Checkout the SPM review of the iCue training cueball https://youtu.be/rFvNbCJ5Nfc #iCue #SneakyPeteMafia #icueclinic #PoolSchool #GarretTroop #billiardequipment #sneakypetemafiamagazine #Reviews

#1 Best selling author Steven H. Gifford afforded me the opportunity to interview him today. He has a lot to say about pool and has been a driving motivator and leader throughout his life, writer, pool player, Marine, and USA patriot. I have just downloaded Gifford’s book entitled, ‘Final Expense Boot Camp: Earn Your Stripes Today,’ and have gleaned some insight into the man behind ‘Top Shots,’ and so many other upcoming books on the game of pocket billiards & pool. The first

Billiards is a game of skill. Pocket billiards the game of choice for so many in the US and worldwide. Players invest in nice cues that sometimes cost thousands of dollars. Some types of tip chalk costs twenty-plus dollars a piece. Sure, it’s great to have nice things, but ultimately pool is about how well one plays the game. Respect is earned by a players skill, ability to run out, make shots, win — not by how much his or her pool cue cost. Some say, “the game is the teac

In this industry we are all looking for that competitive edge. In the end your stroke and creativity on the table is the only thing that will separate you. With that being said the equipment that you choose to put in your case and on your cue really defines what you’re capable of doing on the table. The tip has the most contact with the cue ball. So tip contact is important. The brand Taom chalk has been in the industry for a while now and is always making improvements i

“I’ve paid my dues Time after time. I’ve done my sentence But committed no crime. And bad mistakes‒ I’ve made a few. I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face But I’ve come through… We are the champions, my friends. And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end. We are the champions. We are the champions. No time for losers ‘Cause we are the champions of the world.” –MERCURY, FREDERICK. The Mosconi Cup 2018 between Europe, and 13 other countries and the US just concluded

There are a lot of different styles of breaking cues appearing on the market today. Some are lighter than others and it really depends on your style and stroke as to what is best for the player. For those of you that like the forward weighted breaking cues there are some options. The idea is that the forward weight stabilizes the stroke. The Pechauer Black Ice takes that idea and puts it into this new cue. They infused the maple shaft with four chemicals to treat the shaf

Roku is another high quality chalk manufactured by Kamui. It was released in July 2018. I had an opportunity to get a pre-release version of this chalk back in April, which is the basis for this review. The pre-release version I reviewed is exactly the same as the official production released version of the chalk. The Roku chalk is another in the line of premium chalks. These premium chalks such as Kamui Roku or Great White are quite a bit more expensive than standard chalks

The Kamui brand has always stood for excellence in quality and craftsmanship. The new Kamui Roku is a new line of chalk on the market that is turning heads with looks of interest and skepticism. The chalk it self has a new look and feel to it. The new Hexagon shape that Kamui has chosen just feels right in your hands. The chalk feels a lot stiffer and harder to apply; it takes many swipes or brushings to apply it correctly. Once applied the chalk sticks to the tip with a diff

I just sat down with the guys of Gaijin Custom Cues, and they want to make a cue to suit you. Robby, Marshall, and Josh are just typical southern guys with a love of the game of pool and non-traditional design. They have a simple philosophy, each of us has a natural stroke and the closer a cue is taylored to the player, the closer the player can stay to the stroke they were born with. Armed with this simple idea, Gaijin Customs was formed. Multiple veneers in the points in v

When I first walked into Mafia Mike’s pool hall, a semi-circle layout of tables, evenly measured out in a big open space, thriving with light and vigor a pool Oasis — the place was alive and thriving with people playing pool. It was like coming home. I felt at ease — at one with the game. The pool arena exudes pool, and opens up into a room awash with green. Mafia Mike’s pool hall is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google — but I rate it a 5. It’s a small place, but has a big

NO BULL! James Hanshew Jump cue First, of I have to say that is was a pleasure working with James. As far as a cue maker goes he is on my top 10 list for quality. I had the pleasure of doing this product review on his jump cue. I honestly have started to classify jump cues in two different areas. There are normal cues which are for an array of shots but generally not for the super close up shots. Then there is the specialty cue like the Marty Carry, Dr. Popper, Black Magic,

Years ago you kicked, banked or found your way around problem balls on the table. In today’s pool playing society, there are so many options and everyone has their own spin on things. I recently had the wonderful opportunity to test the Dr. Popper Jump Cue. I have tested many cues and jump cues alike. I have honestly found there to be a few different categories; some cue’s crossover and some don’t. With that being said, there are what I would call specialty jump cues like thi

I recently had the pleasure of doing a product review on the new McDermott glove. I have to first off start by saying that I have used many different gloves and finger sliders recently. McDermott has been a leader in cues for many years and this is a newer product launch for them. The glove comes in its own box and ready to go on and be played with. The mesh on the underside is really breathable and allows it to stretch to fit the size of your hands. For those who are weari

This specialty jump cue is made out of cored carbon fiber. The shaft is a conical taper down to a 9mm diameter; the tip is a G10 ferrule that flares out. The cue is six ounces and lifts the cue ball very well. The reason I say that it is a specialty jump cue is that the weight of the cue and overall construction of it is designed for very close jump shots. It takes a little different stroke to get lift off the table, but once you learn that stroke it’s easy to apply it. The c

I have been working with Viking the past year, and I am pleased to announce that I have tried all of their shafts (as you may have read.) The V-Pro is a standard maple shaft that can be cut or extended to meet the needs of the player. It has a firm, stiff feel like many maple shafts do. I would definitely recommend any and all levels of player to deal with Viking. They have really gone out of their way to make a quality product that people of any skill level can come to appre

I have to say that every shaft has it’s own personality. And with that being said, you must find the right shaft to match the personality you have on the table. The more and more I learn about the properties of low deflection the more I see how much companies put into their work into making Super shafts. I have looked into the work and spoken with the Jacoby team and I have to say that this shaft is epic! The look and feel of this light weight low deflection shaft compares to

Hi! Dakotah Schmidtknecht here to do a review of the Viking exact shot shaft. First off, I’m no pro-shooter—I’m a VNEA B-level shooter from Wisconsin with too much time on my hands. I’ve been taught how to test for deflection by Brandon Jacoby of Jacoby Custom Cues. I tested this shaft much like I tested the last one: on seven, eight, and nine-foot tables. The Viking eXact Shot shaft is available to purchase in several pins, including 5/16” x 18 quick release, 5/16 x 18 full

There seems to be a great debate in pool today with regard to the use of specialty cues for specialty shots. There are those amongst us who may not see a need to carry a separate stick for a jump or a break shot. The argument might be that Earl Strickland does not advocate the short jump stick, or that Shane Van Boening does not need a separate break cue. Those people would be correct—if you are the best in the world you will have a likelihood of winning even when placing you

I was pleased to receive the cue from Viking eXactShot XRZR two days earlier than they said I would get it. The unveiling of the cue was a task as it was very well protected. They also put many other little goodies into the box—it was nice to see a company offer more than what was purchased. Opening the box, I was trying to figure out how this cue was different or better than others on the market. A point I have brought up in past reviews is the quality of the finish—or the l

This story begins with a heated debate regarding the merits of Low Deflection pool cue shafts and the various companies that create them. This debate normally centers around two main companies: Predator serves as one of the first companies to make a commercially successful LD shaft, and OB—a company out of Texas that has a highly engineered product that is reknown to produce a softer feel. As this debate rages on, other companies are mentioned. Due to the educated nature of t