Cue stick
1272077
225436568
2008-07-13T18:11:00Z
98.212.152.38
/* Butt */
{{Howto|date=May 2007}}
[[Image:Cue parts.jpg|right|160px|thumb|A pool cue and its major parts.<ref name="Shamos 1999">{{Shamos1999}}</ref>{{Rp|71–72}}<ref>{{Cite web
|title=Cue Maker and Cues Glossary
|url= http://www.easypooltutor.com/glossary-cat-1.html
|work=EasyPoolTutor
|date=2003–2007
|accessdate=2007-12-01}}</ref>]]
A '''cue stick''' (or simply '''cue''', or more specifically '''pool cue''', '''snooker cue''', or '''billiards cue'''), is an item of sporting equipment essential to the games of [[Pocket billiards|pool]], [[snooker]] and [[carom billiards]]. It is used to strike a [[Billiard ball|ball]], usually the {{Cuegloss|Cue ball|cue ball}}. Cues are tapered sticks, typically about 1.5 m (58 in) and 510–600 g (18–21 oz). Most cues are made of [[wood]], but occasionally the wood is covered or bonded with other materials including [[Carbon fiber reinforced plastic|carbon fiber]], [[fiberglass]] and/or [[Aluminium|aluminum]].
===Construction aspects===
Cues average around 57 inches in length and are of three major types. One type is a one piece cue; these are generally stocked in pool halls for use by the casual player. They have a uniform taper, meaning they decrease in diameter evenly from the end or butt to the tip. The other type is the two piece cue, divided in the middle for ease of transport, usually in a cue case. The third is another two piece cue but the joint is located three-quarters down the cue (usually 12 or 16 inches away from the butt). There are also cues that have more, notably three to five. They are usually for intermediate cues that can be used for breaking, jumping, changing of weights on the butt, as well as extensions on the butt end for longer reaches. As well, some cues have screw-in tips that can be interchanged (larger, smaller, denser, softer, etc...) in order to change the impact and path of the cue ball.
A high-quality but plain two piece cue, that looks like one-piece, run-of-the-mill house or bar cue, is called a '''sneaky pete'''. Such cues have a joint that is wood-on-wood, and barely visible. The subterfuge often enables a [[Hustling|hustler]] to fool unsuspecting gamblers into thinking that he or she is an unskilled player with no regard for equipment quality or finesse, until too late. It is common for a competitive league player to also use a comparatively inexpensive sneaky pete as a break cue, to avoid excessive wear-and-tear on the tip of his or her main shooting cue.
===Joints===
The large heavy piece of the cue is known as the cue butt and the smaller end is known as the shaft. The two pieces of the cue are attached at the joint, which is normally made up of a screw rising from butt end's joint (male) which is threaded into a receptacle on the shaft (female). The joints are made of various materials; usually a plastic, [[brass]], [[stainless steel]], or [[wood]] outer layer, but sometimes custom cues are made of bone, antlers, and other more expensive materials that are usually less common, but serve the same effect. However, the main for snooker cues are brass. The internal male and female connection points are almost always [[brass]], or steel since they respond less to temperature changes and thus expand and contract less than other materials, preserving the life of the cue. Joints have different sizes as well as different male and female ends on the shaft and butts of the cues. Traditional designs employ a fully threaded connection, while newer versions such as Uni-loc, Accu-loc, or Tru-loc, employ half threaded "Quick pin release" connections to allow for players to assemble and disassemble their cues faster.
===Parts of the Shaft===
Shafts are made with various tapers, the two most common being the Pro taper and the European taper. The Pro taper has the same diameter from the tip to 30-35 cm (12-14 inches) down. The European taper is conical and widens towards the joint.
====Ferrule====
The end of the shaft has a cuff known as the ferrule which is used to hold the cue tip in place and to bear the brunt of impact with the cue ball so that the less resilient shaft wood does not split. Ferrules are predominantly made of ivory, carbon fiber, or a plastic such as [[melamine resin]], aegis or [[phenolic resin]] which are extremely durable, high-impact materials that are resistant to cracking, chipping, and breaking. Brass is popular among snooker cues.
====Tips====
[[Image: Moori.jpg|thumb|Layered Tip]]
[[Image:Billiard chalk 20050724 001.jpg|thumb|Billiard Chalk]]
[[Leather]] tips of varying degrees of shapes and hardness are affixed to the ferrule. The standard shapes for a tip are [[Nickel (United States coin)|nickel]] and [[Dime (United States coin)|dime,]] determined by shaping a tip so that when one puts a nickel or dime to it, they are the same curvature. [[Quarter (United States coin)|Quarter-shaped]] tips are less common, though are usually used for breaking cues because less curvature means less accidental spin and more accuracy for a straight shot such as the break.
Rounder tips impart English (more colloquially known as spin) more easily since the point of contact between a tip and the cue ball requires less distance from the center hit to do the same amount of spin due to the increased tangential contact. Tips are sometimes made of harder materials such as phenolic resin because it is favored upon for a break cue (Breaks usually require less spin, thus less round harder tips preserve the shape of the tip longer without sacrificing the effectiveness of the break).
The tip end of the cue will vary in diameter but is typically in the 11 to 14 millimeter ('mm') range with 13 mm for pool cues being most common and 9.5 mm for [[Snooker]] cues being most common.
A leather tip naturally compresses and hardens with subsequent shots. Without proper care, the surface of the tip can develop an undesired smoothness or glossiness which can significantly reduce the desired friction between the tip and the cue ball. [[Cue sports#Chalk|Cue chalk]] is applied to the tip of the cue, ideally after every shot, to help achieve the desired friction and minimize the chance of a {{Cuegloss|Miscue|miscue}}. This is especially important when the cue tip does not hit the cue ball in its center and thereby imparts spin to the cue ball.
There are different grades of hardness for tips, ranging from very soft to very hard. Softer tips like "Elk Master" hold chalk better, but tend to degrade faster from abrasion (from chalk and scuffers), shaping (from cue tip shapers/tackers/picks), and mushrooming (from normal use or hard hits that compact the tip from all directions). Harder tips like "Triangle" and "Le Professional" ("Le Pro") maintain their shape much better, but because of their hardness, chalk tends to not hold as well as it does on softer tips. The hardness of a leather tip is determined from its compression and tanning during the manufacturing process.
All cue tips once were of a one-piece construction, like "LePro" or "Triangle". More recently some tips are made of layers that are laminated together, like "[[Moori tips|Moori]]" and "Talisman". Harder tips and laminated tips hold their shape better than softer tips and one-piece tips. Laminated tips generally cost more than one-piece tips due to their more extensive manufacturing process. A potential problem with laminated tips is delamination, where a layer begins to separate from another or completely comes apart. Delamination is not common and usually results from improper installation, misuse of tip tools, or high impact masse' shots. One-piece tips are not subject to this problem, but they do tend to mushroom more easily, which is when the sides of the tip bulge out.
===Butt===
The bulk of the weight of the cue is usually distributed in the cue butt portion. Whether the weight be 18 oz. or 22 oz., the weight change is mainly in the butt (usually in the core, under the wrap). Butts have varying constructions, from 3-piece to one-piece, as well as other custom versions that people have developed. These translate into different "feels" because of the distribution of weight as well as the balance point of the cue. Traditionally, players want the balance point of a cue near the top end of the wrap or around 7 inches from where they grip the butt. The cue butt is often inlaid with exotic woods such as [[cocobolo]] and [[bocote]] as well as other materials such as [[ebony]] and [[ivory]]. Usually parts of the butt are sectioned off with decorative rings. The use of various types of wraps on the cue butt, such as Irish [[linen]] or [[leather]], provide a player with a better grip as well as absorbing moisture. Cheaper cues usually feature a [[nylon]] wrap which is considered not as good a "feel" as Irish Linen. Fiberglass and Graphite cues usually have a "Veltex" grip that is made of fiberglass/graphite, but is smoother and not glossy. Some people also prefer a cue with no wrap, and thus just a glossed finish on wood. Sometimes these no-wrap cues are more decorated because of the increased area for design and imagination. The butt of cheaper cues are usually spliced hardwood and a plastic covering while more high-end cues use solid rosewood or ebony.
===Materials and design===
[[Image: Longoni-cues.jpg|thumb|124px|Longoni Cues]]
The choice of materials used in the construction of the cue butt and the artistry of the design can lead to cues of great beauty and high price. Good quality pool cues are customarily made from straight grained hard rock [[maple]] wood, especially the shaft. Snooker cues, by contrast, are almost always made of [[ash tree|ash wood]]. Cues are not always for play, some are purely collectible and can reach prices of tens of thousands of dollars for the materials they are made of and their exquisite craftsmanship. There have been a number of famous cue makers over the years. Among the most famous are [[George Balabushka]], Herman Rambow, [[John Parris]], Palmer, [[Longoni]], Samsara, Southwest, and Szamboti whose cues are often very valuable to collectors. These "collector" cues often have ornate inlays with precious metals and stones, and varying woods to display designs and works of art, but mainly fine workmanship and top quality materials.<ref>CueMuseum.com</ref> The woods can be stained to be absorbed into the wood and transparent or painted upon. These cues are also valued because of how well they perform. Competitors of custom cue makers and mass-production manufacturers usually try to make cues look like they are made of expensive materials by using overlays and decals. Although these deter the cost of the cues, they do not degrade the cue's effectiveness in gameplay. Another mark of quality is the precision that inlays are set in the wood. High quality inlays are set perfectly in the wood without any extra space to be filled; they are also perfectly symmetrical on all sides as well as clean cut so that the points are sharp and not rounded. The use of machines has aided much in the production of high quality inlays as well as other ornaments.
===Bumper===
The last but not least portion of a cue is the bumper. Though often disregarded in importance compared to the other parts, this part is essential in protecting a cue as well as preserving its "feel". The bumper protects the cue whenever one puts it on the ground or hits it against a wall, person, or table. Without it, the vibrations would ruin the wood over time. The vibrations also play a role in the "feel" of the cue. Without the bumper, the resonance of a hit for cue and cueball vibrates differently than in a cue with a properly screwed on and tight bumper. Though minuscule, the bumper also adds some weight on the end of the cue, preserving a balance that also relates to the feel of a cue. The bumper in snooker cues is made of leather in high-end models.
=="Feel"==
Some people think that the "[[Look and feel|feel]]" of the cue is distorted with different materials used in the construction of a cue. Different hardnesses in tips, ferrules, woods, steels, and plastics alter the vibration felt in an experienced player's hands. The common view is that harder materials transfer less resonance through the wood of the cue, not allowing a player to feel as well if the shot was shot as intended. Note: all cue sticks are made of wood. But if it is a graphite or fiberglass cue, it is only the outer layer that is bonded with the inner core of wood. The feel of graphite and fiberglass cues have been criticized by the pool playing community for being very bad in that they are harder to maintain (compared to wood cues) and feel stiff. Because of this, they are usually used as break cues. If the fiberglass or graphite on a cue is scratched, it is rendered unrepairable. Also, after some use, the materials become very glossy and thus not as smooth as they were originally. Wood does not have this problem as it can be sanded or put in a cue [[lathe]]. Sanding of a cue shaft is not recommended unless a thinning of its diameter as well as removal of the finish is desired. Such repairs should be left to professionals. The rise in the popularity of synthetic materials used is considered much due to the sponsors of professional players, as well as new players thinking that there is an improvement in technology of cues by use of graphite and fiberglass, much like how [[tennis]] and [[golf]] have used lighter materials. But this is not the case for cues because they must have a specified weight according to the rules, and composite materials do not add significant strength.
Much has been done to have a better feeling cue, leading to a debate between whether major cue manufacturers make better cues or if custom cue makers do. Brand names have been criticized for their production lines of plain designs and poor materials compared to hand-selected materials used by custom cue makers. Whatever the matter, the feel of a cue is usually a personal preference and may be influenced by the first cue that a person has gotten used to. Some say though that the feel of the synthetic materials are better because it slides on your "bridge hand" easier than wood materials do. Hand chalk can be used on the "bridge hand" when shooting with a wooden cue to soak up sweat that can accumulate and cause the cue stick to "drag" and not slide smoothly through or across it. Alternatively, a shooting glove can be used on the "bridge hand".
==Deflection==
[[Image:Billiard Chalk and Cue.jpg|thumb|255px|Billiard chalk on a cue tip can increase the amount of deflection incurred by increasing the friction that the tip generates.]]
Also known as "squirt", cue ball deflection is the natural result of stroking with sidespin, or "English". When the cue ball is struck to the left or right of center, it does not go exactly in the direction of the stroke of the cue but rather is deflected offline, making it necessary for the player to compensate. The farther the strike is from the center, the more the cue ball is deflected offline. Cue ball deflection also tends to increase somewhat with a faster stroke, for most cues from 2% to 3% over the normal playing range of 5 mph to 15 mph cue ball speed.
Cues vary widely in how much they deflect the cue ball. The lowest deflecting cue that one billiards retailer has tested has only eliminated about 20% of the deflection caused by the average cue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.platinumbilliards.com/rating_deflect.php|title=Deflection Ratings|accessdate=2008-06-01}}</ref> Lower deflecting shafts require less compensation and many believe this equals greater accuracy, but they also tend to spin the ball more and some feel that means less control. Also there is a period of adjustment to a shaft that performs very differently and some are not willing or able to take the time to change from what has become so familiar over many years.
Cue companies that have tried to develop such low deflecting cues include [http://www.aramithacueratecues.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=43/ Aramith], [http://www.fury-cues.com/ Fury], [http://www.meuccicues.com/ Meucci], [http://www.obcues.com/ OB-1], and [http://www.predatorcues.com/ Predator].
==Pivot points==
Each shaft has its own "pivot point" which is directly determined by the amount of cue ball deflection or "squirt" it produces. The calculated pivot point for each shaft is measured from the front of the tip. If one bridges exactly at a shaft's pivot point and holds the bridge very steady, one can pivot the cue by moving one's back hand and no matter where one strikes the cue ball it will track off on the same line as if struck dead center. Pivot points are interesting and may be useful but the player must also consider "swerve" and "throw". Swerve is the tendency of the cue ball to curve slightly in the direction of the applied sidespin, like a mild form of {{Cuegloss|Massé|massé}}. Throw is caused by the friction between the cue ball and the object ball and is much stronger than most realize – for example, if one shoots a straight in shot firmly with left spin and hit the back of the pocket, if a snapshot could be taken at the moment the cue ball contacts the object ball one would see that the balls are actually aligned significantly to the left of the center of the pocket. There is a popular "pivot point test" that uses this sort of straight shot to determine pivot points but because the throw effect was not considered people have been getting wildly inaccurate results. [http://www.platinumbilliards.com/rating_about_pivotpoints.php]
==Cue Maintenance==
{{Unreferenced-sect|date=February 2008}}
After prolonged use of a cue, it inevitably loses its perfect smoothness, shape, cleanliness, and feel. Tips usually start to mushroom if they are soft and they start to hold less chalk. Ferrules become the "blue-ring" infested house cues in pool halls and bars. Shafts develop a distinguished blue tint and aren't as smooth as when they were new. The glossy and shiny parts of the cue become dull, oily, and full of fingerprints. Wraps develop scents of smoke and sweat, and may even start to disentangle and come loose. The butts of cues may start to rattle and the bumpers on the end may not even be there anymore.
===Tip===
Various tools are used to maintain the domed shape of the tip and its rough texture, enabling enough chalk to be held on the surface. First trim the edges of the mushrooming excess leather that is over the diameter of the ferrule with a knife, razor, or specially designed tool. If a tip is left mushroomed, the shots will be less consistent and may lead to more miscues and scratches. Also, imparting spin on the ball is less accurate as opposed to a well-maintained tip. Then reshape with tip shapers (such as Williards Tip Shaper, ATROX tool, sandpaper, or other tools) which reshape the tip to look like the preferred curvature. Finally, use a rougher sandpaper, a tip scuffer, and/or tip pick to roughen and perforate the tip, respectively. Scuffers and sandpaper are known to reduce tip size over time if used too liberally (periodically). That is the reason tip picks were designed; they poke holes into the tip so that there are perforations for chalk to be embedded into. This serves the same purpose in allowing more chalk to be held on the tip. Though these tools are useful, it is not recommended to use them too often. Usually one wants to "tune-up" the tip after it has started to mushroom, or poor performance is noticed, or before an important game such as a tournament. Using tip tools too much decreases the lifetime of the tip. Chalk is naturally abrasive to the tip and if chalked periodically (every turn), it should keep the tip rough enough. Tips should be replaced before its side wears down to not less than 1 mm from the ferrule. Using a tip thinner than this risks damaging the ferrule, a potentially more expensive repair than a new tip. A replacement tip generally costs from 25 cents to $25, excluding an installation service charge, which usually costs $10 or less.
===Ferrule===
Next item down is the ferrule. If one looks around at most house cues in pool halls and bars, one will notice distinguished blue rings around the ferrule (if the chalk used is blue). This is because of poor chalking technique. Many beginners tend to chalk their cues too hard and in a circular motion. In general this would be ok, but the problem is they do not know when to use a new chalk. Chalk should be replaced when it has a hole that is relatively deep. When people use chalk that has a large hole in it and rotate the chalk in a circular motion, it makes the ring around the ferrule. This ring is usually hard to get rid of unless taken care of early. Different chalks have different stain factors and powdery breakdown that can determine how hard it is to remove the stain. For light stains, one can quickly wipe it away with the fingers or a tissue; it is best to refrain from using damp products near a cue because if moisture gets into the wood it can ruin it due to the expansion and contraction of the water. Certain cleaning products can also be used to clean the stain, but it is best to prevent the stain in the first place. When chalking, one should do a light circular motion as well as scraping the whole chalk cube across points that are not covered well with chalk. Done correctly over a substantial time, the chalk has a shallow hole and is relatively flat. This is because one is chalking lightly and not grinding the chalk into the tip, as well as scraping, so that even if there were high walls around the deep hole, they would wear down after some time.
===Shaft===
A heavy chalker will usually also have a blue tint shaft (from blue chalk, other colors for other colored chalk). Exceptionally powdery or stainable chalks trickle down from the tip down to the shaft and as one strokes, one spreads the chalk on the shaft and stain it over time. This cannot be helped in some places where it is dirty and players place chalk incorrectly on the table, thus getting it on the hands and table cloth even more. After chalking the cue, one should place the chalk facing up so that the process of putting the chalk down does not fling powdered chalk onto the table, thus lessening the amount that gets on the hands and subsequently on the cue. Good chalk etiquette also lessens chalk on the table cloth, which can damage the cloth over time by the balls rolling and carrying chalk with it as it rolls and cuts microfibers in the cloth, eventually giving it a fuzzy feel. Basically it will prolong the life of the pool table as well. To clean the shaft after it has been stained, use a very slightly damp cloth/tissue and wipe it down and then dry it right away. That should remove surface stains, but if the stains have gone without care for a long time, one may need to use very fine sandpaper and/or steel wool. This will actually remove a tiny layer on the shaft and get rid of the stain, but it will also open up the pores in the wood of the shaft to be more susceptible to future staining or damage, which is why one should burnish the wood to close up the pores. This is a home remedy, and is not as good as a professional cleanup on a cue [[lathe]]. These methods are also good for regaining the smoothness lost from dirty hands, chalk, and dirt buildup on the shaft. Another way to keep the shaft clean is to keep the hands clean by washing them frequently, since hands usually get sweaty after playing for a long period of time. Some players like to bring a towel with them to tournaments, allowing for them to wipe their hands as well as wipe down their cue; tissues and napkins work just as well if they are clean.
===Joint===
A cue's joint sometimes is not perfectly sealed and can get moisture in the wood if it is exposed. In humid areas with large temperature changes, this can ruin the joints and thus the cue itself. To protect the joints, one can purchase a cue case or joint protectors that cover the joints for added protection. Joints are also a frequent place where grease is attracted, especially in brass versions. To remove this grease, fine wool wire can be used (grade 0-0).
===Butt===
The butt end of the cue requires the least amount of maintenance, since usually it is not touched too much except for the wrap. A quick wipedown with a slightly damp cloth on the areas with a wood finish (not on the wrap) and a dry wipedown should get rid of any dirt, oil, or fingerprints. For the wrap, if the cue has one, it may smell or become loose. The smell is from wherever one plays as well as sweaty or dirty hands. There is no real way to wash it since it is on the cue, but can be replaced it if it gets too bad. As with the other maintenance issues, prevention is better than replacement of a part of the cue. Certain materials for the wrap fair better than others. For instance since Irish Linen gets stronger as it gets wet, it will not loosen like other wraps will.
Rattling butts are normally due to bad construction and there is nothing can be done about it besides live with it. It should not affect game play except psychologically, and one can always intimidate other players by saying one is going to beat them with "The Shaky Stick".
Preventing the loss of bumper is easy; do not play around with them and they should not come loose; if they do, just tighten them up again, since they are an essential part of the cue.
===Cue Care in General===
To minimize the risk of warping, a cue stick should not be leaned on its tip against anything, and it should be kept in a place that varies little in temperature. Normally, a cue is kept in a soft or hard cue case for easy transport and protection from moisture, the elements, and sudden temperature changes. An abrasive sandpaper should not be used on a cue with a protective finish, as this will scratch or remove it.
==In other sports and games==
[[Image:Deck Shuffleboard.JPG|thumb|200px|right|A shuffleboard game being prepared, with shovel-like cues.]]
In [[Shuffleboard|deck shuffleboard]], the long stick used to propel pucks down the court is called often a "cue" or "cue stick". Unlike billiard cues (but more like the ancestral mace), the shuffleboard cue features a broad head (sometimes not unlike a small [[shovel]], or similar to an elongated [[croquet]] mallet in some cases, but used for shoving, not striking). The head may either be straight, or curved in a half-moon shape to better hold and direct the puck, and the implement may be all wooden, or made of other materials, such as metal, plastic or fiberglass.
Small cue sticks are also used in the tabletop puck game [[novuss]] and other cued variants of [[carrom]].
==References==
{{Refimprove|date=May 2007}}
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.cuemuseum.com/ The Cue Museum] - An online museum dedicated to important works from notable and important cue stick makers throughout history. Also a resource for collectors featuring articles as well as cue stick history.
*[http://www.cuemakers.org/ The American Cuemakers Association] - An organization dedicated to promoting pool cues as a unique collectible art form.
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