What Are Wood-to-Wood Cue Joints?

Wood-to-Wood

• Wood-to-wood simply means both sides of the cue joint are made of wood. These types of cue joints are the most traditional way that the butt and shaft of a pool cue are connected, according to PoolDwag. The butt has a threaded joint pin, while the shaft has a mating threaded hole.

Metal Joints

• Metal cue joints may be stainless steel, regular steel, metal alloys, brass or bronze. Usually, the joint pin is made of metal; however, the material for the threaded hole might be metal or another material, such as phenolic resin or plastic.

Comparison of Joints

• Wood-to-wood cue joints have a natural, softer feel, while metal joints feel stiffer and seem to provide a little more direct, almost quicker feedback from the cue, according to billiards.com. Thus, a break cue (used for breaking the pool balls at the start of a game) usually has a metal joint, while a cue intended to provide a lighter feel and more finesse may have threaded metal inserts in a wood-to-wood joint, according to Pool for Beginners.

Considerations

• The feel of a cue is due to the energy transfer from the shaft to the butt. Energy transfer differs depending on the construction of the joint. A wood-to-wood cue joint transfers more energy from the tip of the shaft into the butt, giving you more feel when you strike the ball. However, because everyone has different preferences, you may need to try different joint styles to find what feels right to you, according to PoolDawg.

Caution

• When the cue is in two pieces, the joint, especially the pin, is easily damaged. For this reason, joint protectors are available to protect the ends of the butt and shaft.