Hi, all. I've been asked to give a review of the Digicue. I didn't want to put it on the other Digicue review thread, as that one is for the unit being passed around. Mine is not that. Additionally, I'm giving a review in the same style as I would in my normal job (new product manufacturing/assembly development of electro-mechanical devices and automation/sensors/plastic specialist) as well as mixing in pool player/instructional thoughts.
It's long, so skip now.
Form
My Digicue set for test and review are natural (translucent “white”, no pigment) as opposed to the black ones in the picture. There are two sizes in the set. The units are made of silicone, and have de-bossed molded logo and decoration that includes a functional, tactile button when aligned with the PCBA switch.
The PCBA is mounted in a circular housing. The housing on mine looks like printed or cast, not injection molded. I think it’s printed. It’s (the housing) is not brittle, and captures the circular PCBA by snap features. I see no hotmelt. I’d like to see this potted in future revisions for moisture protection,and I’d like to see molded polypropylene if a plastic housing is still needed.
Black will look much better than my natural white version. As it is, you can’t notice the Digicue is there as the shooter, but the natural white is pretty noticeable. I’m surprised nobody out of the blue asked me what that white shmootz at the end of my cue is.
Fit
Fit of PCBA to DigiCue Bumper
It’s a bit tricky to assemble the PCBA to the Bumper as it’s a deep-well, pseudo-blind fit. The user has to align the decorative button with the PCBA switch and then push down into a blind bore that isn’t rigid. Not the end of the world, if you only plan on doing it once. Removing the PCBA is as difficult, and I wouldn’t recommend it. Maybe a removal feature is needed for battery change/check (standard Lithium button cell CR2032) or swapping from pool to carom sizes. I used a small screwdriver. Again, I'm not sure I'd advise that.
Fit to Cue
The two sizes are reported as being for pool cues and carom cues. I’ve tested the pool version (large) on two cues: (Andy) Gilbert & RAT (Ryan Theewen of Mueller). The Gilbert butt is ~1.26” dia. and the RAT is just under 1.23” dia. That’s quite a bit of difference, and it is accentuated with the Fit of the larger Digicue. It fits nice and snug on the Gilbert; it’s floppy on the RAT. On the RAT, I have to realign the fit often, as it tends to move when I put the butt end on the floor.
Additionally, I have a flat bumper on the Andy Gilbert, and I have a Tiger Extension adapter/bumper on the Ryan Theewen. So the additional bumper length gives me less butt for the Digicue to engage. I did try the smaller Digicue on the RAT cue. Just a bit too small, but I think it would work.
Removing the Digicue from the Gilbert is a not easy. You have to sort of work it off or roll it off like so many condoms. Don’t pull on the end (for either the Digicue or for condoms).
Removing the Digicue from the RAT cue is much easier, but there really is no danger of this simply falling off. The silicone surface has a lot of friction.
Function
The Digicue works as advertised,even with the additional length of the Tiger Extension bumper. Three pain levels from simple to impossible , all accessible with a push of the functional button. I think that most players who have worked on stroke delivery and follow through will figure out what the Digicue is looking at (non-axial grip-end displacement within .XXX seconds of feeling the cueball impulse) to signal the buzzer. Most who work on stroke delivery should be able to stroke shots in the most difficult mode and not get it to buzz.
Thoughts, Notes, and Summary
Most players will find it interesting and discouraging how even on the beginner mode, the Digicue will buzz on certain shots. The Digicue needs your hands to be still for about 2 seconds after contact (I believe 0.7 seconds is the monitor time, but it seems like I need to stay dead still for a count of two). That tends to be quite a long time. Great for a teaching and practice to hone in a freeze-type follow through. But I think it’s a bit long for normal play. It also seems to be more sensitive to firm English shot. This could be simply that the transverse wave has made its way down to the grip hand, and the grip hand might move or roll well after cue ball contact, but at highest, professional setting, it goes off on me most firm English shot. We’ve video’d… no apparent motion is seen, but very slight motion is tough to see on video, so the Digicue is probably working exactly as needed.
From an instructional point perspective, because of its difficulty to switch from one cue to another, an instructor would have to willingly go through that difficulty, or have the student use the instructor’s cue. I’d rather that the student use his own cue, so maybe a easy on/off collet redesign could be evaluated. As it is, every time I take the Digicue off, I feel like I’m going to tear something. But, maybe it gets easier. Maybe as an instructor, powder is necessary (let’s pott the board!!!)
From a player point of view, it works perfectly during set, practice shots to really hone in the freeze and still hands. Playing with it on full time, it buzzes if I move my hands prior to 2 seconds or so. That’s a bit disruptive for me. And playing on a bar table, you need to move or else you’ll get hit with an object ball or cueball.
Incidentally, the bumper design of the Digicue works as a bumper should. I confess to smacking that bumper when a particular shot went awry... still works!
Overall, I think the Digicue is a fantastic idea, and that every instructor should have one or twelve. I’ve commented on what improvements I think could be made, but this released version is no prototype and works as designed. Great job Nathan and the OB team!
Freddie <~~~ needed photos
It's long, so skip now.
Form
My Digicue set for test and review are natural (translucent “white”, no pigment) as opposed to the black ones in the picture. There are two sizes in the set. The units are made of silicone, and have de-bossed molded logo and decoration that includes a functional, tactile button when aligned with the PCBA switch.
The PCBA is mounted in a circular housing. The housing on mine looks like printed or cast, not injection molded. I think it’s printed. It’s (the housing) is not brittle, and captures the circular PCBA by snap features. I see no hotmelt. I’d like to see this potted in future revisions for moisture protection,and I’d like to see molded polypropylene if a plastic housing is still needed.
Black will look much better than my natural white version. As it is, you can’t notice the Digicue is there as the shooter, but the natural white is pretty noticeable. I’m surprised nobody out of the blue asked me what that white shmootz at the end of my cue is.
Fit
Fit of PCBA to DigiCue Bumper
It’s a bit tricky to assemble the PCBA to the Bumper as it’s a deep-well, pseudo-blind fit. The user has to align the decorative button with the PCBA switch and then push down into a blind bore that isn’t rigid. Not the end of the world, if you only plan on doing it once. Removing the PCBA is as difficult, and I wouldn’t recommend it. Maybe a removal feature is needed for battery change/check (standard Lithium button cell CR2032) or swapping from pool to carom sizes. I used a small screwdriver. Again, I'm not sure I'd advise that.
Fit to Cue
The two sizes are reported as being for pool cues and carom cues. I’ve tested the pool version (large) on two cues: (Andy) Gilbert & RAT (Ryan Theewen of Mueller). The Gilbert butt is ~1.26” dia. and the RAT is just under 1.23” dia. That’s quite a bit of difference, and it is accentuated with the Fit of the larger Digicue. It fits nice and snug on the Gilbert; it’s floppy on the RAT. On the RAT, I have to realign the fit often, as it tends to move when I put the butt end on the floor.
Additionally, I have a flat bumper on the Andy Gilbert, and I have a Tiger Extension adapter/bumper on the Ryan Theewen. So the additional bumper length gives me less butt for the Digicue to engage. I did try the smaller Digicue on the RAT cue. Just a bit too small, but I think it would work.
Removing the Digicue from the Gilbert is a not easy. You have to sort of work it off or roll it off like so many condoms. Don’t pull on the end (for either the Digicue or for condoms).
Removing the Digicue from the RAT cue is much easier, but there really is no danger of this simply falling off. The silicone surface has a lot of friction.
Function
The Digicue works as advertised,even with the additional length of the Tiger Extension bumper. Three pain levels from simple to impossible , all accessible with a push of the functional button. I think that most players who have worked on stroke delivery and follow through will figure out what the Digicue is looking at (non-axial grip-end displacement within .XXX seconds of feeling the cueball impulse) to signal the buzzer. Most who work on stroke delivery should be able to stroke shots in the most difficult mode and not get it to buzz.
Thoughts, Notes, and Summary
Most players will find it interesting and discouraging how even on the beginner mode, the Digicue will buzz on certain shots. The Digicue needs your hands to be still for about 2 seconds after contact (I believe 0.7 seconds is the monitor time, but it seems like I need to stay dead still for a count of two). That tends to be quite a long time. Great for a teaching and practice to hone in a freeze-type follow through. But I think it’s a bit long for normal play. It also seems to be more sensitive to firm English shot. This could be simply that the transverse wave has made its way down to the grip hand, and the grip hand might move or roll well after cue ball contact, but at highest, professional setting, it goes off on me most firm English shot. We’ve video’d… no apparent motion is seen, but very slight motion is tough to see on video, so the Digicue is probably working exactly as needed.
From an instructional point perspective, because of its difficulty to switch from one cue to another, an instructor would have to willingly go through that difficulty, or have the student use the instructor’s cue. I’d rather that the student use his own cue, so maybe a easy on/off collet redesign could be evaluated. As it is, every time I take the Digicue off, I feel like I’m going to tear something. But, maybe it gets easier. Maybe as an instructor, powder is necessary (let’s pott the board!!!)
From a player point of view, it works perfectly during set, practice shots to really hone in the freeze and still hands. Playing with it on full time, it buzzes if I move my hands prior to 2 seconds or so. That’s a bit disruptive for me. And playing on a bar table, you need to move or else you’ll get hit with an object ball or cueball.
Incidentally, the bumper design of the Digicue works as a bumper should. I confess to smacking that bumper when a particular shot went awry... still works!
Overall, I think the Digicue is a fantastic idea, and that every instructor should have one or twelve. I’ve commented on what improvements I think could be made, but this released version is no prototype and works as designed. Great job Nathan and the OB team!
Freddie <~~~ needed photos
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