Angel’s Sticks: Tale of an Emerging Cue Maker

Angel’s Sticks: Tale of an Emerging Cue Maker

Angel’s Sticks: Tale of an Emerging Cue Maker

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by Marlon Bernardino
History remembers the war, not the caliber of guns nor the brand of ammos. A similar standard applies in billiards where people remember the exploits of their heroes, not the tools of their craft.

Fans can talk about the greatness of Efren “Bata” Reyes, his impeccable shot-making and high game IQ. They can do analysis of Jeffrey “The Bull” De Luna’s deep run at this year’s U.S. Open and break down his superb breaking game. But only a handful can talk about the cue sticks used by the top pool players.

Each of the top players has custom-made cues created according to his or her specifications. Some prefer lighter cue sticks; others want theirs to be a little heavier than the norm. Some like their cue sticks to be smooth; others want theirs to be a little rough on the touch.

One of the emerging cue makers in the Philippines is Angel Bautista, 33. He opened his shop only two months, but he has been designing cues for 15 years already. He has designed a cue stick for De Luna and repaired one for Reyes.

His shop, called the Angel Bautista Custom Cues, is located inside a dingy billiard hall in Tandang Sora, Quezon City. Angel’s workplace may not be sophisticated, but his products are.

“I don’t have the money to rent a nice space for my shop, but I can guarantee the quality of my work is up there with the best of them,” he said in Filipino.

Angel was introduced in the trade by his uncles Al and Tony Bautista, two of the most respected cue makers in the country.

“Everything I know in this business came from them,” he said. But he is quick to add that he has his own set of original designs at his disposal.

Angel typically spends two months to create a masterpiece. He starts the process by interviewing his clients. “It is important for me to know the physique, style of play and the personality of my clients,” he said.

The physique and style of play are the bases for the weight and length of a cue stick while the personality is the basis for the design. A cue stick is usually 57 to 60 inches long and weighs 16 to 21 ounces.

Price of his cue sticks ranges from P5,000 to P60,000. Prices normally depend on the wood used and the complexity of the design.

Given the quality of his cue sticks, Angel recommends another high-quality product to match his creations. “I urge my clients to use Wilde Blu chalk to reach the maximum performance of the cue stick.”

Wilde Blu is distributed in the Philippines and Indonesia by Nino Lopez, who is also the distributor of Volturi Custom Cases PH.

Volturi is trusted by billiard professionals and enthusiasts from all over the world in making bespoke and exquisitely handmade all-leather cases.-Marlon Bernardino-