We often hear how good a cue’s “hit” is, but I don’t recall ever hearing what the “hit” is. Can it be described in more detail? Is it specific objective qualities or just the overall experience of hitting a ball with it? Can the difference(s) between “good” and “bad” hits be described in any detail?
Thanks in advance for any insights.
pj
chgo
To me, the "hit" or "playability" is different than pure performance like shaft deflection. Hit and playability is the combination of the cue parts, from the buttcap to the tip, how it feels in the hand, how much enjoyment you get when using it. How the wood and construction and design choices such as shaft taper, wood used, etc... come together. A good analogy would be eating in a good restaurant vs a bad/OK one, the food is still the same nutrution value (performance) but how much you enjoy the meal depends on how the ingredients are handled and even the atmosphere of the restaurant.
I hate questions like "how does it play" "how does it hit", since that is not anything quantifiable and is based on opinions, it plays as good as the player does when using it LOL. There is really two numbers that matter in the "performance" of the cue that is measurable, the deflection, and how well is puts spin on the ball (I guess energy transfer would be the technical name there). A shaft does what it does no matter who holds it, if tested properly. How the player can make balls with that performance and how they like the feel of the cue is all personal to the player.
