What is a pool cue?

A pool cue is a tapered stick used to strike the cue ball in billiards games, typically 57–59 inches long and weighing between 17 and 21 ounces.

Pool cues are built in one-piece or two-piece configurations, with a thin shaft end and a thicker butt end. The shaft narrows to a tip — usually 12–13mm in diameter — fitted with a leather or synthetic tip that contacts the cue ball. Construction materials range from Canadian Hard Rock Maple, the most common choice for its stiffness and consistent flex, to carbon fiber on higher-end shafts. The joint connecting shaft to butt determines how well vibration and energy transfer between the two sections.

• Standard pool cue length: 57–59 inches; standard weight range: 17–21 ounces.
• Pool cue tip diameter: typically 12–13.5mm depending on cue type (playing vs. break).
• Pool cues are available in one-piece, two-piece, and three-piece (break/jump combo) configurations.
• Common shaft materials: Canadian Hard Rock Maple and carbon fiber, each with different deflection characteristics.
• Break cues use hard Bakelite or phenolic tips; playing cues use layered or single-piece leather tips.