So, you're ready to buy your own pool cue. If you've done any looking around at all, you may have more questions than answers. Pool cues can range from around $50.00 to $5,000.00. How do you know which one is "perfect" cue for you?

First of all, you need to know some of terminology. There are two basic types of Pool cues -- called production or custom.

Production cues are computer designed and mass produced. Custom cues are handmade, often from exotic materials, and are created just for you -- based on length of your arms, size of your hands, how you shoot, etc.

While choosing right Pool cue stick is a largely a matter of personal preference and style, there are some basic tips that can help you find perfect stick for you.

1. Size does matter! It's actually related to length of your arms. Longer arms -- longer stick. Cue sticks typically start at around 57 inches.

2. Make sure that stock of stick is completely straight and not crooked. It's fairly simple to figure out. Put stick on a flat surface like a table, and roll it under your palm a couple of times. If it's crooked, you'll know it. You can also hold stick tip pointed down, and site down along length.

If you need a tryout format for your league, All-Stars, or for an individual team, here are some good guidelines that are flexible and give coaches a good idea of players' abilities.

Make sure you run them. Whatever distances your bases are, make sure they run a dash from home to first and a dash from home to second. Time and log everything! HINT: Run them side by side if you are running in outfield. The competition makes for better times.

Hitting will make or break a team. Have a coach or a consistent pitching machine throw about 10 pitches to every player. Giving only 3 or 4 pitches may eliminate some good hitters. Don't always look for guy who can knock one over fence if he strikes out a lot. Look for guys who hit ball hard, hopefully gap doubles. While some players are hitting, make sure you have other groups doing something else, such as running or fielding. Don't put all guys on field and have them play a game.....yet. When picking your team, always pick guy that may hit for average and hopefully, some power. Remember, base hits will win you more ball games than occasional long ball.

Fielding.... When hitting to them, make sure you hit pop ups, grounders, line drives, slow rollers, and make them go right and left. I would take a guy who is a below average hitter and an above average fielder rather than a good hitter and a poor fielder (you just run out of places to hide them on defense, especially if you have more than one of this type of player). Offense wins games but pitching and defense prevents losses. Another potential problem to avoid is guy that is very limited to one position. This absolutely will hurt you more than you can imagine. You will find yourself realigning an entire team’s defense when that one catcher-only or 1st baseman-only player is on your roster. Let me list what positions need what attributes:

Catcher- Needs to be a very loud, aware take charge guy; May be even smartest and most baseball-knowledgeable player on your team. You can't have a slow catcher, he must be agile and quick. If not, sooner or later it will come back to haunt you.

1st baseman- Also can't be very slow or it will hurt you. He must be able to cover some ground as more infield errors occur from bad throws than missed balls!