The Evolution of a Legend: Meet the Black Mamba II Leather Strips
The original Black Mamba by Longoni won the hearts of many pool players, and its successor carries that legacy forward with purpose. The Black Mamba II Leather Strips variant, first produced in 2025, has quickly become the most sought-after version in the entire Black Mamba II lineup. It combines Italian heritage, striking aesthetics, and serious engineering depth into a single cue.
The timing makes sense. The high-end pool cue market was valued at $285.4 million in 2025 and is growing at a 4.7% CAGR, reflecting a clear trend: serious players are investing in premium equipment that matches their commitment to the game. This guide breaks down everything that makes the Black Mamba II Leather Strips worth your attention, from its proprietary wood to its internal construction and shaft options.
URAL Wood: Black as Ebony, Built Differently
The deep black body of the Black Mamba II is not ebony. It is something Longoni developed on their own terms. URAL wood starts as European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), a hardwood native to Europe, which then undergoes Longoni's proprietary deep-staining process. This involves alternating cycles of pressurization and depressurization that drive pigment deep into the wood's cellular structure. The result is an ebony-like black appearance that preserves the natural grain depth and character of the original timber. This is not a surface stain that will wear or chip over time.
Longoni introduced URAL wood into their product line in fall 2019, which means the Black Mamba II represents one of the more mature applications of this technology. The company has had years to refine how URAL performs in a playing cue, and the results speak for themselves.
From a practical standpoint, European hornbeam offers medium-to-high density, excellent dimensional stability, and a long service life. These are not just aesthetic talking points. A stable butt section means more consistent weight distribution and feedback over years of play. And unlike traditional ebony, hornbeam is not at risk of extinction, making URAL a more eco-conscious choice for players who care about sustainability alongside performance.
Real ebony is increasingly difficult to source responsibly, and many premium cue makers have struggled with the tension between tradition and environmental responsibility. Longoni's URAL wood addresses that gap directly: you get the visual presence of ebony with the structural reliability of hornbeam, minus the ecological concerns. No other competitor content currently explains this distinction clearly, and it is one worth understanding before you invest.
Craftsmanship Behind the Cue: 80 Years of Italian Making
Longoni is a family-owned Italian company founded in 1945 by Alessandro Longoni in Mariano Comense, near Milan. The Brianza region where the factory sits has been celebrated for wood craftsmanship since the 18th century. Over 80 years later, Longoni still produces every shaft, including laminated models, entirely at their Mariano Comense facility. Each shaft's processing cycle lasts at least 24 months from raw wood to finished product. That kind of patience is rare in modern manufacturing.
The Black Mamba II Leather Strips showcases this heritage through deliberate design choices. Across the forearm and butt sleeve, you will find 24 sets of turquoise and white inlays. The strong color contrast against the deep black URAL body is intentional, creating a visual signature that is immediately recognizable on any table.
The handle itself features genuine leather strips with turquoise stitching. Serious players tend to favor leather grips for good reason: they provide superior tactile feedback during the stroke and manage moisture more effectively than synthetic wraps. Over long sessions, that grip consistency makes a real difference in shot confidence.
A practical detail worth noting is the 3Lobite-installed extension system. This built-in feature allows full compatibility with original Longoni extensions, so players who regularly use an extension will not need adapters or workarounds. In a market increasingly flooded with factory-produced alternatives, the Black Mamba II stands apart as a genuinely handcrafted instrument built by people who have been doing this for eight decades.
Inside the Technology: HEXA-CORE Construction and VP2 Joint
Beneath the leather and inlays, the Black Mamba II Leather Strips uses a double-core handle construction that directly affects how the cue feels and performs. At its center is an Ergal component, an aerospace-grade aluminum alloy machined with CNC precision. This internal Hexacore piece features elasticity-calibrating grooves and is fixed both mechanically and chemically inside the butt. It will not shift or loosen over time.
Longoni's HEXA-CORE technology was designed to combine the silence of their X-CORE metal system with the harmony of the XYLOCORE system. In practical terms, the butt absorbs unwanted vibration on contact without deadening the natural feedback that experienced players rely on. You feel the hit cleanly, without the rattle or buzz that cheaper construction methods produce.
The steel VP2 pin joint completes the connection between butt and shaft. It provides an ultra-firm lock that maximizes energy transfer on every stroke. The VP2 is also engineered for strong resistance to humidity and wear, and it maintains precise butt-to-shaft alignment over the life of the cue.
For the player, these specs translate into tangible benefits: more consistent stroke feedback, better energy transfer at the cue ball, and long-term structural reliability that justifies the investment. The cue has a minimum weight of 19 oz and uses both URAL and maple woods in its construction.
Choosing Your Shaft: S2, S20, S30, or Luna Nera?
Shaft selection is not just about price tier. Each option on the Black Mamba II Leather Strips has a distinct deflection profile suited to different playing styles, and choosing the right one will shape your experience with this cue.
S2 Shaft ($1,990 total)
Built from 10 highly selected Canadian hard rock maple slices, the S2 is elastic and low-deflection. It is ideal for players who rely on extreme English and want a responsive wood shaft that rewards precise cueing. Best suited for intermediate-to-advanced players.
S20 Shaft ($2,070 total)
The S20 occupies the mid-range position for players seeking a balance between traditional wood feel and modern low-deflection performance. It is a solid choice if you appreciate the character of maple but want a step up in consistency.
S30 Shaft ($2,120 total)
This is the premium wood shaft in the lineup. For players who want the most refined wood-shaft experience Longoni offers on this cue, the S30 delivers.
Luna Nera Shaft ($2,220 total)
The Luna Nera is a unidirectional carbon (graphite) shaft with extremely low deflection, calibrated balancing, and polyurethane filling for vibration absorption. It is ideal for players transitioning to carbon or already committed to it. The carbon fiber pool cue market reached $322 million in 2025 and is projected to hit $409 million by 2032, reflecting how many players are making this shift.
A Butt Only option is also available at $1,735 for players who already own a compatible Longoni shaft with a VP2 joint.
Where to Buy: Exclusive US Availability at Billiard City
The Longoni Black Mamba II Leather Strips is exclusively available in the US market at Billiard City (billiard.city). No other US retailer carries this cue. As an authorized Longoni dealer, we guarantee genuine stock sourced directly from the manufacturer. Every cue ships from our warehouse in Boca Raton, FL, with no drop-shipping delays. Orders over $99 ship free within the US.
We carry over 2,000 billiard products across pool, carom, snooker, and Russian pyramid, and we serve international customers and wholesale dealers alike. If you are a first-time buyer, our 4.7-star rating from over 122 verified reviews on Judge.me reflects the standard of service we hold ourselves to. When you are investing in a cue at this level, knowing your dealer is authorized and accountable matters.
Is the Black Mamba II Leather Strips Right for You?
This cue is built for the intermediate-to-advanced or competitive player who values Italian craftsmanship, distinctive aesthetics, and engineering precision. The price range of $1,735 to $2,220 depending on shaft configuration places it firmly in the premium segment, but within a high-end market growing at 4.7% annually, this is an investment that holds its value.
The Black Mamba II lineup includes four wrap variants: Leather Strips, Lizard Style, Elk Style, and Natural (no wrap). Among them, the Leather Strips is the most sought-after. The combination of genuine leather, turquoise stitching, and the deep black URAL body creates something that looks and feels distinct in your hands.
Visit billiard.city to configure the Black Mamba II Leather Strips with your preferred shaft option. US orders over $99 ship free, and our team is here to help if you have any questions about finding the right setup for your game.