What Cue Does Stephen Hendry Use?
Short answer: Stephen Hendry won all seven of his world titles with a Powerglide cue (a Rex Williams-branded model, often described as the Powerglide Connoisseur) that his father bought him for about £40 when he was 14. That cue was broken in an aircraft luggage hold in September 2003. Reports at the time say his first replacement was made by John Parris, and he later tried other cues, including an Acuerate.
Stephen Hendry’s cue at a glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maker | Powerglide (Rex Williams-branded), machine-made |
| Length | Not publicly documented |
| Weight | Not publicly documented |
| Tip | Not publicly documented |
| Joint | Not publicly documented |
| Source confidence | High for the maker, price and 2003 breakage; specs undocumented |
The £40 cue that won seven world titles
There may be no better story in snooker equipment. Hendry started using a Rex Williams-branded Powerglide cue at 14, and stayed with it through the most dominant career of the modern era. It was a mass-produced cue that cost around £40, and with it he won seven World Championships between 1990 and 1999.
It is the ultimate proof that talent, practice and familiarity count for far more than price. Hendry’s cue was not hand-spliced by a master craftsman; it was the cue he knew, and that was enough.
Broken in the hold: September 2003
After the 11 September 2001 attacks, airlines stopped allowing players to carry cues into the cabin, so cues had to travel in the hold. In September 2003, returning to Scotland from a tournament in Thailand, Hendry’s cue was broken in the luggage hold of his flight. Sources describe it as damaged beyond repair.
Finding a replacement was not straightforward. Contemporary reports say Hendry went through several attempts before settling on a cue made by John Parris, and that on its debut he lost 5-3 to Michael Holt. Parris admitted to fearing the worst when Hendry went behind, but Hendry said afterwards that the cue had played well. Forum records from later years also show him trying an Acuerate cue, a brand marketed for low deflection, at a World Championship. None of these later cues ever became as iconic as the Powerglide.
How the cue suited Hendry’s game
Hendry revolutionised snooker with aggressive break-building and heavy long potting. Early in his career, coach Frank Callan noticed a “pumping” cue action and suggested a brief pause before striking, which sharpened his long game; Callan also spotted that Hendry was putting unintended side on the ball. The takeaway is that Hendry’s success came from refining his technique around a familiar cue rather than changing equipment. Since 2022 Hendry has also run the Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips YouTube channel, sharing coaching content and interviews.
Machine-made versus hand-made: what the £40 cue proves
Hand-made cues from English workshops are spliced by hand, the ebony butt sections are fitted to the ash shaft individually, and the cue is finished and balanced to order. Machine-made cues are produced in larger numbers to standard designs. Hand-made cues often feel more refined and can be tailored to a player, which is why most professionals use them.
Hendry’s Powerglide shows that a well-made production cue can still be good enough to win everything. The key is consistency: a straight cue with a sound tip and a balance that suits you. Once a player learns a cue inside out, the difference between a £40 cue and a £1,000 cue matters much less than the thousands of hours spent practising with it.
Flying with a cue today
Hendry’s cue was broken because post-2001 rules forced cues into the hold. Players still face the same problem, which is why professionals invest in hard, well-padded cases, and some travel with a spare. If you ever fly with a cue, use a solid case with internal padding and a secure lock, and consider a three-quarter jointed cue, which fits into a shorter, sturdier case than a one-piece. Keep the cue away from temperature extremes where you can, because ash can warp if it is left in heat or damp.
Want a cue like Stephen Hendry’s?
Hendry’s story is the best possible news for anyone on a budget: a sensibly priced, machine-made cue can take you a very long way if it suits you and you stick with it. Our guide to choosing a first cue by tip, weight and budget explains what to prioritise when money is tight.
And learn from what happened in 2003. Whatever you play with, travel with a hard case that protects the tip and shaft; our guide to choosing a protective snooker cue case shows what to look for. When you are ready, browse value snooker cues on bestsnookercue.com.
Frequently asked questions
What cue did Stephen Hendry use to win his world titles?
Hendry won all seven world titles with a Powerglide cue, a Rex Williams-branded model often described as the Powerglide Connoisseur. His father bought it for him for about £40 when he was 14, and he used it until it was broken in 2003.
How was Stephen Hendry’s cue broken?
In September 2003, returning to Scotland from a tournament in Thailand, Hendry’s cue was broken in the luggage hold of his flight. After the 2001 terrorist attacks, players could no longer take cues into the cabin, which left cues vulnerable in the hold.
What cue did Stephen Hendry use after 2003?
Reports at the time say his first successful replacement was made by John Parris, debuting in a 5-3 defeat to Michael Holt, after which Hendry said the cue played well. He later tried other cues, including an Acuerate, but none became as famous as the Powerglide.
