Why should I maintain my pool cue? How often should I maintain it?


Release time:

2025-02-19

A cue stick is an indispensable piece of equipment for any billiards player. Whether professional or amateur, every player hopes for a suitable cue – one that meets standard length, has a straight and round shaft, clear markings, a smooth feel, and no scratches. This allows players to overcome negative mental interference during play and helps them perform to their best ability.

Why should I maintain my pool cue? How often should I maintain it?

  A cue stick is an indispensable piece of equipment for any billiard player. Whether professional or amateur, every player desires a cue that is the right length, straight and round, with clear markings, a smooth feel, and no blemishes. This allows them to overcome negative psychological interference during gameplay and helps to improve their skill level. But did you know that cue sticks also require regular maintenance? And do you know why?
  Using an unmaintained cue stick often leads to a poor feel, especially in hot, sweaty weather. This can make it difficult to handle and negatively impact your shots, even if you wipe it down with a cue cloth. Over time, the tip might feel smoother, but the wood grain will become more prominent and the rest of the cue will still feel rough. Eventually, the cue stick will be ruined.
  Regularly maintaining a cue stick using the correct methods prevents these negative consequences and increases the stick's elasticity, highlighting the importance of cue stick care.
  Why is cue stick maintenance important?
  How often should you maintain a cue stick? An unmaintained cue stick is considered a 'raw' stick. Because the inside of the cue stick can be too dry or too wet, it's essential to use oil to displace moisture within the wood fibers to provide a protective seal.
  How often should you maintain a cue stick? It's best to maintain the cue stick when the seasons change. The first two maintenance sessions should be done carefully to avoid damaging the cue or leaving scratches. From the third session onward, avoid using sandpaper to prevent reducing the diameter of the stick. Cues treated this way will typically feel comfortable in the hand. After this, simpler maintenance will suffice. A cue stick that reaches this maintenance stage is considered a 'seasoned' stick, and cleaning the shaft with a damp cue cloth will not interfere with its performance.

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