There is still a good stretch of summer left, and a lot of those hot afternoons end up indoors. Pool is one of the best ways to spend them together: it is simple, everyone can play, and it beats another round of screens. And you do not need a table at home to do it. Plenty of families play at spots around town, which we will get to.
Wherever you end up playing, one thing makes the biggest difference in getting kids into it: a cue that actually fits. A full-size 57 to 58 inch cue is too long and too heavy for a smaller player to control, and a kid who keeps miscueing gets frustrated and wanders off. A junior cue fixes that in an afternoon.
Same game, sized for them
A junior cue is just a shorter, lighter version of a regular two-piece cue. It plays the same, it just fits a smaller frame so a kid can line up a shot, follow through, and actually make a ball. That first made ball is usually the moment they are hooked.
How to size a junior cue
Junior cues generally come in two lengths. Here is a rough guide:
- 48 inch: best for younger kids, roughly ages 5 to 9, or up to about four and a half feet tall.
- 52 inch: a good in-between for roughly ages 9 to 13, or a taller younger kid.
- Full 57 to 58 inch: most kids have grown into a standard cue by their mid teens.
On weight, lighter is friendlier. Many junior cues land around 16 to 18 ounces, which is easier for a kid to swing smoothly than the 19 to 21 ounce cues adults tend to use. If you are between sizes, go by the child's height and reach more than their age. When in doubt, tell us how tall they are and we will get it right.
Why their own cue matters
Do not underestimate how much a kid lights up over a cue that is actually theirs. A junior cue they can handle, kept in their own case, turns pool from a grown-up thing they watch into a game they cannot wait to play. It is the kind of thing they show their friends. Ownership is half the fun, and it is what gets them back to the table on their own.
No table at home? Here is where to play
Most families do not have a pool table at home, and you do not need one to get your kid started. Almost every city has family-friendly tables you can play on, and bringing your own cue makes it better, since the house cues at these places are usually beat up and mismatched. Look for a table at:
- Family entertainment centers and arcades. The big chains and your local family fun center usually have a few tables.
- Bowling alleys. A lot of them keep pool tables near the lanes.
- Community and recreation centers. City rec centers and community centers often have an open game room.
- The YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs. Many have tables and youth programs built around them.
- Libraries and teen centers. Some have a game area in their teen or community space.
- Your clubhouse. If you live in an apartment community or HOA with a clubhouse, there is a good chance there is a table sitting mostly unused.
If your child really takes to it, look up a local youth or junior pool league. A lot of areas run them, and they are a great way to keep a kid improving and meeting other players.
Already have a table? You are probably missing one thing
If you have a table at home, your starter kit almost certainly came with full-length cues and no junior cue, because they never come in the box. So the junior cue is usually the one piece you are missing, and it is about the cheapest upgrade to family time you can make. If you are still thinking about a table, this is a good reason to stop thinking about it before the school year swallows everyone's schedule.
Make it the summer thing
The best part is that it is the same activity for everyone. You are not refereeing a kids game while you do something else, you are all playing the same game on a hot afternoon that would otherwise be screens and boredom. Set up a quick tournament, play teams, or just knock the balls around. It adds up to real time together, which is the whole point.
Getting your kid a cue
Two easy ways to do it. If you already have cues, just grab a junior cue on its own, that is the one piece your kit is missing. And if you are buying a cue for yourself at the same time, add the junior cue for the kids at 50% off. Either way, you have one more player at the table this summer, at home or wherever you find one.
Shop the gear
Grab a junior cue on its own for the kids, or browse our pool cues and add a junior at 50% off when you buy one for yourself. Junior sizes move in and out of stock, so text or call us at (970) 419-0816 with your child's height and we will get the right length and weight. Free shipping on orders over $50, or pick up at our Fort Collins showroom.