Why bumperless?

brechbt

brechbt

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've seen a number of cues offered for sale recently that are bumperless. Why is that done? I can understand if a cue is never intended to be used, then it's kind of elegant to have the naked butt out there for all to see--it kind of says "I'm too good to ever come in contact with a dirty floor". But seriously, wouldn't you hesitate to use a cue without a bumper? If you are shooting with one, what do you do with it when you're not shooting? Doesn't this limit the potential market for a cue? Just curious.

<<edit--sorry, meant to put this in the main forum. Moderator, please move if you see this.>>
 
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brechbt said:
I've seen a number of cues offered for sale recently that are bumperless. Why is that done? I can understand if a cue is never intended to be used, then it's kind of elegant to have the naked butt out there for all to see--it kind of says "I'm too good to ever come in contact with a dirty floor". But seriously, wouldn't you hesitate to use a cue without a bumper? If you are shooting with one, what do you do with it when you're not shooting? Doesn't this limit the potential market for a cue? Just curious.

<<edit--sorry, meant to put this in the main forum. Moderator, please move if you see this.>>
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Usually the bumperless butt is seen on Hoppe ring cues. The Hoppe cues where known for not having a bumper.

Most who own them and play with them, rest the butt of the cue on their foot while waiting to shoot...otherwise, into the case it goes until it's needed.

Having no bumper on this type of cue will absolutely NOT detract from the cue's value...if anything, with a nice engraved weight bolt plate, it will increase the value.

Lisa
 
I have had several bumperless cues and I find them to be quite sturdy and most can take being set on any carpeted surface without fear of damage. I have used them in a pool room with only concrete and I set them down just like cues with a bumper. I think it depends on how you handle your cue, obviously you cannot pound one on the ground and expect it to hold up but most cues with a bumper give way to abuse eventually as well.

-don
 
It's tradition.

A good bumperless cue will not be damaged by contacting the floor. I have a budy that actually bounces (1-2 feet) his bumperless cue off the floor, and it does no damage to the cue.

The phenolics used for the butt cap, is very strong.

Now, if it has an ivory plug, my rules go out the window. I personally wouldn't put ivory in the bottom for fear of cracking it, butt i'm rough on my cues
 
Who in their right mind would ever get a cue without a bumper? That's just insanity right there....
 
Thecoats said:
I have had several bumperless cues and I find them to be quite sturdy and most can take being set on any carpeted surface without fear of damage. I have used them in a pool room with only concrete and I set them down just like cues with a bumper. I think it depends on how you handle your cue, obviously you cannot pound one on the ground and expect it to hold up but most cues with a bumper give way to abuse eventually as well.

-don
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True enough that! I have seen bumpered cues with their butt caps blown out...but not a bumperless cue. The rubber bumper can compress to the point that it will create a tremendous amount of energy internally. That energy has to go somewhere, and the result will be a blown out butt cap.

Of course, you generally only see this on cues where the owner has some anger issues, and tends to slam the butt to the floor when a shot is missed. The bumper is not a guarantee against damage when abuse is present.

Lisa
 
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I think most pool halls have carpeting these days, and even thin carpet over a concrete floor doesn't damage a bumperless cue when resting it between shots. You are asking for trouble if you are a "cue slammer" though. :(
Mr H
 
Many of Herman Rambow's cues were bumperless:

rambow-q2172.jpg
 
Good thread. I've often wondered why someone would have no protection for the buttcap. I mean, it has to scar it up, right?
 
Those who go with no bumper.

We understand the consequences. We dont slam our cues on the floor. Easy to figure out.

PAt
 
obrien714 said:
We understand the consequences. We dont slam our cues on the floor. Easy to figure out.

PAt
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I don't know anyone who slams a cue on the floor. But floors have a lot of crap on them capable of scratching the base of the butt cap through very ordinary contact. I think my original question makes perfectly good sense as stated.
 
brechbt said:
I don't know anyone who slams a cue on the floor. But floors have a lot of crap on them capable of scratching the base of the butt cap through very ordinary contact. I think my original question makes perfectly good sense as stated.
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I know LOTS of people who slam their cues on the floor. I have also seen several people who slammed their cues on the floor and drove the rubber bumper up into the butt of the cue like a wedge, splitting the cue butt like a log-splitter would.
Joe
 
brechbt said:
I don't know anyone who slams a cue on the floor. But floors have a lot of crap on them capable of scratching the base of the butt cap through very ordinary contact. I think my original question makes perfectly good sense as stated.
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As stated earlier you sit it on your foot and you make an effort not to set it down in places with concrete floors. I also have one of those floor protectors you place under the legs of furniture that I set under my cue holder when the floor is concrete or has no carpet. So far no problem.

Why do I go through this? Because they look cool! :thumbup:
 
I agree

obrien714 said:
We understand the consequences. We dont slam our cues on the floor. Easy to figure out.

PAt
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majority of my cues are bumperless! It looks cooler thats all to me! Its still the owner's desire, if is excuted properly it'll look nice! Just a little careful though!


<M>
 
> There are a small percentage of us that have discovered that having a bumper,or not,can certainly affect the way a particular cue plays,feels,or SOUNDS.

A rubber bumper absorbs vibrations,some cues need it,some don't.

It seems the cues that are most affected by this are usually steel-jointed. Tommy D.
 
Ahhh . . .

Tommy-D said:
> There are a small percentage of us that have discovered that having a bumper,or not,can certainly affect the way a particular cue plays,feels,or SOUNDS.

A rubber bumper absorbs vibrations,some cues need it,some don't.

It seems the cues that are most affected by this are usually steel-jointed. Tommy D.
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The right cue vibrates from end to end and that bit of dampening on the end of the cue can indeed change harmonics a little. Depends on what you like and how sensitive you are as to if it is a good thing or bad. I'm thinking about putting delrin bumpers on my cues, for no good reason at all.

Hu
 
obrien714 said:
We understand the consequences. We dont slam our cues on the floor. Easy to figure out.

PAt
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Excuse me? You've never missed a six ball with the opponent on the hill, in an eight ahead for $500 and slammed it so hard it shattered and shot part of the buttcap into the bar adjacent to the poolroom? I mean, it could happen.
 
I stand my cue up in a cue holder with the rubber bumper resting on the floor when it's not my turn at the table or i'm breaking and I prefer a rubber bumper in my cues. I've seen rubber bumpers worn or showing wear and it's a snap to put a new rubber bumper in the cue and it looks new again.

Bumperless cues aren't for me, but for the people who prefer them that's fine. I'm very careful with my cues and it's easier for me to take care of my cue if it has the protection of a rubber bumper.

James
 
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