Let’s continue our discussion of components of the cue. The joint is the part of the cue that connects the forearm and shaft as secured by joint caps. This is essential for consistent flow of energy in every shot. The collar, on the other hand, is just a part of the joint that is attached to the top of the forearm which is used to reinforce the pin at the end of the shaft and usually made of solid material like stainless steel, wood, ivory or molded phenolic resin. Like the collar, the rings can also be found on the shaft’s end to reinforce the vulnerable joint portion of the cue and to enhance its overall look. The pin which is protected by screwed joint protector can be found at the base of the shaft to connect it with the forearm and is usually made of metal. The wrap over the cue handle, below the forearm and above the butt is made of Irish linen or leather. The wrap provides a sure grip, long life, and moisture absorption from hand sweat. Below the wrap is the butt or butt sleeve that is usually made of exotic wood. Lastly, the rubber composite bumper keeps the butt of your cue safe from incidental contact with the floor or other damaging incidents.

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What is a cue? If you have been playing pool then it would be no problem at all. But if I will dare you to name at least 5 of the 13 parts of this pool equipment then I you would be having some difficulty, right? This article will introduce you to the essential components of the game equipment cue. First is the tip that has the common size of 13 mm of treated and compressed leather material. Next is ferrule that strengthens the tip area by reducing vibrations after every shot. Shaft can be made of hard rock maple, graphite or fiberglass. The most commonly used designs are called points that may vary in number, length, and width. If inlayed, even number points are used for balance and reinforcement. Intricate and rare inlays are valuable structural parts that set balance and can be made of exotic woods, ivory or gemstones. Last but not the least is the forearm that set the design and personality of the cue. Usually made of hard rock maple like the shaft, the forearm carry the heaviest part of the price as well as the place to find the points, inlays, veneers and other designs.

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This is what you see being used by the players which they place on top of their cue after each shot is done. This provides them better grip so that they won’t miscue their shots. Its cue tip is made out of various materials like leather, being the most popular.

Leather has a tendency to toughen up its surface materials even after constant abuse of use. As more shots happen, the grip on the ball will surely decline which can cause the ball to slide off. And so here comes the pool chalk entering the scene.

This chalk prevents the cue tip from slipping off once shots are taken. Prevent from using the non-lead chalks for its dust settles around the table which can really be harmful to anyone’s health. These chalks can be bought in a wide variety of colors like red, brown, green, gold and blue. They can either be in cue or cone chalks.

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There are three major types of cues:

The One Piece Cue is utilized in pool games by the casual players. They decrease evenly in diameter up from the butt down to the tip.

The Two Piece Cue is separated in the middle part for the convenience in transport. It comes with a cue case and yet another kind of the two piece cue is placed around three quarters down the cue. This measures usually 12 to 16 inches from the butt portion.

The other types are cues that have three to five joints. They can be either used for jumping, breaking and weight changing on the butt portion. They are also used as extensions at times to make a longer reach.

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The key to using the proper grip is simple: relax. The grip is something few players give a second thought to but it affects even the top pros in big matches. The tendency , especially on tough shots or in critical points of a match , is to consciously squeeze the cue a little tighter. The greater the tension, the more he smoothness and fluidity in your stroke will suffer. Your back hand must remain loose and relaxed. Get into the habit of checking your grip in tough situations. This practice will help you slow down, re-check the basics, and calm yourself before the big shot. All that is really required for a proper grip is your thumb, index and middle finger. There should be a little space between the palm of your hand and the cue. Remember, your grip is simply guiding the cue in a forward motion. Practice by looking back at your grip hand while stroking. You should notice a little more space open up between your palm and the cue on the backswing. On the follow-through, your palm should come down onto the cue but don’t tighten your grip.

When you shoot the cue ball across the table to cut shot, it becomes likely that your cue ball falls into that side pocket. The slightest miscalculation can lead your cue to scratch in the side. Besides this, it becomes even harder to focus on leaving the cue ball on the left side of the side pocket. This shot should not be done unless you rehearsed it multiple times and are already fully comfortable and confident on not making any miscalculations.
Do not use the side spin as you may first instinctively consider on doing first. You may concentrate on doing the top and back spin instead to reduce the number of variables involved. It will also increase your consistency from table to table. When you have this mastered, you will have a feel on pocketing the 1 then positioning your cue ball for the next shot.
Avoiding the side pocket is a sound advise for beginners but once mastered, it can be a trick you can bring along with you to get you that win.