Search "Maximus Cues" and you won't find a workshop website with a founder's story on it — you'll find the brand's cues stocked by specialist retailers across the UK, and its name attached to two of the biggest events in women's snooker. That's the pattern with several of Thailand's cue makers: the profile is built through who plays the cues and who stocks them, rather than through a polished maker's-own website. Maximus is one of the country's most established names in that

Most cue makers who supply top players learned the trade at a lathe. Sunny Akani learned it at the table. Akani Songsermsawad started playing snooker at eight, turned professional in 2015, and still competes on the tour while running a cue-making business from Bangkok. That combination is the heart of his pitch: he builds cues the way a player thinks about them, and he has been noticed at the very top of the game. One British tabloid, in coverage quoted on his own site, credi

When Mark Selby lifted the World Championship trophy for the second time in May 2016, the cue in his hands needed work before he could pick it up again. The ferrule had worn down from years of use, the shaft showed the marks of a title-winning run, and the people who fixed it were the same family who'd built the cue for him a decade earlier: Stamford Cuemakers, working out of a small Lincolnshire workshop that most of the sport has never heard of. That's the pattern with the

When most players think about upgrading their cue, a handful of names dominate the conversation — Peradon, John Parris, the bigger production houses that supply pro shops and sponsor televised events. But snooker has always had a quieter, more personal tradition running alongside the major brands: the independent snooker cue maker, working alone or in a small team, turning out cues one at a time rather than by the thousand. These smaller outfits rarely have the marketing budg

Robin Cook runs Robin Cues from Carlby, a small village near Stamford in Lincolnshire, England — and despite operating well outside the spotlight enjoyed by some of the bigger-name English cue makers, he's built one of the most loyal followings of any independent snooker cue maker. Cook has been making, repairing and altering snooker, billiards and pool cues for over 30 years, working entirely to individual customer specification from carefully selected timbers. What Players

While the UK dominates the world of independent snooker cue making, Kevin De Roo has built a strong reputation from the other side of the Atlantic, working out of Vancouver, Canada under the Deroo Cues name. He's frequently recommended in cue-sports forums as one of the go-to names for players outside the UK looking for genuinely handmade, professional-quality snooker cues — with a client base that reportedly extends across Asia as well as North America. What Sets Deroo Cues

Mike Wooldridge is one of the most talked-about independent snooker cue makers in the UK, operating out of his workshop and selling under the HandMadeCues banner. His cues are built entirely to order, using ash shafts as standard — Wooldridge has been vocal about preferring ash over maple for the feel it gives players, though maple is available on request through his custom design process. The Cue Range Wooldridge's catalogue runs across several named lines, each aimed at a d

Walk into most snooker clubs and you'll see racks of cues that all came from the same handful of factories. But look closely at the cue in a top player's hand, or ask a serious league player where theirs came from, and you'll usually get a name, not a brand. Someone in a workshop. Someone who spliced that shaft by hand. That's the part of snooker that doesn't show up on a scoreboard: an almost entirely private, word-of-mouth craft, kept alive by a genuinely small number of pe

If you've spent any time around a snooker table, you've probably held a Peradon without even realising it. Founded in 1885, Peradon is the oldest cue manufacturer in the world. Their cues are a staple in clubs, pub leagues, and pro players' collections alike. This guide breaks down who they are, what they make, and which range suits your game and budget. A Quick History of Peradon Peradon has been hand-crafting cues from their factory in Liverpool since 1885. They were the fi

Stepping up from a house cue to your own is one of the best upgrades a club or pub league player can make — and you don't need to spend a fortune to feel the difference. This guide walks through the best snooker cues under £200. What £200 Gets You At this price point, you're typically looking at solid ash cues from established manufacturers — brands like Peradon, Riley/BCE, and John Parris all make well-regarded cues in this range. You won't get hand-spliced joints or premium

Picking a new cue is one of those decisions that feels bigger than it is. Walk into any cue shop, or scroll through an online range, and you'll be faced with dozens of weights, tip sizes, splices and finishes — all promising to transform your game. The truth is simpler: the right cue is the one that fits your hand, your stance, and the way you actually play. Here's some tips on how to choose the right snooker cue Start With Length and Weight Most full-size snooker cues sit ar

If you've spent any time researching the best snooker cue brands, one name keeps coming up among professionals and collectors alike: John Parris. While there are dozens of cue makers competing for attention, Parris Cues has built a reputation over four decades that few can match. For anyone trying to find the best snooker cues for their game, understanding what makes Parris cues special is a great place to start. From Repair Bench to Reputation: The John Parris Story John Par

When the snooker season reaches its peak, all eyes turn to the World Championship. It’s the moment every player dreams of and every fan eagerly awaits. But before the first ball is struck, there’s one crucial piece of the puzzle that sets the stage: the snooker championship fixtures. Understanding the draw is key to following the tournament closely and appreciating the drama as it unfolds. In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the snooker champ

Buying your first snooker cue is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a new player. Walk into any sports shop or browse online and you'll quickly find yourself overwhelmed by choices — ash or maple, one-piece or two-piece, 57 inches or 58 inches, tip size, weight, splice pattern. This guide cuts through the noise. We'll explain exactly what matters for a beginner, what you can safely ignore for now, and which cues represent the best value in 2026. Do You Even Ne

Whether you're stepping up to the table for the first time or looking to upgrade your game, choosing the right snooker cue brand can make a world of difference. With dozens of manufacturers competing for your attention — and your money — knowing which brands actually deliver quality is essential. In this guide, we break down the best snooker cue brands in 2026, covering everything from entry-level options to the hand-crafted cues trusted by professionals on the World Snooker

Snooker is a sport built on precision, control, and consistency. While skill is the most important factor on the table, the equipment players use also plays a major role in performance. Among all pieces of equipment, snooker cues are the most important. Every shot, safety exchange, and break-building effort relies on the feel and accuracy of the cue. Many players buy cues without understanding how they are actually made. However, the manufacturing process behind modern snooke

When investing in a snooker table, choosing the right brand is critical. The best tables deliver consistent ball roll, professional-grade cushions, and long-term durability—whether you're building a home setup or outfitting a club. Below are the top 3 snooker table brands in the world, trusted by professionals and serious players. 1. Xingpai (Star Snooker) – The Professional Standard 🔗 https://www.xingpaibilliards.com/ If you’ve ever watched the World Snooker Championship, y

As of 2026, Ronnie O’Sullivan continues to use a custom-made snooker cue designed by fellow professional Sunny Akani. This partnership began around the 2025 Shanghai Masters and has carried through into 2026. O’Sullivan has stuck with Akani’s craftsmanship after finding the consistency and feel he had been searching for. Unlike earlier in his career, where his cue choice remained stable for years, this newer setup reflects a more experimental phase. Here, performance and feel

Snooker has a rich history filled with legendary players, iconic moments, and incredible displays of skill. For many fans, the love of the game goes far beyond watching tournaments — it becomes part of their lifestyle. This is where snooker merchandise comes in. From professional equipment to stylish apparel, snooker merchandise allows fans to celebrate the sport both on and off the table. Whether you're a competitive player or someone who enjoys watching the drama unfold at

Not every snooker shirt stands out. The best snooker tee combines a few important elements. 1. A Design That Means Something The best designs are rooted in the history of the sport. One of the most iconic numbers in snooker is 147 — the maximum possible break in a single frame. Any serious snooker fan instantly recognises what this number represents. A maximum break requires potting every red with a black and then clearing the colours, achieving a perfect score of 147 points.