How Heavy Should My Pool Cue Be?

This is probably the most frequently asked question we hear.  With a standard range of 18-21oz on pool cues, there is quite a bit of confusion when it comes to picking out a weight for your cue.  The answer to this question is unfortunately not cut and dry.  Cue weight is all about personal preference.  Some are more comfortable with a light cue while others are only happy playing with a heavy cue.  What is right for one person is not necessarily right for another.

That being said, the most common weight for a pool cue is 19oz.  I would estimate that about 70% of the cues we sell are 19oz cues.  There are theories abound dealing with cue weight, but to date I have not seen any research that supports these theories.  Some people hold the theory that a heavier cue will equate to more power.  Much like swinging a heavier baseball bat, this is dependent on how quick you can snap.  Just by looking at Newton’s Second Law, we know that acceleration is dependent on both the net force acting on an object and the mass of the object itself.

While I’m not a physicist and remember very little from my high school physics class, the bottom line is that a heavier cue will not always mean a more powerful hit or break.  In some cases, it may even create less power depending on how much force you can create.  So, when selecting a cue, go for the weight that feels the most comfortable to you.  With the right tools, you can measure what weight will give you the most powerful break, but for most it is just a question of “what feels right” to that player.