I'm 34 and I love custom cues. I currently have 8 custom cues. Here's a pic of my favorite ones

HawaiianEye said:

I played with a 14mm for decades.

I still prefer fatter shafts than most people.

I can put as much spin on the cue ball with a fat shaft as I can with a thinner one.

Here is a 60" Gulyassy White Ebony Merry Widow if he wants to see one. I even have a 14mm Earl shaft with a black ferrule that Gulyassy made me for this cue (not pictured)

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Very cool. Thanks for the share…full transparency, I have a kielwood on the way from Mr. Gulyassy for use with my Joss and hopefully before March, the custom cue I helped design with help from Mike will be on it’s way.

Very few cuemakers these days make true sneaky pete cues as there's no money in them for the amount of labor involved to do it well. The "deluxe sneaky" which has joint collar (and often deco rings) and some kind of buttcap is more common. I bought a few Scruggs sneakies in the late 70's and they looked the part and played nicely. I also made several nice ones when I worked in Ariel's shop from 2006-1010. Today there is often a difference between the color of the maple used to construct the house cue or blank front prong and the maple shaftwood--this defeats the true sneaky look.
Schmelke can deliver the look as they can use the same type of kiln dried maple in the blank prong as in the shaft. They are an amazing USA resource. But, at the price level they serve, I don't think they can focus on how the cue might balance. If I was to order one, I would offer to pay extra for a straight grained heavy shaft. And then I would expect to take the stiff shaft taper down gradually to get it to my liking. Fargo and Internet, the people who will wager on pool aren't going to be influenced or care much about your cue. For tavern pool or traveling, I usually prefer to use a basic merry widow cue with a simple case.

skor said:

Strong field, the Americans in it are pretty much dead money, I don't see any American that can get to the last 16.
Seo Seoa vs. Chezka Centeno would be a great final to watch, two great yet very different players and styles

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They're filler. They may not even get the full 64.

Rusty in Montana said:

I'd also suggest Rackaday to try a 13.25 mm shaft or even a 13.50 it may surprise you ,for many year's that was all I played with was a 13.50 mm shaft and could do anything english wise that anyone else could do with a smaller diameter shaft .

I also have non marker rheumatoid arthritis that tries to make my life a living hell at times .
If we lived closer I'd let you take a few shots with my cue so that just maybe you would discover what I have when playing with a Gulyassy cue ha ha

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I played with a 14mm for decades.

I still prefer fatter shafts than most people.

I can put as much spin on the cue ball with a fat shaft as I can with a thinner one.

Here is a 60" Gulyassy White Ebony Merry Widow if he wants to see one. I even have a 14mm Earl shaft with a black ferrule that Gulyassy made me for this cue (not pictured)

maha said:

true but the opponent getting ahead can wedge balls up table and force you to sell out or forfeit because your time will run out.
...

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It is possible to set the clock to have a "grace period", and your clock doesn't start to run on your turn until after the grace period is finished. With a 20-second grace period, and quick decisions, you could play through a long spell of safes by your opponent. Note that you are allowed to think about your shot while the balls are still rolling from your opponent's shot. Your turn does not start until it is legal for you to shoot.

And if up-table play is used as a strategy for time tactics, apply the Grady rule as a last resort.

King T said:

I see your point..., but the gambling thing cant be a issue anymore. FanDuel, online poker and the popularity of tv poker on multiple channels has brought gambling into every home. Theres no longer a stigma associated with Pool as it pertains to gambling.

The real problem with Pool is that its to hard to play for most people compared to poker, darts, cornhole, shuffle board, bingo..., if you dont play it your are less likely to follow it.

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When you say gambling as it applies to pool it is much different then say the sport of kings. It is thought of as hustling, cheating, sleaze back rooms and shady characters. It is a image that has been cultivated and the game is stuck with it.
Derby city seems to like the image.

Kris_b1104 said:

I'm like a 791 FR in memes.

IYKYK.

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If you had trolled Billy's dad w the Billy Backpack meme while he was going scorched Earth on Molina Mike on fb then made a meme of that, that'd be a fargo 1000 meme!!!

skor said:

SP is a full splice cue, 4 points. Cheapest that I found was $120
You can get a decent plain jane for a $100, you can get a CF cue for a $100 that will last longer in the car

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I forgot I have one of these stashed in the closet.

Not a bad cue.

Your cue should fit your wingspan for stroking the cue with your normal bridge and gripping hand where it feels most comfortable for you.