Large diameter cue shafts:

If you get a large diameter pool cue shaft, like a 12.9 mm shaft, that means you have a large surface (the cue tip) hitting the cue ball. Thanks to the greater amount of surface area on a large-diameter pool cue shaft, you’ll get more contact with the cue ball, and it’s likely that you’ll pocket balls more often.

The drawback to large diameter pool cue shafts is that you’ll get less spin overall. So larger-diameter pool cue shafts will generate less English, and hence less Draw.

Small diameter cue shafts:

If you get a small diameter pool cue shaft, like an 11.8 mm shaft, you have a smaller point of contact with the cue ball, so with small diameter pool cue shafts it’s likely you’ll miss shot more often due to the smaller surface area of the cue tip.

A positive aspect to small-diameter pool cue shafts is that you’ll get a lot more spin. In general, a small diameter pool cue shaft will generate more English and more Draw.

Summarizing cue shaft diameters:

• If you want more control and if you want to pocket balls more often, get the bigger diameter pool cue shaft.
• If you want more spin, at the risk of missing more often, get the smaller pool cue shaft.

We have a lot of pool cue shafts for sale here at Billiards Direct, so you’re sure to find the right shaft diameter for your play style. If you have questions about pool cue shaft diameters, please ask your shaft diameter questions in the comments below.