What Cue Does Neil Robertson Use?
Short answer: Neil Robertson plays with a John Parris Classic cue, and has done since he was 15 years old, according to Hamilton Billiards. The Australian former world champion is one of the most loyal cue users on tour. Its exact length, weight and tip size have not been publicly documented.
| Spec | What we know |
|---|---|
| Maker | John Parris, Classic model (Hamilton Billiards) |
| Length | Not publicly documented |
| Weight | Not publicly documented |
| Tip | Not publicly documented |
| Joint | Not publicly documented |
| Source confidence | High on the maker; specs unknown |
One cue since the age of 15
Hamilton Billiards, answering fans’ questions about Robertson, states simply that he has been using a John Parris Classic cue since he was 15. That puts the partnership back to his junior days in Melbourne, long before he moved to England and won the 2010 World Championship.
Parris cues are handmade in London, and the workshop also supplies Judd Trump and has long been linked with Ronnie O’Sullivan. The Classic is one of Parris’s traditional designs: ash shaft, ebony butt and a conventional taper, rather than anything experimental.
What we do not know
Unlike some players, Robertson has not published his specifications, and we could not find a reliable source for the length, weight or tip size of his current cue. Plenty of sites quote numbers, but none that we could trace to Robertson or to Parris. Rather than repeat guesses, we would point to what is typical for a player of his build and style: a cue in the 57–58 inch range, a medium weight of around 17½–18 oz and a tip of 9.5–10mm.
How the cue suits his game
Robertson is one of the heaviest scorers in history and the first player to make 100 centuries in a single season. His cue action is long, straight and powerful, and he is known for screwing the cue ball the length of the table. That style depends on a cue he trusts completely, and his decades with the same maker say everything about how much he values familiarity.
There is a lesson in that for club players. Changing cues constantly makes it hard to build a repeatable action. Finding a cue that suits you and sticking with it is often worth more than any upgrade.
The value of loyalty to one maker
Staying with one maker for more than two decades has practical advantages. When a cue needs work, or a replacement has to be built, a maker who knows the player can match the balance, taper and feel of the original far more closely than a stranger could. For a player like Robertson, whose game depends on long, fast, straight cueing, that continuity is worth a great deal.
It also means Robertson has never had to relearn his cue in the middle of his career, something that has cost other players months of form.
Power and the long follow-through
Robertson generates exceptional power with a smooth, extended follow-through rather than a short, punchy stroke. That style tends to suit a cue with a fairly stiff shaft and a tip that grips well, so the cue ball reacts even when he is playing at pace. Club players who try to copy his power with a flexible or poorly tipped cue often find the cue ball skids rather than screws back.
Traditional design still wins
There is a lot of marketing around new materials and technologies in cues. Robertson’s career is a reminder that a traditional ash and ebony cue, well made and well maintained, is still good enough to win the World Championship and to set scoring records. The key is quality of manufacture and a straight shaft, not novelty.
What a Parris Classic is
John Parris offers a range of models, and the Classic is one of the traditional designs in that range. Like most professional snooker cues, Parris cues use an ash shaft spliced into a hardwood butt, finished by hand and balanced to the customer’s preference. Waiting lists for handmade cues from well-known makers can be long, which is another reason players who find the right cue tend to keep it. For a club player, a handmade cue is a serious investment, and it is worth playing with a quality production cue first to learn what length, weight and balance you prefer before commissioning one.
Want a cue like Neil Robertson’s?
- Choose a traditional, well-made ash cue and give yourself time to learn it. You can compare traditional ash snooker cues from entry level upwards.
- Decide on one-piece or jointed. A one-piece cue offers a pure feel, while a ¾-jointed cue is easier to transport. This comparison of three-quarter versus one-piece cues sets out the trade-offs.
- Buy with the long term in mind. A cue you keep for years should be checked for straightness before you buy. Here is how to check a snooker cue is straight.
Frequently asked questions
What cue does Neil Robertson use?
Neil Robertson uses a John Parris Classic cue, handmade in London. According to Hamilton Billiards he has used a Parris Classic since he was 15, which makes it one of the longest and most consistent cue partnerships anywhere in professional snooker.
What are Neil Robertson’s cue specs?
Robertson’s exact length, weight and tip size have not been published by him or by John Parris, so we cannot confirm them. For a player of his style, a cue of around 57–58 inches and 17½–18 oz with a 9.5–10mm tip would be typical.
Is John Parris a good cue maker?
John Parris is one of the most respected snooker cue makers in the world. His handmade cues have been used by several world champions, including Neil Robertson and Judd Trump, and his workshop has long been associated with Ronnie O’Sullivan.
