Timber is what cues have been made from for two centuries, and it remains the choice of most serious players for one reason: feel. A timber cue has a warmth and responsiveness through the stroke that gives you real feedback on every shot.

The range covers the traditional timbers — ash for its straight grain and forgiving flex, maple for its stiffer, more powerful hit — alongside Australian jarrah and sheoak, which are denser again and produce a heavier, firmer cue with striking natural colour. Because grain is natural, every timber cue is individual. Two cues from the same batch will differ in figure and colour, which is part of why players become attached to a particular one.

Timber cues are also the most repairable. Tips, ferrules and even shafts can be replaced, so a good cue can stay in play for decades.