Billiard Cue
The billiard cue is the means by which the billiard balls
are moved about on the table. Commonly referred to as a cue stick, or
pool cue, are generally about 40 inches long and are tapered from one
end to the other. The cue ball is struck using the small end of the
stick.
A billiard cue is traditionally made by turning the wood on a lathe.
The process can be rather time consuming, as the wood must be correctly
dried in order to ensure a perfectly straight cue. Furthermore, the
sticks are often made from multiple types of wood (generally maple for
the “striking” end, and any number of hardwoods used for
the handle) which require a skilled craftsman to correctly and securely
combine.
A custom made billiard cue can be quite expensive. A finely crafted
cue can often cost well over 1000 dollars, depending on the materials
from which it’s made. However, these sticks are usually only purchased
by professional players, and less expensive sticks are generally adequate
for the average Joe.