Power Glide

Power Glide History and Future

Power Glide established itself as a significant name in the world of snooker and billiards, known for its extensive range of cues and founding by a legendary figure in cue sports.

Desmond Rex Williams along with his brother Ken established the cue manufacturing business in 1968. Desmond, known as Rex was at that time a professional billiards and snooker player, the brothers began making hand-made cues of the highest quality in the U.K.

Over time the company also began to produce other cue sports equipment such as chalk, cue tips, ball markers and cue care requisites and in 1975, Rex Williams Leisure was established, a business focused on manufacturing and hiring snooker and pool tables thus creating a comprehensive ecosystem around every aspect of cue sports, from the table surface to the cue tip.

Rex Williams

Rex Williams had a remarkable playing career, he started playing on a full-sized table when he was 13 years of age. Coached by professional, Kingsley Kennerley.

He turned professional in 1951 at the age of 17 and was the second player to achieve an official maximum break of 147 in snooker in an exhibition match in December 1965.

Williams revived the World Professional Billiards Championship after a 17 year hiatus, winning seven times between 1968 and 1983, including a continuous reign from 1968 to 1980.

In 1980 Williams reached the final of the World Professional Billiards Championship, a historic occasion in the competition as Rex lost to Fred Davis, younger brother of Joe Davis. This allowed Fred to join his brother as the only other person to hold both the World Snooker and World Billiards Championship trophy. Fred recommended Power Glide cues in his book “Talking Snooker”.

Rex Williams was also instrumental in reviving the World Snooker Championship in 1964 then as a challenge competition.

Williams became the oldest player to reach a ranking tournament final at 53 years old in the 1986 Grand Prix narrowly losing to Jimmy White. His highest world ranking was 6th, in 1976/1977.

Beyond playing, Rex also chaired the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) for many years, from 1968 to 1987 as founding chairman, and again from 1997 to 1999. Rex Williams was inducted into the WPBSA Snooker Hall of Fame in 2016, this honour acknowledged not just his playing achievements, but his broader impact on cue sports as manufacturer and administrator.

For many years Rex Williams was a regular commentator on BBC and ITV and in 2020, for his contributions to snooker and billiards, Williams was awarded the British Empire Medal.

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Power Glide Cues

Power Glide has produced a diverse array of cues, catering to various player preferences and budgets. Some of the cues made by Power Glide are remembered fondly and respected by older players, they were often made with mature timbers and carried name plates with impressive names suggesting style and pedigree. Names such as; The Executive, The Statesman, The Diplomat, The Envoy, The Ambassador and The Purist.

Perhaps the most famous cue From Power Glide is the Connoisseur cue, which father of snooker legend Stephen Hendry purchased for £40 when Stephen was 13. Hendry used this cue throughout his illustrious career, including during his seven World Snooker Championship wins. The cue went missing once and Hendry offered a £10,000 reward. The cue was retired only when it broke in 2003. Interestingly, Hendry’s cue was the chocolate brown beaded badge version with bronze foil inserts and the distinctive Lion logo, not the red enamelled or black badge varieties that some collectors often speculate about.

Power Glide also produced the “Rex Williams original cue,” a highly collectible model that was effectively a facsimile of Williams’ own cue, each cue was numbered and came with a certificate with a wax seal and also numbered.

Many years ago David Smith (Cues n Views founder) caused consternation at Power Glide by attempting to order a centre jointed version of the Rex Williams Original cue, so committed to making accurate representations of the original were Power Glide that it took all his powers of persuasion to get them to agree. When the cue arrived David was delighted with it, he’s had a soft spot for Power Glide ever since.

The “Embassy cue” is another model that specifically recognised Power Glide’s association with the Embassy World Snooker Championships, notably having a sales stand at the Embassy World Championships in Sheffield for many years, they even produced branded accessories like Embassy chalk and ball markers.

Power Glide and the Unicorn Group

Power Glide maintained a strong presence in the cue sports world, notably as mentioned previously, having a sales stand at the Embassy World Championships in Sheffield for many years. The brand has evolved over time, and Power Glide cues and other cue sports equipment are still produced since the Williams brothers left the business in the early 1990s.

Power Glide is currently part of the Unicorn Group of Companies, which also includes Gunn & Moore and Unicorn Darts.

Their product offerings continue to include:

• Three-quarter jointed cues: These full-size cues split into two pieces with the joint located three-quarters along the cue, making them very popular
• Centre-jointed cues: These cues split in the middle, offering a more compact form for easier transport and storage
• One-piece cues: Valued by purists, these full-size cues have no joint
• Junior cues: Shorter cues designed for younger players
• Budget cues: Affordable options for those on a tight budget

Despite changes in ownership, the company aims to uphold its traditional values while incorporating modern technical excellence to ensure consistency and reliability, allowing players to purchase with confidence.

From its founding by professional player Rex Williams and business man Ken Williams to its current position as part of a larger sports group, Power Glide has maintained its commitment to providing high-quality cues for players of all levels. Its legacy is intertwined with the achievements of its founders and the success of players who wielded its products, continuing to be a favoured brand in the cue sports community.

John A Smith
Cues n Views

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