Anyone who plays pool has habits you've noticed: chalk between every shot, a last rack that turns into two more, a missed shot replayed on the drive home. They also own the gear they care about already, which makes them hard to shop for.
This gift guide is for whoever is shopping: a spouse, a league partner, the friend who never misses a Thursday at the hall. It covers the five kinds of gift that get used, what each costs, and the one thing to leave on the shelf. If you're a pool player reading this, help out your friends and family by sharing this article with them.
Rule #1: Don't buy a cue
A cue is the one piece of gear a player has already settled. Weight, tip, taper and wrap were dialed in over years of trying other sticks, and they have strong opinions about yours. Picking one for them overrides every decision they have already made.
Best avoided.
Rule #2: Know your player
The right gift changes with the player.
The social player
They shoot for the stories and the table talk, and they may not own a cue. Anything they will wear or use outside the hall works best, since the table is only part of their week.
The regular
They play weekly, usually in a league, and they own the chalk, the glove and a favorite table. Aim at the routine they already run, and make league night a little better.
The competitor
Tournaments, a pre-shot routine nobody is allowed to interrupt, firm views on equipment. Quality beats novelty here, and a gift that shows you paid attention beats both.
The captain
They run the team, which means collecting the money, chasing the sizes and fronting the cash when somebody forgets. A gift that takes one of those jobs off them gets remembered.
1. A shirt they will wear to the hall
Skip the gift-shop fluff: the flaming 8-ball, the cartoon cue, the slogan about how much someone would rather be playing pool. Those end up in a drawer.
The shirts that get worn are built on the real game. Correct terms, fundamentals a player recognizes, a joke that only works if you have spent time in a hall. Our designs are:
Unique and cool
Funny and irreverent
Available in their favorite game
Serious and classic
Tees start at $27.99 and hoodies at $48.99. For the competitor, the Competition Polo starts at $45.99 and is made of lightweight moisture-wicking polyester with a flat-knit collar and a three-button placket.
What to look for:
- Soft, breathable fabric, because league nights run long
- A graphic that needs the game to land
- A fit that leaves the stroke arm free
- A color they already wear, like black, navy, sand or heather grey
- Their real size, read off the tag of a shirt they already own
2. Accessories that get used
Players obsess over small details, so a gift that fixes one of them shows you noticed.
- Pro-grade chalk like Taom, with a magnetic holder like the Kamui Chalk Shark
- A tip tool like the Last 4 Ever Combo to shape and scuff the tip
- A microfiber cue towel with a clip
- Aramith ball cleaner, if they own their own set
- A billiard glove like the Predator Second Skin, if they wear one. It goes on the bridge hand (non-dominant hand)
- A marked practice cue ball that shows where they are hitting it
3. Experiences
Players remember games, and they remember who backed them.
- A private lesson. The PBIA instructor locator lists certified instructors by state
- A tournament entry fee, local or regional
- A block of table time at the best hall in town
- A weekend road trip to a legendary pool hall within driving distance
4. Home table upgrades
If they own a table, upgrade it.
- A horsehair table brush. Never a vacuum, since suction stretches the cloth
- LED overhead lighting. Measure the table and check for a ceiling box first
- An Aramith ball set: the Premier, or the Tournament for the competitor
- A ball setter for solo practice drills
- Pocket reducers for practice sessions
- A wall-mounted cue rack
5. Team and league gear
If they shoot with a team, custom team shirts make a great gift, and Crossbank makes it easy on captains. Our Custom Design Service is where it starts.
Check out this article for a full cost breakdown.
A custom order takes design time plus about ten business days of printing and delivery once the design is approved, so order a custom gift weeks ahead. Everything a captain needs to run the order is in the captain's guide to team shirts.
Smart gifting by budget
Prices checked October 2026.
Under $40
- Taom chalk, about $20
- A tip tool, about $35
- A microfiber cue towel, about $14
- Ball cleaner, about $12
- Billiard glove, $29
- Practice cue ball, about $19
- Horsehair table brush, about $20
- A ball setter for solo practice, about $40
- Pocket reducers, about $30
- A Crossbank tee, about $28
$40 to $100
- A Crossbank hoodie, about $49, or the Competition Polo, about $46
- Taom chalk with the Chalk Shark holder, about $75 to $85 together
- A private lesson or a tournament entry fee, priced by your local room
$100 and up
- An Aramith Premier ball set, about $204
- A hard cue case, from about $169
- An eight-cue wall rack, about $230
- A weekend road trip to the best rooms within driving distance
- A full team order
What they will remember
Match the gift to the game they play. A shirt that gets worn to league night, or a lesson that fixes a stroke problem they have fought for a year, will get used.