Which are the best snooker cues for beginners? Our expert guide looks at all the top options.
As someone new to the game, you need a good quality cue but you shouldn’t be looking to spend a fortune.
With that in mind, we’ve focused on good value snooker cues that suit people just starting out. Here’s what we found…
Our Top-Rated Snooker Cues For Beginners
The tip size and cue weight are two of the most important traits when trying to find the best snooker cue for beginners.
Larger tips and heavier cues tend to make it easier to cue shots more accurately. With that in mind, let’s dive into the details of our top picks…
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Top Pick: PowerGlide Vibe Classic Snooker Cue – 50/50 Split, 10mm Tip
Pros:
- Well-known brand
- Large tip size improves accuracy
- Well balanced despite it’s budget-friendly price
Cons:
- Soft shaft can easily be damaged
- Large tip size makes it harder to generate spin
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Our top pick for the best snooker cue for beginners ticks all the boxes when it comes to a decent brand name, low price, quality product, large tip size, and well-balanced weight.
PowerGlide is a brand that might not be used by the top professionals, but it is well-known for making good quality products for the home market at reasonable prices.
When just starting out in snooker, you don’t want to spend a fortune on a cue, at least not until you’ve developed a good enough technique to really notice the difference between an average cue and a professional-level one.
With a very affordable price tag, the Vibe classic fits the bill and comes with a large 10mm tip that will make it easier to retain accuracy (though will make it a little harder to generate spin). That’s perfect for a beginner who wants to perfect their potting technique and worry about better cue ball control later.
One thing most people who have used this cue say is that it’s a very well-balanced cue. That means the weighting of the cue feels just right when playing shots, and that’s rare on entry-level cues like this.
While it can damage easy due to the soft wood used for the shaft, with proper care that shouldn’t be a major issue.
It’s a 50/50 split cue which means it screws together exactly the middle. That’s a plus for beginners as far as we are concerned as it makes the cue much more convenient for transporting to and from the snooker club.
Overall, taking into account the quality you get for such a low price, this cue is our recommendation as the best snooker cue for beginners.
- FOR ANY PLAYER: this beautifully made Ash shaft with a hardwood butt and attractive decal design.
- THE CUE: 2 piece cue, Ash shaft and hardwood butt with decal design, The cue measures approximately 145cm (shaft length 72cm excluding the protruding male joint, butt length measures approximately 72cm), Cue weights available 18oz and 19oz
- THE TIP: High grade monolayer 10mm natural leather tip
#2: CUESOUL 57 Inch Handcraft 3/4 Jointed Snooker Cue + Extras
Pros:
- Superb value for money
- Includes carry case, mini butt, and other accessories
- Nice weight that helps cue action
Cons:
- Smaller 9.5mm tip isn’t ideal for complete beginners
- Some reports of damage during shipping
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This CUESOUL cue actually was our pick for the best snooker cue due to its overall value for money and the fact it includes a number of important accessories that beginners will love.
However, it just misses out on the top spot in our best snooker cues for beginners guide due to its slightly smaller tip at 9.5mm.
While this is a pretty standard tip size, it will mean you will need to be more accurate with your cue action to avoid putting unintended side on the cue ball that will throw shots off.
The plus side is that the tip can theoretically be changed to a slightly larger size if required. That means you could swap it to a 10mm tip initially, then gradually reduce the size over time as you get used to cueing in a straight line.
The weight of the cue is nice for beginners. It’s not too heavy, yet it has enough weight to feel steady in the hand. While not everyone will get on with this, some will certainly find the extra weight makes cueing easier, especially when trying to generate power.
Overall, what you’re getting her is an excellent cue at a very reasonable price, especially given the accessories you get included.
The mini butt and the telescopic extension, in particular, are nice additions for beginners as you’re more likely to find yourself stretching for shots while you’re trying to develop tighter cue ball control.
Add in the case to help protect your cue and a cloth and glove and there aren’t too many other things you’ll need to buy, making this a great starter kit.
- Price include VAT
- 3/4 Jointed Snooker Cue:Weight 18oz;57 inch;9.5 mm Cue Glue on Tip
- Walnut Butts with Four Splices and Maple Veneers + Front Burl/Maple/Kempas Splice Decorated
#3: AONETIGER 3/4 Jointed Snooker Cue – 9.7mm Tip + Accessories
Pros:
- Reasonably priced without being ‘too cheap’
- Includes accessories that will appeal to beginners
- Tip size offers ‘best of both’ for accuracy and spin
Cons:
- More trimming and shaping required to replace tip like-for-like
- Relatively unknown brand gives questions over quality
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Our third pick for the best snooker cue for beginners is a real hybrid of our two top picks.
It has a 9.7mm tip which is almost bang in the middle of the 10mm and 9.5mm offered by the two options above.
That means you get a little less accuracy benefit from the top pick but increase the ease with which you can add spin.
Compared to our second pick you get a little more accuracy benefit, but lose a bit of the ability to generate spin easily.
In that sense, you could either call it a ‘best of both worlds’ cue or perhaps a ‘not perfect at anything’ cue depending on your viewpoint!
However you look at it though, it’s an all-round good cue that will appeal to many beginners, not least as it comes with options for accessories that include a mini butt and a soft carry case.
As a 3/4 jointed cue, it’s a little larger to transport than a 1/2 jointed cue, it’s also one of the heavier cues on our list at 19 ounces which won’t suit everyone.
However, if you’re after a middle-of-the-range beginners cue, you could certainly do worse than this one!
- √This great value, modern looking cue, features a smooth ash shaft and is ideal for both snooker and pool.Quality North American matching ash grain shaft.All black ebonised butt.
- Red 9.7mm Tip with brass ferrule - Selected From the Finest Leathers.
- 3 piece ,3/4 jointed cue,cue length measures approx 145cm.(Shaft length measures approx 110cm,Butt length measures approx 35 cm)Mini Butt extension length approx 10cm.Cue warp 28.5mm.Cue weights available approx 19oz.
#4: BCE Mark Selby SAPPHIRE 2 Piece Ash Pool Snooker Cue
Pros:
- Carries the name of pro snooker player, Mark Selby
- Centre-jointed makes transport easier
- Safe bet if buying the cue as a gift
Cons:
- Probably slightly more expensive than it should be due to carrying Mark Selby’s name
- Smaller 9.5mm tip isn’t ideal for complete beginners
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This cue carries the name (and printed signature) of professional snooker player and multiple ranking event winner, Mark Selby.
Arguably up there as one of the greatest ever to have played the game, certainly in the modern era, there are a lot of people that will be drawn to the fact this cue carries Mark Selby’s name.
However, it’s important to note that that doesn’t mean Mark use this cue, or anything like it when he plays. Like most professionals, it’s likely Mark’s cue is customised and costs several hundreds, if not, thousands of pounds!
So why has it made our list of the best snooker cues for beginners?
Well, it’s still a good cue. In fact, it’s a very good cue. For the money, you actually get a really smooth ash shaft that’s well-balanced and lovely to play with.
Perhaps a stand-out feature is that you can request a weight from medium to heavy, so you can better match a cue weight with your preference. We would recommend going on the heavier side as a beginner as many find it easier to cue straight with a heavier cue.
#5: OMIN 3/4 Snooker Cue Handmade Ash, 10mm Tip Size
Pros:
- Large tip size improves accuracy
- Includes extras such as case and chalk
- Other tip sizes are also available
Cons:
- Not always in stock
- More expensive option
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This is another cue that isn’t from a particularly well-known manufacturer. That is always likely to raise a few questions around quality.
However, we have found that for the most part, this is an excellent choice of snooker cue for beginners. Not least because it includes a range of extras including a hard case, chalk, tools to help you replace the tip, a towel, and more.
Altogether, that makes it one of the best snooker cues for beginners as you probably won’t need to buy anything else!
The downside is that the price reflects that, and it’s considerably more expensive than some of the other cues in our list.
While there are some other cue tip sizes available, we’ve focused on the 10mm tip as that tends to suit beginners better. However, there are some stock issues with all tip sizes and so your preferred size isn’t guaranteed to be available.
- Length:145 cm ,3/4 Jointed Snooker Cue,Weight:17.5-19oz,Tip:9.5mm/10mm/11.5mm options
- Shaft:Made of 3 years selected kiln dried north american ash,constant temperature and humidity setting treatment.
- Handle:28.5mm wrap diameter,ebony+maple+red sandal wood layers
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Buying the best snooker cue for beginners often means you get some common accessories included. However, if your chosen cue doesn’t contain everything you need, here are some optional extras you can add…
Cue Cleaner & Polish Gift Tin
It’s probably your first snooker cue so you want to look after it, right? Keeping it clean and polished helps preserve the wood and ensure your cue always glides smoothly – helping reduce errors!
- This deluxe gift tin has everything you need to ensure your cue will play like new every time you step up to the baize.
- Sil Kleen (1oz bottle) - to clean and prepare your shaft; Use to clean your shaft; Removes dirt, grease and grime; Also polishes your brass ferrule; Simply apply with a dry cloth and buff off
- Cue Silk - to polish your shaft and make it glide through your hand like silk; Just add a few drops to a paper towel and buff the shaft; Cue will glide through your hand for the smoothest cuing action ever; Helps improve your game play through better control; Over 30 applications in a bottle
Snooker Cue Balm
To care for your new snooker cue correctly you’ll want to replenish the moisture in the wood regularly to help stop it splitting or warping.
- GOOD FOR YOUR CUE.. GOOD FOR YOUR GAME !!
- FEEDS, PROTECTS, SMOOTHS ALL WOODEN SHAFTS
- CALMING ESSENTIAL OILS AROMA
Microfibre Cue Towel
The concentration involved in snooker often means your hands become ‘sticky’ during play or accumulate a layer of chalk dust. Use a cloth to regularly wipe your hands and your cue.
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Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve covered our picks for the best snooker cue for beginners, but if you’re new to the sport you probably have a lot of other questions too! Here are some of the ones we are most often asked…
Which cue is best for snooker?
The best cue for snooker will depend on your experience level, budget, and the way you prefer to play the game.
For instance, a professional player might spend thousands of pounds getting the perfect customised cue to meet their every need.
A beginner may spend less than £50 to get a reasonable cue but without high financial commitment if they don’t stick with the game.
Equally, exactly how you like to play the game and where your strengths and weaknesses are will dictate things like your preferred weight and tip size.
What weight cue should I use for snooker?
The weight of snooker cue you should use will depend entirely on your own preferences.
Some players prefer lighter cues that give more control over delicate shots, while others prefer heavier cues that give more power when strong shots are needed.
Some people say they cue straighter with a lighter cue, others seem to cue straighter with a heavier cue.
We recommend beginners start with a heavier cue since the extra weight often helps to reduce unwanted movement during shots, however, this isn’t true for everyone so some trial and error may be required.
How much is a decent snooker cue?
A decent snooker cue can cost anywhere from £50 to £200 or more. It all depends on your level in the game and what you consider to be a ‘decent’ snooker cue.
For instance, a professional is unlikely to consider a £50 cue as ‘decent’, but, if you’re just starting out, £50 (or perhaps even less) will buy you a perfectly decdent cue for playing a few games in the snooker club to see if you take to the sport.
What cue do snooker players use?
Most professional snooker players use John Parris cues, or other cues made by individual cue makers.
That’s because they can then have the cues customised to suit their needs and preferences. However, this can quickly mean these cues cost several hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
That means the majority of casual players are better of picking so-called ‘off-the-shelf’ cues that are mass produced to the same specifications. Once you develop your game and want to start taking it more seriously you can consider a customised cue.
What size snooker cue do I need?
The size of snooker cue you need is determined by both your preferences and your height.
Most cues are between 57 and 59 inches which will suit the vast majority of players. Typically, the taller you are, the longer the cue you should choose, and the shorter you are, the shorter the cue you should pick.
If you’re under 5ft 6 in, you might find you need to go even smaller and choose a 56 inch cue. However, at the end of the day it all depends on what you feel most comfortable with. Typically, once you start playing with one size of cue, you’ll soon get used to it and will find other sizes strange to play with!
What snooker cue stick should the beginners use?
Our top pick for the best snooker cue stick for beginners can be seen in the table at the top and bottom of this page.
We have picked this cue because of it’s overall value for money and the larger tip size that helps to ensure more accuracy while learning how to cue perfectly.
Is a 10mm tip good for snooker?
A 10mm tip size is perfectly good for playing snooker, especially if you are a beginner or wish to ensure more accuracy when cueing the ball.
That’s because smaller tips have less margin for error on where you strike the cue ball, often leading to placing unintentional side spin on the ball and throwing shots off the intended line.
The downside of a 10mm tip is that the larger size makes it a little harder to get spin onto the cue ball which can make positional play more difficult. However, if you are a beginner, it’s likely that potting balls is of more concern initially than positional play.
What size tip do snooker players use?
Professional snooker players use anything from a 9.5mm to a 10mm cue tip, though most prefer the smaller sizes in that range with some going even smaller than that!
The reason is that larger tips retain more accuracy, but smaller tips help generate more spin. Since most pros have their technique near to perfect, accuracy is less important than the ability to play adventurous positional shots that require a lot of spin. that’s why most pros use smaller tips.
The Best Snooker Cues For Beginners
