The first Meucci Pool Cues were developed in the late 1600s. The stick was topped with a large mace-like head that players would use to push balls into the pockets. The mace was not practical for precisely hitting balls positioned near rails, so players would turn the sticks around and use the handle, called a queue, an old French word for tail.
Modern pool sticks maintain the name cue, as well as the use of a smaller head. There is a myriad of pool cue manufacturers in the market today, but one has been at the forefront of the game for decades.
Meucci History
Bob Meucci began crafting cues in the early 1960s, before eventually starting his own company in 1969. He moved the business just outside Memphis, Tennessee, in the mid-70s before moving to Mississippi a few years later. Meucci pool cues have been made exclusively in Mississippi ever since.
Meucci is credited with being a pioneer in many aspects of cue making. He set the standard for using metal lathes to fashion cues over the more traditional wood lathes. Around 70 percent of money won in professional tournaments was won with a Meucci in the 70s and 80s.
Modern technology has leveled the playing field and leveled out the market dominance Meucci once held, but the cue manufacturer still enjoys great popularity among both amateur and professional pool players.
Top Modern Meucci Pool Cues
Meucci pool cues have always commanded a premium price. They were some of the first to have points made from Mother of Pearl, feature 14-carat gold inlay pictures, and pioneered new construction techniques.
Meucci offers a range of cue types, including specialty cues for jumping and breaking.
Select one-of-a-kind Meucci originals were some of the first cues to sell for five figures. These cues were made for celebrities such as the Prince of Brunei, Michael Jordan, and John Lennon. Certain vintage cues, such as the famous Meucci Taj Mahal, still command five figures on the rare occasion they hit the open market.
Cues available for retail today range from $425 to nearly $3,000.
Meucci Ultra Piston 1
Meucci has an exclusive deal with Budget Billiards to sell cues that feature Meucci quality, but at a more affordable price than the average Meucci cue. The least expensive of that line is the Meucci Ultra Piston 1. This cue retails for $425.
This clean and modern cue features lacewood points surrounded by a multicolored veneer and encased in an ivory white Power Piston butt.
Meucci BMC Glass Rose Black
This Bob Meucci Custom design uses rare Paua Shells and brass to provide superior quality and beauty for those wishing two own a usable work of art. The Meucci BMC Glass Rose Black retails for $1140.
The Glass Rose Black features a gorgeous Paua Shell floral design complemented with brass vine work. The Cream Irish Linen wrap contrasts with the intricate design in a way that helps showcase the cue’s key features.
BMC Diamond Cue
The BMC Diamond Cue was first available in 2010. It has spawned multiple exclusive variation limited runs in the past 12 years and is one of the more popular modern Meucci cues. This cue retails for $2845.
This cue features a striking Birdseye Maple stock inlaid with 60 diamonds. The cue also utilizes rare abalone shells, African ebony, cocobolo wood, and an intricate design that unites each rare material into a truly beautiful cue.
Skylar Woodward
Meucci does not boast the large pro stable it did in decades past, but their cues have been in the hands of more than one tournament winner in recent years. The most profitable Meucci-sponsored pro in recent years is Skylar Woodward.
Woodward was dominant in 2019. He earned more than $100,000 that year, with wins of $30,000 as a member of Team USA in Mosconi Cup XXVI and $20,000 as the Master of the Table of the 2019 Derby City Classic.
Meucci Pool Cues Today
Meucci pool cues are designed and manufactured in Byhalia, Mississippi. The facility is open to the public, and visitors are encouraged to view operations to see first-hand how their cues are constructed. Meucci crafts each stick on-site, from raw wood to finished product.
Bob Meucci is still active in operations, and many visitors are able to meet with him and discuss their favorite cues. He even offers lessons to those who wish to improve their game.
The Meucci name may be known by pool players all over the world, but business at home still feels like the family affair that it is.