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Athena Pool Cues
Athena Pool Cues is Quarter King's collection of Athena's women-focused cue line, 42 cues listed here, 20 in stock, priced from about $120 up to about $310. Every cue in this category shares the same core build, a 5/16x18 piloted joint, a 13.00mm hard rock maple shaft, and a linen wrap, with the variety coming from decorative forearm and butt sleeve artwork rather than different playing specs. Models like the Athena ATH04, ATH08 and ATH31 show the range of graphic treatments available, from florals to animal prints. Below is the full lineup, filterable by color and by playing or break cue.
Every item is brand new and 100% genuine, backed by its full manufacturer warranty. Free shipping on orders over $98 (contiguous US) and 30-day returns. Every spec on this page is checked against the manufacturer's published data by our Wilmington, NC store team.
4.9/5 average from 278 customer reviews across Athena Pool Cues.
Read the Athena Pool Cues guide
About Athena Pool Cues
About the Athena pool cue line
Athena is not an independent cue-making company with its own factory and history. It is a house-branded line, built around consistent, catalog-documented construction rather than a proprietary hitting technology, and positioned around a single fit problem: a shorter, thinner cue sized for a smaller-handed or shorter-armed player, marketed as a line for women rather than a general, one-size cue. The line's total length runs shorter than a standard 58 to 59 inch cue, and the shaft is cut on the thinner side of what you would find on a standard house cue, both aimed at a more comfortable bridge and grip. Every Athena cue also ships with a free 10 inch screw-in extension that threads into the butt, adding reach for a long shot without a mechanical bridge.
The 42 cues in this category all share the same underlying spec: a 5/16x18 joint, a 13.00mm hard rock maple shaft, and a linen wrap. What changes from model to model is the artwork, forearm and butt sleeve designs ranging from stacked roses and shamrocks to leopard print, peacock feathers, dragonflies and multi-color butterflies, each paired with a coordinating wrap color. That is the whole design language of the line: consistent construction, distinct cosmetics. Prices across the category run from about $120 up to about $310, and 20 of the 42 listings are currently in stock.
How these cues are built
Athena skips shaft and tip technology marketing entirely. Here is what each catalog-documented spec means for how these cues actually play.
5/16x18 piloted joint
All 42 cues in this category use a 5/16x18 joint pin, and the great majority are the piloted version. A piloted 5/16x18 joint has a small alignment pilot on the pin that seats the shaft square to the joint face before the threads take over, which keeps the hit consistent every time you assemble the cue. It is one of the two most common cue joints made, so joint protectors and aftermarket shafts sized for 5/16x18 are easy to find if you ever need one. The manufacturer's own spec sheet actually documents this same pin three slightly different ways across its 58 catalogued models, plain "5/16x18" on 36 of them and an explicitly "piloted 5/16x18" on the other 22, which reads like inconsistent labeling between listings rather than a real construction difference.
13.00mm hard rock maple shaft
Every cue here uses a 13.00mm shaft in hard rock maple, and on the large majority of models it is cut to a 10 to 12 inch pro taper, the same taper most players already know from a standard maple shaft: a slimmer first foot of wood that flares gradually toward the joint. On top of the shaft sits a 1 inch fiber linen ferrule, and on most models a 12.5mm, seven-layer vacuum-sealed tip. A small number of models instead run a 13.5mm phenolic tip and ferrule combo, a harder, lower-deflection setup that shows up more often on break-oriented cues.
Collar and weight
The joint end is finished with a stainless steel collar, on most models paired with a black composite ring and a thin silver ring set inside it, and a smaller share use a plain silver or black-and-silver collar treatment instead. Weight is changeable on 55 of the 58 models documented in the manufacturer's spec sheet through a removable weight bolt in the butt, so you can add or remove weight to match your stroke rather than being locked into one balance point. None of the 58 catalogued models include joint protectors, so plan on picking those up separately if you want them.
Forearm and butt sleeve designs
The manufacturer's spec sheet documents more than a dozen distinct forearm and butt sleeve pairings across the Athena line. Among them: a maple forearm with turquoise and black points around a floating white heart design, a green-stained forearm with shamrock accents, a forearm built around stacked roses, a gray-stained forearm with a tribal background and foiled butterflies, a black-background forearm with teal, blue and purple butterflies, a forearm mixing multi-color butterflies and vine work, a faded grey-and-white forearm with dragonflies and green leaves, a birdseye maple forearm built around a peacock, a blue-stained forearm with white roses framed by teal and black points, a purple forearm with turquoise and blue points over a tribal design, and a leopard-print forearm finished with silver rings. One rare model instead runs a metallic pearl forearm with a grey-and-black transfer design. Each forearm pairs with a matching or coordinating butt sleeve rather than a plain black one.
The lineup: colors, graphics and cue types
Color and graphic families
Our color tagging across this category shows white as the most common finish, 21 cues, followed by black at 19, brown at 10 and tan at 8, with smaller runs in blue, purple, silver, pink, multicolor, green, grey, red, yellow and orange. Those colors correspond directly to the forearm and wrap artwork described above, so a white-tagged cue is more likely to carry one of the floral or butterfly designs, while a black or brown-tagged cue is more likely to carry the tribal or animal-print treatments. Picking a color here is really picking a graphic theme rather than a different level of cue. Models like the Athena ATH04, ATH11, ATH23 and ATH32 illustrate a few of those different looks.
Playing cues vs break cues
40 of the 42 cues in this category are tagged as playing cues, with 2 built as break cues. If you are shopping for a single all-purpose cue, stick with the playing cue tag. The break cues are the ones most likely to carry the harder 13.5mm phenolic tip and ferrule combo described above rather than the standard boar skin tip, which fits their role as a dedicated breaking stick rather than an everyday playing cue. They remain a small, secondary part of the lineup here rather than a dedicated break-and-jump sub-line.
Joint, shaft and compatibility
For players comparing specs rather than brand names, this category runs 5/16x18 piloted joints, 13.00mm shafts, classic wood, hard rock maple, construction, and linen wraps across essentially the whole lineup. You can browse by any of those specs directly, our 5/16x18 joint, 13.00mm shaft size, classic wood shaft and linen wrap pages, or head over to the shafts category if you need a replacement shaft rather than a full cue.
Who these cues suit and how they play
These are entry-level cues built for a specific fit problem: a player, often a woman or a junior, who finds a standard 58 to 59 inch cue too long or too thick in the grip. The shorter length and thinner shaft address that directly, and the decorative wrap and forearm designs give the line a look that stands apart from a plain black house cue. They are not positioned as tournament cues, and nothing in the specs here suggests low-deflection shaft technology or a premium hit, this is a comfort-and-fit line first. The bundled 10 inch screw-in extension is worth keeping in mind too, it lets a player who chose the shorter length for comfort still reach a long rail shot without switching to a mechanical bridge.
Warranty and what to know before you buy
Every cue in this category carries a 1 year manufacturer's warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. The manufacturer's spec sheet documents this as "Limited 1 year Manufacturer" on 48 of its 58 catalogued models, with the remaining 10 listed simply as "Limited" or "Limited-1 year", minor wording differences that all describe the same one-year coverage. We do not have published exclusions or a registration requirement beyond that basic term, so hang on to your order confirmation as your proof of purchase. None of these cues ship with a case or with joint protectors, if you want a matching case, our Athena Cases line carries 2x2 hard cases sized for two butts and two shafts. Weight is adjustable on 55 of the 58 models documented in the spec sheet, so you are not locked into one balance once you own the cue.
What players say
Players discussing Athena on the AZBilliards forums generally describe it as a solid value cue that plays better than its low price would suggest for a casual or beginning player. The same discussion also noted the hit runs light, and one poster suggested that a player who plans to stay with the game long-term look at a step-up line once they outgrow an entry cue. Taken together, it reads as a cue people are happy with at this level and price, a comfortable starting point rather than one they expect to keep forever as their game improves.
A separate discussion on the AZBilliards forums, about long cues generally, adds more detail on fit from a poster who says he has shot with and sold several Athena cues. He describes the line as 58 inches long without its included screw-in extension, stretching to about 66 and three-quarter inches once the extension goes in, and says the extension helps the cue break hard, though it adds noticeable weight to the front end. He also notes most of the artwork leans toward the line's feminine themes, while a handful of finishes are plain enough that any player would be comfortable carrying one. That tracks with how Athena is positioned elsewhere on this page, a shorter cue with a bundled extension does more of the differentiating work than the graphics do.
This category sits inside our full Pool Cues selection, where Athena is one of several entry-level lines alongside Elite Pool Cues and Outlaw Cues if you want to compare other value-priced options, or the Athena brand hub for the full range of Athena cases and shafts alongside these cues.
Athena Pool Cues Specs at a Glance
- Joint Type: 5/16X18 Piloted, 5/16X18
- Shaft Size: 12.50mm, 13.00mm, 13.50mm
- Wrap Options: Linen Wrap, Wrapless
- Shaft Material: Classic Wood
- Colors: White, Black, Brown, Blue
What Athena is known for
Athena markets itself as the only cue brand building products exclusively for women, and Quarter King's 42 SKUs back that up — every cue ships with a slightly thinner 12.5mm shaft, a shorter base length, and a free 10-inch screw-in rear extension so a smaller-framed player can adjust reach without buying an accessory separately. Many cases are designed with matching graphics to specific cue models for a coordinated cue-and-case set. Athena is a Cuestix in-house line (the same corporate family as Spartan), and the catalog runs from junior-length starter cues through full-length 60-series models, all in the sub-$310 range. It's a fit-and-design play rather than a performance-shaft play — there's no low-deflection shaft-core technology marketed here, just sizing built around who's actually holding the cue.
We currently stock 36 Athena items, from $194 to $305.
| Line | Typical price | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Junior & Starter Cues | $129 – $190 | Shorter-length and entry models, including the 52-inch ATHJR2 junior cue |
| Core 50s–60s Series | $190 – $260 | Mid-catalog designs including the Kaleidoscope and similarly finished models |
| Full-Length 60–65 Series w/ Included Extension | $260 – $305 | Full-length cues at the top of Athena's range, each with the free 10-inch rear extension |
What joint does Athena use, and which shafts fit?
About 94% of the Athena cues we stock use the 5/16X18 Piloted joint. The joint is what decides shaft fitment — thread and face both have to match, so a shaft cut for a different pin will not thread on no matter how good it is.
Shafts that fit most Athena cues
Everything with a 5/16X18 Piloted joint · Joint & pin identifier · Shaft fit finder
Athena technology, in plain English
- 12.5mm Shaft + Included 10" Rear Extension
- Every cue ships with a screw-in extension and a shaft sized for smaller hands — the brand's core differentiator versus standard-length, standard-diameter production cues.
What players say about Athena
Consistently praised for
- Being the only major cue brand built specifically for women, the sized shaft and included extension solve a real, otherwise-unaddressed fit problem.
- Matching cue-and-case set designs are called out as a nice touch for buyers who want a coordinated look.
- Multiple entry price points under $200 with the included extension make it one of the more accessible ways for a smaller-framed player to get a properly fitted cue.
- The 1-year manufacturer's warranty combined with PoolDawg's separate 60-day guarantee gives buyers two safety nets on a first cue purchase.
Common criticisms
- Athena doesn't publish shaft-core, ferrule, or joint specs the way performance brands do, so buyers comparing on deflection or joint type have nothing to go on beyond the 12.5mm diameter.
- The 1-year warranty is short next to the lifetime warpage coverage several competitors in the same price band offer.
- These are entry production cues, not custom work — don't expect inlay detail or premium materials at this price point.
Who makes Athena?
Athena is a brand of Cuestix. Athena is listed under Cuestix's own "cuestix-brands" site section (the same section as Spartan and Summit), distinct from the "other-brands" section Cuestix uses for third-party lines like Joss and Lucasi — this site structure is the basis for treating Athena as a Cuestix in-house line rather than an independently owned manufacturer; we did not find an explicit "About" statement confirming ownership beyond this.
Brands under the same roof:
- Spartan — Another Cuestix in-house line, filed in the same site section as Athena
- Made in: Not disclosed by Athena or its retailers
- Warranty: 1-year manufacturer's warranty.
Also worth a look at this price
If you like where Athena sits on price but want to compare before you commit, these land in the same range:
- Stealth Cues — Similar entry price band for buyers who don't need Athena's women's-specific sizing
- Lucasi Cues — A step up for buyers who want low-deflection shaft technology once they've outgrown an entry cue
Brand Compatibility
The joint is what decides whether a shaft fits, and every cue in Athena Pool Cues uses the 5/16X18 Piloted pin. That is the same 5/16X18 Piloted pin used across Eight Ball Mafia, Griffin, Outlaw, Talon and Voodoo, so shafts move between them — always confirm the exact pin before buying.
Browse Athena Pool Cues
- Starter Cues 239
- Break Cues 174
- Action Pool Cues 144
- Viking Cues 122
- Koda Pool Cues 99
- K2 Pool Cues 96
- Jump Cues 86
- Players Cues 67
- Cuetec Pool Cues 67
- McDermott Pool Cues 66
- Valhalla Cues 63
- One Piece Cues 53
- Pechauer Cues 50
- Bull Carbon Pool Cues 45
- Lucasi Pool Cues 44
- Meucci Pool Cues 43
- Jacoby Pool Cues 38
- Elite Pool Cues 34
- Xcel Pool Cues 33
- Talon Cues 32
- Cue Butts 31
- Mezz Pool Cues 26
- Rhino Pool Cues 25
- Joss Pool Cues 24
Brands in Athena Pool Cues
Shaft Type in Athena Pool Cues
Guides & buying advice
Frequently asked questions about Athena Pool Cues
What joint does the Athena pool cue use?
All 42 Athena cues in this category use a 5/16x18 joint pin, and the great majority are the piloted version, so aftermarket shafts and joint protectors sized for 5/16x18 fit.
What shaft size and wood does Athena use?
Every Athena cue here runs a 13.00mm shaft in hard rock maple, most cut to a 10 to 12 inch pro taper, topped with a 1 inch fiber linen ferrule.
Are Athena cues good for beginners or smaller players?
Yes. Athena is built with a shorter overall length and a thinner shaft aimed at smaller hands, and players on the AZBilliards forums describe it as a solid, inexpensive cue for a beginning or casual player.
Does the Athena pool cue come with a case?
No. None of the 42 cues in this category ship with a case. Matching 2x2 hard cases are sold separately in our Athena Cases line.
Do Athena cues hit hard or soft?
Players on the AZBilliards forums describe the hit as light rather than firm, and note it as an entry cue to enjoy now rather than one to keep long-term as your game improves.
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