What Cue Does Mark Selby Use?
Short answer: Mark Selby’s best-known cue was made by Stamford Cuemakers, the Lincolnshire workshop of Paul and Lewis Roberts, around 2006. He used it for roughly a decade, including world title wins, and had it restored rather than replaced when it showed its age. His cue is reported to have a 9.5mm tip.
| Spec | What we know |
|---|---|
| Maker | Stamford Cuemakers (Paul and Lewis Roberts) |
| Length | Reported as 58 inches, attributed to the maker on The Snooker Forum; not independently confirmed |
| Weight | Reported as around 17¾ oz on the same forum thread; not independently confirmed |
| Tip | 9.5mm (Hamilton Billiards) |
| Joint | Not publicly documented |
| Source confidence | Medium on maker and tip; low on length and weight |
A cue built in Lincolnshire
Selby is from Leicester, and his cue came from not far away. According to a profile of Stamford Cuemakers, the father-and-son team built his cue around 2006 and it stayed in his case for about ten years. That is a long relationship by modern standards, and it says a lot about how much a player of Selby’s style values consistency.
On The Snooker Forum, a post attributed to Paul Roberts gives the cue as 58 inches with a 9.5mm tip and a weight of around 17¾ oz. We could not verify that post directly, so treat those figures as indicative. The 9.5mm tip is independently mentioned by Hamilton Billiards.
Restored, not replaced
After Selby’s second world title in 2016 the cue needed attention. The ferrule had worn down and the shaft carried the marks of years at the top of the game. Rather than start again, Stamford restored it to its original specification. For a player whose game is built on feel, keeping the cue he knew was the obvious choice.
Replica and licensed “Mark Selby” cues are widely sold by BCE and others, typically in North American ash with a 9.5mm tip. Those are mass-produced cues bearing his name rather than copies of the Stamford original, but they reflect the same basic recipe.
How the cue suits his game
Selby is the complete match player: patient, tactically ruthless and exceptional at getting out of trouble. That style rewards touch and control over raw power. A 9.5mm tip on a medium-weight ash cue is a classic all-round set-up that offers precise cue-ball control for safety play while still allowing plenty of side and screw when he needs to score.
Why a player keeps one cue for a decade
Selby’s long relationship with a single cue is typical of the most consistent players in the game. When you know exactly how a cue responds, you can judge pace and spin by feel, which is vital in the long safety battles Selby is known for. Changing cue means relearning those small judgements, and a match player has little to gain from that.
The 2016 restoration shows the other side of the story. Professional cues take a beating. Ferrules wear, shafts pick up chalk and marks, and tips need regular replacement. A good cue maker can restore a cue without changing its character, which is why top players often return to the workshop that built their cue rather than buying a new one.
What the 9.5mm tip means
A 9.5mm tip is the middle ground in snooker. Smaller tips give a slightly finer contact point and suit players who want precise cue-ball control; larger tips offer a bigger contact area and can feel more forgiving. At 9.5mm, Selby’s set-up is the configuration most club players will find comfortable straight away, which is one reason licensed Selby cues are popular as first serious cues.
A note on replica cues
Licensed Selby cues from BCE and others are usually one-piece or ¾-jointed ash cues with a 9.5mm tip, sold in sets with a case. They are decent value, but check straightness and weight before you buy, as production cues vary more than handmade ones.
Match play and the right set-up
Selby is at his best in long, tense frames where a single safety shot decides the outcome. In those situations the cue has to deliver exactly the pace the player intends, time after time. That is why consistency of feel matters more to a player like him than any single specification. For club players who enjoy the tactical side of the game, the lesson is to choose a cue that feels predictable on soft shots, not just one that feels powerful when you hit the ball hard. Try gentle stun and roll shots when you test a cue, not only long pots.
Want a cue like Mark Selby’s?
If you like to grind out frames and control the table, a Selby-style set-up is a sensible target:
- North American ash, medium weight. Around 17–18 oz suits most players. This explainer covers whether a 17, 18 or 19 oz cue is right for you.
- A 9.5mm tip. It is the most common professional size for good reason, balancing control with enough contact for spin.
- Care that makes a cue last. Selby’s cue survived a decade because it was looked after and restored. Our snooker cue maintenance guide shows how. When you are ready to buy, compare ash snooker cues at Best Snooker Cue.
Frequently asked questions
Who made Mark Selby’s cue?
Mark Selby’s long-serving cue was made around 2006 by Stamford Cuemakers, the Lincolnshire workshop run by Paul and Lewis Roberts. He used it for about a decade, including world title wins, and had it restored by the same workshop after 2016.
What tip size does Mark Selby use?
Mark Selby’s cue is reported to use a 9.5mm tip, a figure mentioned by Hamilton Billiards and in a forum post attributed to his cue maker. It is the most common tip size among professional snooker players and a sensible default for club players.
Is a Mark Selby BCE cue the same as his real cue?
No. BCE and other brands sell licensed Mark Selby cues, usually in ash with a 9.5mm tip. They carry his name and a similar recipe, but they are mass-produced and are not copies of the handmade Stamford cue he actually played with.
