Bumpers

A bumper — the rubber cap at the end of the butt — is the cheapest part of a cue and the one most often lost. It protects the floor and the cue itself when you stand it upright, and on many models it hides a socket for a weight bolt or an extension.

You replace it when the rubber hardens and starts knocking, or when it falls off in transport. There are two fittings: screw-in and push-on — check which one your cue has, as they are not interchangeable. Size is matched to the end diameter of the butt, usually a 12–14 mm thread on pool cues. While you are there, check whether the bumper hides a socket for an extension — if it does, the cue can be lengthened with no modification. See also butts and cue service.