kamui Black (Medium) | 14mm | 78.5
  
  
  Hard tips
  
  
• create less spin
  
  
• require less maintenance
  
  
• are more liable to miscue
  
  Tip Brand | Tip Size | Hardness
  :--------|:--------:|---------:
  Zan (Hard)| 13mm - 14mm | 87.4
  Kamui Black (hard) | 13mm-14mm | 84.8
  Bufallo (Hard) | 14mm | 86.8
  

When you say nothing fancy what does that mean? Do you want a hard case, or a soft case? Do you want a strap to carry it on your back or is a handle enough. Maybe just under your arm. Are you looking for protection or just something to carry the cues easily? Do you need pockets on it?

I am assuming you want cheap... but don't expect them to last forever or hold up to serious use. I used to buy the cheapo amazon cases below and after buying several because they wear out, I decided to buy a JB Rugged (you get what you pay for). Jb cases are super protective, and you can get them as plain or as fancy as you want, but they are quality. https://jbcases.com/stock-cases.html?cat=8

There are plenty of nicer more expensive options that will last a long time and have a simple design. That is not what I am listing below.

Here is the simplest thing you could get:
https://www.amazon.com/Cuetec-Billiard-Pool-Cue-Accessory/dp/B00G8ZENZY

Here is a cheapo case, but dont expect it to hold up to heavy use or wear.
https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Billiard-Stick-Carrying-Black/dp/B0060BANBO/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1479599796&sr=1-4&keywords=cue+case

Here is a soft cue case:
https://www.amazon.com/Mizerak-P1816-Padded-Cue-Case/dp/B014SLCS1K/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1479599861&sr=1-4&keywords=soft+cue+case

Here is a hard suitcase style case.
https://www.amazon.com/Casemaster-Deluxe-Billiard-Complete-2-Piece/dp/B000TNNJNS/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1479599972&sr=1-5&keywords=hard+cue+case

https://www.amazon.com/Set-Players-Piece-Pool-Sticks/dp/B075NPFCKZ?th=1&psc=1

They're supposed to be... Otherwise they would have to make them in a million different sizes like 13, 12.85, 12.75, 11.85, etc.

I've got one of these things and can change a tip in about 5 mins with it - https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-stop-Billiard-Pool-Shaper-Repair/dp/B0794YBHZ3

This is what a spiky tip looks like. When your tip gets too glazed over to hold chalk, but not enough for scuffing with sandpaper, you can break out the tip pik.

https://www.amazon.com/MOOCY-Billiard-Shaper-Pricker-Holder/dp/B07B5Y4N9Q/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1523247791&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=tip+pick+cue+tool&psc=1

There are cleaners you can purchase on Amazon that will clean it. Can't think of the name but comes in a little white bottle with a purple label.

Here are a few cleaners I found with a simple search:

https://www.amazon.com/Cue-Silk-Ferrule-Cleaner-Bottle/dp/B07JYW73LP/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=cue+cleaner&qid=1558014101&s=gateway&sr=8-4

​

https://www.amazon.com/Cue-Clean-Original-Snooker-Cleaner/dp/B0032FZUGY/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=cue+cleaner&qid=1558014128&s=gateway&sr=8-5

​

https://www.amazon.com/Undo-the-Blue-Shaft-Cleaner/dp/B01M1BWT1C/ref=sr_1_32?keywords=cue+cleaner&qid=1558014128&s=gateway&sr=8-32

​

https://www.amazon.com/Cuetec-Hi-Tech-Cue-Conditioner-1-1/dp/B00065CK52/ref=sr_1_35?keywords=cue+cleaner&qid=1558014128&s=gateway&sr=8-35

​

https://www.amazon.com/Cue-Silk-Miracle-Cleaner-Restorer/dp/B07KGN68N9/ref=sr_1_38?keywords=cue+cleaner&qid=1558014128&s=gateway&sr=8-38

​

As for sandpaper, do not and I can't stress this enough, do not use sandpaper on your shaft. Go to your local pro-shop or cue guy and have him do a cleaning on your shaft every 6 month or once a year and have him clean it all up and shape your tip for you. Shouldn't cost more than $10 and you'll know you're not damaging your cue.

Not for flights, but rather a hassle-free way to move it around and store it. I got this pool cue case and liked the aesthetic. Thanks for your quick feedback btw. I'll probably go with a softshell case since they are more common.

I bought this one. Not only is it a fantastic break cue, it's a three piece and makes for a solid short cue as well!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EAIF6SY/

> I'd get a cheap break cue rather than changing the tip... you can probably find one for $50 and a tip change will cost you 30 in a lot of places anyway

For the same amount, I'd just get this break cue (which I did buy) - http://www.amazon.com/Rage-Heavy-Hitter-Break-25-Ounce/dp/B00EAIF6SY. I used to just break with my playing cue too, but I tried out my friend's break cue and love the heaviness of it (since I'm not a hard breaker) and just let the weight of the cue spread the balls for me. My break % has jumped at least 20-30%

http://www.amazon.com/Cuetec-Shaft-S-S-T-Tru-Glide-Silver/dp/B002GZ51QU

That will fit but for a few bucks more you could just replace the whole shebang.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FYI0XE/ref=s9_acsd_hps_bw_c_x_1

Looks just like my Players C960.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00140FYOW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I like the 'It's George'.