Cue Series Comparison
We feel it's important that our customers know the difference between our cue series. The quality across the series is always the highest in the industry, but the inlays and materials and features used in our higher end series are what make them "Elite" and "Prestige" Series cues. Here is a breakdown of our series specifications and features that determine which series a cue is classified.

($649 to $3250)
($379 to $639)
($260 to $375)
($139 to $229)
Wood (Butt)
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Hand selected
YES
YES
YES
YES
Aged 18 to 24 months
YES
YES
YES
Aged 12 to 18 months
YES
Quality of wood
AAA
AA
AA
A
Number of exotic woods
43
32
20
5
Number of times stored and machined

3
3
3
3

Shaft

Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Hand selected
YES
YES
YES
YES
North American hard rock maple
YES
YES
YES
YES
Machined, bored, and CNC thread cut
YES
YES
YES
YES
Quality of wood
AAA
AA
AA
A
Number of times turned (insures straightness)
11
11
9
7
Taper

Pro
Pro
Pro
Pro
Shaft Type
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Intimidator*
YES
YES
YES
YES
Standard
YES
YES
YES
YES
McDermott Quick Release (patented)
YES
YES
-
-
* Intimidator shafts are an available upgrade on all McDermott cues

Finish
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Hand stained
YES
YES
YES
YES
Ultra high luster urethane
YES
YES
YES
YES
Number of urethane coats
5
5
4
3
Number of finishes
16
14
12
9
European Organic Pigment stain
YES
YES
YES
YES

Inlays
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Number of inlays
up to 129
up to 80
up to 45
up to 20
Complexity
Very high
High
Moderate
Low
Hand glued
YES
YES
YES
YES
Precision CNC milled
YES
YES
YES
YES

Exotic inlays materials:
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Gold
YES
-
-
-
Silver
YES
YES
-
-
Turquoise
YES
YES
-
-
Pewter
YES
YES
-
-
Mother of pearl
YES
YES
-
-
Ivory
YES
YES
-
-
Precious stones (diamonds, rubies)
YES
-
-
-
Semi-precious stones

YES
-
-
-
Joint
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Wood-to-wood
YES
YES
YES
YES
Stainless steel collar
YES
YES
-
-
McDermott Quick Release (patented)
YES
YES
-
-

Construction
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Number of butt section pieces
3
3
3,1
1
Inlay tolerance
.001”
.001”
.001”
.001”
Ring tolerance
.001”
.001”
.001”
.001”
Precision milled inlays and rings
YES
YES
YES
YES

Wrap
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Number of wraps available
16
16
16
14
Number of times pressed and polished
3
3
2
2
Genuine Irish linen
YES
YES
YES
YES
Premium Hurlbert linen
YES
YES
-
-
Leather
YES
YES
-
-

Tip/Ferrule/Pin
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Triangle, medium hard tip
YES
YES
YES
YES
Tip diameter, in ¼ mm increments
12-14 mm
12-14 mm
12-14 mm
12-14 mm
-
-
-
(not available on all models)
Heavy gauge stainless steel 3/8x10 pin
YES
YES
YES
YES
Ivorine III ferrule
YES
YES
YES
YES
Aegis, linen-based ferrule
YES
YES
-
-
Moori tip: *Available as standard on all Intimidator shafts

Collar/Bumper
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Impact Control Ring collar (developed by NASA)
YES
YES
YES
YES
Thermoset resin collar
-
-
-
YES
Hand glued
YES
YES
YES
YES
Hand screwed
YES
YES
YES
YES
Soft durometer polymer composite bumper
YES
YES
YES
YES

Rings
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Complexity
Very high
High
Moderate
Low
Nickel silver, German brass, index
YES
YES
YES
YES
Pearl (Italian Partek resin)
YES
YES
YES
YES
Exotic wood
YES
YES
YES
-
24K gold, sterling silver
YES
-
-
-

Other
Feature/Specification
Elite/Prestige
Professional
Tournament
Competitor
Engraving
YES
YES
YES
YES
Interchangeable weight bolt system
YES
YES
YES
YES
Limited Edition
YES
YES
-
-
McDermott branding
2
2
2
1
Cue weight, in ½ ounce increments
18-21 oz.
18-21 oz.
18-21 oz.
18-21 oz.