Now that you’ve made the leap and found a pool cue that really suits your needs, it’s a good idea to know how to care for it. You’ve probably seen professionals like Mike Massey, Jeanette Lee, or Karen Corr take their pool cues from beautiful cases and put them together; You never see them lower their signs and lean them against the wall. A pool cue should never be placed on the floor, against a wall, or against a table. Leaving it and resting it on something could bend the end of the pool cue and ruin it. Place your pool cue on a flat surface, hanging from a cue or preferably in a hard case to keep it straight. Hitting your pool cue against a hard surface or hard floor is also a no-no. This can misalign your cue at the connection points and render it unusable. A professional will never do it and neither should you.

It is a good idea to always keep your pool cue away from extreme temperatures, as these will also cause damage. High heat can warp the clear finish on your billiard cue or warp inlays.

When you get a new pool cue, or replace the tip, be sure to put it in. This means that you should only take smooth shots for as long as possible to accommodate it. Gentle, not hard, strokes will seat the tip properly. Ideally, your cue should have a stick on the tip. Your pool cue may have come with a screwed or screwed tip. Sticky tips are easier to replace when they wear out or if you just feel the need for a new one. Remove the old tip by carefully sliding a sharp knife between the tip and the dowel, then simply wipe the end of the dowel with a clean cloth or use sandpaper to make sure it’s really clean. Use some glue to gently press down on the new tip and then let it sit overnight to make sure it is fully attached. Using it too early can throw you off center and that won’t help you with your shots. Remember to accommodate your new tip after it is attached with only gentle strokes. Use a billiard cue tip scraper tool to gently loosen the grain from the leather tip and allow it to hold more chalk. Doing so will help your cue connect better and give you better results at the table.

Take care of your taco and he will take care of you.