[SP] Snooker Cue vs Pool Cue: How To Differentiate

It is obvious that many new players are confused about the difference between snooker cue and pool cue. Only experts and experienced players can really differentiate these two. Whether you want to play any of these games or you are going to take these games seriously as a career, it’s essential to learn about the difference between the two in detail. You will find out it has a lot of differences than you thought!

Cue Tip

The size of the tips is one of the biggest differences even though it doesn’t seem so at a glance. The snooker table (12’x6’) is larger than the pool table but the snooker balls and pockets are smaller. Therefore, the shots in snooker will require a little more accuracy, that’s why the size of the tip matters. The tip of the snooker cue is from 9mm to 10.5mm. Moreover, the smaller balls used in snooker also make the size of the tips necessary. 

For pool cues, the tips are larger from 12mm to 13mm, and even 14mm because the pool balls are larger and heavier. Besides, the pool is played on a smaller table of 9’x4.5’. 

Cue Weight

As mentioned above, snooker balls are smaller than pool balls, and they need higher accuracy, therefore, snooker cue is lighter than pool cue. A snooker cue weight is from 18 to 20 oz while a pool cue weight gravitates toward 19 and 21 oz. Besides, the difference between snooker cue and pool cue is not only in the weight but also in how the weight is balanced. Pool sticks tend to be weighted more in the back because this is where the players need to feel the cue the most. Otherwise, snooker cues are designed to keep some weight near the tip, which is where the player most needs to feel the cue. 

Cue material

Snooker cues and pool cues are made of different materials. Pool cues are mostly made from hard rock maple with perfect strength, durability, and flexibility. Because of the weight of the balls, pool cues also require a solid, dense wood-like maple. On the other hand, ash is the most popular material for snooker cues. Ash is not dense and solid as maple, which makes it an ideal wood for snooker where accuracy is considerably important. There is one special point about ash wood is that it has a more visible grain pattern than maple, which can be used as a way to line up players’ shots and see how their cue is shooting. 

Ferrules

Ferrules, just behind the tip on cues, are vitally important because they provide stabilization for every shot. The ferrules have two main functions: helping to change the tips easier and providing protection for the wood part. Without the ferrules, the cues would split and wear down quickly after many hits with pool balls. 

Snooker cues often have brass ferrules while pool cues often have carbon fiber ferrules. In fact, brass is still the most common material for ferrules because brass is more durable and it can protect the relatively small end of the cue. Moreover, many players prefer the “feel” of brass ferrules to their cue but it can be attributed to the habit and familiarity of the players. The carbon ferrules or plastic ones have the same function as brass ferrules. They do have a different feel for players, but again, this is each player’s preference as any different and it’s likely negligible. 

Design

Last but not least, the difference between pool cues and snooker cues is from their design. In fact, snooker cues are usually made of wood butts. While the butt of the snooker cue likely has some understated design, pool cues are often more flashy. 

American pool cue, usually has Irish linen that is wrapped around the butt for grip and aesthetics. Snooker cues don’t really have any extra wrap or any design around the butt. How the butt looks definitely has no impact on how the cues work. However, players who are familiar with a cue that has that wrap may not be comfortable when using the cue that doesn’t have it, or vice versa. 

In Conclusion

As you can see, both snooker cue and pool cue provide the same purpose and are important to any billiards game. However, after this article, you can look closer and find out how many small differences they have. The main reason for these differences comes from the size of the respective tables and balls. The size of the tips, weight, ferrules, and materials can all have an impact on the gameplay. Therefore, choosing a suitable cue is vitally essential, that’s why you should visit Pearson Cue to find out which cue is for you to enjoy the game.