So there’s this excellent site called Cuezilla that goes to task rating cues.  If the panel finds them to be divine, they’re deemed “monsters”.  Otherwise, they’re mere “mortals”.  What you’ll notice when you check out the site though (which I highly recommend btw), is that every pool cue he rates is extremely high end custom stuff.  Perfect for the JimBo Army type crowd, but for a guy like me, let’s just say I’ve got a better shot at meeting Frank Black than putting my hands on a Richard Black.

Because I have zero originality, I’m going to riff off this, just like I did with my buddy Poolriah.  Plus, I want to get back to reviewing cues a little.  The rules?  It has to be production and in many cases its gonna be made over in the land of Szechuan Pork (although I’m kicking it off with a cue made in the good old US of A).  Instead of having a panel of experts, it will be one guy who demonstrates on a regular basis that he knows zilch about this business – me!  If it rocks, Godzilla.  If it rots, Mothra (since Mothra gets his ass trucked by Godzilla all the time).

What better place to start than with one of my old playing cues – the Joss 16 pool cue.

Why it rocks:

  • Stiff hit
  • Classic look
  • Beautiful birdseye in the forearm
  • Traditional ebony points
  • Elegant notched mother of pearl inlays above and below the wrap

Why it rots:

  • chumptastic Triangle tip

Final Verdict:

This is the LBD of the Joss cue line.  Classic, hella sexy and looks good in the hands of anyone who picks it up.  Oh, and it plays pretty nice too.