The Shaft Of The Cue
If you are looking to buy a cue or want to have your current cue repaired, it is important to know each part and it's importance to help you decide the cue or cue part that is best for you. In this section, you will find extensive information about each part of a cue.
This section features:
Tips | Ferrules | Shafts | Joints
Inlays | Wraps | Weight
The shaft is an important part of the cue with personal preference playing a large role in the decision of which shaft to use. There are many factors to consider when considering a shaft such as deflection, length, diameter (for tip and ferrule), taper and type of wood.
Deflection
Deflection occurs when the tip of the cue strikes the cue ball and bounces off. A player may not always see or feel the bounce, however, when any two objects collide, deflection will occur.
Shaft deflection is typically the first thing a buyer may look for in a cue whether they know it or not. The feel of the cue and a players fundamentals such as the grip is largely a part of the deflection. When a players says the hit "feels solid", it may mean they don't feel much deflection. Some players prefer minimal deflection while others prefer allot of deflection in the shaft of the cue. It is a matter of how the cue feels to the player, therefore, making it a matter of personal preference.
Types of Shafts
The shaft is the tapered end of the cue with the ferrule and tip. Shafts are traditionally made of wood, with finer grain woods equating higher quality. A number of manufacturers make cues from composite materials (for example, maple covered with fiberglass) but some traditionalists argue the artificial material fails to measure up to solid wood.
Most shafts are made from a single piece of wood that has been dried and turned down (cut or sanded into the desired shape) on a lathe. A “pie shaft” is comprised of multiple pie-shaped pieces of wood laminated together and turned down on a lathe until the shaft is circular. Fans of the pie shafts hail them as stronger, more resistant to warping and quick to rebound.
Cone Shaped Shafts
This shaft offers a more solid hit with less deflection and more energy is transferred to the cue ball. A way to know if you have a cone shaped shaft is you will be able to lay the shaft (without the butt) on a pool/billiard table and roll it to see if it touches and there is no light the entire length of the shaft. Cone shaped shafts are typically used by billiard players and for break cues.
Pro Tapered Shafts
This shaft offers a thinner taper and may feel smaller in a players bridge hand during the stroke. When rolled on a table, light should be consistently seen under the shaft. Pro Tapered shafts are typically found on most production and custom playing cues.
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Learn how to maintain your cue in our Cue Maintenance & Repair article or find a professional to repair your cue in our Pool & Billiard Directory.