Escalade Sports Minnesota Fats Hustler High Tech Grip Graphite Cue

I purchased the Metallic Silver stick, and I love it so much, I'm about to purchase the Burgandy model as well. How much do I love it? I have to fight for it in my own house!While playing some games recently, several friends were over and were all using the cue sticks from my collection. Several of them are the fancy "name brand expensive high end" models you find online and in billiard halls, behind the counters locked up. After a few hours of letting them try my stick out (everyone loved the grey which is why they wanted to try), they fell in love with it.They loved how it felt, how clean the shooting was with it, and how perfectly straight it rolled. Keep in mind the cues they were using were straight as an arrow as well, nothing wrong with them. They kept swearing something about this stick made the game better for them. Asking for it back wasn't working, I had to beg for it back. Needless to say, that speaks a lot about this cue, more than I could say in a simple review.Some reviewers noted they expected a rubberized grip but didn't get one. I would say you wouldn't want a rubberized grip because over time it will wear out, and you don't want rubber bits on your hand while playing billiards, nor do you want the handle to get messed up. On that note, I wouldn't say the handle is rubberized, but it has some sort of texture to it which provides a confident grip, regardless of how you stroke the cue. For me, I three finger and pivot, and this cue handle works well for that. No fear of slipping or having my grip change alignment.Whether you're new to the sport, an average player, or on a pro level, you'll enjoy this stick.Unlike some fellow reviewers, I did not have any issue removing the stickers. I didn't find them overwhelming in number either, there were like 3 stickers, and they all came off without issue with no residue left behind. If any residue is left behind, you can simply wipe it off.PROS:* Graphite composition means it's highly resistant to damage/warping over time* The tip is really nice! It's a nickle tip for anyone curious, took about 10 games to "break in"* It rolls straight and sharp as a razor, probably the straightest cue under $200 I've seen* Stick and shot control is VERY predictable with this stick, feels better than wood variants* The "sanded" shaft feel is great and doesn't appear to be wearing away like wood variants* Simple, clean color* Great value, for the price you pay you get a great product~~~~ Update 2012/10/29 ~~~~I have about 35-40 games in on the current cue, still loving it!I just received my second one, this time I ordered the burgandy. Like the first, it was easy to open, assemble and peel the stickers off of. Also like the first, it's the straightest rolling cue under $200 I've ever seen! Awesome!

Decent stick, I got the 20 oz metallic silver one, which is actually more of a gray or charcoal in my opinion, but no big deal. My issues were the same with the stickers as other reviews above and I kind of wish I could get rid of the big "GRAPHITE" graphic that's on it, and the packaging (I bought this item at the same time as a case for the cue) was in a box about 4x larger than it needed to be that arrived from UPS open. I left packaging feedback recommending next time using a shipping tube to send it. When I took out the cue though and removed all the wrapping, the cue was fine even though it practically fell out of the box. I have played about 40-50 games with it now, and I do like the feel of it, including balance, weight, solidness, and the way it glides through my bridge hand (I think that's the graphite talking - probably won't ever need hand chalk), and it's straight as an arrow too. It does have a funny taper to it just after the joint on the tip end, and I did think the grip would be a little different, like maybe rubberized or something (seems more like paper wrapped around it instead), but it's fine overall. If you're a pro looking for perfection, be prepared to spend $200 minimum, and up to $500 or even more, but this cue will be just fine for anyone on the amateur to lower-mid level. I mostly just play in bars and small time tournaments, and it definitely beats any bar's house cue I've ever used.UPDATE (July 13, 2014) - I used this cue regularly with the original tip for about 1.5 years until my wife got me a $300 Cuetec cue for my 40th birthday. This Minnesota Fats cue did OK... The cue seems to have a plastic shrink wrapped type of "sheath" around it that the graphics are on. I discovered this after it fell a couple times in the bar and the sheath got a ding in it. I have since had it re-tipped with a phenolic (hard) tip and now use it exclusively as a break cue. I will say that after nearly 5 years now, having left it in my car a few times subjected to temperature changes, and the last 3.5 years using it as a break cue, it has held up remarkably well, and is still straight.

For an amateur pool player, this cue is perfect. It has a nice feel and balance to it and the grip is good too. Doesn't come with a carrying case, so keep that in mind if you're planning on taking it places to play.