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Cognoscenti Cues has been a mainstay in the high-end cue market for over two decades. Founder Joe Gold set out to make the perfect-hitting (and looking) cue stick. His quest forced him to re-think every aspect of the cue stick, including the taper, construction of parts, tolerances, glues, and finishes. After over a year of research, Joe combined space-age technology, the highest quality woods, and opulent inlay materials. Cognoscenti Cues were quickly coveted by players and collectors alike. Throughout the last twenty years, Joe Gold has remained ahead of the curve with regard to technology and technique. He has solidified his reputation as one of the best cue makers in history. One of the benefits of having such a reputation is that the cognoscenti of the industry want a Cognoscenti Cue.

A couple years ago I was speaking to Joe Rogan (of Fear Factor and UFC fame) who mentioned that he had wanted a Cognoscenti for some time. After putting the two men in touch, Rogan had decided on a modified design of a classic Cognoscenti point. The updated point features a small spearhead on the tip of each point. Each point is elephant ivory and inlaid to the highest precision standard in the industry. I asked Rogan about his cue and he wrote " I absolutely love this cue. It has a classic tuxedo look to it, and it really jumps out at you with the fine silver lines and ebony dots in the points. There's also the tiniest dot in the tips of the points that catches the light." One of Joe Gold's design strengths has always been to create central focal points. An example is the line that goes through the .999 fine silver ovals and their negative-space frames, and through each black dots in the points on the forearm and butt. The eye is drawn to this focal point, from which it is drawn up the point by the thin silver line.

Finally the subtle silver dot that Joe Rogan mentioned finishes and helps to frame the design. The black dots ground the ivory inlays and ties together the "tuxedo" design elements, including the fine leather handle. No modern Cognoscenti Cue would be complete without the trademark set of 30-stitch silver rings. As far as the playability, the most important factor for Joe Rogan, he admits "...the cue plays lights out. It's the best hitting cue I've ever played with, and my first cognoscenti. I've been hearing about how amazing these cues are for years, and now I finally understand what everyone was saying!" It's important to know that Joe Rogan is by far the best-playing celebrity in the world, whose game is well respected by top professionals.

Since receiving his first Cognoscenti, Joe Rogan has already ordered and received his second custom cue from Joe Gold.