earning your cue?

victorl said:
Wow, you should visit a Japanese pool hall. Every B player and their brother has insane cues, Cog, SW, Lambros, you name it. And seeing as how the only people who go to the pool halls here are regulars, everyone just leaves their cues on the wall racks, taunting me with their snakewood, burl, abalone, ivory... aaargh! :mad:
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Japanese pool halls are like are cue runway.... or porn....:wink:
 
I earned my cue when I got up early, made it to work on time, then got paid for my services. If you're not paying my bills, I really don't care what people think when it comes to how I spend my money.

That said, it really sounds like you (The OP) are just sharking yourself. If you are getting upset over what cue another player is playing with, one would think if you were playing in a money game all your opponent would have to do is bust out the high dollar cue to get you rattled to the point where you can't play well, then you'd put your cue away and finish the set with a house cue. Sounds like a pretty good advantage for your opponent.

For the record, most here would probably consider me a banger and I own some nice custom cues myself.
 
i believe that you should play good enough to be able to feel the cue and know the difference between cues before you go out and buy a custom cue. For some that might take a month others a year. It makes no sence to me for someone to go buy a $1000 cue that cant tell it from a broomstick.


For example I dont drink expensive wine, Why? because I cant tell the difference from $20/bottle wine. I can tell the difference from jug wine so I drink wine at "my level". In 93-95 I was drinking wine more often read a few books and learned about wine and back then I could tell the difference from $20 wine and $200 wine. Realizing that I dont like drinking much and I was on the verge of a expensive habit I stopped drinking wine all but 3-4 times/yr. I'm not in wine-stroke now so $20/bottle is fine.

I think that stone cold beginners should play with a decent cue like a McD, Lucasi, etc. Then grow into other cues.
 
I personally don't care what someone owns but at the same time I can't help but chuckle when I see a C class player pull out an ebony and ivory Gina. Sorry, the 2 just don't go together. I started out with a cheap ass cue I bought at the local home center. Moved up to a plain jane Meucci for a while, moved that up to a 4pt Meucci, moved that up to a Schon after a couple of years and then when I finally broke into the A-class I splurged for a Paul Mottey. I don't think the Mottey made me play any better but to me it was my trophy to myself for accomplishing something.
MULLY
 
I've had plenty of elaborate cues, but my tulipwood Omen plain cue is the one I'd pick to play a big set with. If I chose golf, I'd want the best equipment to feel and mentally give myself an edge. If I'd play guitar, I would want the best. I feel that if you're gonna play pool, buy a nice cue and get used to the feel of it. Start out with the cue you'd end up with and it'll be just like a part of you. Hey, if you can't play, might as well look good.
 
victorl said:
Wow, you should visit a Japanese pool hall. Every B player and their brother has insane cues, Cog, SW, Lambros, you name it. And seeing as how the only people who go to the pool halls here are regulars, everyone just leaves their cues on the wall racks, taunting me with their snakewood, burl, abalone, ivory... aaargh! :mad:
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Just make sure your fingers don't get hot and one of them disappears. I like living in a country with a crime rate so low that you can leave your stuff without worrying about it. If I'm carrying my Justis with me, filled, the entire thing is worth close to 10 grand. I'll lean it against the counter and wander off for hours on end and when I get back it's still there. I love Japan.
MULLY
 
mullyman said:
Just make sure your fingers don't get hot and one of them disappears. I like living in a country with a crime rate so low that you can leave your stuff without worrying about it. If I'm carrying my Justis with me, filled, the entire thing is worth close to 10 grand. I'll lean it against the counter and wander off for hours on end and when I get back it's still there. I love Japan.
MULLY
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One time my pool hall was broken into, the thief took some cash and broke a window. Thankfully no cues were stolen. My friend said that if a thief tried to use or sell stolen cues he would most definitely be caught because the pool players around here all know each other.
 
Some guys like nice cars, others fancy duds and jewelery.
I like nice pool cues. My skill level is whatever it is on any given day, but it doesn't stop me from playing with the cue of my choice.
 
I did earn my cue...I paid for it. Can I use it to it's full potential...never. Just like my cars. I will never be Michael Schumacher or Tony Stewart for all you good ol boys. But, reguardless of how I play or drive them; I enjoy them all and that's what matters.
 
Cues

Since I'm not practicing as much as I used to I've decided to put my entire collection up for sale,
delete all cue bulders numbers from my cell, and play with a Meucci.

Cue pricing as follows:

C-player.........$200-$600
B-player.........$600-$1100
A-player.........$1100-$1700
AA-player.......$1700-$2700
Shortstop.......$2700-$3600
Pro player.......$3600 & up

League player discounts are available with active BCA-VNEA-ACS membership cards, and l am offering level improvement trade-in's.
 
Personnally, I don't spend much time careing what other people play with unless I just want to admire their new cue.

But... this reminds me of that line from TCOM when Eddie tosses the Balabushka to Vince and Vince says something to the effect that 'this isn't for me .. this is something John Wayne would carry'

That said, I told myself when I started playing seriously about a year ago that I would play with a plain cue (sneaky) until I met some goals and played well... and only then would I think about buying something a little more fancy (like something with inlays)

I'm in the market for a new cue now

On the otherhand... there's a player in my area that can usually beat anyone that comes to the table and he shoots with a $20 wal-mart cue. ... I think that's preaty respectable!
 
Fatboy said:
i believe that you should play good enough to be able to feel the cue and know the difference between cues before you go out and buy a custom cue. For some that might take a month others a year. It makes no sence to me for someone to go buy a $1000 cue that cant tell it from a broomstick.


For example I dont drink expensive wine, Why? because I cant tell the difference from $20/bottle wine. I can tell the difference from jug wine so I drink wine at "my level". In 93-95 I was drinking wine more often read a few books and learned about wine and back then I could tell the difference from $20 wine and $200 wine. Realizing that I dont like drinking much and I was on the verge of a expensive habit I stopped drinking wine all but 3-4 times/yr. I'm not in wine-stroke now so $20/bottle is fine.

I think that stone cold beginners should play with a decent cue like a McD, Lucasi, etc. Then grow into other cues.
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I agree with Eric 100% on this one....and I like the wine analogy (I also have found some $20 wines that are amazing, and since I'm cheap that is a good thing ;))

Ultimately, I think it comes down to your perception....when we skated as kids, some new kid would show up with the most expensive board and couldn't pull off the most basic trick....they were known as posers or pretenders....we had posers in golf - guy that couldn't break 100, yet had to buy a new set of $2k golf clubs every year....or the guy that buys a new Corvette every year so he can drive slow in the left lane.....or the guy with the Texas cadillac (4 door loaded 4x4 dually) that never put it in mud, much less 4x4, nor ever used it to pull a heavy load....my step-father refers to this as more money than sense (he has a lot of money, so I actually listen to him in matters of da cash)....I never understood someone buying a 4x4 that will never see anything but pavement, and doesn't get driven on a rainy day....or someone buying a fast car that doesn't like to drive fast....

With that being said, cues walk an interesting line.....while there is a playability function to a $2000 cue, there is also the collectability.....a pro or high level player that uses one of these cues, to them it is a tool and after a few years it's likely to be known as a players cue with some wear.....to the guy at league that can't make 3 balls, they may use this cue, but they care for it and it will always be pristine.....

Ultimately, people with money will tell you that they made it and they can spend it on whatever they want....and that is true.....when I was into fast cars and rockcrawling, I spend rediculous amounts of money on parts.....but we'd still get annoyed with the guy that would show up with the $40,000 rock buggy that couldn't crawl over a rock cause we'd have to drag the guy up the mountain all day....

It's all perspective...
 
CK6Speed said:
I earned my cue when I got up early, made it to work on time, then got paid for my services. If you're not paying my bills, I really don't care what people think when it comes to how I spend my money.
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:bow-down: Exactly the way I feel.
 
Sort of sounds like the cue owns you, use the damn thing an get over it. :rolleyes:
 
ummm, look down the list of s*it that i own and i'm only about a high "c" maybe low "b" on any given day. i don't feel the least bit guilty about having nice gear because i worked my ass off to pay for it. there are plenty of better players in my area who shoot with less but i don't think it phases them in the least what i shoot with. i seem to get a lot of compliments on my stuff, but it all seems to be just pool players talking to other pool players and appreciating nice cues and cases and such. i understand you have your own feelings on this but i don't think you should get down on yourself and hide your stuff away if you're playing poorly. you already earned your cue when you were able to pay for it. the only thing you may have to earn with your level of play is the right to play in a certain event, or woof at (or just plain old run your mouth to) a better player. your gear is just your gear, it doesn't make you play any better or any worse so it shouldn't matter what you spent on it.
 
Instead of thinking of it as "you deserve your cue" or " I don’t deserve to play with it" I use the cue as a reward and a reminder of becoming a better player. When I was a c player I played with a 20$ cue. Once I felt that I had progressed some and now around a strong C weak B I rewarded myself and bought a 200$ cue which was a Lucasi. Now that I am around the strong B to weak A phase I recently purchased a 500$ McDermott with an OB1 shaft. So as I have progressed I rewarded myself each time with nicer equipment. It’s also a reminder that I am a better player now. I have also upgraded my case and the like in respect to what I have said
 
I have a guy on one of my teams who owns a cue I have been lusting over for a couple of years. He is an SL-3, but he is also a lawyer who makes a good living and can afford it. Good for him!
Another player on my team (SL-2) showed up last week with a brand new custom cue. Gorgeous! And I say good for her too. Why shouldn't people be able to have nice things if they want them and can afford them?
Would I like to own either of those cues? Sure would! But it's not in my budget, so I will continue to use the same cue I have had for several years.
There is no rule that skill level must be tied to the kind of cue you own.

Steve
 
old and ugly or new and pretty

pooltchr said:
I have a guy on one of my teams who owns a cue I have been lusting over for a couple of years. He is an SL-3, but he is also a lawyer who makes a good living and can afford it. Good for him!
Another player on my team (SL-2) showed up last week with a brand new custom cue. Gorgeous! And I say good for her too. Why shouldn't people be able to have nice things if they want them and can afford them?
Would I like to own either of those cues? Sure would! But it's not in my budget, so I will continue to use the same cue I have had for several years.
There is no rule that skill level must be tied to the kind of cue you own.

Steve
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Steve,

Your post is spot on. Equipment can be old and ugly or new and pretty, all that matters is how well it works and the person using it. I admire well crafted things. A friend bought a $30,000 fiddle, not an antique, brand new. He bought it not only because it was a fine instrument to possess but because he thought it would move him from third chair to second chair or some such thing, make him a little better player. I can't play a fiddle but if I had a few million to spare I might buy one like it to hang on the wall. I'd kind of like to learn to play a fiddle so if I already had that $30,000 fiddle and started playing I danged sure wouldn't go out and buy a $300 fiddle to learn on!

Hu
 
The original op stated he didn't feel he earned the right to use his good cue.I understand the frustration when your distracted or just not where your head is you set your cue down.I have done this many times.After a little while you look at the table and it calls you back.now your making your shots.Its all part of pool.
As for spending large sums of money on a cue stick,that's nothing to what most fisherman or golfers spend on there sports.
You play with what you can afford.Doesn't matter how good you are.All that maters is having fun doing it.
 
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