The 8 Best Pool Cue Racks
Editor's Notes
July 30, 2021:
Unfortunately, we had to remove one of our favorite models from Iszy Billiards due to poor long-term durability. We also couldn't track down any more NCAA-themed options, so that one's been nixed as well. The rest of our recommendations are still great choices, though, with premium floor-standing options like the Ram Gameroom Products 24-Inch and Iszy Billiards Floor Stand. There are also plenty of high-end wall-mounted options such as the Fairview Game Rooms Signature, while the Outlaw Standard 6 Pool Cue is about as straightforward and affordable as they get.
May 04, 2020:
While most of our previous selections managed to make it through this round of updates, we did remove the Rush Creek Creations Rustic Log due to availability issues, and eliminated the Cuestix Q Claw 5-Cue Holder in order to make room for selections that better fit the category. Our new inclusions this time around are the Wave NCAA Hanging Holder – a basic model aimed at fans of college sports, and the Iszy Billiards 10 Stick Set – a freestanding model with a tempered glass shelf that offers a great place to put your drink while you’re shooting.
A few things to think about for this category:
Freestanding vs. Wall Mounted: Wall-mounted options – like the Fairview Game Rooms Signature and Hathaway Classic – have the advantage of taking up minimal space and having no footprint, which is nice if you don’t have much room around your pool table, but their permanent installation will require some careful consideration, as their hardware will leave your wall blemished, if ever you decide to relocate them. In addition to this, some models – like the Iszy Billiards 6 Stick Wall Rack, which is designed to hang from hooks similar to the hardware you hang a picture frame from – are known to be unstable, and thereby demand that users demonstrate an abundance of caution while playing around them, which can be a pain.
Freestanding models like the Iszy Billiards 10 Stick Set and Iszy Billiards Floor Stand have the advantage of being reasonably portable, since they don’t require permanent installation. They tend to take up more space than wall-mounted options, but in some cases – as with the Iszy Billiards 10 Stick Set, which features a tempered glass shelf – this can be nice, as it affords you a convenient place to put down a drink or a score card while you’re shooting. If a freestanding model sounds appealing to you, but space is limited in your game area, a slighter model like the Ram Gameroom Products 24-Inch might be of interest to you.
Cue Capacity: This might seem like an obvious consideration, but make sure that you select a model that can accommodate all your pool cues. While large models like the Iszy Billiards 10 Stick Set and Hathaway Classic have provisions for 10 cues, others like the Iszy Billiards Floor Stand and Hathaway Vintage Wall Rack can store eight. Small racks like the Outlaw Standard 6 Pool Cue and Ram Gameroom Products 24-Inch only have space for six cues. The Trademark Games 12 Cue sports a simple design, and out of any of our selections accommodates the most cues, with a dozen-cue capacity.
Additional Storage: While simple options – like the Outlaw Standard 6 Pool Cue and Wave NCAA Hanging Holder – have feature-bare designs with space for little else besides their prescribed number of cues, other offerings – like the Iszy Billiards 6 Stick Wall Rack and Fairview Game Rooms Signature – have designs that can accommodate a full set of pool balls. The Iszy Billiards Floor Stand and Iszy Billiards 10 Stick Set even have ample room to put down your drink glass while you’re playing.
Choosing Your Rack
Really, the main concerns you'll need to weigh when choosing a pool cue rack come down to mainly two: size and style.
Since pool cue racks vary widely, from the simplest of holders to fancy carts that hold cues, balls, and more, you might be wondering how you can be expected to choose. Really, the main concerns you'll need to weigh when choosing a pool cue rack come down to mainly two: size and style. Cover these two considerations, and the rack you select should serve you well for years to come.
The first, size, is likely to be your number one concern, because if the rack does not fit your space, it won't do you much good. If you have a gargantuan hall, of course, this isn't as much of an issue, but if you've got a smaller room, you'll need to do some measuring or strategizing. For a truly microscopic space, your best bet will most likely be a wall-mounting rack, a type that comes in varying lengths and usually holds between six and 12 cue sticks. For a larger room, a stand-type rack may be appropriate, especially since these might even save space by collecting all your pool implements together compactly.
Once you've determined the size (and therefore style) that will be appropriate, it's time to consider how the rack will fit your decor. The majority use wood construction, but the type of wood and finish color vary greatly, from light blond to dark mahogany and even black. When choosing, you might consider how the rack will look against your flooring, walls, and pool table. Do you want it to match? Complement? Or are you going for a more eclectic look? Do the shape and finish need to fit a certain style, perhaps rustic or modern? Imagine how the rack will harmonize with the entirety of the room. This can be tough, but if you've got computer image manipulation skills (or have a kid who does), you could even create a mock-up using pictures of various racks in order to get a better feel for your potential choices.
Types Of Pool Cues
Pool cue racks come in a wide variety of styles, woods, and sizes, but the pool cues you'll put in it are more likely to conform to certain long-established specifications. Tradition isn't the only reason for these similarities; the established differences between cues make each better for one type of billiards or another, or more appropriate for certain players and situations.
A butt might also be wrapped in leather or linen, a choice that comes down to feel and grip.
For example, when it comes to construction, most pool cue shafts use maple, while those for snooker are largely made from ash wood. The butt (the part you hold), on the other hand, might feature any one of a variety of woods, such as zebrawood, holly, or bocote, with some becoming quite pricey. A butt might also be wrapped in leather or linen, a choice that comes down to feel and grip.
You'll also notice that a common choice for pool cues is between one- and two-piece versions. Neither one is inherently better, but there are some plusses to two-piece cues that give them a slight edge for some serious pool players. For one thing, they're more easily transportable, and for another, they allow for interchangeability, whether for a desired effect or because one piece has been damaged. And while it's true that one-piece cues have a reputation for being cheaper (you'll see poor-quality versions in pool halls across the world), there are plenty of worthy, well-balanced versions available today.
Pool cues vary in size, as well, which covers the length, weight, and tip diameter. Size choices partly relate to the type of billiards you'll play; snooker cues are generally lighter and smaller, while American cues are bigger with a thicker tip (which makes sense, as the balls used for snooker are smaller). Further sizing differences depend on the player and will be determined by his or her physical size, strength, and preferences.
A Pool Shark By Any Other Name
If you're buying your own pool cue rack, you might be serious about becoming the best pool player you can be. Perhaps you want to have the best equipment as well as the ability to run a table. Some might even say they want to become pool sharks, meaning someone who is the best player in the room, the person who's admired for his skills from english to massé. Interestingly, though, the term "pool shark" has long been negative, as it has traditionally meant someone who does not engage in good sportsmanship and may even be a cheater.
One well-known form of shifty behavior in pool is hustling.
One well-known form of shifty behavior in pool is hustling. Even if you know little about pool, you're probably familiar with how hustling works from the movies, such as "The Hustler," "The Color of Money," and "Poolhall Junkies." Broadly speaking, hustlers attempt to con their competition into believing that they aren't all that good at pool, often by playing a few games for low stakes and losing. This lulls the competition into a false sense of security; the hustler then ups the stakes and wins, since she had the skills all along. This unsportsmanlike conduct (which is both a con and cheating) is referred to as pool sharking as well as hustling; if you tell someone you want to become a pool shark, you may be broadcasting your intention to cheat your fellow players.
Pool sharking isn't only about out-and-out fleecing, though. Sometimes it's just poor conduct with the intent of throwing off your opponent. Such behavior includes talking loudly while the other player is attempting to shoot, repeatedly demanding that the other player re-rack, and fidgeting with the cue, chalk, and everything else in the room to create a distraction. While some of these behaviors can be called out, pool sharks may attempt to be subtle and even refuse to own up to what they're doing (they might say they had no idea they were being disruptive, for instance). Sharking fellow players in this manner is certainly one way to gain a reputation, but it's not one that most people would desire. It's better to work on becoming an 'A' player instead.