Shafts

Snooker shafts are a different part from a pool shaft: the tip is 9–10.5 mm instead of 12–13 mm, the ferrule is brass, and the wood is almost always ash with clear arrow-shaped grain. A separate snooker shaft is bought for two reasons — when the old one is warped or sanded down after years of retipping, and when you want a spare for a 3/4 cue at a tournament.

Three things matter when buying: the joint type (3/4 and 1/2 are not interchangeable), tip diameter, and straightness — you check a shaft by rolling it across the cloth and watching for wobble. A shaft for an existing butt has to be chosen specifically, as grain and colour rarely match by chance. Ready sets are in complete cues, the whole section is snooker cues, and retipping or ferrule work is in cue service.