Pool Cue News and Review

Overview:

McDermott’s ode to the Irish, the Dubliner features 12 inlaid malachite shamrocks in recon ivory diamonds. For good measure, they included a black Irish linen wrap with green flecks. The cue features a composite joint which provides a more fluid hit than steel jointed McDermott cues.

The Specs:

Tip: 13mm Medium-hard Triangle Tip
Ferrule: Glued and screwed, Ivorine III
Shaft: 29″ hardrock maple, 10-12″ pro taper
Collar: Impact Control Ring made from a proprietary Polymer Matrix Composite
Joint: Composite
Pin: 3/8 x 10 Stainless Steel
Forearm: Birdseye maple with six green Malachite shamrock inlays in Ivory diamonds in a recon ebony ring
Rings: 12 german nickel silver rings
Wrap: Black Irish Linen Wrap with green specks
Sleeve: Birdseye maple with six green Malachite shamrock inlays in Ivory diamonds in a recon ebony ring
Plate: White with McDermott emblem
Bumper: Black rubber

Pros:

This is a truly stunning pool cue. The picture above really doesn’t do it justice as the malachite inlays are a much nicer shade of green in person than what is being displayed on websites. There are some better pictures of it at the McDermott Website. It plays well, as do most McDermott cues. There’s the lifetime warranty against warping and defects, as there is for all McDermott cues, so that is a huge plus.

The Cons:

The biggest downer for this cue is the price. McDermott has an MSRP of $429 and most sites that have the cue are selling it in the $340 range. If we were talking about emerald inlays or a cue with some dramatic inlaid points to go along with the shamrocks I could understand the price, but 350-400 bucks for this cue seems a bit on the high side for this cue. The fact that the ivory is “recon” ivory is a bit of a downer as well. Recon is short for “Recycled Content”, meaning we really have no idea if the ivory is real ivory, bone ivory or faux ivory.

The Bottom Line:

The Dubliner is a beautiful cue, albeit a bit simple for the price. As it is a Cue of the Month, it is assumed that this will be a limited run cue, so if you like it, you better grab one before they get discontinued.

Where To Buy:

www.pooldawg.com

McDermott MG02 - Genesis Series - Titanium Color

Overview: This is your standard base model McDermott. No frills, and I really mean no frills with this cue. You’ve got a black stained maple cue with an Irish Linen wrap. No inalys, no points, no designs. Just a plain jane black cue. The cue has the standard McDermott features: Triangle tip, Impact Control Ring, Ivorine ferrule, etc.

The Specs:

Tip: 13mm Medium-hard Triangle Tip
Ferrule: Glued and screwed, Ivorine III
Shaft: 29″ hardrock maple, 10-12″ pro taper, French cue wax coating
Collar: Impact Control Ring made from a proprietary Polymer Matrix Composite
Joint: Composite
Pin: 3/8 x 10 Stainless Steel
Forearm: Black stained maple
Rings: None
Wrap: Irish Linen Wrap
Sleeve: Black stained maple
Plate: Black with McDermott emblem
Bumper: Black rubber

The Pros:

The price is right. If you’re looking for a McDermott under $200, the Genesis series is the way to go. The tip is an upgrade from the standard Le Pro tip that most cues use. The biggest positive with the cue however is the warranty. McDermott has a lifetime warranty on al their cues for defects and warping. Assuming you like how it plays, you’re looking at a cue that’s going to last a long time.

The Cons:

In a word, boring. I’m not one who has the need to carry around a really fancy stick but a plain black stick is a bit too bland for me. Other than the design, there’s not much bad to say about this cue. McDermott makes a good cue stick.

The Bottom Line:

With the MG02, you’ve got yourself a very solid pool stick. From a feel standpoint, it has a composite collar, so its not quite as fluid as a wood to wood, but there’s more feel than with a steel joint. If you’re ok with having a really boring looking cue and you’re on a budget, this is going to be a good choice.

Where to Buy:

www.PoolDawg.com