The inspiration behind Ton Praram III Cues

Ton Praram III Cues was founded by Palipon (Ton or Jack) Sombun, a passionate snooker player with a deep knowledge of cues and their construction. After struggling to find a cue that suited his own playing style, he decided to craft one himself — and Ton Praram III Cues was born.

Today, Ton Praram III is recognised for its quality, craftsmanship and use of carefully selected exotic and fine woods. Each cue is handmade by experienced craftsmen, with materials carefully cured and prepared to achieve the best possible performance, balance and stability.

Palipon (Ton or Jack) Sombun is well known among snooker players for his passion for the sport and his knowledge of cues. Over the years, he has evaluated, collected and exchanged many different cues, gaining a deep understanding of what makes a cue perform well.

Unable to find a cue that truly suited his own playing style, Ton decided to craft his own. This became the foundation of Ton Praram III Cues.

His experience as a player and cue enthusiast allows him to carefully consider each cue's specifications, including stiffness, weight distribution and the use of exotic woods in the butt design.

Since 2011, Ton Praram III has become recognised for producing high-quality handmade cues using fine and exotic materials. Each cue is crafted by experienced craftsmen, with some having more than 30 years of experience.

Materials are carefully selected and cured for more than a year before being used. The cues are then hand-sanded and finished using cue oil, with the SD joint used as the standard joint.

BEGIN — FROM £250

Entry-level Ton Praram III cue designed to offer an introduction to the range at an accessible price point. These cues are machine spliced and may have slightly lighter density or a little more flex than the higher ranges.

Key features

• Entry-level model
• Machine spliced construction
• Slightly lighter density or more flex than Series 1
• Starting price: £250

SERIES 1 — FROM £400

The Series 1 is the starting point for players looking for a traditional Ton Praram III cue with a focus on playability and stability. The shaft is hand-turned with an oversized taper and allowed to settle to help achieve straightness and stability.

Key features

• Classic Shaft
• Hand-turned oversized taper
• Designed for straightness and stability
• Standard base joint
• Mini butt / telescopic extension available
• Starting price: £400

SERIES 2 PRO — FROM £475

The Series 2 Pro offers a step up in materials and customisation, with carefully selected woods and the option to tailor the shaft to your requirements. It is designed for players who want greater choice in the look and specification of their cue.

Key features

• Premium Shaft
• Customisable shaft options
• Carefully selected, quality raw materials
• Choice of wood patterns
• Standard base joint
• Note: These are not Pro Shafts
• Starting price: £475

BEYOND — FROM £850

The Beyond range moves into Ton Praram III's premium handmade cues, combining carefully selected materials with more advanced construction and customisation options. These cues feature specially selected shafts and hand-spliced ebony butt sections with the traditional four-round-point pattern.

Key features

• Ultimate Shaft Grade
• Carefully selected shafts for straightness, grain and performance
• Hand-spliced ebony butt
• Four-round-point pattern
• Standard splices
• Custom shaft specifications available
• Standard base joint
• Upgrade to Pro Shaft or Full Shaft: +£300–£400, depending on model
• Starting price: £850

LIMITED EDITION — FROM £1,100

The Limited Edition range represents the top end of the standard Ton Praram III collection, offering highly customised designs using rare exotic woods and carefully selected pieces with unique grain patterns. Each cue is individually crafted with the same attention to detail found throughout the premium range.

Key features

• Top-range custom design
• Rare exotic woods
• Unique wood grain and patterns
• Specially selected shafts
• Hand-spliced ebony butt
• Standard base joint
• Upgrade to Pro Shaft or Full Shaft: +£400
• Starting price: £1,100

PRO SHAFT — FROM £1,250

The Pro Shaft represents Ton Praram III's highest grade of shaft, selected for its density, strength, grain and playing characteristics. These shafts are chosen from the very best available materials and are designed to provide excellent flex and spring while maintaining stability.

Key features

• Ultimate-grade shafts
• Very high density and strength
• Excellent grain selection
• Excellent flex and spring
• Carefully selected for performance
• Pro Shaft badge marked with P instead of the infinity logo
• Starting price: £1,250

PHANTOM FS PRO SHAFT — FROM £2,150

The Phantom FS Pro Shaft represents the highest grade of Ton Praram III cue. These cues use the finest selected exotic woods and the highest-grade ash or maple Pro Shafts. They are produced in very limited numbers and are particularly sought after by collectors and players looking for something truly exceptional.

Key features

• Highest-grade exotic woods
• Selected Pro Shaft-grade ash or maple
• Traditional Full Shaft construction
• Exceptional grain, density and playing characteristics
• Limited production
• Designed for collectors and serious players
• Standard base joint
• Starting price: £2,150

BLACK PHANTOM FS PRO SHAFT

The Black Phantom is a bespoke version featuring a jet-black ebony butt and the highest-grade selected Pro Shafts. The Black Phantom replaced the discontinued Black Bone range and is produced in very limited numbers.

Important: Ton Praram III are currently not taking orders for Black Phantom cues.

 

Ton Praram III offers several options for players looking to customise their cue. The information below explains the differences between the various shaft and construction options, helping you understand what each designation means.

FULL SHAFT (FS)

Full Shaft cues use the traditional construction method where the shaft runs through the full length of the cue before the splice. Although shorter shafts have become more common, the traditional Full Shaft construction remains popular and has no detrimental effect on performance.

FS upgrades:

• Series 1 FS — from +£75
• Series 2 Pro FS — from +£150
• Beyond FS — from +£300–£400
• Limited Edition FS — from +£400

WHAT MAKES ONE SHAFT BETTER THAN ANOTHER?

When Ton Praram III grades a shaft, several important characteristics are considered. These factors help determine the quality, performance and feel of the finished cue.

STRENGTH

A strong shaft is important for durability and consistency, helping the cue maintain its playing characteristics over time.

DENSITY / WEIGHT

The density and weight of the wood influence the overall feel, balance and response of the cue.

FLEX / SPRING

The amount of flex and spring in a shaft affects how the cue responds during play. Different players may prefer different characteristics.

VISUAL GRAIN

The quality and appearance of the grain are also considered when selecting and grading shafts, particularly for premium and bespoke cues.

Selecting and grading quality shafts is a skill developed through knowledge and experience. Ton Praram III carefully assesses the available materials to select shafts that meet the requirements of each cue and player.