A lot of us have experienced a massive buzz about "Peri cues". But, very few of us know a whole lot about the brand. I got curious and did some digging.
Related Peri buyer's guides and reviews
First of all; Peri cues are a massive brand. Perhaps even the biggest brand in the entire world of cue sports. They've got 1000 employees at their factory! The Peri brand is owned by Weilu Billiards International Co. It's run by a very influential family in China. Founded in 1998.
Their factory produces pool cues, carom cues, snooker cues, pool tables, snooker tables, Chinese 8-ball tables, lighting, cue cases, and basically anything a pool hall/player would need. During the manufacturing process, the workers comply with very strict protocols. (Footnote: up till recently they also produced the "Eclat" brand, but stopped in early 2020 to focus solely on the Peri brand).
Spearheading the brand outside of China is Jayson Shaw. In 2018 he signed a record-long deal for 10 years! He joins the already decent-sized roster of 60+ Chinese and other players.
I think it’s safe to say that a player of Jayson Shaw’s caliber would not settle with anything but top quality!
Which cue does Jayson Shaw play with?
Jayson plays with a few different Peri pool cues. This is his current set up as of today: Break cue: PBH-G01-W Jump cue: Eagle PBH-T1 Playing cue: Duke Aquitaine P-T03 Cue case: Golden Python 3 x 4 and White Kylin 2 x 4
Peri cues are simply the best I ever play with! - Jayson Shaw
Sure, some of you might think that the players do not care about which cue they play with as long as they got those big sponsorship dollars, right? Well, that could not be further from the truth. The sponsorship money pales in comparison with what the top pros make from tournament winnings and money games. So, the only thing they care about is having great quality cues.
By signing Jayson Shaw, Peri made a statement. They are here to capture market shares in the U.S.
China is an enormous market, but Peri is already the outright leader there. So, now they are targeting the US and the EU markets. The whole Covid19 situation put an abrupt stop to their momentum. I have however noticed that their Facebook group grew from 300 to 3000 followers since March 2020. And that's in the midst of the quarantine.
The Peri pockets are deep. Very deep. I expect them to make an aggressive charge as soon as the world returns to normal. They've already established a good sponsoring relationship with the Eurotour, and I know for a fact they are willing to sponsor U.S.-based events as well. They already established a regular high-profile Chinese event in the LCBA.
So what is it about the Peri cues that make them a serious contender?
First of all, they have a ton of experience in making cues. They've been at it for 20+ years. In fact, they used to make cues for other well-known brands in the past. Brands many think are "100% US-MADE". Secondly, they use mainly exotic and high-quality materials in their production. Cocobolo, Ebony, and Canadian maple are regular components in their cues. Their factory is actually super high-tech. And if you don't mind having a production line cue, they are a great option to consider. Especially the Peri break cues have gained a lot of attention. They look great and are very aggressively priced. Sources tell me they priced it so low to basically piss off another well-known brand. Both the break cues and jump cues are actually priced very “competitively” and they are gaining more and more traction in the sales figure.
Peri pool cues prices
Some say "Peri cues are too expensive" and I would have to agree. Their upper-level cue series are way overpriced. I don't think a lot of people will buy these models considering you can get a custom cue at the same prices. However, in China, they sell a lot of them, and they can't really lower their prices for the "outside-China" market. I would, however, say that their starting and mid-level cues are very well priced. They start as low as $200, but if you want inlays and not overlays, you need to move towards the $600+ region.
How are Peri Cues built?
As previously mentioned, the Peri Cues are made from the finest exotic wood like Cocobolo and Canadian maple. The 2020 models are more "westernized" compared to the previous ones who tended to have an Asian style. In regards to "technology", their handles have an embedded carbon fiber structure (patented technology) to ensure stability.
Some cues will take several days to complete. The Peri P20 shaft is reaping good reviews. All shafts are stored for 49 days at a constant degree of 77f with a humidity of 35-45%. Reports say that they never run out of cues. Their production capacity is huge, and they only run out of limited and/or discontinued models.
I'd love to hear your thought on the Peri brand and cues. Put down your comments in the SPM Facebook group. (And don't forget to smash that like button/heart down in the corner)
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(Image: EPBF/DM)