For over 80 years, Longoni has represented Italian excellence in billiards. Founded in Mariano Comense, near Milan, Longoni is a family-owned company known worldwide for precision, craftsmanship, design, and reliability. Longoni cues are still produced entirely in Italy under the supervision of the Longoni family and are trusted by many top international players.
The Longoni Epica is a professional carom cue developed specifically for Therese Klompenhouwer, five-time Women's World Champion and one of the leading players in international 3-cushion billiards.
Introduced in 2022, Epica is the second Longoni model developed for Klompenhouwer, following the success of the Sensazione. The cue combines a refined modern appearance with Longoni's established professional carom construction and technologies.
The Epica is crafted primarily from Longoni URAL black hornbeam, giving the butt its deep, elegant black appearance. Its dark foundation is accented by flowing light-colored lines, warm amber-toned decorative elements, and a distinctive star motif. The combination creates a contemporary design that remains clean and balanced rather than overly ornate.
Internally, the Epica uses Longoni Solid Core technology, providing a continuous wood structure through the butt for a natural, unified playing sensation. It is equipped with the Longoni VP2 Grade 5 Titanium joint and an installed 3-Lobite system, allowing the cue to accept a compatible Longoni extension when additional reach is required.
The Epica can be paired with several Longoni shaft configurations, including S20 and S30 laminated wooden shafts and the Luna Nera graphite shaft. Therese Klompenhouwer herself plays with a Luna Nera shaft.
Each Epica features a hand-signed individual number, adding individuality to this professional player model.
Longoni URAL Black Hornbeam
URAL is Longoni's proprietary material based on European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). Introduced into Longoni products in 2019, URAL begins as a naturally light-colored, hard European wood and undergoes Longoni's specialized deep-staining process.
Using alternating pressurization and depressurization, an ebony-like black stain penetrates deeply into the wood. This process enhances the natural grain rather than hiding it, creating an almost completely black appearance with visible depth and character.
European hornbeam is valued for its medium-to-high density, stability, durability, and long service life, characteristics particularly well suited to billiard cue construction. It is also a widely available European species and is not considered at risk of extinction, making it a more sustainable choice of cue wood.
Longoni selects the best hornbeam logs for the production of URAL, combining the mechanical characteristics of hornbeam with the distinctive deep-black appearance that has become a recognizable feature of modern Longoni cues.
Epica Signature Design
The Epica combines the dark appearance of URAL with a series of flowing geometric decorative elements extending along the butt.
Light-colored lines create long, elegant shapes through the center of the design, while warm amber-colored accents provide contrast against the black background. A distinctive star element adds another recognizable visual detail.
The overall design is modern and dynamic while preserving the long, clean proportions associated with professional Longoni carom cues.
Longoni Solid Core Technology
The Epica features Longoni's Solid Core construction, a technology used on selected Longoni models where a continuous wood structure is preferred.
The defining characteristic of Solid Core is the presence of a single continuous wood core extending internally from the joint toward the bumper, creating a highly unified butt construction. Compared with Longoni's HEXA-CORE system, Solid Core is designed to provide a softer playing sensation, while preserving the stability and natural response associated with traditional wood construction.
For the Epica, the solid URAL construction and continuous core contribute to a natural, harmonious hit and consistent feedback throughout the cue.
VP2 Titanium Joint
The Epica is equipped with Longoni's VP2 Titanium joint, the advanced evolution of Longoni's metal-joint technology.
Longoni introduced the VP2 joint in 2004 as a universal precision joint for its cues across multiple billiard disciplines, including pool, five-pins, carom, and Russian pyramid. The VP2 evolved from Longoni's earlier Viper steel joint and was developed to provide a connection that is fast to operate, highly precise, durable, and versatile.
Each VP2 joint pin is carefully aligned after fabrication of the butt to ensure precise positioning with the shaft insert. The threads are electro-polished for exceptionally smooth screw action, and each joint pin is individually laser engraved to support production traceability and quality control.
The Epica uses the ultra-light Grade 5 titanium version of the VP2 joint. Titanium helps reduce unnecessary joint weight while maintaining excellent strength and rigidity, supporting the balance and responsiveness required in high-level carom play.
The key characteristics of the VP2 Titanium joint include fast and easy locking and unlocking, an ultra-firm connection for efficient energy transfer, precise butt-to-shaft alignment, smooth screw action, resistance to humidity and wear, and a more forward-balanced feel compared with Longoni wooden-joint cues.
Longoni VP2 shafts may use brass or Ergal inserts, with the combination of joint and insert materials selected to help optimize cue balance and playing characteristics.
The VP2 system also provides broad compatibility across Longoni shaft technologies, allowing the Epica to be paired with S2, S20, and S30 laminated wooden shafts or the Luna Nera graphite shaft, depending on the player's preferred feel and performance characteristics.
Integrated 3-Lobite System
The Epica comes with the Longoni 3-Lobite system installed, meaning the cue is prepared for use with the Longoni 3-Lobite extension system.
The integrated connection allows a compatible Longoni extension to be attached quickly and securely whenever additional reach is required.
Please note: the extension itself is not included unless specifically stated in the listing.
Developed for Therese Klompenhouwer
The Epica was developed specifically for Therese Klompenhouwer following the success of her previous Longoni Sensazione model.
The design combines Longoni's Italian cue-making experience with a configuration intended for professional 3-cushion play. The combination of URAL black hornbeam, Solid Core construction, VP2 Grade 5 Titanium joint, and compatibility with Longoni's modern shaft technologies gives the player a choice of traditional laminated wood or graphite shaft configurations.
Therese Klompenhouwer plays the Epica with a Longoni Luna Nera graphite shaft.
First produced in 2022, the Epica remains part of the Longoni collection and is not a limited edition.
Butt-Only Configuration
This listing is for the Longoni Epica cue butt only.
The butt has a minimum weight of approximately 380 g. The installed VP2 Titanium joint allows the cue to be paired with compatible Longoni shafts according to the player's preferred profile, construction, and playing characteristics.
Product Features:
- Developed for Therese Klompenhouwer – Second Longoni carom cue created specifically for the five-time Women's World Champion following the success of the Sensazione
- Longoni URAL black hornbeam – Proprietary treated European hornbeam with a deep ebony-like appearance while retaining visible natural grain
- Longoni Solid Core technology – Continuous internal wood structure from the joint toward the bumper provides unified construction and a softer playing sensation compared with HEXA-CORE
- VP2 Grade 5 titanium joint – Lightweight precision metal joint designed for firm locking, exact alignment, smooth operation, wear resistance, and efficient energy transfer
- 3-Lobite installed – Butt is prepared for compatible Longoni 3-Lobite extensions; extension is not included with this configuration
- Distinctive Epica styling – Flowing light-colored lines, warm amber accents, and star detailing create a recognizable contemporary design
- Multiple shaft options – Compatible with Longoni S20 and S30 laminated wooden shafts as well as the Luna Nera graphite shaft
- Luna Nera player configuration – Therese Klompenhouwer personally plays the Epica with a Longoni Luna Nera shaft
- Professional carom construction – Designed specifically for 3-cushion billiards with a minimum butt weight of approximately 380 g
- Adjustable butt weight – Minimum butt weight can be increased or fine-tuned using compatible bolts from the Longoni Weight Bolt Kit
- Hand-signed individual number – Each Epica features its own hand-signed number
- No-wrap construction – Smooth wood handgrip maintains direct contact with the butt and preserves the uninterrupted design
- Made in Italy – Manufactured entirely in Italy using selected materials, precision production, and established Longoni cue-making craftsmanship
- Butt-only listing – Includes the Longoni Epica cue butt; shaft and extension are not included
Product Specifications:
- Brand: Longoni
- Model: Epica
- Professional Player: Therese Klompenhouwer
- Player Achievement: Five-Time Women's World Champion
- Discipline: Carom / 3-Cushion
- Product Type: Professional Carom Cue Butt
- Configuration: Butt Only
- Status: In Collection
- Limited Edition: No
- Year of First Production: 2022
- Primary Wood: Longoni URAL
- Wood Species: European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
- URAL Treatment: Proprietary Deep Black Staining Process
- Core Construction: Longoni Solid Core
- Solid Core Design: Continuous wood structure through the butt
- Playing Characteristic: Softer playing sensation compared with HEXA-CORE
- Design: Flowing geometric pattern with contrasting light and amber-colored decorative details
- Wrap: No Wrap
- Butt Length: 720 mm / 72 cm
- Butt Minimum Weight: Approximately 380 g
- Weight Adjustment: Compatible with Longoni Weight Bolt Kit
- Weight Customization: Butt weight can be increased and fine-tuned to player preference
- Butt Joint Collar Diameter: 22 mm
- Lower Collar Diameter: 32.5 mm
- Joint System: Longoni VP2
- Joint Material: Grade 5 Titanium
- Joint Type: Precision Metal Joint
- Joint Characteristics: Fast Locking, Firm Connection, Precision Alignment, Humidity Resistant, Wear Resistant
- Balance Characteristic: More Forward-Balanced Compared with Longoni Wooden-Joint Cues
- Embedded Technology: VP2 Titanium, Solid Core, 3-Lobite Installed
- 3-Lobite System: Installed and prepared for compatible Longoni extensions
- Extension Included: No
- Serial Number: Hand-Signed Individual Number
- Certificate: Official Longoni Certificate of Authenticity Included
- Pro Player Model: Yes – Therese Klompenhouwer
- Shafts Included: No
- Compatible Wooden Shafts: Longoni S20, S30
- Compatible Graphite Shaft: Longoni Luna Nera
- Player's Shaft Configuration: Luna Nera
- Country of Manufacture: Italy
Included Accessories:
- Longoni NEO neoprene bag
- Joint protector
- Longoni cues brochure
- Longoni accessories brochure
- Longoni certificate
BUTT ONLY - SHAFT IS NOT INCLUDED.
