McDermott Cue

What McDermott Cue does

McDermott Cue Mfg., LLC is a privately held US manufacturer of handcrafted pool cues and billiard accessories, founded in 1975 and headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, where it operates a single integrated production facility, repair department, and showroom. The company produces a tiered product portfolio spanning entry-level Lucky cues ($70-$195), mid-range Star cues ($215-$375), and premium McDermott cues across H-Series, Select Series, G-Series, GS-Series, Classic, Wildfire, and licensed lines priced from $365 to $5,000, with Gallery Collection limited editions reaching $150,000. Its technical differentiation rests on proprietary shaft architectures including the patented Variable Balance Point (VBP) weight system (US Patent 8,523,695 and CN Patent 2011104551527), Defy carbon fiber shafts using aerospace-grade SmacWrap vibration dampening, i-Shaft and i-Pro octadic laminated constructions with triple-layer carbon fiber cores, and Stinger/Sledgehammer phenolic tip-ferrule break-cue technology, all backed by an industry-leading lifetime warranty and Lifetime Maintenance Plan.

The company monetizes through one-time sales of cues, replacement performance shafts ($145-$490), billiard accessories (cases, gloves, tips, chalk, maintenance kits), custom build-a-cue services, and repair/refurbishing services, with consumable Navigator tips and chalk added through exclusive North American distribution. Revenue is generated via three GTM motions: a direct e-commerce storefront (mcdermottcue.com), an authorized global dealer network with regional fulfillment, and a physical showroom at headquarters that also sells complementary game-room brands (A.E. Schmidt, Connelly pool tables, Champion shuffleboard, Tornado foosball, Dynamo air hockey). The customer base is fragmented across individual pool/billiard players, game room enthusiasts, commercial pool halls, and sponsored professional players; no named enterprise customers or B2B anchor accounts are disclosed, indicating low customer concentration and broad market reach across the niche billiards sporting goods segment.

Name

McDermott Cue

Legal name

McDermott Cue Mfg., LLC

Website

https://mcdermottcue.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

McDermott Cue is a privately held, Wisconsin-based manufacturer founded in 1975 that handcrafts premium pool cues, performance carbon fiber and maple shafts, and billiard accessories, selling through direct e-commerce, a global authorized dealer network, and its Menomonee Falls showroom to individual players, commercial pool halls, and game room enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Billiard Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers (4591)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Coin-Operated Entertainment (Pinball, Crane/Claw, Jukebox, Darts/Billiards) (MPAEAJAF)

Keywords

• Handcrafted pool cues
• Billiard accessories
• Carbon fiber cue shafts
• Carom and snooker cues
• Custom billiard equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Menomonee Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pool Cue Sales: One-time sales of handcrafted pool cues across multiple product lines (McDermott, Star, Lucky, Stinger, Sledgehammer). Cues range from entry-level ($70) to premium collectible ($150,000). Revenue generated through direct e-commerce and dealer network.
2. Performance Shaft Sales: Sales of high-performance replacement shafts (Defy carbon fiber, i-Pro, i-Shaft, G-Core, Traditional Maple). Shafts sold separately for use with existing cues.
3. Custom Cue Build Services: Custom design and build services allowing customers to personalize cues with stains, wraps, exotic woods, and other materials. Additional charges apply for custom inlay cues and transfer art designs.
4. Repair and Refurbishing Services: Professional cue servicing, refurbishing, and warranty claim processing. Services include refinishing, rewrapping, shaft replacement, and component upgrades. Lifetime maintenance plan available for McDermott cues.
5. Billiard Accessories: Sales of accessories including cue cases, billiard gloves, joint protectors, tips, chalk, weight bolts, extensions, maintenance kits, and game room equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

McDermott Cue handcrafts and sells premium pool cues, billiard cue shafts, and accessories from its Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin headquarters. Its product range spans entry-level Lucky cues ($70) to collectible Gallery cues ($150,000), covering pool, carom, snooker, and blackball billiard disciplines. The company also provides custom build-a-cue design services, repair/refurbishing services with a lifetime maintenance plan, and distributes game room furniture and Navigator billiard consumables in North America.

Product overview

McDermott Cue is a handcrafted pool cue and billiard accessory manufacturer based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, founded in 1975. The company produces a diverse portfolio of billiard products organized across multiple tiers: premium handcrafted McDermott Pool Cues (encompassing H-Series, Select Series, G-Series, and GS-Series sub-lines) with lifetime warranties; sub-brands Star and Lucky offering more affordable globally-manufactured options; specialty cues including Vanquish carbon fiber cues, Stinger break/jump cues, and Sledgehammer break cues; Carom and Snooker cues for international billiard disciplines; and a comprehensive accessories line including Navigator tips/chalk (which McDermott distributes exclusively), performance shafts (Defy, i-Pro, i-Shafts, G-Core, maple), cases, gloves, and maintenance products. The company also offers custom build-a-cue services, repair/refurbishing services, and sells game room furniture including pool tables, shuffleboard, foosball, and air hockey through their showroom. Limited edition series include Cue of the Month, Cue of the Year, and Gallery Collection pieces priced up to $150,000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Star Pool Cues: Premium maple and exotic materials with intricate 4-color overlays. Mid-range price cues ($215-$375) designed, engineered and exclusively distributed by McDermott Cue.
• Lucky Pool Cues
• Stinger
• Sledgehammer
• Defy
• i-Pro
• i-Shaft
• G-Core

Products and services

• McDermott Pool Cues Handcrafted USA-made pool cues known for quality construction, exotic woods, intricate inlays, and limitless customization options, covered by lifetime warranty including warpage. The McDermott umbrella spans H-Series, Select Series, G-Series, GS-Series, Classic Series, Wildfire Laser Engraved, Cue of the Year, Cue of the Month, Gallery Collection, Licensed, Youth, and Pool Cue Kits sub-lines.
• McDermott H-Series Pool Cues Premium pool cue line featuring the patented fully-adjustable Variable Balance Point (VBP) weight system with full-length carbon fiber core; $775-$2,150.
• McDermott Select Series Pool Cues Pool cues equipped standard with Defy, i-Pro Slim, or i-3 shafts for high performance at an affordable price; $635-$1,400.
• McDermott G-Series Pool Cues Pool cues known for quality construction, exotic woods, intricate inlays, and limitless customization; $445-$5,000. Covered by lifetime warranty and Lifetime Maintenance Plan.
• McDermott GS-Series Pool Cues Pool cues with traditional all-maple shafts for players wanting an American-made cue with classic maple feel; $365-$405.
• McDermott Classic Series Pool Cues Classic pool cues with timeless designs and precision craftsmanship; $695-$2,640+.
• McDermott Wildfire Laser Engraved Pool Cues Pool cues with advanced wood carving and 3D rotational wood burning technology for intricate laser-engraved artwork; $490-$695.
• McDermott Gallery Collection Rare, investment-grade collectible cues celebrating originality and craftsmanship using the most exotic materials; $1,200-$150,000.
• McDermott Cue of the Month Monthly limited edition cue series featuring customized existing cue models with unique stains, wraps, exotic materials, rings, or shaft upgrades at original price; under $1,000.
• McDermott Cue of the Year Limited edition pool cue series using the rarest materials and exotic woods; $1,099-$5,000+.
• McDermott Licensed Pool Cues Pool cues featuring licensed brand designs such as Harley-Davidson and Jack Daniels.
• McDermott Youth Pool Cues High quality pool cues designed for children; suitable for kids wanting proper equipment or for pool table owners with small rooms.
• McDermott Pool Cue Kits Starter kits including everything needed to begin playing billiards.
• Star Pool Cues Mid-range pool cues featuring premium maple and exotic materials with intricate 4-color overlays; globally manufactured using McDermott technology. Limited lifetime warranty; $215-$375.
• Lucky Pool Cues Entry-level affordably-priced pool cues featuring premium maple and intricate graphic overlays; globally manufactured. Three-year limited warranty; $70-$195.
• Stinger Break/Jump Cues Break/jump cues featuring patented phenolic tip/ferrule technology with a stinger stem projecting through the ferrule center for larger sweet spot and explosive break/jump shots.
• Sledgehammer Break Cue Dedicated break cue with patented one-piece phenolic tip and ferrule technology optimizing energy transfer for extreme power and accuracy; tapered construction.
• Vanquish VQ1 Carbon Fiber Playing Cue Full-carbon fiber construction playing cue with Variable Balance Point (VBP) adjustable weight system, carbon fiber butt with no-wrap handle, and American Flag graphic; MSRP $975.
• Vanquish Mach 1 Carbon Fiber Break Cue Carbon fiber dedicated break cue with Defy break shaft and patented Variable Balance Point technology.
• McDermott Carom Cues Carom cues made to specifications different from American pool cues — 56 inches long with straight European taper and 11.75mm-12mm tip; $425-$1,655.
• McDermott Snooker Cues American-made snooker cues, 58 inches with 3/4 length construction; maple or ash shafts, Navigator Sigma Snooker tips, exotic wood handles; $655-$910.
• United Blackball Cues Blackball cues matching United Blackball pool tables, featuring smaller tip diameter and stiffer taper for English Blackball play.
• Defy Carbon Fiber Shaft High-performance carbon fiber shaft using aerospace-grade SmacWrap vibration dampening technology, available in 12mm, 12.5mm, and 13mm sizes; starting at $480.
• i-Pro and i-Pro Slim Shafts High-performance laminated wooden shafts with Octadic Laminated Construction and Triple-Layer Carbon Fiber Core for maximum radial consistency and energy transfer; starting at $370.
• Intimidator i-Shafts (i-1, i-2, i-3) High-performance shafts with Triple-Layer Carbon Fiber Core extending full-length for control and predictability. i-3 for spin and finesse, i-2 for all-around control, i-1 Big Boy for breaking and jumping; starting at $240.
• G-Core Shafts High-performance shafts blending carbon fiber core technology with traditional maple shaft feel; starting at $240.
• Billiard Accessories Complete line of billiard accessories including Navigator tips and chalk, Kamui tips, Everest tips, cue cases, gloves, joint protectors, shaft maintenance kits, weight bolts, billiard balls, training products, apparel, table accessories, pool cue extensions, billiard ball sets, and pool table play packages.
• Custom Build-A-Cue Custom design service allowing customers to select stain/paint colors, wrap materials (linen, leather, cork), and shaft types. Base from $405 (maple with linen wrap); modular upcharges for G-Core, i-Shaft, i-Pro, Defy shafts, leather wraps, paints, quick-release joints, engraving, and custom inlay ($300+).
• Repairs, Refurbishing & Lifetime Maintenance Professional cue servicing and refurbishing from the Menomonee Falls, WI factory for McDermott, Star, Lucky, or Element cues. Services include new shafts, wraps, refinishing, and component replacement, with a Lifetime Maintenance Plan.
• Game Room Furniture and Equipment Game room furniture and equipment sold through the Menomonee Falls showroom: A.E. Schmidt and Connelly pool tables, Champion shuffleboard tables, Tornado foosball tables, Dynamo air hockey tables, Skee-Ball, arcade machines, and Delta-13 ball racks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced shaft deflection compared to traditional maple shafts
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Navigator (U.S. exclusive distributor)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMcDermott Cue is the exclusive distributor of Navigator products for the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico. Navigator offers premium tips and chalk including Automatic, Sigma, Black, Break Impact, and Snooker tips.
• A.E. Schmidt Pool TablesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA.E. Schmidt pool tables showcased in McDermott showroom. Tables crafted as heirlooms with exceptional play and timeless beauty.
• Connelly BilliardsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConnelly pool tables featured in McDermott showroom. Connelly is known for high standards in quality and craftsmanship.
• Champion ShuffleboardminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChampion shuffleboard tables, the #1 shuffleboard manufacturer in the USA, displayed in McDermott showroom.
• Tornado Foosball TablesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTornado foosball tables, the official foosball table of the sport, sold through McDermott showroom.
• Dynamo Air Hockey TablesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDynamo air hockey tables available in McDermott showroom. Dynamo tables voted 'Most Popular Game' by AMOA for 10 straight years.
• Delta-13 Ball RacksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelta-13 billiard ball racks sold through McDermott. Highest quality, most consistent tight rack with aerospace precision design.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Predator Cues: Predator Cues is a leading premium billiard cue manufacturer renowned for its low-deflection shaft technology (including the Revo carbon fiber shaft), directly competing with McDermott in the performance cue segment. Comparable product line spanning cues, shafts, and accessories at premium price points.
• Cuetec Cues: Cuetec is a major billiard cue manufacturer producing cues across entry, mid, and premium price tiers with proprietary shaft technologies. Directly competes with McDermott's Lucky, Star, and McDermott branded cues and shares a similar tiered brand portfolio approach.
• Mezz Cues: Mezz is a Japanese billiard cue manufacturer known for high-quality shafts (WX-700 series) and premium cues. Competes directly with McDermott's performance shaft lines (Defy, i-Pro, i-Shaft) and serves international markets particularly in Asia.
• Players Cues (Players Sports): Players is a well-known billiard cue brand offering mid-range cues with good customization options. Comparable to McDermott's Star and Lucky sub-brands in price range and target market of recreational to intermediate players.
• Viking Cues: Viking is a major US billiard cue manufacturer offering a wide product range from entry-level to mid-tier cues. Directly comparable to McDermott's Lucky and Star sub-brands in price positioning and mass-market distribution approach.
• Jacoby Custom Cues: Jacoby is a US-based custom cue manufacturer producing high-end handcrafted cues with inlay work similar to McDermott's G-Series and Gallery Collection. Directly competes in the premium custom cue segment with comparable craftsmanship and customization offerings.
• Pechauer Cues: Pechauer is a US-based billiard cue manufacturer producing custom and production cues with proprietary shaft technology (Pechauer Jade, Gold), directly comparable to McDermott's mid-to-premium cue offerings.
• Schon Cues: Schon is a premium handcrafted billiard cue manufacturer known for intricate inlays and exotic wood designs, directly comparable to McDermott's higher-end Gallery and G-Series cues in craftsmanship and price positioning.
• Lucasi Cues: Lucasi is a US billiard cue brand offering cues with low-deflection shaft technology at mid-range prices. Directly comparable to McDermott's Select Series and G-Series cues in shaft technology positioning.

Others

• Kamui (Billiard Products): Kamui is a manufacturer of premium billiard cue tips and accessories, which McDermott distributes as part of their accessories line. As an ecosystem supplier within the billiards accessories market, Kamui is a complementary peer rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/McDermottCue
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPV_rtUvhU0cBaz1-gnMqVg
• Facebookfacebook.com/mcdermottfan
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcdermottpoolcues
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcdermott-handcrafted-cues-manufacturing-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McDermott Cue