*How much do I have to spend to get a good cue? You can spend as little as $50 and as much as $800 and be just as happy with both cues. *Players & Adrenaline brand of pool cues are the best for under $100. Why? -The shafts are all hard rock maple -Double pressed Irish linen wraps -High Gloss Super UV Finish -Pro Taper with Lepro Tips -A special high impact ferrule -Guaranteed 100% staight *A players cue that is $50 is just as good of quality and playability as the $90 players the only change is the visual. The more design the higher the price but that does not mean it plays any better. The same goes for all the other brands, there more inexpensive model usually just has less inlay. *For cues under $100 you are usually looking at decal not inlay. It is the inlay work that bumps up the price of the cue. *If you are looking for american made you want to look at Mcdermott, Viking, Joss, Schon, Pechauer, and Meucci. *For cues between $100 and $200 the best sellers are Mcdermott, Viking, Lucasi and 5280. The main difference is that for that price the Mcdermott and Viking will not have as much inlay as the Lucasi and 5280. Lucasi's and 5280's are able to have more inlay for the money because they are made overseas. All are excellent quality. *If you are looking for a fiberglass or graphite pool cue Scorpion and Cuetec are your best bet. They are warp and dent resistant and are comparably priced. *If you are looking for unique cues with a flare for the wild Stealth is right up your alley. There dooley handle which prevents you from squeezing the handle to tightly is not on any other brand of cue. They are always coming up with inventive ideas. *Panther cues do something that other production cues do not do except for a couple Meucci models. That is they give a free xshaft. The quality and the looks of the Panthers is that of a $600 cue for half the price. Definetly worth looking at.