3 pieces, 4 pieces, 5 pieces?

[NervousNovice]

Hello everybody.

I came from the pool planet. There we only have a 1 piece cue, or a 2 pieces cue in which the joint is at the centre of the cue with a 29"+29" split. I recently came to the snooker planet and there are so many different number of pieces. For example,

http://www.ontilt.co.uk/procart/prod_info.asp?catID=6243&cat_name=Cue/Case%20Sets&prodID=56773
Here is a 3 pieces - a shaft, a short butt, a long butt. What do you do? Do you screw them all together?

http://www.ontilt.co.uk/procart/prod_info.asp?catID=6243&cat_name=Cue/Case%20Sets&prodID=56809
Here is a 4 pieces - a shaft, a black long butt, another butt which consists of 2 pieces. Again, what do you do? Do you choose the butt which look better? Or you get a short, medium, long length?

http://www.ontilt.co.uk/procart/prod_info.asp?catID=6243&cat_name=Cue/Case%20Sets&prodID=56808
Here is a 5 pieces, and I can't even see all 5 pieces. Can someone explain what they are and how to use them?

Thanks a lot.

- NN

[dantuck_7]

The 4 and 5 piece cues refers to all sorts of extensions that can be added.

Dan.

[McChen]

yes, it is quite confusing

usually a 3 piece refers to a 3/4 jointed cue and a long extension, which usually screws into the 3/4 joint.

a 4 piece is a cue that has a half and a 3/4 joint. the extension screws into the 3/4 joint. this one is strange to me, i don't know why they just make a half jointed cue and a shorter extension that screws into the butt.

a 5 piece is the same as the 4 piece, but includes a 6" mini butt that goes into the butt joint.

[NervousNovice]

yes, it is quite confusing

usually a 3 piece refers to a 3/4 jointed cue and a long extension, which usually screws into the 3/4 joint.

a 4 piece is a cue that has a half and a 3/4 joint. the extension screws into the 3/4 joint. this one is strange to me, i don't know why they just make a half jointed cue and a shorter extension that screws into the butt.

a 5 piece is the same as the 4 piece, but includes a 6" mini butt that goes into the butt joint.

Very clear. Thanks!