[pwd72s]

I did the work...my first suggestion of the McDermott was of what I consider a decent entry level playing cue...one that a beginner would be able to use even as skills increase...skills like learning about deflection, english, cue ball shape (which really is the game), etc. A cheap $100 cue is unlikely able to do these skills well...especially with it's standard tip. That McDermott was equipped with a decent tip.

(edit) Clicked on that link from Dick's. Miserak (Named after the late great Steve Miserak) and Viper...both cheaply made Chinese cues, as I described earlier. No better, no worse, than what you'll find at Wal-Mart. The $104 Viper might have a decent shaft...might not. I bought a similar one some years back as a cue I thought I'd leave in my car trunk. Had a good tip installed. It had a huge deflection, but I'd learned to compensate.
Hated it's nylon wrap. When the shaft warped from trunk carry, I tossed it.