any billiards players can help out?

[Langod]

You can get a good McDermott for $150 or less, as long as you don't want lots of fancy inlays, etc. It'll play the same as one of their $300+ cues. McDermott makes what I consider one of the best "bang for the buck" cues out there.

Don't buy from Sports Authority. Find a local Billiards supply store and talk to them. You'll get good advice and should be able to try out lots of different cues. Yes, you'll pay a little more than you would online, but it's very much worth developing a relationship with your local store. If you don't have a local store to go to, try Poolndarts.com (Mueller), or pooldawg.com. You can get good deals on Ebay, but remember, buyer beware -- there are some fakes out there.
When I got my first cue, I tried a bunch of brands and really liked the soft-feeling hit of the McDermotts. It really allows you to feel whats going on.
I now play with a Predator (original 314) that I bought from a fellow League member. It's a really nice stick, but has a lot harder hit/feel -- even though it's a much better cue, I still miss the softness of the McDermott.

I would recommend a 18-19 oz stick for your regular playing cue. As a general rule you get more finesse with a lighter cue and can control english better.
For a break cue, go buy a cheap 40 or 50 dollar cue like a "Players", have someone put a phenolic tip on it, and go to town. You'll never break with anything else once you've gone phenolic. I did the same as you did with a heavy break stick at first -- I had mine up to 26oz -- but after several months I lightened it way down to 17.5 oz. After you develop a good break stroke, you get a better break with a light cue because you can accelerate the cue faster. Every "pro" I've ever heard of uses a lighter cue to break than to play.

Good luck. Let us know what you end up with.

A lot of great info here.

I used to play A LOT when I was younger (yes pool was around then) mainly in country bars for beers and/or a few bucks.

One thing that was always clear to me, the guy holding the stick was much more important than the actual stick.

Enjoy, it's a ton of fun if you're good.

[tsolomon]

I bought a new pool table a couple of years ago and found some nice cues on eBay. I ended up my several from KC including some house cues and then a bit higher end for the wife and myself. They have been great cues with a real nice feel and he does a nice job with the wood and inlays. I just wouldn't spend a lot of money on a cue until you figure out how much you will be using it.

[gvarsity]

I would recommend a Schmelke cue. They provide most of the shaft maple used by most of the major cue manufacturers like Schon and Viking. You can get a Schmelke for 80-150$ direct from the factory and cheaper used on ebay or craigslist. http://www.schmelkecue.com/ I would avoid the fiberglass and graphite cues as well as the one pieces as they aren't very portable. The BR series has a couple that run $105-$125 as does the K, M, R, S, & SP series.

Nice all wood hand crafted nice shaft straight etc... You want one with the "Kiln dried Canadian Maple Shaft with pro taper" which is what they sell to other cuemakers. The cuemakers then add all of the inlays and designs and wraps on the butt which is where the money comes in to play. Schmelke construction, balance and playability are fine they just make some real basic cues as well as fancier.

Oddly enough 4-5 of the major cuemakers are based out of Wisconsin Schon in Milwaukee, Viking is in Madison, Schmelke is north of rice lake in the middle of BFE. At least one other major cuemaker is based in Wi also.

[SeanGAR]

Originally Posted by gvarsity

]http://www.schmelkecue.com/

I get a Trojan Horse warning from avast! when I go there. Be careful.

JS:Packed-I [Trj]

[gvarsity]

I'm not getting that. What browser/virus software is giving you the trojan warning?

[SeanGAR]

Originally Posted by gvarsity

I'm not getting that. What browser/virus software is giving you the trojan warning?

Avast! and FFOX 3.0.1.