About Us
Our Mission
TheCueStick.com’s mission is to provide a comprehensive source of information in every aspect of the pool and billiard world. We consult with experts, books, other web sites and various players to seek the best information for each article. We include all information to give an extensive perception about each topic. This site is not owned or operated in any way by suppliers or manufacturers. Not every page is updated every day, but the site is updated daily. TheCueStick.com closely follows news and events and strives to present the most current, accurate and useful information to deliver the most comprehensive unbiased information to you.
Executive & Publishing Team
Denise Tygielski | President, Publisher & Webmaster
As an avid pool and billiard enthusiast, Denise is the founder of TheCueStick.com. Her love and dedication to the sport compels her to bring fellow enthusiasts the most comprehensive information about every aspect of pool and billiards. As the founder of the publishing company Kayden Group, Denise's years of experience with various technology, web development and marketing environments provide a solid foundation for TheCueStick.com. Her technical expertise coupled with her strong leadership skills guides the TheCueStick.com with an uncompromising standard of excellence and a focus on exceptional pool and billiard information. Denise enjoys competing in tournaments (The "D"enise), learning, practicing or playing leisurely.
Courtney Lloyd | Editorial Assistant
Courtney began playing pool at the age of 12 and currently enjoys playing eight ball and nine ball. She enjoys promoting the sport and helping players to learn more about pool & billiards. Courtney
assists with reviews and articles, coordinates player promotion and the editorial content of the web site. Along with promoting pool & billiards, she is
currently an Advanced Sonar Technician full time in the U.S. Navy.
Sarah Mausolf | Editor/Contributing Writer
Sarah delivers comprehensive information to pool & billiard enthusiasts from the perspective of an experienced journalist. She holds a bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in journalism from the University of Delaware and has served as a reporter for two daily newspapers. Sarah combines her writing background with a love for pool & billiards. She has been playing pool for five years and enjoys researching all facets of the game.
Professional Advisors
Andy Segal ~The Magic Man
Andy brings his outstanding artistic pool knowledge to TheCueStick.com. Playing pool since 1983, he began performing trick shots since college in the late 1980’s and has never looked back. Andy began competing in October 2002 in the North American Artistic Pool Championships. In October 2003, his good friend, Bogdan Wolkowski, had injured his arm and Andy received a last minute invitation for Trick Shot Magic. He was also a technical advisor for the film Sweet & Lowdown, filmed commercials for All Detergent and AT&T, and also a 12 week segment for Bikini Pool Shark on Spike TV. Along with performing, Andy and Bruce Barthelette helped Ewa Laurence prepare for the 2004 (finished 2nd place) and 2005 (finished 1st place) Women’s ESPN Trick Shot Magic tournament.
Stefano Pelinga ~The Master
Stefano answers your questions in our Ask the Pro section and brings us his expertise and knowledge of pool & billiards through years of experience in playing pool and artistic pool. He began playing at the age of 12 and devoted his time to artistic pool and trick shots since the age of 26. In that time, Stefano has competed in many events and has accomplished many titles and awards. Throughout his years as an artistic pool and trick shot champion, he has created DVD's about trick shots, taught seminars and currently performs shows.
Paul Anderson
Paul brings invaluable information to our visitors with extensive knowledge and experience with pool & billiards. He was introduced to the sport at the age of 10 and later refined his skills under the guidance of numerous world champions such Allen Gilbert and Frank Torres. Paul enjoys 3 Cushion Billiards, Nine Ball and Eight Ball in tournament and leisure. In 1996, he won the Pennsylvania State 8 Ball Championship (50+ Tournament), the 1998 Singles Camel 8 Ball Championship and placed in the U.S. Amateur Nationals in 1997, 1999 and 2003. Currently, Paul enjoys pool & billiards and teaching the art and fundamentals of each game.
Tom Roberts
Tom has been a pool and billiards enthusiast for more than 30 years and is a long-standing member of many billiard associations. He competed professionally from 1976 through 2000 winning the Texas State 9 Ball Championship in the early 1980s. Tom also became the only player to score consecutive wins in the New York State 9 Ball Championship in 1991 and 1992. Currently, he enjoys playing One Pocket and Straight Pool recreationally offers private instruction to select players with his current students qualifying regionally for national tournaments.
Joe Blackburn
Joe began cue tip repair/replacement and table mechanics since 1969. Originally, he began playing snooker in the Armed Forces in 1969, playing in the U.S. Open in 1979 and on the Steve Mizerack Senior Tour. Joe has been repairing cues in the U.S. Open for 24 years, the BCA National Events for 12 years and the APA National Events for 19 years. He is trusted by many professional and amateur players and is an authorized cue repairmen for Predator and OB-1 shafts. Along with finding cue repair and maintenance rewarding, Joe is happily married and enjoys playing golf, hiking, and biking riding.
Buddy Donnelly
Buddy started playing pool when he was twelve years old and began
cabinet making in high school. He has since been a carpenter, for
sixteen years, a cue repairer, for five years, and a cue maker, for
three years. Up until 2002 Buddy has played Semi-Professional Baseball.
Buddy was known for his quality wood work. He created custom cabinets,
baseball bats, cues, and millwork. Until he passed away in 2010, Buddy
was a carpenter, a cue maker and repairman, and owned Donnelly Custom Cues.
John Echevarria
As a pool & billiard enthusiast for over 16 years and the owner of Lucky’s Billiards (custom cues, repair and maintenance), John brings our visitors invaluable information about cues. He offers his services as a cue consultant, custom cue maker specializing in leather wraps, a wealth of manufactured cue knowledge and cue repair & maintenance. John also assists American Billiards (pool hall) with overseeing tournaments and in other areas as needed and is familiar with local league operations. His favorite games are One Pocket and Nine Ball which he plays leisurely and in local tournaments and regional tours.
Sponsored Player
Shane Winters
Shane began playing pool in 1998 at the age of 12 and playing consistently since then. He enjoys playing 9 ball, 8 ball, One Pocket, Banks and Billiards. Shane has won on the Blaze 9 Ball tour, Super Billiards Expo Junior Division, Open Division Eight Ball and placed 3rd in the Open Division Nine Ball. He also holds several other titles with regulation and bar box tournaments such as the annual Irving Crane Memorial Tournament. His dream is to win major titles such as the U.S. Open, Derby City Classic and other world titles. Believing anything is possible, Shane keeps an open mind knowing that someday his dream of being a world champion will come true. To add to his success, he also attends college for Business Administration via online courses. Shane enjoys promoting the sport of pool & billiards, supporting Our Mission, and hopes to own a pool hall or possibly invent a product for the industry.
Review Department
Bob Lewis, Jr. - "Radio"
Bob has been playing pool since 1987. He works full time for a direct marketing company and has served in the U.S. Military for 8 years. Bob also enjoys dancing which led him to travel with many music artists and groups as a backup dancer from 1986 - 2001 involving R&B, rap, and freestyle. He also enjoys playing Texas Hold 'em and in pool leagues and tournaments on a regular basis. Since Bob began to take his game seriously in 2003, he has turned to numerous books and videos for improvement. As an average player, Bob brings our readers an insightful look on these products and his understanding of how they can help our reader's game.
Rob Peuplie
Accomplished in Flash, promotional and graphic design, he combines knowledge of the arts with a business background. Rob has served as a sales director at Phoenix Wireless in Pennsylvania and a marketing director at Golden National Mortgage in New York. He provides TheCueStick.com with insight on his view of pool & billiard products, videos and books to enhance the knowledge of the intermediate pool player. A passionate pool and billiards player, Rob expands his knowledge of the game through practice, tournaments ("Flash") and recreational play.
For all the little things that made a big difference...
A Special Thanks To...
George Middleditch
Mike Massey
Allen Hopkins, Jr. - Run Out Sportswear
Steve Lomax - Lomax Custom Cues & Repairs
"QBall" Ken Theimann - QB Custom Cues
Dave Nangle
Buzzy - Buzzy's Billiards (Allentown, PA)
Tom & Marty Rossman (Dr. Cue & Ms. Cue) - Dr. Cue Promotions
Tony - Hustlin' USA
Jim Shovak - USBA
Kari Freeland - BCA
Rick Malm - Artistic Cue Sports Press