A Beginner's Pool Stick

You won't hear this from any of the other billiards sites, but if you are a beginner, you can get a usable stick from a sporting goods store or a chain like Wal-Mart. I have several cheapies in my collection, and all of them play fine.

Pros: Price is low. Quality can be quite good. Your game will improve as you get comfortable with your stick.

Cons: It is up to you to pick a straight stick. Some of the straightest sticks will not be wooden sticks. They will play fine, but they have a different sound.

Most of the sticks you find will be stiff. That is fine. Most players like a stiff stick.

Choose a stick around 19 ounces. Very few pros play with a heavy stick (21 ounces) and some of them play with a light stick (below 19 ounces). The light stick gives you a better feel for how hard to hit the ball.

Check the straightness of the stick before you buy it. Hold the butt up to your eye and sight down the cue. Rotate the stick. If you notice a wobble as you turn, the stick is not true.

Another way of judging the stick is to roll it on a pool table. This isn't a good method for all sticks, but it usually works on the inexpensive ones.

When you buy your stick, see if they have a tool for shaping the tip. Usually, you can find something for 5 bucks.

I have seen sticks for under $20 that are good enough to learn the basics of pool.