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5 Best Budget Pool Cues (Best Options Under $150)

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If you are having difficulty hitting the cue ball or constantly scratching then it might be time to upgrade your pool sticks. One major issue with buying pool cues is how expensive they can be.

Professional grade pool cues can run into the multiple thousands of dollars and most of us don’t have that kind of money. Even pool cues designed for intermediates can run several hundred dollars each!

So I decided to create this article sharing my favorite budget-friendly pool cues. All of these pool cues that I will look at today are available for under $150. The second pool cue stick on this list will even be under $50!

I do want to point out before I begin the durability of these pool cues, their cue tips, etc. will vary depending on the brand and how much you spend on the cue. If you are spending $20-$40 on a pool cue don’t expect to get a lifetime warranty or a stick designed for advanced players.

Best Budget Pool Cues (Best Options Under $150)

Pool Table - Premium Billiard 32 Pieces Accessory Kit - Pool Cue Sticks Bridge Ball Sets

If you have a pool table then you need to get this accessory kit. It includes pool cues, extra pool balls, and all the gear you need to keep your pool table in tip-top shape.

If you are tired of your kids (or friends) ruining your good pool cue when they play then having these extra ones will keep that from happening (just be sure to hide your good one!).

My Pool Cue Top Picks

If you don’t want to read all about each of these pool cues then I will give my favorite budget pool cue before we even begin. I will also give you the cheapest option that I covered in this article.

Best Quality: Viking Valhalla 100 Series

This pool cue is stylish, budget-friendly, and has amazing quality! What is better than that?

Cheapest Pool Cue: Viper Graphstrike

If you want to get a decent-quality pool cue that won’t break the bank then this is the one for you.

5 Best Pool Cues For Your Budget

Below I will cover my five favorite quality pool cues that you can get on a budget. Each of these cues is available for purchase online and in most billiard stores. After giving some of the features of each budget pool cue I will also give what I do and don’t like about each cue.

Hopefully, that will make it a bit easier for your to decide which one is the best for you to purchase.

I will go in reverse order so if you want to see my absolute favorite pool cue on a budget just scroll down to number 1.

5. McDermott Lucky L9 19-21oz Pool Cue

McDermott Lucky L9 Pool Cue (20oz)

~Available in 19, 20, & 21oz

~13mm Tip Size

~3-Year Warranty

This pool cue from McDermott is a great choice if you are looking for a budget pool cue but still want quality at the same time. It is made with hard rock maple wood and comes with a walnut stain. If you aren’t a fan of the default weight of this cue (19 ounces) it also has adjustable weights.

So if you prefer a heavier or lighter cue you can easily make that adjustment on this pool cue.

This pool cue shaft has Irish linen wrap and is black with green specks (difficult to see in the picture above). It is a full-sized pool cue coming in at a length of 58″ long.

Warranty

This pool cue comes with a three-year warranty.

What I Like

I really like the quality of this stick as well as the budget-friendly price. Although this isn’t a premium pool cue you also don’t have to pay a premium price. This stick is good for beginners and is a great choice if you are just getting into the game or want to upgrade from the standard cheap pool cues that came with your pool table.

What I Don’t Like

The first thing that I didn’t like about this cue was that it doesn’t come with a case of any sort. That might be a bit nit-picky but with three kids, not having a case to store it in makes me worry a bit about it getting damaged or broken.

The other issue that I have had with this pool cue is that after using it for a while I feel like it started to warp a tiny bit. It also had vibrations when I use it on a break which I wasn’t a fan of.

Where To Purchase

This pool cue is available for purchase at a variety of local stores as well as online. Some of the different places that I would recommend checking the price for this model are:

4. Viper Graphstrike Pool Cue

Viper Graphstrike Fiberglass Graphite Composite Billiard/Pool Cue, 57-Inch, 2-Piece

~Constructed With Fiberglass

~Comes With A Leather Tip

~Limited 1-Year Warranty

This pool cue from Viper is one of the least expensive ones that I have put on this list. However, I feel like it is worth taking a look at if you are just starting out.

This poll cue from Viper is so inexpensive because it is made of fiberglass rather than actual wood like the McDermott pool cue I mentioned above. However, if you are brand new to pool that might not be a bad thing.

Having a fiberglass pool cue will allow you to be a little more carefree when playing and storing your cue as fiberglass is less likely to warp than a wood cue will be. So if you have younger children (like myself) then choosing a cheaper pool cue that will withstand some harder hits might be a good option for you.

Warranty

This Viper pool cue only has a one-year warranty.

What I Like

The first thing that I like about this pool cue is its budget-friendly price. At less than half the cost of the McDermott cue, this stick is a bargain. This pool cue is considerably better than the standard cues that come with most pool tables so it is certainly an upgrade.

I liked the weight of the cue. The feel of it is a bit different than a standard wooden stick but not in a bad way.
I also like how straight it stays despite some misuse from my children. If you have kids this is a great cue to get for them to use as they learn the game.

What I Don’t Like

Since this is a cheap pool cue the quality will reflect that. I had a lot of issues with vibrations and even had tip issues after just a few weeks of use. Since they offer a one-year warranty I was able to get the cue replaced but that is a lot of hassle to go through.

If I were to do it all over again I would recommend going for a higher-quality cue as you will be much happier with it over the long term in my opinion.

Where To Purchase

There are a few different online stores that I would recommend checking the price on for this pool cue. Prices can vary depending on the time of year so checking each place is always worth the time in my opinion.

3. Collapsar R Series Pool Cue

Cpllapsar COLLAPSAR R Series 58Inch 2-Pieces Maple Billiard Pool Cue Stick PU Grip (Black, 19.5OZ)

Available in 19, 19.5, 20, 20.5 OZ

Made with Hard Canadian Maple Wood

1 Year Warranty

The next pool cue that I want to cover is the Collapsar R Series. This two-piece pool cue has a leather wrap and a leather tip. This pool cue comes with white and black paint/design on it as well as a rubber number on the bottom (to protect it).

The grip on this pool cue is very nice to help you make those shots that you have been missing. This two-piece cue will help take your game to the next level especially when you compare it to the standard cues that get warped incredibly easily.

Having the option to choose the weight for this cue was nice as I’m not a fan of heavier cues.

Warranty

This pool cue has a one-year warranty on it.

What I Like

The first thing that I liked about this pool cue is the style. I like the way that it is painted and the design really stands out when compared with the bland pool sticks that I was using. The maple shaft has held up well so far which I like of course.

What I Don’t Like

One thing that I really don’t like about this cue is that the pool cue tips are glued on instead of screwed on. That makes changing the tip quite a bit more difficult and when this tip comes off more work is required to attach a new one.

Since this is a cheap cue stick the tip just came off after just a couple of months of use as well. Since it was a glue-on tip it was a hassle to reattach a new one as well.

Where To Purchase

This pool cue is available in a variety of online stores. Some of the best prices that I have found for this model are at:

2. Player’s S-PSPC Sneaky Pete Cue

Players S-PSPC Cocobola and Maple Sneaky Pete Cue, 19-Ounce

13mm Premium Le Pro Leather Tip

Wood-To-Wood Joints with 5/16 x 18 Pin 

Lifetime Warranty

This is the most expensive pool cue on this list. Although it is still budget-friendly and won’t break the bank too badly it isn’t a cheap option.

This pool cue is made of North American maple wood and is a massive step up from standard one-piece cues. It has a rubber bumper on the butt to protect from drops or hits and is a great choice for intermediate players.

I would say that this is the best pool stick that I tested in this price range by quite a bit. This high-quality pool cue won’t disappoint and if you plan on playing pool for many years to come it is worth the cost in my opinion.

Warranty

This pool cue comes with a lifetime warranty as does the high-impact ferrule on top of this cue. This lifetime warranty even covers your cue against warpage.

What I Like

I like the pro taper that this pool cue has as well as how smoothly it seems to glide through my hand. The cheaper cues often get stuck which ends up causing a miscue but I have never had that issue with this cue.

The manufacturer’s lifetime warranty is a great bonus as it is the best one on this list. You will find lifetime warranties on the more expensive pool cues ($500+) but it is rare to find such a good warranty in this price range.

What I Don’t Like

Truthfully I love this pool cue and it is by far my favorite on this list. There are really only two small things that I don’t like about it and that is the price and design.

I would prefer to have such a nice pool cue look nicer and less like the standard cheap cues. The other thing is that this cue is a little pricy. However, it is still budget-friendly (although not as budget-friendly as the other cues on this list).

Where To Purchase

Prices on this pool cue can vary quite a bit so I would recommend checking out the pricing on each of the sites below before making your purchase decision. Some of the places I checked are:

1. Viking Valhalla 100 Series Pool Cue

Viking Valhalla 100 Series with Irish Linen Wrap 2 Piece 58” Pool Cue Stick VA120 (18oz, Mahogany)

Two-Piece Design with Stainless Steel Threaded Joint

9 Unique Colors/Designs To Choose From

Lifetime Warranty

This Viking Valhalla 100 series is an absolute gem. The quality is top-of-the-line and it absolutely looks stunning. This pool cue offers 9 different color choices so you can have the perfect cue that matches your personality.

Currently, the color choices for the Viking Valhalla are:

  • Autumn Orange
  • Black
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Mahogany
  • Pink
  • Purple
  • Red
  • White

All of these amazing designs make this cue my favorite on this list of budget pool cues. I love how stylish these cues are and they don’t skimp on the quality just because they look nice either.

This cue allows me to add the perfect amount of “English” onto my shot and I love how it feels in my hand. When compared to the cheaper cues on this list… yeah there really just isn’t any comparison.

Surprisingly I was able to get this pool cue a bit cheaper than the Sneaky Pete cue above which was a deal in my book.

Viking makes many different pool cues with price points of several hundred dollars. But this budget-friendly option gives you all the benefits of a high-quality manufacturer without spending that much money.

Warranty

This pool cue comes with a lifetime warranty including against warping.

What I Like

As you could probably tell from above I absolutely love the design and color options of this pool cue. I also love the lifetime warranty and the fact that this well-known brand sells this cue at such a budget-friendly price.

What I Don’t Like

Honestly, I like everything about this pool cue. The only negative I see is that it doesn’t come with a case but hey, they can be purchased separately if you need one (like I do).

Where To Purchase

This pool cue is available at a variety of retailers. The ones that I checked prices out online before purchasing were:

Final Thoughts

All of these pool cues are a great choice and are budget-friendly. If you are willing to spend a little bit of extra money I wholeheartedly recommend the Viking Valhall cue.

It is stylish, you can choose which color you want and the quality is second to none at this price point.

If you aren’t sure that you will be playing pool for a while and don’t want to spring for a premium pool cue then I would recommend getting the Viper Graphstrike as it is the cheapest option that I purchased. It is important to note that the Viper Graphstrike will be significantly lower in quality than the Viking cue but at less than half the price that should be expected.