There can be. I've known custom cuemakers who have built very specialized cues to exacting specs from their customer. Things like color, design, materials, things that might distract the player or reflect the light wrong, or any other number of different variables...

I used to play pool in Ventura, CA at Stiix Billiards. Jerry McWorter lives right down the road a piece, and would come in with his cues, in various stages of build, in order to test them. His cues and prices:

One of the most expensive cues on the planet is valued at OVER $100,000 and is made with over 1,000 pieces of whalebone inlayed into the cue. I wouldn't even touch something like that with my bare hands, let alone play pool with it.

 

My friend dragged me along to some tournament in Sac once. I actually saw Mike Massey there. That was cool.

 

this is off topic and i hope the OP doesn't mind but i've been playing pool a lot this past year (with friends, not serious) and have thought about spending a few hundred dollars on a cue. I'm hoping to not spend over $300 (the cheaper the better).. any recommendations for a beginner? please don't hurt me.

anyway bump for you sir!

 

Check your school and see if they can get whole sale rates on cues and stuff. I know UCD does. I see the signs up all over the arcade (arcade is right outside of the pool room).

 

thanks Roo

 

I played Mike Massey back in the 90's and BEAT him! I got pictures in some pool magazine put out by the APA..

 

Cool beans, but isn't he typically known for being a artistic billiards player? Like jumping the ball off the table into a boot. I've never seen him in person before then. I remember my friend pointing him out and I was like really?? Like... you see him on tv and all, but when you see him in person, you really realize that he is pretty tall. At least that is what I remember.

 

December Bump