Best playing cue with the Stiffest hit under $100

Bill Yerd

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Recently purchased a Players HXT4 after extensive research to fnd the best playing cue under $100.
It plays ok and moves the cue ball around ok, but I don't like the medium soft feel of the hit.
The feel of the hit reminds me of a Meucci Black Dot or Jacoby cue I owned a few years ago.
I prefer a stiff hit like a Blue Grass or a Pat Diveney or a one piece house cue for that matter.
Before you suggest I should use a house cue I'll explain why not.
The bars in my area have beat up house cues and most have the slip on tips and ferrules or they are those composite cues with chips n the coating on the shafts. I want to get used to shooting with the same cue no matter which of the 5 or 6 bars I go to play at.
I found a JOSS in my price range which the sellers assures me has a stiff hit similar to a Schon in his opinion.

I am now leary of any of the Players brand cues in this price range because of my current HXT experience.
I read that a Rage Cue in this price range has a fairly stiff hit.
Is this true?
I have never played a Schmelke, but I have played custom cues made with Schmelke blanks and found them to have a stiff hit, but that could have a lot to do with the shaft.
Anyway, disappointed with the relatively soft feel of the HXT and am looking to continue my search for a stiffer hitting cue for under $100 that is stiff very playable.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
 
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Recently purchased a Players HXT4 after extensive research to fnd the best playing cue under $100.
It plays ok and moves the cue ball around ok, but I don't like the medium soft feel of the hit.
The feel of the hit reminds me of a Meucci Black Dot or Jacoby cue I owned a few years ago.
I prefer a stiff hit like a Blue Grass or a Pat Diveney or a one piece house cue for that matter.
Before you suggest I should use a house cue I'll explain why not.
The bars in my area have beat up house cues and most have the slip on tips and ferrules or they are those composite cues with chips n the coating on the shafts. I want to get used to shooting with the same cue no matter which of the 5 or 6 bars I go to play at.
I found a JOSS in my price range which the sellers assures me has a stiff hit similar to a Schon in his opinion.

I am now leary of any of the Players brand cues in this price range because of my current HXT experience.
I read that a Rage Cue in this price range has a fairly stiff hit.
Is this true?
I have never played a Schmelke, but I have played custom cues made with Schmelke blanks and found them to have a stiff hit, but that could have a lot to do with the shaft.
Anyway, disappointed with the relatively soft feel of the HXT and am looking to continue my search for a stiffer hitting cue for under $100 that is stiff very playable.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Those cues come with kamui soft tips as standard, I think. That will contribute to the soft hit.

Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk
 

Thanks for the links Bob.
So what are you thinking?
Joint #1 for the hardest hit?
I noticed that they used "Hard Hit" which I am guessing translates to "Stiff Hit"?
Never saw that type of joint before.
Would probably eliminate or at least make it very difficult to get an aftermarket shaft for it.
How did you make out with your SP purchase/inquiry?
 
Thanks for the links Bob.
So what are you thinking?
Joint #1 for the hardest hit?
I noticed that they used "Hard Hit" which I am guessing translates to "Stiff Hit"?
Never saw that type of joint before.
Would probably eliminate or at least make it very difficult to get an aftermarket shaft for it.
How did you make out with your SP purchase/inquiry?

Probably #1 would be my guess. You can call 'em just to be certain. Schmelke allows you to "upgrade" to their laminated shaft for $30. Don't know a thing about that shaft. You can order directly from Schmelke and they'll install a 314/2 when you purchase. The only thing that irks me is that the cost of the Predator shaft is inversely related to the cost of the cue. Ranges from c. $255 for a basic cue, to $215 for say, their R70.

I nearly was ready to order the R70, but it details out in the mid $400
range with a wrap and a 314/2.

I'm currently trying to convince my wife regarding this Schon. I just like its simple looks without all the crapola inlays. r7cocobolo-800.jpg
 
hard and stiff don't always mean the same things when it comes to cues.

Most house cues are going to have a fairly short taper, going from the tip back it will thicken up fairly fast. They will have fairly soft tips on them however.

Joss cues usually come with fairly thick shafts, and I suspect you'd like them if you want a stiff hitting cue. Your choices are very limited in what you can get due to your price range. And if you really like how house cues play, buy one and put a tip on it you like. Heck change out the ferrule, and you should still be able to stay under 100.
 
hard and stiff don't always mean the same things when it comes to cues.

Most house cues are going to have a fairly short taper, going from the tip back it will thicken up fairly fast. They will have fairly soft tips on them however.

Joss cues usually come with fairly thick shafts, and I suspect you'd like them if you want a stiff hitting cue. Your choices are very limited in what you can get due to your price range. And if you really like how house cues play, buy one and put a tip on it you like. Heck change out the ferrule, and you should still be able to stay under 100.
Do you mean buy a house cue and change ou the ferrule
or do you mean buy a Joss cue an change out the ferrule?
What ferrule do you recommend for a stiff hit?
WestInghouse yellow?$
 
http://www.cheapcues.com/Joss_Pool_Cues.asp
Sounds like you are going to spend $100 over and over looking for a stiff hitting cue. Look at the link above ,there are 3 Joss cues at $205 or less. In fact the last one on the page is pretty good looking. Joss cues hit stiff. If a Joss cue is not stiff enough for you then you need to play with a steel pipe.
 
Go to your local poolroom. Try all the house cues. Ask if they might sell you the one you like. Have your local cuemaker chopped it and join it. Advantage: you'll know what it hits like.
 
http://www.cheapcues.com/Joss_Pool_Cues.asp
Sounds like you are going to spend $100 over and over looking for a stiff hitting cue. Look at the link above ,there are 3 Joss cues at $205 or less. In fact the last one on the page is pretty good looking. Joss cues hit stiff. If a Joss cue is not stiff enough for you then you need to play with a steel pipe.

^^^^^ This is my advice, also. Or, I agree, you will be spending $100 many times over. I played with Joss for many years and still own one. Certainly stiff hitting. Once you get one, just become one with it... :)

Good luck.

~Razor
 
Go to your local poolroom. Try all the house cues. Ask if they might sell you the one you like. Have your local cuemaker chopped it and join it. Advantage: you'll know what it hits like.

Same thing I was thinking. If your budget in under 100, your going to be hit or miss on cues manufactors in that range... a straight 'higher end' house cue with the shaft tapered down and a hard tip will give you all the stiffness you want and then some for under 100.
 
The stiffest hitting cue that I ever had in my possession was a Sterling sneaky pete that I got for free for buying a Sterling leather case. IIRC, I believe it was stated that the bonus cue was a $60 value. It hit like a broomstick and I wish I would have kept it (sold the Sterling case eventually and sent the cuestick along with it). Can't remember the details, but I think it had the 5/16x18 threads and a wood-to-wood joint (I distinctly remember there being no joint collar).

Maniac
 
For a little over a hundred you could get a dale perry from ebay. These cues do not have the best workmanship as far as materials and inlay work but most come with a big brass radial pin and hit very,very well for a cue of this price
 
For a little over a hundred you could get a dale perry from ebay. These cues do not have the best workmanship as far as materials and inlay work but most come with a big brass radial pin and hit very,very well for a cue of this price

:shrug:

Here we go again...what's wrong with the workmanship, materials and inlays in a Dale Perry Cue?

:confused:
 
At the price they are selling at...there is nothing wrong with them...However, the way they are advertised on the auctions...with retail prices in excess of $1000.00 I would be pretty pissed if I paid that amount for one. The inlay work is not too hot..using epoxy fillers in gaps and what not. I own one of these cues so I can def comment on these points. Like I said though...they DO play surprisingly well....and in my opinion hit better than a LOT of higher priced production cues, excluding Joss and Schon of course
 
What's the best ...?

What is your deal with all the 'what's the best'/ 'what's the worst' questions?

One with a little common sense would understand that there is no 'best', once there are choices established.

What's the best car? What's the best food? What's the best shoe...?

WTF?! There is no prize for starting the most threads.
 
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