If you want to get better at your billiard game, one thing is for sure.  Using house pool cues each time you shoot will not suffice.  You must go out and buy your own billiard cue.  But finding the right one is not as easy as going to Wal-Mart and grabbing the cheapest one you see.  However, if you know what to look for in a good pool cue, even without much experience, you can make a very intelligent choice when making that important purchase.

For your first stick, select a pool cue that is under $200.  And keep in mind also that you get what you pay for.  If you spend $10 on a stick, do not be surprised if it cracks in half within a week.  One of my first pool cues was right around $100, and I still use it presently after years and years of use.  Get a more experienced friend to accompany you, if necessary.  Examine the billiard cue in question for flaws in its straightness, finish and inlays before proceeding any further. 

Almost all cues have a standard length of 57-59 inches. Very few reasons exist to move away from using the standard pool cue length.  If you are extremely short or tall, for example, a shorter or longer cue may be needed, respectively.  Also, a smaller home billiard room may, in many cases, require the use of a shorter stick. Otherwise, a standard cue length should be more than adequate.

A cue's straightness is arguably the most important aspect to its quality.  If your cue is crooked, your shot could be, also.  To check the straightness of a billiard cue stick, first hold the bumper, or thick end up to your eye and look down the shaft towards the cue tip, rolling the stick in your fingers slowly.  There should be no bumps or variations in the cue as you turn it.  If this is fine, take the stick and roll it across a flat surface (a pool table works good). The cue should roll smoothly with no apparent wobbling.  Even the slightest wobble most assuredly indicates a crooked pool cue.

Next, make sure that all of the cue's connections are uninterrupted and smooth.  Check where the ferrule and the shaft meet and, if examining a two-piece stick, where the pieces of the shaft screw together.  Gently move your fingers over these areas of the pool cue to assure that they are flush and even.

Then check the finish and wrap of the pool cue more closely. The clear finish should be free of bubbles and the wrapping should be tight and obviously free of discoloring and frays. Remember, the aesthetic quality of a billiard cue can affect a player's confidence level and possibly temporarily weaken his shooting ability.