When Rhino introduced the MUST Shaft, it was developed with a clear purpose: to give serious players a more refined alternative to conventional carbon shafts - one that could deliver ultra-low-deflection performance without sacrificing the feedback and the wood-like feel.
The response to the MUST Shaft confirmed that many players were looking for more than a high-performance shaft. They wanted to experience the ultimate fusion: flawless low-deflection performance combined with a natural, wood-like hit feel.
That idea led to the Rhino MUST Cue.
The MUST Cue is not simply a MUST Shaft attached to an arbitrary cue butt. It is a complete playing system engineered around the characteristics of the MUST Shaft. Rhino combines the MUST Shaft with a redesigned carbon fiber cue butt, a precision 3/8-8 stainless steel joint, and the Japanese NISHIKI Black M tip. The result is a complete carbon fiber pool cue designed to bring low-deflection performance, stability, feedback, and refined feel together in one setup.
For Rhino, this represents another step in the development of carbon fiber cue: not simply adding more carbon, but carefully refining how every component contributes to the playing experience.
1. The MUST Shaft: Where It All Begins
At the heart of every MUST Cue is the Rhino MUST Carbon Fiber Super Low Deflection Shaft.
The MUST Shaft was developed specifically for serious players, league competitors, and advanced enthusiasts who want the precision of carbon fiber while retaining a more natural, responsive feel. Its performance comes from the careful combination of several key elements, each engineered to contribute to a more controlled and connected playing experience.
From its proprietary carbon construction to its forward-balanced design, Hybrid Pro Taper, and extended 30-inch length, every detail of the MUST Shaft is designed with the needs of experienced players in mind:
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Proprietary Carbon Construction with a More Natural Feel
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Ultra-Low Deflection for Precise Cue-Ball Control
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Forward-Balanced for a More Connected Stroke
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Hybrid Pro Taper for Bridge Comfort
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30-Inch Length for Extended Reach
Together, these features give the MUST Shaft its distinctive playing character - combining the low-deflection performance of carbon fiber with the responsive feedback and natural feel traditionally associated with premium wood. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RHINO MUST SHAFT
2. More Than a Shaft: The Rhino MUST Cue Butt
A shaft can define a large part of a cue's overall feel, but a complete cue performance depends on how the shaft works together with the butt.
That is why Rhino developed the MUST Cue as a complete system rather than treating the butt as an afterthought.
The MUST Cue butt uses an aerospace-grade carbon fiber construction, measures 29 inches, weighs approximately 15–15.5 oz, and supports a weight adjustment system. Combined with the 30-inch MUST Shaft, the complete cue creates a modern carbon fiber setup designed around stability, balance, and control.
2.1. 3/8-8 Stainless Steel Joint and Precision Joint Fit
The shaft-to-butt connection is one of the most important things in a pool cue.
The MUST Cue uses a 3/8-8 stainless steel joint, providing a secure mechanical connection between the shaft and butt. A precise joint fit allows both components to function together as a unified system, supporting consistent energy transfer and a solid response at impact.
For players who pay close attention to feedback and hit consistency, the joint is not simply a hardware specification. It is an essential part of how the complete cue comes together.
2.2. Aerospace-grade Carbon Fiber Cue Butt
The MUST Cue continues to utilize the carbon fiber advantage beyond the shaft.
Its cue butt is constructed from aerospace-grade carbon fiber, creating a consistent material platform throughout the complete cue. This gives Rhino greater control over structural stability, weight distribution, and the overall relationship between the shaft and butt.
The objective is not carbon fiber for its own sake. It is to create a complete cue in which the construction, balance, and playing characteristics work together.
Rhino Must Cue Butt - a Perfect Match to Your Must Shaft
2.3. A Slimmer, More Refined Butt Profile
The shape of a cue butt directly affects how naturally it sits in the player's hand.
Rhino's cue design uses a refined, slimmer butt profile intended to provide a comfortable grip and smooth movement through the stroke. For players who prefer a less clunky feel in the hand, this can contribute to a more natural transition from address to follow-through.
Combined with the forward-balanced MUST Shaft, the overall setup is designed to feel connected rather than cumbersome.
2.4. Grip Options for Different Playing Preferences
Not every serious player wants the same grip.
That is why the MUST Cue is offered with different grip configurations depending on the model. Current MUST Cue versions include wrapless, premium cowhide leather with embossed sharkskin texture, and premium cowhide leather with embossed elephant texture.
These options allow players to choose a cue that matches not only their preferred playing feel, but also their personal sense of style.
3. Design: Performance with a Distinctive Identity
A serious playing cue does not have to look visually plain.
The Rhino MUST Cue combines its carbon fiber construction with distinctive visual designs intended to give each model its own character.
Five Distinctive Designs of the Must Cue
The current MUST collection includes five designs:
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MU1 Burl Bluepoint
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MU2 Bocote Ebony Diamond
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MU3 Crimson Bluepoint
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MU4 Verde Multiveneer
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MU5 Maple Azure Inlay
Each design uses its own combination of colors, patterns, points, veneers, or inlays, allowing players to choose a cue that reflects their individual taste.
MU1 & MU3: Bluepoint Designs
The MU1 Burl Bluepoint and MU3 Crimson Bluepoint are inspired by the traditional Sneaky Pete aesthetic.
Sneaky Pete cues are known for their understated appearance and the visual character of a traditional playing cue. Rhino takes this familiar design direction and gives it a more contemporary interpretation through distinctive point work, refined materials, and modern carbon fiber construction.
The result is a cue that balances classic pool-cue character with modern performance.
MU2, MU4 & MU5: Southwest-Inspired Designs
The MU2 Bocote Ebony Diamond, MU4 Verde Multiveneer, and MU5 Maple Azure Inlay draw inspiration from the distinctive visual language of Southwest cue design. Southwest-inspired cues are often recognized for their strong geometric structure, carefully arranged points, veneers, and contrasting materials.
Each model presents the Southwest influence differently.
MU2 Bocote Ebony Diamond combines rich wood tones with diamond-inspired detailing, creating a darker and more traditional character.
MU4 Verde Multiveneer uses veneer elements and contrasting tones to create a more dynamic visual identity.
MU5 Maple Azure Inlay combines maple-inspired elements with blue accents and decorative inlay details, giving the cue a refined and contemporary appearance.
4. What Players Are Saying About the MUST Cue
Overall, players are satisfied with the shaft performance, its low-deflection property, and its look.
Conclusion: A Further Step Toward Perfection
The Rhino MUST Cue represents more than the expansion of the MUST Shaft into a complete cue.
It represents the next stage of Rhino's approach to carbon fiber equipment: taking the performance advantages of carbon technology and refining the details that experienced players notice most - balance, feedback, hit feel, cue-ball control, and overall consistency.
The MUST Shaft established the foundation. The complete MUST Cue builds upon it by bringing the shaft, butt, joint, grip, tip, and design together as one engineered system.
For serious players looking for a low-deflection carbon fiber pool cue with a more natural, wood-like playing feel, the MUST Cue offers a complete setup designed around that exact philosophy.
It is not simply another carbon cue.
It is Rhino's further step toward making carbon fiber feel more natural, more refined, and more connected to the player.
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