Cue thread: Discovered while playing billiards

We’re always on the lookout for interesting details in unexpected places. This time around, we stumbled upon something fascinating within the world of billiards—cue threads. As snooker continues to gain popularity as a professional sport, and billiard tables become a common sight in pubs and sports bars, chances are you’ve tried your hand at this game. But did you ever stop to think about where the thread fits into the picture of billiards?

The billiard thread is cleverly concealed. While seasoned players might already know what we’re referring to, beginners might not realize its presence. Here’s a little clue: it’s actually in the cue.

Far from being just a simple long wooden stick, the cue is a highly intricate piece of sports equipment designed to suit each player’s unique style. While some cues are crafted as single rods, they’re rarely seen in competitive play. Most cues can be broadly divided into two main sections—the upper part and the lower part. The upper part focuses on precision, with the tip of the cue, known as the pomeranze, being the key component. Made of leather, the pomeranze is the part that directly contacts the ball. It sits snugly on the ferrule, which serves as a buffer to absorb shock. The shaft, which connects the pomeranze to the player’s fingers, makes up the rest of the upper section.

The lower part of the cue is designed to offer a firm grip. Often wrapped with a grip band, it ends with a butt cap. Between the upper and lower parts lies the joint, where the two sections are joined. And guess what’s inside that joint? That’s right—the cue threads.

Billiard Cue Threads: The Anatomy of a Cue

If you think of a cue as nothing more than a plain wooden rod, you’ll likely offend die-hard billiards enthusiasts. In reality, it’s a complex piece of equipment whose features can be customized to match the player’s preferences. While some cues are built as one solid piece, they are seldom used in serious games.

Most cues can be split into two distinct parts—the upper and the lower. The upper part is all about precision. The cue tip, or pomeranze, is typically made of leather and is the part that interacts directly with the ball. This tip is seated on the ferrule, which acts as a shock absorber. The rest of the upper part consists of the shaft, which the player holds between their fingers during gameplay.

The lower part of the cue is designed to ensure a firm grip. It may include a grip band and is finished off with a butt cap. Sandwiched between the upper and lower parts is the joint, where the two pieces are connected. And guess what? That’s where the cue threads are located.

The Role of Cue Threads

The primary function of cue threads is to join the upper and lower parts of the cue. However, threads also play a role in other areas of the cue. Let’s explore where they come into play.

Adjusting the Length of the Cue

Thanks to cue threads, players can easily disassemble their cues for transportation. This is particularly convenient since cues tend to be long and unwieldy. By breaking down the cue into smaller parts, it becomes much easier to carry. Additionally, cue threads allow players to swap out different components.

These threads cater to the varying demands of different billiard variants. For instance, in snooker, the playing table is much larger than in traditional pool. This can make it challenging for players to reach the cue ball effectively. To address this, players often use bridge cues, which act as supports. Alternatively, they can extend their cues using cue threads. Various extensions can be screwed onto the cue, making it adaptable to different situations. Even if you’re not a professional with an entire collection of cues in various lengths and designs, cue threads enable you to modify the cue to fit your needs.

The reverse is also true. For certain trick shots, a shorter cue is required. Special cues exist for this purpose, where the rear portion can be unscrewed using cue threads. Voila! You’re now equipped for a skillful jump shot.

Threads at the Tip

The pomeranze sees a lot of action in billiards since it’s the part that directly touches the ball. Naturally, it wears out over time and requires periodic replacement. Many manufacturers use adhesive connections for this, while others opt for screw connections. Depending on the design, you might even encounter cue threads at the tip of your cue.

Threads at the Butt Cap

The butt cap at the end of the cue plays a crucial role in weight distribution, which influences the overall feel of the game. Players can fine-tune the weight by adjusting weight screws hidden beneath the butt cap. Using cue threads, these screws can be removed or replaced to personalize the weight according to individual preferences. At many manufacturers, the butt cap itself is attached to the cue via threads.

Types of Cue Threads in Billiards

Here’s where things get a bit tricky. There isn’t just one type of cue thread; instead, there’s a bewildering variety of thread types and standards used by different manufacturers. Most of the time, these are based on inch measurements. For the joint threads, you’ll usually find details about the thread types in the manufacturer’s specifications. However, this limits your options when selecting individual components—you can’t mix and match freely.

As for materials, there’s no set rule. Cue threads can be made of plastic, wood, metal, or any other imaginable material used in cue construction. Sometimes the bolt with the external thread is placed on the upper part, while other times it’s on the lower part.

Besides traditional screw threads, some cues feature quick-release connections. These threads have fewer cuts, allowing for faster replacements.

Unfortunately, we can’t offer a universal guideline for cue threads. However, we can answer almost any question about thread taps. Feel free to reach out to our customer service for further assistance! In our BAER online store, you’ll find tools for all common thread types.