McDermott has been building cues in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin since 1975. That matters. In an industry where “American-made” gets slapped on cues assembled from imported parts, McDermott actually manufactures here. Their wood comes from North American suppliers, their wraps are done in-house, and their warranty backs the whole thing for life.
But does any of that translate into a cue worth buying in 2026? Let’s break down every series they make.
Lucky Cues . The Entry Point
Price Range: $62 – $175 | Check Price on Amazon
If you’re buying your first real cue, start here. The Lucky series ships with a standard maple shaft and Irish linen wrap at a price that undercuts most competitors. At $62 for the base model, you’re getting a cue that hits straighter than anything off the wall rack at your local bar.
The catch? No frills. No low-deflection technology. No exotic woods. Just a solid, straight cue that does what it’s supposed to do. For casual players who shoot a few times a month, that’s plenty.
G-Series . The Mid-Range Workhorse
Price Range: $195 – $340 | Check Price on Amazon
This is where McDermott starts getting interesting. The G-Series ships with a G-Core shaft, which is their laminated maple construction designed to reduce deflection. It’s not carbon fiber, but it’s a real step up from a standard one-piece shaft.
The wraps are nicer, the inlay work is cleaner, and the balance feels more intentional. If you’re playing in a league or shooting regularly, the G-Series hits the sweet spot of performance without burning $700+.
Select Series . Stepping Up
Price Range: $695 – $1,350 | Check Price on Amazon
The Select Series is for players who care about aesthetics as much as performance. These cues feature exotic wood inlays, cleaner joint work, and come standard with your choice of shaft. The craftsmanship jumps noticeably from the G-Series. You can feel the weight distribution is more deliberate, and the finish work is closer to what you’d expect from a custom shop.
Is the jump from $340 to $700+ worth it? If you play three or more times a week and you notice the difference between shafts, yes. If you’re still working on your fundamentals, stick with the G-Series and invest the difference in table time.
H-Series . Performance First
Price Range: $750 – $2,100 | Check Price on Amazon
The H-Series is McDermott’s flagship playing line. Every cue ships with an i-Shaft (their top-tier low-deflection shaft, valued at $345 on its own). The construction quality here is about as good as production cues get. Tight tolerances, dead-straight shafts, and joint work that feels like it was fitted by hand.
At $2,100 for the top models, you’re in territory where custom cuemakers start competing for your money. The H-Series holds its own against most of them.
Shafts . Where the Real Performance Lives
McDermott makes three shaft options, and honestly, the shaft matters more than the butt for how a cue actually plays.
G-Core Shaft , Check Price on Amazon
The G-Core uses a triple-layer maple construction to reduce deflection. It’s the standard shaft on G-Series and above. For the money, it’s one of the better laminated maple shafts on the market.
Intimidator i-Shaft , Check Price on Amazon
Price Range: $420 – $5,000
The i-Shaft is McDermott’s answer to Predator’s Z series and OB’s Classic. It uses a radially-spliced maple core with a carbon fiber inner sleeve. Deflection is noticeably lower than the G-Core, and the feedback through the hit is crisp without feeling hollow. This is the shaft that comes standard on H-Series cues.
DEFY Carbon Fiber Shaft , Check Price on Amazon
Price Range: $455 – $465
McDermott’s full carbon fiber option. The DEFY uses SmacWrap technology (originally engineered for aerospace) to absorb vibrations and dampen sound. The result is a carbon shaft that doesn’t feel hollow or plasticky the way some competitors do. The coating on the outside minimizes friction, so it glides through your bridge hand the same way a wood shaft would.
If you’ve been curious about carbon fiber but hated the feel of other brands, the DEFY is worth trying.
Traditional All Maple Shaft , Check Price on Amazon
For players who want the classic feel. No lamination, no carbon, just a solid piece of hard rock maple turned on a lathe. Some players swear the feedback from a one-piece maple shaft is more honest than anything engineered. That’s not wrong. It’s just different.
Specialty Cues
Stinger Break/Jump Cues , Check Price on Amazon
Price Range: $420 – $1,090
McDermott’s Stinger line covers dedicated break cues and break/jump combos. The phenolic tips hit hard, the shafts are stiff by design, and the three-piece jump configuration actually works without feeling like a toy. At the higher end, the Stinger NG series is one of the better production break cues available.
Sledgehammer Break Cue — Check Price on Amazon
The name says it. This is a pure power break cue with a heavy butt and stiff shaft. If you want maximum ball spread on the break and don’t care about finesse, the Sledgehammer delivers.
Youth Cues — Check Price on Amazon
Price Range: $340 – $380
Shorter cues (48” and 52”) built for younger players. Same construction quality as the adult lines, just scaled down. If your kid is getting serious about pool, these beat cutting down a cheap bar cue by a mile.
The Bottom Line
McDermott builds honest cues at fair prices. They’re not the cheapest option in any category, and they’re not trying to be. The Lucky series competes well at the entry level, the G-Series punches above its weight in the $200-$350 range, and the H-Series with the i-Shaft is a legitimate high-performance cue.
The lifetime warranty is real. McDermott will fix or replace warped shafts, loose joints, and structural defects for as long as you own the cue. That’s not a marketing claim you can make if your manufacturing isn’t tight.
If you know what series fits your budget and your game, you won’t be disappointed.
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