The Cue Built for a Two-Time World Champion
Niels Feijen, known across the pool world as "The Terminator," has earned two world championship titles, a BCA Hall of Fame induction (the first Dutch-born player ever honored), 14 Mosconi Cup appearances, 8 Mosconi Cup wins, and 4 MVP awards. When a player with that résumé puts his name on a cue, the result is more than a signature piece.
The Longoni Flames Linen is Feijen's 6th signature cue model, designed in direct collaboration with the Longoni family. Each iteration has refined his vision further, and this version represents the most complete expression of what he demands from a playing instrument. It is match-ready, engineered to his exact competitive standards, and hand-signed with an individual serial number.
The Flames Linen is exclusively available at Billiard City (billiard.city), making it a rare find for serious players and collectors alike. This is the only authorized US source.
Italian Craftsmanship: What 'Made in Mariano Comense' Really Means
Every Longoni cue, including the Flames Linen, is produced entirely at the Longoni factory in Mariano Comense, a small town in the Province of Como, Italy. This is not a branding exercise. The Longoni family directly supervises every stage of production, and no part of the manufacturing process is outsourced.
The shaft production cycle alone takes a minimum of 24 months. It begins with careful raw lumber selection, followed by vacuum drying to remove internal moisture without cracking or warping the wood. After drying, the shafts undergo an extended climate stabilization period. Most cue manufacturers skip this entirely or compress it into weeks. Longoni treats it as non-negotiable.
The butt construction uses what Longoni calls URAL wood: European hornbeam that undergoes an innovative deep staining process. The wood is subjected to alternating cycles of pressurization and depressurization, forcing the stain deep into the grain rather than coating the surface. The result is a finish that resists wear, maintains its appearance over years of play, and delivers structural durability that surface-treated wood cannot match.
With over 80 years of continuous Italian manufacturing heritage, Longoni occupies a distinct position in the premium cue market. As players increasingly seek traceable, artisan-made equipment over mass-produced alternatives, a cue with genuine provenance carries real weight. The Flames Linen is not assembled from outsourced components. It is built, start to finish, under one roof by people who have been doing this for generations.
Design and Materials: Ebony, Curly Maple, and Bocote
The visual identity of the Flames Linen starts with its ebony (URAL/hornbeam) forearm and matching butt sleeve. These dark, richly stained surfaces provide the foundation for the cue's signature aesthetic: curved inlays of curly maple and bocote that sweep along the forearm, creating the "Flames" pattern that gives the cue its name.
Curly maple was chosen for its distinctive figuring, which catches light and creates depth against the dark hornbeam. Bocote adds warm, golden-brown tones with dramatic grain patterns. Together, these three wood species produce a cue that is visually striking without being flashy.
The physical specifications are built around competitive play. The cue weighs 19 oz (540 gr.), features a 29-inch shaft, and comes fitted with a 12.4mm Kamui Original Soft tip. Each cue carries a hand-signed serial number from Niels Feijen himself, adding both collectible value and a verifiable layer of authenticity.
The Flames Linen ships with a complete accessory package: a Longoni black cue bag, joint protectors, a tip protector, a Longoni patch, and a cue certificate. Everything needed to protect and authenticate your investment is included from day one.
Choosing Your Grip: The Four Flames Versions Explained
The Flames lineup is available in four grip configurations: Wood (no wrap), Leather, Linen, and Longoni Leather Strips. Each version uses the same forearm, butt, and joint system. The only difference is what your hand touches during the stroke.
The Linen version features an Irish linen handgrip, a material prized for its natural moisture-wicking properties. Linen fibers pull perspiration away from the hand, maintaining consistent tactile feedback even during extended sessions or in humid playing environments. For league players grinding through multi-hour matches, or anyone who plays in warm conditions, this is a practical advantage that compounds over time.
Leather wraps offer a smoother feel with less moisture absorption, suiting players who prefer a polished, broken-in grip texture. Bare wood delivers maximum sensory feedback from the cue itself, with zero grip texture between your hand and the butt. It is the purest feel, but it requires dry hands or regular use of a grip product.
Longoni Leather Strips split the difference, offering segmented leather contact points with small gaps between them. Choosing the right grip is a personal decision. Understanding how each material behaves under playing conditions helps you pick the version that matches your game, not just your preferences on paper.
The VP2 Joint and Shaft Options: Engineering Full Energy Transfer
At the heart of the Flames Linen's performance is Longoni's patented VP2 joint, introduced in 2004. The VP2 uses an ultra-firm lock mechanism that transfers energy between butt and shaft more efficiently than traditional wooden pin joints. Because the connection is metal-to-metal with precision tolerances, there is virtually no energy loss at the joint during impact.
The VP2 is also impervious to humidity and highly resistant to wear. Wooden joints can swell, shrink, or loosen over time depending on climate conditions. The VP2 eliminates that variable entirely, making it a long-term performance investment rather than a component that degrades under tournament conditions.
The Flames Linen is compatible with four Longoni shaft options: the S2, S20, and S30 Stratos laminated wood shafts, and the Luna Nera carbon graphite shaft. Each offers a different playing experience.
The Luna Nera deserves special attention. It is a unidirectional carbon graphite shaft engineered for extreme low deflection, high power output, and complete resistance to deformation in humid conditions. For players who prioritize shot accuracy and consistency across different venues and climates, the Luna Nera removes variables that wood shafts introduce.
The carbon fiber vs. wood shaft debate continues to evolve, and the Flames Linen sits right at that intersection. Pair it with a traditional Stratos laminated shaft for classic Italian feel, or choose the Luna Nera for cutting-edge low-deflection technology. The cue also features the 3Lobite extension system, enabling compatibility with Longoni extension accessories for players who need additional reach during tournament play.
Why Serious Players Choose the Flames Linen
The Flames Linen brings together a rare combination: a Hall of Fame player's competitive specifications, Italian artisan manufacturing with over 80 years of heritage, the VP2 joint's proven energy transfer, and a factory-installed Kamui Original Soft tip.
The Kamui Original Soft is a preferred tip among professionals for good reason. It delivers excellent spin transfer, precise cue ball control, and a consistent feel across different shot types. Unlike harder tips that can feel slippery on off-center hits, the Kamui Soft grabs the cue ball reliably, giving players confidence on draw shots, follow, and english.
The premium pool cue market reflects growing player investment in high-quality equipment. The global high-end pool cue segment was valued at approximately $285.4 million in 2025 and continues to grow. Players are spending more on cues that perform at the highest level and hold their value over time.
The Flames Linen is priced at $1,519 at Billiard City, which compares favorably to European retailers listing the same cue at the equivalent of $1,660 to $1,813 (based on recent EUR/USD rates). When you factor in Billiard City's free US shipping on orders over $99, expert customer service, and status as an authorized Longoni dealer with genuine factory stock, the value proposition is clear. This is the smart way to source a premium Longoni cue in the United States.
Is the Longoni Flames Linen Right for You?
The ideal buyer for the Flames Linen falls into one of three categories: competitive league or tournament players who need a match-ready premium cue, collectors drawn to Feijen's hand-signed signature pieces, and serious enthusiasts who want Italian craftsmanship paired with modern shaft technology.
The Flames Linen is not a limited edition. It has been in continuous production since 2019 and remains an active model in the Longoni lineup, meaning it is fully supported and serviceable, with ongoing access to replacement shafts, tips, and accessories.
If you are unsure which shaft (S2, S20, S30, or Luna Nera) or grip version best suits your game, reach out to our team directly. We provide personalized guidance based on your playing style, conditions, and preferences. That is what an authorized dealer relationship is for.
The Longoni Flames Linen is exclusively available at billiard.city. Genuine stock, expert support, and free shipping on US orders over $99.