-------------------------------EDIT:After owning this for about 2 years, I can say that it has served me well. I had to clean it for the first time 4 months ago, and used 1100-1500 grit sandpaper to sand the unlacquered part of the cue. It was starting to turn blue from chalk and lost its smoothness, but after cleaning, it was back to new again.I've noticed on some shots, the top half of the cue bounces or "deflects". High end or "low deflection" cues do not have this problem, but they cost $300+; this is not a low-deflection cue. That has caused me to lose some accuracy on a few of my shots in the past year, but since I'm not playing at a career level, those shots did not hurt my game.Trying out $1000 cues this past year, I must say the Irish linen wrap on this surpasses any of them. No other cue matches the feel and durability of this wrap. Furthermore, I did end up wedging paper in the butt of the cue to hold in the rubber piece. It has not fallen out or moved since I did that a year ago.Additionally, the cue hasn't warped at all in the time that I owned it. I still stand by my recommendation, and I do not plan on getting rid of this cue anytime soon.-------------------------------I'm new to the game of pool, but experienced enough to finally have wanted my own cue. This is an excellent cue, and I think I will never need to purchase another.PROS:"Irish linen-wrapped" may not mean anything to you just like it didn't for me, but once you hold it in your hand, it makes a world of difference. Easy to grip, even during those tense moments during a match where the crowd is watching and your palms start sweating. The linen-wrap holds your grip well, and lets you complete your shot with confidence."Lifetime warranty" against warping. This was a huge plus for me, knowing that I have the manufacturer standing by their product against any defects. That kind of commitment to any product shows me it is a company worth buying from.The looks. The crimson color, contrasted by the black linen handle and polished metal base all say one thing "I'm here, and I mean business. This is my pool table buck-o, watch out."The top half of the stick is not coated in lacquer like the bottom part; it is sanded and smoothed so that the cue may glide smoothly across your hand without sticking. (I have played with cues that are lacquered all the way to the top, and it caused me to miss some of my shots).CONS:The rubber bumper on the bottom of the cue occasionally falls out. Not a big problem, I may just stuff some paper in between it and the wood to hold it in place. Could just be a bad rubber piece, since cheap parts like those often vary in size from manufacturing; nothing bad about that.SUMMARY:For the price, some people would call it an investment; I'd call it a good investment. It may be the only pool cue you'll ever need to buy, and at the price, you get quite a lot of quality compared to some of the very expensive cues.
