What Cue Does John Higgins Use?
Short answer: John Higgins plays with a GBL Vanquish cue supplied through Green Baize and modified to his specification by cue maker Raymond Cohen. It replaced his long-serving cue, known as Exquisite 388. After a Ton Praram cue he tried was damaged in transit from Saudi Arabia, Higgins went back to the GBL and made his 1000th career century with it in September 2024.
| Spec | What we know |
|---|---|
| Maker | GBL Vanquish, supplied by Green Baize and modified by Raymond Cohen |
| Length | Not confirmed; fan sites claim a short cue of around 55–56 inches |
| Weight | Not confirmed; the modification included a slight weight adjustment |
| Tip | Not confirmed; fan sites report around 9.75mm |
| Joint | Base joint changed to fit his extensions (Green Baize) |
| Source confidence | High on maker and history; low on measurements |
From Exquisite 388 to GBL Vanquish
Higgins is famously particular about his cue. According to Green Baize, when he needed to replace his long-time cue, Exquisite 388, Stu Green worked directly with him to find a shaft with the right grain pattern, flex and colour of ash. The chosen GBL Vanquish was then altered by cue maker Raymond Cohen to match Higgins’s exact specification: four lower cocobolo splices, a slight adjustment to the weight, and a new base joint so that it would fit his existing extensions.
Higgins gave Exquisite 388 back to Cohen to keep, a nice touch for a cue that had enjoyed a great run in his career.
A damaged cue and a 1000th century
Higgins has also experimented. Green Baize reports that he tried a Ton Praram cue, the Thai brand used by several professionals, but it was damaged in transit on the way back from Saudi Arabia. He returned to his GBL Vanquish, and with it made his milestone 1000th century at the 2024 English Open in September, becoming only the second player after Ronnie O’Sullivan to reach that mark.
What about the specs?
Several fan and equipment sites describe Higgins’s cue as unusually short, around 55–56 inches, with a tapered butt and a tip of about 9.75mm. Those details come up often enough to be plausible, but we could not trace them to Higgins, Green Baize or his cue maker, so we list them as unconfirmed.
How the cue suits his game
Higgins is one of the greatest all-round players the game has seen, with a compact, repeatable action and superb tactical judgement. A shorter cue suits a player who stands close to the table with a tight stance, and the attention to shaft flex and grain shows how much he relies on consistent feedback through the cue.
Why Higgins cares about grain and flex
The detail in the Green Baize account is revealing. Higgins did not ask for a particular weight or length first; he asked for a shaft with the right grain pattern, flex and colour of ash. Grain affects how straight and stable a shaft stays over time, while flex influences how the cue feels through the ball, especially on softer shots and screw. For a player whose game relies on touch and tactical precision, those qualities matter more than headline numbers.
The cocobolo splices were not just decoration. Changing the woods in the butt alters the balance point and weight, which is why the modification was paired with a slight weight adjustment.
Extensions and joints
Higgins had the joint on his new cue changed so that his existing extensions would fit. It is an easy detail to overlook when buying a cue. Extensions are not always interchangeable between brands, and a professional who has spent years getting used to particular extensions will not want to change them along with the cue.
The cost of travel
Higgins’s damaged Ton Praram cue joins a long list of professional cues broken or lost in transit, alongside Luca Brecel’s lost world-title cue and Mark Allen’s easyJet saga. Top players now travel to China, the Middle East and Europe every season, and cues suffer. It is one reason many carry a back-up.
Before you buy: test like a pro
Higgins’s search for a new cue is a good template. Rather than choosing from a catalogue, he and Green Baize went through shafts to find the right grain and flex, then fine-tuned the weight and joint. You can do a simpler version. Roll a cue on a flat table to check it is straight, look along the shaft for even, straight grain, and feel where it balances in your hand. Then hit a range of shots, including soft ones. A cue that feels right on delicate positional shots is usually a better match than one that only impresses on power shots.
Want a cue like John Higgins’s?
- Pay attention to the shaft. Grain, flex and wood choice shape how a cue feels. This guide on how snooker cues are made explains what cue makers look for.
- Think about joints and extensions together. Higgins had his joint changed so his extensions would fit. Our explainer on snooker cue joints covers the options.
- Protect it when you travel. Higgins lost a cue to transit damage. A proper hard case is cheap insurance; see how to choose a cue case.
Frequently asked questions
What cue does John Higgins use?
John Higgins uses a GBL Vanquish cue supplied by Green Baize and modified by cue maker Raymond Cohen with cocobolo splices, a slight weight change and a new joint to fit his extensions. It replaced his long-serving cue, known as Exquisite 388.
What happened to John Higgins’s Ton Praram cue?
According to Green Baize, a Ton Praram cue that Higgins had been using was damaged in transit on the way back from Saudi Arabia. He went back to his GBL Vanquish and made his 1000th career century with it at the 2024 English Open.
How long is John Higgins’s cue?
Fan sites often describe it as short, around 55–56 inches, but we could not confirm that figure with Higgins or his cue suppliers. The confirmed details are the maker, the modifications, the weight adjustment and the joint change for his extensions.
