Why Judd Trump changed cue despite record-breaking season, and why world No. 1 feels it is 'not perfect' despite dazzling English Open display

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Judd Trump has enjoyed unprecedented success in recent years on the snooker tour, and spanning that impressive era has been one constant for the world No. 1 - his cue. So, after a 2024/25 season which saw Trump smash the prize-money record and set a new best for centuries in a season, it was a surprise to many to see him wielding new apparatus in his English Open first-round win on Tuesday.

'No excuses' - Trump says new cue not 'perfect' despite dazzling first-round win

Video credit: TNT Sports

For the last seven years, Judd Trump has been an imperious force on the snooker tour - winning titles, setting records, and planting himself firmly at the top of the world rankings.

Throughout that time, there has been one constant - his cue.

But despite another very impressive 2024/25 campaign, which included UK Championship glory and victory at the big-money Saudi Arabia Masters, as well as setting prize money and century records for a single campaign - the world No. 1 has changed his apparatus in the hope of drawing out yet more advantages on the baize.

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"Just fancied a change," Trump told TNT Sports after his English Open first-round whitewash win over Michael Holt.

"I needed some more power. I’ve had this cue for a couple of weeks, so I’ll try it and see what happens.

"I’m not one to mess around with cues, as soon as I get a good one I stick with it for as long as possible.

Did Trump reach career milestone using a new cue? Eagle-eyed McManus thinks so

Video credit: TNT Sports

"But some of the conditions over the last few years, it’s getting harder and harder to screw the ball back and get a lot of power.

"I think a cue kind of loses a bit of bite after a couple of years, you need a refresh every now and then."

Trump has endured a mixed start to his 2025/26 campaign, disappointed by his early exit to Oliver Lines in Saudi Arabia, while he also could not find deep runs in Wuhan or Shanghai.

But his unrivalled potting was firmly on display when he dispatched Holt on Tuesday, slamming home two centuries en route to the speedy whitewash victory - a performance which TNT Sports commentator Alan McManus labelled as "fabulous".

Despite his excellent display, Trump feels he has yet to get used to the new cue, but said it is "up to myself to get used to it".

"I don’t think it’s perfect," he said. "It’s a lot different to my old cue, so I need to get used to it. But no excuses, I’ve practised enough."

Trump will face Yuan Sijun in the second round in Brentwood, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Wednesday.

He feels his lack of deep runs in the early-season tournaments can largely be put down to bad luck.

‘Laying down an early marker’ – Trump completes 4-0 win over Holt in style

Video credit: TNT Sports

"The season so far, barring Saudi I’ve played half decent," Trump added. "Just hasn’t quite gone my way.

"I was unlucky in China, I think Gary Wilson played very well against me to win that. It’s only been a few tournaments, it’s always nice to tick one off straight away, but that hasn’t happened yet, so I’ll keep trying."

Trump will be looking to go further than last year's quarter-final exit to Wu Yize in Essex, and said extra hours practising has been key to getting accustomed to his new cue.

"Even if it’s an extra hour or two a day, it keeps you there," he said. "You want to kind of perfect the cue and make sure everything is fine with it."

Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Shanghai Masters, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

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