Pool cues come in a variety of different lengths, weights, styles, and configurations. Each part of the cue plays a crucial role in how it performs and how it feels in your hands. However, one of the most crucial areas of the cue is the wrap, or lack thereof.
Lots of players like playing with a wrapped cue. And there are just as many who prefer no wrap at all. So which is better, wrap or no wrap?
In this case, neither one is better than the other. It all comes down to personal preference. If you play with a wrapless cue and it works great for you, you wont gain any benefit from switching to a cue with a wrap and vice versa.
Both wrapped and wrapless cues have some merit behind them. And if you’re unfamiliar with the pros and cons behind wrapped and wrapless cues, hopefully this article will help you out. Im going to share with you everything you need to know about wrapped and wrapless cues so you can decide which is right for you.
Wrapless Cues
When most of us think about wrapless cues, we instantly think about bar room or pool hall cues. Nothing special or fancy about them, just plain ol cues.
While it is true that most public pool halls stock their racks with wrapless cues, that doesn’t mean that all wrapless cues are cheap or ugly. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth.
A lot of high end cues come with no wrap at all. One reason is to show off more of the artwork that goes into the butt of the cue. If theres no wrap on the cue, then theres more room to display all the intricate artwork that goes into the making of a high end pool cue.
Wrapless cues aren’t only of cosmetic value, however. There is a functional purpose to them as well. Contrary to popular belief, wrapless cues actually have a very good grip to them. Thats because the butt of the cue isn’t made the same as the shaft.
Pool cue shafts are made to be slick so they glide through your bridge hand easily. This is essential to playing pool at your best. The butt of the cue, however, is typically coated with a high gloss protective finish. This finish provides the butt of the cue with a fair amount of grip which is sufficient for lots of players, but not for all.
Lots of players prefer playing with a wrapless cue because the grip it provides is more than enough for their needs. If you’re hands dont sweat much when you play, or you just like being able to see more artwork in the butt of a cue, then a wrapless cue may be a good fit for you.
Wrapped Cues
Most of us deal with sweaty hands, at least somewhat, when we play pool. Thats why the majority of pool cues have a wrap and why there are so many different kinds of wraps available. Thats also why some players wear a glove on their bridge hand or use hand chalk: to combat the effects of sweaty hands.
But gloves only help with your bridge hand and hand chalk can be messy. Thats why, if you have sweaty hands when you play pool, its important to find a pool cue wrap that works well for you.
Different Types of Wrap
A lot of what you see on a pool cue is purely cosmetic with the exception of the wrap. There are many different types of wraps, all offering different levels of grip and moisture reduction. Below we’ll go over some of the most common wraps so you can decide which one may be a good fit for you.
Rubber Wrap
If your hands sweat a lot, then a rubber wrap is probably your best bet. Rubber wraps are the best in terms of their “grippiness” and because of this, they are the perfect choice for players with sweaty hands. They’re also perfect for break cues where lots of power and control are required. The only downside to rubber wraps is that you can lose a little bit of control on finesse shots because of the amount of grip they provide.
Leather
Leather wraps are the perfect wrap for the majority of pool players. They offer plenty of grip and control, and are considered to be in between rubber and Irish Linen in terms of grip. There are two different types of leather wrap: stacked leather and standard leather. They both offer good grip but there are some differences.
Stacked leather is installed on the pool cue in strips, almost like Irish Linen. If installed properly, it feels like standard leather. Stacked leather, because of how its installed, allows for more colors and patterns than standard leather. Standard leather is more like the leather you see on a vehicle seat or a wallet. Its a bit smoother and doesn’t have as much texture as stacked leather. Both stacked and standard leather wraps offer a fair amount of grip but stacked leather offers just a bit more.
Irish Linen
Irish Linen wrap offer the least amount of grip than any other wrap available. If you have sweaty hands, then you should probably avoid Irish Linen and opt for leather or rubber instead. Irish Linen is better suited for players who like to play with finesse and need a wrap that allows the cue to be manipulated more easily. This type of wrap is better for shots that require more accuracy than power and therefore aren’t the best choice for break cues.
Conclusion
Whether you like a wrapped or wrapless pool cue really comes down to personal preference. There are pros and cons of both. Determining which style you like will take some trial and error. That’s why its best to play with multiple pool cues, ones that are wrapped and not wrapped, before you buy one for yourself.
Just remember that if you play with a cue with no wrap, it still has plenty of grip to it and it better displays any artwork on the butt of the cue. Cues with a wrap have different levels of grip and moisture reduction and should be chosen carefully. I hope this article has been helpful. Thanks for reading!
