3-cushion billiards

mullyman

mullyman

Hung Like a Gnat!
Silver Member
How many of you guys play 3-cushion too? I got started in 3-C about 15 years ago. Played it religiously for about 8 months then put it aside for the next 15 years.

A new room opened here in February and they mainly cater to the 3-C crowd. I know the guy that owns the place so for the past couple of months I've been going there off and on. If you're a beginner in 3-C in Japan you start with a 6 handicap, meaning you have to make 6 points in 25 innings to win the game. I was just recently upped to 12 points, from 10.

If any of you guys play 3-C do you have your own 3-C cue or do you use a house cue or your pool cue???? I'm enjoying the game again right now but I really don't want to put any money into a cue for it. For now I'm using a house cue or I use my Cuetec pool cue.

If anyone could give me some pointers, about cues, it would be greatly appreciated. Is it ok to use a pool cue for 3-C or is there really a huge difference? I'm 6'1 and I find using a 3-C is really uncomfortable for me because they're so damn short and stubby. I really don't like the taper either. My Cuetec has the fiberglass coated shaft so it's pretty stiff. But again, any advice/info on this would be appreciated.
MULLY
willing to make changes if they're really necessary.
 
mullyman said:
How many of you guys play 3-cushion too? I got started in 3-C about 15 years ago. Played it religiously for about 8 months then put it aside for the next 15 years.

A new room opened here in February and they mainly cater to the 3-C crowd. I know the guy that owns the place so for the past couple of months I've been going there off and on. If you're a beginner in 3-C in Japan you start with a 6 handicap, meaning you have to make 6 points in 25 innings to win the game. I was just recently upped to 12 points, from 10.

If any of you guys play 3-C do you have your own 3-C cue or do you use a house cue or your pool cue???? I'm enjoying the game again right now but I really don't want to put any money into a cue for it. For now I'm using a house cue or I use my Cuetec pool cue.

If anyone could give me some pointers, about cues, it would be greatly appreciated. Is it ok to use a pool cue for 3-C or is there really a huge difference? I'm 6'1 and I find using a 3-C is really uncomfortable for me because they're so damn short and stubby. I really don't like the taper either. My Cuetec has the fiberglass coated shaft so it's pretty stiff. But again, any advice/info on this would be appreciated.
MULLY
willing to make changes if they're really necessary.
Click to expand...

3 cushion is a great game. I don't know why it's not more popular here in the states. I'm like you, always used a normal pool cue while playing.

Sorry I can't answer your pool cue vs. billiards cue question. I'd like to the answer to that myself.
 
I like 3-Cushion more than pocket billiards. In Rhode Island, however, there has not been a single heated table until Dave Vanlokeren set up shop (quite recently). He operates a room called "The Reserve" in North Kingstown, RI and he provides lessons and table time. So I too have been playing pool for many years but thanks the recent access to excellent equipment, have rediscovered billiards.

Dennis Dieckman is a friend of mine so I have bought several 3C cues. They are much different from pool cues. They tend to be shorter, lighter, have a much more abrupt shaft taper and a much smaller tip diameter. Short ferrules too. They manage those heavy balls very well though.

One can play effectively with a pool cue, I've seen it plenty of times, but the play will be hard on the pool cue. The ferrule is not likely designed to manage the kind of abuse heavier balls will generate when using a lot of spin. Also, the pool cue taper may lend to more deflection than a billiard cue's. This can affect your aiming. I would suggest spending the cash on a good cue. Flip it if you lose interest or the room closes. If you buy quality, you'll get a good return on your cash later.
 
mullyman said:
If you're a beginner in 3-C in Japan you start with a 6 handicap, meaning you have to make 6 points in 25 innings to win the game. I was just recently upped to 12 points, from 10.
Click to expand...
I've played 3-C, but am not familar with the handicapping system.

If 6 points in 25 innings is a beginner, what would the handicaps be for A, B, C, D, etc. players?
 
mnb said:
I've played 3-C, but am not familar with the handicapping system.

If 6 points in 25 innings is a beginner, what would the handicaps be for A, B, C, D, etc. players?
Click to expand...

Sorry, man, I honestly have no idea. They use a point system over here. All I know is that when you first start your handicap is 6, and I've yet to see anyone get their 6 points in those 25 innings. Once they do get to where they can get their points they move up one.

I'll have to ask the owner of the place how the A class, B class etc... works.

I just moved up to 12 a few weeks back. They started me at 10 because I got up to 12 a long time ago but hadn't played in almost 15 years. I was at 10 for about 3 weeks and then on consecutive days I beat the owner of the place twice in a row getting my full points in under 15 innings. He plays at 32 points if I remember correctly. Anyway, he said since I was getting my full points with plenty of innings to spare, making good decisions on shot selection, and was getting close on other days, he moved me up to 12. I haven't made my points since. hehe!!!!

Interesting game though.
MULLY
 
I play both 3-C and pool and use my predator for both. Many of the pool cues I own aren't "strong" enough to power the balls around like Drawman mentioned but a cue with a good shaft can play pretty good. I even have some carom cues with the heavy taper (the kind where the shaft has been cut so the pin is cut into the shaft) and like the predator better.

Many players own Schuler cues and have different shafts for pool and billiards. Schulers are awesome billiard cues and very nice pool cues as well. That would be my first choice for someone who plays both games and wants a quality cue.
 
Get a carom cue!

I play carom and enjoy it as much as pool. It is so simple in it's concept and so difficult to become proficent at! If you are new to the game there is a seller on the bay selling new cuetec carom cues with two shafts for under a hundred dollars. I have posted enough times about my bad experience with a Kao Fa carom cue, ( I would never recommend them btw) after my experience.
Since I am no authority on the cues differences the Cuetec may be a good starting point, the heavier balls and longer distance you need to move the balls require a different configuration than a standard pool cue is designed for.
JMO!!!!!
Good luck,
Dan
 
I've been really getting into 3C for the past 7 months as well.

I'm a tall guy (6'3"), so even my normal pool cues are causing a problem for me, because i'm basically gripping at the very end, only by a finger or two on mnay shots.. I'll have to end up getting a custom or longer one so I can hold it properly. Anyways I ended up buying a cheap Gabriels billiard cue, but I had a hard time playing with it, as it was shorter than my pool cues. Now it has become a house cue.

For now, I'm using a Joss with a Z2 shaft on it to play 3C. Over the next year, I'm going to invest in a longer billiard and pool cue as well.
 
Just my opinion, not scientific or anything, but I think you're better off playing 3C using the cue you're used to rather than buying what's known as a 3C cue. Mosconi, Crane and Greenleaf played a pretty fair game of 3C and I strongly doubt that they switched cues. Efren plays great 3C (for a pool player) and I doubt that he switches cues either.

As for the differences between cues, the only important differences are in the shaft - tip size, ferrule and taper. 3C cues have a smaller tip (12mm and even slightly smaller), a short light ferrule and a strong taper. The small tip and light ferrule reduce cue ball deflection, and the strong taper helps with the heavier balls.

Other differences are length, grip and weight, but these are not important in my opinion.

Why use a shorter cue for 3C? 3C players seldom stretch for shots - they'll just shoot the shot another way because stretching will throw off a stroke that has to be strong enough to hit three cushions. But that's no reason to use a short cue if it's uncomfortable for you, just a reason not to stretch.

Also, 3C players usually use a rubber grip so their hands don't slide, I guess because the heavier balls increase the tendency for your grip hand to slip. But I've never had any problem with my irish linen. It might make a difference if you hold the cue with your fingertips. Finally, 3C cues are lighter but that really is a function of their being shorter. I don't see any reason for the lighter weight per se. Pool cues have also been getting lighter compared to the old days.

The Z-2 and OB-2 shafts are really very close to billiard shafts (small tip, strong taper) but are not marketed that way.
 
I've been trying to play three cushion for nearly fifty years. I've shown slight improvement. My guess is my per inning is about one for four. I'm a champ with the 1/8" rule in play. Play with the same Schon I use to break with. It hits just fine. I'm too lazy to really learn the game!

Lyn
 
I love 3c too.

IMO, you can't use a pool cue for it. Just not designed for the weight of the balls or the distance often required...
 
I switch between a pool and carom cue. Tried using only one or the other for awhile, but never really worked for me.
 
I've played it a bit. I used my Joss Boss break cue, 24 oz., short ferrule, ? tip. It seemed to move the balls ok. I haven't played at all in at least 10 years. I ran a bunch of threes and missed the fourth by the thickness of a sheet of paper for years. When I did run four was one of the last times I played before I moved South. Never able to spend time with someone who played the game seriously, though I did see Cranfield play a few times, using his pool cue.
 
I've played quite a bit of 3 cushion over the years, was really serious about it for a while playing more than I was playing pool. When I quit playing pool/billiards I was a solid .6 - .7 player with individual games to 15 over a 1.0 average more than a few times. I got back into pool a year or so ago, but unfortunately where I live now there are no 3 cushion tables so my 3 cushion game would not be near as good anymore. I do miss it.

When I played I used my Schon cue and shaft, then eventually had Evan taper down a shaft for me so it was a more conical taper like a true billiard cue. Wasn't much of a difference really, but I liked the smaller tip and conical taper and stiffer hit for billiards. I really should have invested in a Schuler cue with as much as I was playing, if I had kept on playing probably would have.

As others have said, you can certainly play competent billiards with a normal pool cue, the main reason for the billiard cues I believe is to help eliminate deflection (which the current Predator and OB products do as well) and provide a stiffer hit. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless you start playing more billiards than pool.

Enjoy the game, it's great! I could easily be convinced to play billiards exclusively if there were more tables/players here in the US, equivalent leagues/tournaments, etc.

Scott
 
Well, for pocket billiards I'm in the SA class here in Japan. By their standards SA is above A class but below professional. 3-C is still fairly new to me. I don't find it too intimidating because I've got 25 years of pocket billiards behind me, but I do find it extremely challenging and very very interesting.

As for the cues, my personal opinion is that a pool cue won't make that much of a difference, at least at my level of play at the moment. I would imagine that my 12 points makes me a C class player, I'll have to ask the room owner about that. Back to the cue, I've been using either a house cue or my Cuetec. My Cuetec is the old plain white Earl Strickland model that I've had for about 15 years now, with an SST shaft upgrade......the ferrule cracked on the original shaft a few years back. Oh, the house cue I use is actually an Adam 3-C cue that someone left there a long time ago so it's not like a really cheap knock off house cue. It plays well but the length and taper really irritate me. I also find that I play a little better with my Cuetec.

I was just wondering if it would really make a difference.

Oh, I don't remember the brand name of the tables in that room but I know they are European and they are heated. Really nice tables. It's a big name maker too, I just can't think of it right now.
MULLY
 
I have dabbled in 3-cushion off & on for 35 years - off the last 10 years :frown:. I have had my moments of success in the game and I love it. I recommend it to all! I have never played with a "billiard cue" other than trying them out, in fact the ones I tried reduced my accuracy of the hit because the feel wasn't there. The most important thing is that the shaft you use has a nice "spine" to it; it cannot feel too soft when you hit a firm stroke.

So for comfort and enjoyment sake, use the taper you are used to, maybe cut the ferrule shorter 1/2"-3/4", and I liked a harder tip (moori hard). The most important thing in my mind is to use a shorter bridge than you are using in pool. It is imperative that you hit the cueball where you are aiming - the shorter bridge length helps with that and I think it creates a little firmer hit.

If I were to start over from scratch, I think I would try to learn to use a billiard cue because I do believe there are a few things that can be done more consistently and with less effort, but you can play at a fairly high level with your pool cue.

Enjoy the game.

What are you doing to improve? Practicing certain shots? Strokes? Learning tips of english? Or just playing? I miss the days when I was learning the game; I could not get enough of learning new things. My mistakes were learning experiences; it was so much fun to be like a kid every time I played. I miss that feeling.

Dave
 
Sounds like you have a decent house cue to play with. My advice would be play with that for awhile. Even in carom cue terms, there's a wide range of tapers and how much 'spine' the shaft has. And you won't know which you prefer until you play awhile, house cue is free to play with. Carom cues are non-pro tapered, conical, bugs the shit out of pool players, but not that bad to get used to if you play regularly.
You should post on the Carom board. There's a European player, Roland Forthomme, who's a really big guy, somebody there might know if he uses a standard cue or what.
 
I use my pool cue when I play 3C.. I just play for fun, but still I have made a series of 4 several times. I'm not good at it, but I think it is great fun, and great people. Also sometimes I play other billiard games, with the pins and all.

I use my 314-2 shaft for pool, and for the other billiards I use my old Z-shaft, I like the smaller tip since it gives me a bit more spin in the CB.
 
3-c is the toughest cue game their is . I used to watch some old timers play while i waited to catch a bus home from school in the mid 60's . I thought it was stupid . Stupid I was . It is a great learning game for learning how to kick and lag and stroke without shooting hard . I have played it off and on for 20 some yrs and am still learning new shots . My high run is 12 (Twice) and my best game is 25 in 4 innings . Playing on a heated table is the nuts !!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top