Butterfly Spliced Shelby Williams cue
This eye catching butterfly spliced Shelby Williams cue was just finished up here at Proficient Billards.
Shelby Williams is a highly acclaimed, Texas-based cuemaker and the recipient of the 2026 Cuemaker of the Year award. Operating out of Sherman/Denison, Texas, he is renowned for his masterful “Crazy in Pink” and “Silver Work” designs, intricate ringwork, and high-performance full-splice cues. Due to his rising reputation, he currently maintains a lengthy waiting list for custom builds, often cited as being four years long.
Design & Craftsmanship
- Signature Ringwork: Known for “super clean” and complex ring designs, often incorporating genuine silver, fine lines, and vibrant color veneers like blue, green, and orange.
- Premium Materials: Frequently utilizes exotic woods such as Ebony, roasted curly maple, Purpleheart, and Amboyna burl.
- Inlays: Specialized in high-detail inlay work using fine silver, Mother of Pearl, and Elforyn Juma. Some showpieces feature over 1,000 individual inlays requiring roughly 95 man-hours of labor.
- Joint & Pin: Typically uses a 3/8-10 modified pin for a forward balance and solid feel, though he also builds with radial or 5/16-14 pins upon request.
Performance Characteristics
- Solid Hit: Players often describe his cues as having a “dream-like” hit with exceptional balance and feedback.
- Shaft Options: Offers traditional maple shafts as well as Kielwood (torrefied maple) and carbon fiber alternatives for lower deflection.
- Full Splice Technique: Many of his cues are cored for stability while maintaining the classic aesthetic of a full splice point.