About Omen Cues

Omen cues specializes in creating exceptional, one-of-a-kind custom cues based on the customer's specifications. These handcrafted two-piece cues begin with a commitment to perfection using the highest quality components available. Exclusive designs using inlays made of ivory, mother of pearl, exotic woods, or precious stones help set them apart from the competition. No shortcuts are taken when producing these fine custom pool cues. The finished product is a cue that any player will be proud to own.

At the age of 15, I hit my first pool ball and immediately was hooked on the game. I never imagined that I would spend the next forty years involved in some aspect of this sport.

By the time I was 18, I had become close friends with a great local pool player, Mike Sabino. As Maryland boys, we spent evenings traveling around to local pool rooms in Washington D. C. and northern Virginia. He became my teacher and we sparred often, sometimes all night long.

I moved to Melbourne, Florida to attend the Florida Institute of Technology. While in college, I played regularly in the surrounding area. After graduating in l974 with a bachelor of science degree, my friend, John Daughtridge, and I purchased the Golden Cue, a local pool room.

By 1978, I was ready to start competing in the few state and regional events that were available. I went to Tampa to a qualifier and beat David Howard in the finals to win a spot in the Southern Open, also to be held in Tampa. The field of players included Mike Sigel, Louie Roberts, Steve Cook, Buddy Hall, and so many others, all great players of that era!!

I found I really liked competition, so my partner and I started running weekend tournaments, soliciting players from the Southern Open and throughout the southeast. In 1979, we ran two regional tournaments per year and by the third event we were filling up a 64 man chart and were able to hold three tournaments per year.

By 1982, other pool room owners throughout the state started running their own tournaments around ours and this was actually the beginning of what today has become the Florida Pro Tour. Over these last 20+ years there have been quite a few new venues, but none as qualified and well promoted as the current Florida Pro Tour.

My introduction to cue fabrication began with repairing our customer's sticks. Repair is vital to running a successful business, so I learned quickly! As my proficiency increased, my interest shifted to building my own cues. I contacted an old time pool cue builder from Tampa, (Rocky Tillis) and picked his brain for some knowledge about equipment and processes.

By the late 80's I was buying blanks and assembling a few pointed cues with steel joints. In 1993, I designed a screw with 11 threads and a flat on it for my trade name, still something unique to cues today. This was the birth of OMEN CUSTOM CUES.

I had just won a Florida Tour Event and was at work when I met a man who totally changed my world. His name was David Bodenheimer, aka " Mad Scientist", who had the insight, knowledge of machinery, and drive to get the best out of anyone with whom he spent time. And time we did spend together, going to all of the Florida Pro Tour events for a couple of years and researching all we could find on how to make better cues. Look for pictures of some of the computer driven machines he has designed and built soon to be posted in the process section of my website. You can also read more about this very talented man in the testimonial section.

Today, I am making about 35 playing cues per year and perhaps 40 jump break cues. I buy and use only the best materials in the fabrication of my product. My processes have been fashioned around a well known cue builder from West Palm Beach, Mr. Dennis Searing, who has always been there for advice and consultation. I stand behind my product and welcome any e-mails or phone calls should have any questions. I look forward to building you a cue that can dramatically improve your game!