Most pool players look to improve their game and move up the ranks of billiards proficiency. One way to achieve this, aside from plenty of practice is to invest in a cue that is suited to your playing level.
Are you looking for a new cue to improve your game?
Investing in a new cue is a great way to achieve the standard of play you are looking for. Improving your skills with a good cue that fits your gameplay could pull the magic trigger you’ve been searching for. The Viper desperado pool cue is one of those custom pieces to consider for the job. This cue is durable, affordable, and is available in 4 different styles that all look great.
The 4 Desperado Viper pool sticks we will review today are:
- Viper Desperado death mark pool cue
- Viper Desperado iron cross pool cue
- Viper Desperado sting pool cue
- Viper Desperado freedom pool cue
Any pool game enthusiasts need to have a personal cue. Nobody taking the game seriously will rely on house cues all the time – most are overused, warped with a tip like a brick wall.
Your own cue is a personal choice, one you take with you everywhere and one that grows with you as you grow as a player.
Every cue is different, they have different features, and therefore all play differently, that’s why it’s important to understand the cue and pick one that you feel comfortable playing with.
The desperado pool cue from Viper will make a significant change to your game if you understand its peculiarity. Let’s walk through this viper desperado pool cue review together to see if it’s the right fit for you.
Who are Viper
Viper manufactured the desperado pool stick. Viper is one of the brands of Great Lakes Dart Manufacturing (GLD) and doubles as the heir product of the company. The company has been manufacturing varieties of quality pool cues for the billiard gaming industry. GLD, the parent company, came to be in the early 1980s. Four friends looked for an investment opportunity and birthed Great Lakes Dart in Milwaukee Tavern, Wisconsin, in the United States. It has ever since witnessed exponential growth in the billiard and dartboard gaming industry. Brands have been birthed out of the company, and it has been a reputable name to reckon with in the industry as it upholds its word of delivering quality to benefit players.
Viper desperado Pool cue
The Viper desperado cue is made from the best of materials coupled with a clean finishing that accounts for its sleek look and feel. It is made from hard maple Canadian wood and is coated with 9 coats of varnish that helps protect the cue from warping.
These viper pool sticks come with stunning laser engraved artwork/ graphics, each desperado cue stick has its own unique style of engraving based on its name. The 4 names of these cues are:
- Death Mark
- Iron Cross
- Sting
- Freedom
The Desperado cue sticks are a two-piece cue with a length of 58” with the butt wrapped with fine 100 percent leather to ensure players get a firm grip while playing.
The scuffer is detachable, and the tip is made of 13mm Le Pro leather can be modified (reshaped).
The weight can be purchased in varies from 18-21 oz, and players have the flexibility to adjust weights using the weight bolt system located behind the scuffer to see which works best for them.
The details about the cue will be thoroughly explained in this Viper desperado pool cue review.
Features of the Viper desperado Pool Cue
The features of the cue are listed below as:
- Wrap: 100% genuine leather
- Length: It’s a standard 58″ cue
- Weight: Varies from 18-21oz depending on which you pick
- Tip: 13mm – Le Pro leather cue tip
- Shaft: Hard Canadian maple wood
- Design: : Different models but all have engraved graphics and designs
- Scuffer: Detachable scuffer for tip maintenance.
- Joint: Stainless steel joint pin and collar
- Forearm: Several woods with onyx inlays
- Weight Adjustable:Yes, select from 18-21oz
- Warranty: Lifetime manufacture limited warranty
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Styles: There are 4 main styles of the Viper desperado pool cue. Each style has its own unique look based on its name. The features of each model of desperado pool cue play the same and are all priced roughly same.
Each cue has a maple shaft so strength and durability. The butt is made from different woods and have Onyx Inlays. The only difference is in the look and styling of the laser engraved graphics. I wouldn’t be satisfied if this Viper desperado pool cue review didn’t cover all models of the desperado pool cue!
Viper Desperado Death Mark pool cue: This Viper pool stick has a highly detailed design that is extremely eye catching. It’s laser engraved design of skulls and scrolls is complemented with real wood inlays located on the butt and forearm of the cue. This edgy, stylish and aggressive look is matched with its leather wrap.
Viper Desperado Iron Cross pool cue: This Viper pool stick is named the Iron Cross. As the name suggests, there is a laser engraved stylish cross set in real wood inlays. The real leather wrap of the cue is also designed to match the engravings of the cue.
Viper Desperado Sting pool cue: The Sting from Viper ‘s desperado range has all the signs of a well crafted, well balanced stick. As with the other cues, It’s laser engraved designs makes this cue stand out. Intricate engravings along the butt of scorpions along with a leather wrap makes this cue a must have!
Viper Desperado Freedom pool cue: This beauty of a cue stick has a laser engraved golden eagle on the butt sleeve and equally beautiful and integrate engravings on the forearm. The genuine leather wrap looks the part on this all round great looking cue.
Which Skill Level Would Benefit From This Cue
I would say this is a very good cue and would be suited to anyone who wants to up their game. I think the Viper desperado cue is best suited for an intermediate player who is taking the game a bit more seriously. Beginners transiting to the intermediate level can as well grab this desperado cue for an awesome gaming experience.
This is a well crafted and engineered piece. The detail and wooded inlays show this is a cue for players who understand the game and are willing to spend that little extra to get the features that come with these cues.
It’s a little over $100, but it’s definitely worth the value. Feedbacks from users that acquired this cue attested to the fact that it’s worth its price and more.
- Warranty is for a lifetime from the manufacturer
- 100 percent Genuine leather wrap
- Wooden inlays
- Detachable scuffer
- Adjustable weight bolts
- Strong and durable Canadian maple
- Awesome laser engraved graphics
- Well priced for the cue
- Possibility of tip falling off
- Can warp is not looked after
My Personal Experience Using The Viper Desperado Cue
So, let me give you my verdict on this Viper desperado pool cue review. Having a cue of this detail and craftmanship at this price range is fantastic in my opinion.
The laser engravings and Onyx inlays not only look fantastic but it’s amazing that this level of detail is on a cue at this price range. Add a genuine leather wrap, different woods, and you pick yourself up a bargain for a cue of this level of detail and playability.
Viper has done a great job, One of the main reasons they are able to produce such a well-tuned cue at such an affordable price is its a mass-produced cue, and therefore it’s cheaper to produce in bulk – That’s the downside, but I wouldn’t worry too much about that as you are getting a highly crafted stick!
The stick, as mentioned, comes in 4 varieties, the Viper Desperado – Death Mark, Iron Cross, Sting, and Freedom pool cue. Each of these cues plays the same, same pro taper, same 13mm Le Pro tip same stainless steel join, etc. The only difference is in the styling. Each comes with highly detailed engravings along with the butt. Aside from the design, they play equally well and I’m my opinion play better than a lot of other cues at the same price range.
As with other Viper cues, the scuffer I find to be a slight let down – Personally, I would invest in a better scuffer but it’s still a nice feature to have, especially if you don’t have one.
The tip is another standard on Viper cues, they make use of the Tweeten Fibre, Le Pro Tip which is a really common cue tip you’ll find on a lot of pool sticks, probably for their low cost and high-end play. These hard tips play pretty well and do a good job holding chalk. They are able to grip nicely to the cue ball so you can easily generate extra spin when needed. Personally, I prefer layered tips, they tend to last longer and require less grooming. as with most modern cues, it’s a glue-on cue tip and easily replaced if you so wish.
During my early days as an intermediate billiard gamer, I combed the internet for the best cues under $100. Luckily, I got some of them, and I enjoyed gaming, but it slowed down my advancement. Why? The more you play, the more you get to know the flaws of your cue. I later got to agree that quality pool cues come at a price. I got a 19oz Viper desperado cue, and I noticed profound changes in my game. Although it cost more than other cues below $100, I got value for my magic piece’s price. The desperado cue was straight and got my shots on the cue ball so hard. And the cue is, of course, three times better than the less expensive ones.
The leather wrap feels nice and comfortable on your grip and does a decent job reducing vibration.
A curse of a lot of mass-produced cues is the attention to detail and straightness is often compromised, but from my experience, the desperado cue range is exceptionally straight and play like a higher-end cue.
On the contrary, I’ve used a Viper Signature pool cue, and even though it’s a budget cue aimed at the beginners it wasn’t straight at all and that was its downfall. Luckily, the Desperado doesn’t have the same issues.
The stick isn’t built with any low deflection technology but I found that isn’t a problem as the deflection on this cue is pretty low as it is.
Overall, I think very highly of this cue – whichever Desperado variation you go with you’ll have a dependable cue you can count on for years to come. The styling and look of each of these cues are of the highest quality and it plays and feels like an advanced level cue!
It’s really an impressive piece.
Final thoughts
To be very honest with you, many expensive cues offer an unimaginable quality of gameplay and experience. However, not all cues provide the value that matches their price. For Viper desperado cue, you win both in quality and cost as you save some bucks. I have a lifetime warranty on my cue, and it has been the same since with just little changes. I’ve played the game for years, and I’d personally recommend it to players that want improvements to their game.
Hope this review on the Viper Desperado was useful to you and whichever cue you finally choose, I hope it’s perfect for you! Happy shooting!
Rob is an avid player and fan of all cue sports, particularly 8-ball, and snooker. He has competed in a few local 8-ball tournaments and although he is not a professional, he can compete with the best of them.
