Tillis Cues

Rocky Tillis (RT-3) - 1970's Rosewood, dot and barbell inlays, 3 full shafts

Rocky Tillis made cues for nearly 30 years in Tampa, Florida. Woodworking was his hobby; his cue making started the day in the 1960's he decided to try his hand at making his son a pool cue. He modeled some of his cues after his pool playing friends' Balabushkas, and also liked to use inlays fashioned from old pool and snooker balls. Rocky had very simple equipment, so many of his inlays were dots or windows, of white, red, pink, or black. The old phenolic material yellows with age; much like micarta. Tillis made Merry Widows, Titlist conversions, and is known to have used a full-spliced blank for at least one of his 6-point cues. A whole generation of Tampa cue makers learned their craft from Rocky. His cues were very popular, particularly with Florida players.

This classic rosewood Merry Widow (possibly African boquiva) was authenticated by two of Rocky's apprentices: Terry McEniry of Gunn Cues, and David Barber. David told me he was in the Tillis shop when Rocky made the cue in the 1970's. It has the trademark Tillis dot inlays. The once-white inlays are yellowed phenolic or micarta. In the center of the forearm two slender windows alternate with two barbells, each made of two dots joined by maple and rosewood veneers. A circle of four dots decorates the top and the bottom of the forearm. The butt sleeve has four matching barbell inlays, framed with white and black rings above and below at B and C.

The piloted stainless steel joint has a 5/16-18 pin and a polished ¾ inch collar. The butt is finished with a 1-1/2 inch white Delrin butt cap and a black rubber bumper attached with a recessed hex screw.

Delicate ringwork of maple and ebony set in thin white bands decorates the piloted stainless steel joint and shaft collars at D and E. The cue was refinished in 2003, and a new leather wrap was added.

The cue has three full, straight shafts, all 29 inches, with one-inch fibre ferrules in excellent condition.

Shaft #1 - 12.5mm, 4 oz. (112g); it has had the most play and shows some chalk staining.

Shaft #2 - 12.46mm, 4 oz. (112g), it is very clean.

Shaft #3 - 12.63mm, 4-1/4 oz. (118g) like new; the tip has a red fibre backing.

It is a newer shaft, with ringwork matching the original.

The butt weight is 15-3/4 oz. (446g).

Weight: 19-3/4 - 20 oz. depending on shaft used. Length: 57-3/4 inches.

This is an opportunity to own a solid-hitting cue and a piece of cuemaking history.

PRICE: $1750 BUY / Contact Us