If you’ve never owned a pool cue before stepping foot into your local pool hall can be thrilling. However, walking up to that rack to purchase your first cue can be daunting. Don’t know where to start? There are so many brands, weights, and prices it can be confusing for beginners to nail down what they’re looking for. You do not need to spend hundreds of dollars on a pool cue to find something great that helps you up your game.
After combing through beginners forums, asking players what they liked, and seeing what brands are mentioned the most through the course of playing billiards we have found there to be a few that stand out from the rest. Let’s take a look at some of the best budget friendly pool cues under $200 for beginners that you should consider before making your decision.
Why Beginners Don’t Need an Expensive Pool Cue?
One myth about billiards that tends to irk experts is that throwing more money at the game guarantees success. While cues meant for professional players are often packed with fancy features, most casual players will not notice a difference.
Instead, new players should learn how to play with solid fundamentals first. They should get comfortable using their equipment and gain confidence behind the table. A nice cue between $100-$200 will offer everything a beginner could want while allowing room for growth.
Practice and muscle memory play a huge role in how well someone plays. Many players will tell you that buying an expensive cue won’t make you any better than when you started, so learn the basics before diving into flashy equipment.
New to the game? Check out our Beginner Tips for Pool Players guide
to learn common mistakes and essential skills every new player should know.
What Makes a Good Beginner Pool Cue?
Pick a pool cue that is durable, consistent, comfortable and priced reasonably. Some pool cues can easily run into the hundreds, even thousands of dollars. However, when you are just starting out, it is often more beneficial to simply get a cue that feels good and helps you build good fundamentals.
When shopping for a beginner pool cue, consider:
- Weight (most beginners prefer 19 ounces)
- Tip quality
- Shaft construction
- Overall balance
- Brand reputation
- Upgrade potential
Great equipment only takes you so far. Even with the best beginner pool cue you’ll never be able to substitute proper fundamentals and technique. Learn how proper body positioning can increase your consistency and accuracy in our article How to Improve Your Pool Stance.
What Pool Players Are Saying?
Reading through these discussions, one of the first things you’ll notice is that certain brands come up again and again. McDermott Lucky, Viking Valhalla, Players Cues, and Cuetec all come up in discussions across all types of billiards as recommended cues for beginners.
These communities also touch on how beginners shouldn’t concern themselves with getting the highest-end cue. Feeling comfortable is mentioned far more than price tags. Things like consistency, confidence, and practice are discussed far more often than nuances in technology or using the highest-end materials.
The last theme I’ll touch on is getting your money’s worth. Instead of spending $400 on a professional cue right out of the gate, some players suggest spending less on a quality cue and using the rest of your budget on practicing.
There are even some who recommend buying a used cue over a new one, as long as it was well taken care of.