Jesus, FL is back again!!
Are Custom Cues a waste of money?
- Thread starter dom_poppa
- Start date
Jesus, FL is back again!!
If cues were made strictly for playability then all the cues would be plain. But really what it is is that some people would say that so and so cue "hits
well, then the people who can afford it would be all over it because someone says it has a nice "hit." Functionally, I would say when the cue is above 250 from a reputable maker or company, then its not going to make much difference in your game.
I actually know a lot of pros who use expensive cues. 2 time world champion, Chao Fong Pang used to use a Gina cue loaded with ivory, and 90% of the other Taiwanese pros use Southwest. It's just a personal preference, whatever makes you happy!
The buying a high end car to buying a high end cue comparison doesn't seem very valid. Expensive cars perform better usually, but I question that these high end cues actually perform better than cues half its price.
well, then the people who can afford it would be all over it because someone says it has a nice "hit." Functionally, I would say when the cue is above 250 from a reputable maker or company, then its not going to make much difference in your game.
I actually know a lot of pros who use expensive cues. 2 time world champion, Chao Fong Pang used to use a Gina cue loaded with ivory, and 90% of the other Taiwanese pros use Southwest. It's just a personal preference, whatever makes you happy!
The buying a high end car to buying a high end cue comparison doesn't seem very valid. Expensive cars perform better usually, but I question that these high end cues actually perform better than cues half its price.
No kidding. Good topic though.
Here comes another car analogy...
When the Ford Model T arrived, it was a plain jane car available in only black. As cars have evolved, so did our need to make them more attractive. It is within our human nature to want to 'personalize' our prized possessions to make them uniquely ours.
I have owned and played with a custom that was over $2k...and was not as happy with it as I was a custom pete I got for $175. I have had my current custom for over a year now, and while I paid over $1k for it...you'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands. The maker nailed everything I had hoped for in this cue...weight, balance, taper, shaft wood, etc. The cue plays exactly as I had hoped it would, and can do everything I ask of it. It 'disappears' in my hand. It is what most of us strive and hope for when ordering a custom cue.
With that said...there is no miracle cue that is going to make you a better player. The only thing that is going to do that is plain ol' fashioned hard work. But, once you start seeing the fruits of your labors, you can begin to appreciate when you do have a quality crafted cue in your hands...especially one built to your specs. The level of confidence a cue like that can instill can actually allow you to use the skills you have acquired more consistently....making you a more consistent player.
Do I need my custom to play and win? No. I actually got to play for about 3 hours last night (yippee) and played most of it with my cue...won the bulk of my games played. My buddy leaves, and another guy comes in...who typically doesn't like to play me. He asks if I want to play...which I kinda didn't and had already put my cue away, but he was insistent, so I grabbed the barstick my buddy had been using. Thing felt like Bucky the Beaver had been at it...LoL....beat the guy both games and then told him he could have the table.
I may well never be able to afford another custom again...and I'm okay with that...I've got a cue I can live with for a very long time, but if push comes to shove, I can play with just about anything.
Personally....I am so sick and tired of the whole "Custom vs Production" debate that surfaces here every few months or lately, even less. Who cares? As long as you're playing, isn't that really all that matters?
Lisa
When the Ford Model T arrived, it was a plain jane car available in only black. As cars have evolved, so did our need to make them more attractive. It is within our human nature to want to 'personalize' our prized possessions to make them uniquely ours.
I have owned and played with a custom that was over $2k...and was not as happy with it as I was a custom pete I got for $175. I have had my current custom for over a year now, and while I paid over $1k for it...you'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands. The maker nailed everything I had hoped for in this cue...weight, balance, taper, shaft wood, etc. The cue plays exactly as I had hoped it would, and can do everything I ask of it. It 'disappears' in my hand. It is what most of us strive and hope for when ordering a custom cue.
With that said...there is no miracle cue that is going to make you a better player. The only thing that is going to do that is plain ol' fashioned hard work. But, once you start seeing the fruits of your labors, you can begin to appreciate when you do have a quality crafted cue in your hands...especially one built to your specs. The level of confidence a cue like that can instill can actually allow you to use the skills you have acquired more consistently....making you a more consistent player.
Do I need my custom to play and win? No. I actually got to play for about 3 hours last night (yippee) and played most of it with my cue...won the bulk of my games played. My buddy leaves, and another guy comes in...who typically doesn't like to play me. He asks if I want to play...which I kinda didn't and had already put my cue away, but he was insistent, so I grabbed the barstick my buddy had been using. Thing felt like Bucky the Beaver had been at it...LoL....beat the guy both games and then told him he could have the table.
I may well never be able to afford another custom again...and I'm okay with that...I've got a cue I can live with for a very long time, but if push comes to shove, I can play with just about anything.
Personally....I am so sick and tired of the whole "Custom vs Production" debate that surfaces here every few months or lately, even less. Who cares? As long as you're playing, isn't that really all that matters?
Lisa
As long as you're playing, isn't that really all that matters?
Lisa[/QUOTE]
Yes,...just like being in the wind!
Lisa[/QUOTE]
Yes,...just like being in the wind!
To answere the OP question:
Are Custom Cues a waste of money?
It goes a little something like this:
One mans treasure is another mans trash.
Cues are a waste of $$$ If you dont understand them, or play.
Cues are not a waste of $$$ if you play and understand cues.
Sounds to me like the OP dosent know much about cues, or how much it costs to build them, the materials are cheap, but the time to build a fine cue is why they are so expensive, and also because most wood isnt the quality needed, it takes a lot of wood to sift through to find good wood. then It has to age, like a bottle of Scotch that costs $500. Time, how rare it is and other things determine the price/value.
Can pool be played at its highest level with a cheap cue?, yeah it can. I can drive to San Diego is a Yugo or take the bus but I'd rather get there in a Rolls Royce. Same result, but how nice the trip is counts for something too.
Are Custom Cues a waste of money?
It goes a little something like this:
One mans treasure is another mans trash.
Cues are a waste of $$$ If you dont understand them, or play.
Cues are not a waste of $$$ if you play and understand cues.
Sounds to me like the OP dosent know much about cues, or how much it costs to build them, the materials are cheap, but the time to build a fine cue is why they are so expensive, and also because most wood isnt the quality needed, it takes a lot of wood to sift through to find good wood. then It has to age, like a bottle of Scotch that costs $500. Time, how rare it is and other things determine the price/value.
Can pool be played at its highest level with a cheap cue?, yeah it can. I can drive to San Diego is a Yugo or take the bus but I'd rather get there in a Rolls Royce. Same result, but how nice the trip is counts for something too.
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Great answer
I agree totally...Now to save up for those lessons....(getting my first custom in about 3 weeks)
custom cues = oriental rugs
An Oriental rug will last several lifetimes & appreciate over time. Trading up on these rugs is an even better deal than selling them.
Since they are handmade, they are becoming more rare.
Are you saying that Oriental rugs are comparable to custom cues?
An Oriental rug will last several lifetimes & appreciate over time. Trading up on these rugs is an even better deal than selling them.
Since they are handmade, they are becoming more rare.
Are you saying that Oriental rugs are comparable to custom cues?
OK, you guys have forced me to let the cat out of the bag.
I personally own 2 Dale Perry 1 of 1 cues.
I bought them from a secret place that only a few people know about and I can't tell you where, so there.
And don't bother trying to get it out of me cause it won't work.
I personally own 2 Dale Perry 1 of 1 cues.
I bought them from a secret place that only a few people know about and I can't tell you where, so there.
And don't bother trying to get it out of me cause it won't work.
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Hmm, did my custom made cue change my game?
A little indeed... it feels great, is perfectly balanced to my arms and it has a great hit and most important, when I am not shooting, I have a point to concentrate on, lieke a small one dimensional point for meditation...
I am no great player, but I did have some money available and I afforded it to hve a cue built, which I always was dreaming of...
Would I do it again? Most likely... Is it needed? Definatly not..
I do not think, that I would have the chance to sell it with a good deal, since it is an extremely extraordinary design...
However I do not really plan to ever sell it...
A little indeed... it feels great, is perfectly balanced to my arms and it has a great hit and most important, when I am not shooting, I have a point to concentrate on, lieke a small one dimensional point for meditation...
I am no great player, but I did have some money available and I afforded it to hve a cue built, which I always was dreaming of...
Would I do it again? Most likely... Is it needed? Definatly not..
I do not think, that I would have the chance to sell it with a good deal, since it is an extremely extraordinary design...
However I do not really plan to ever sell it...
Oh yes, it's a HUGE waste if money(unless you have it to burn). I played with a house cue for the first 4 years. I stashed my favorite one in the broom closet (the owner was cool with it) and won tournaments and many cash games with that cue. Then I bought a sneaky pete predator with a threaded joint and have never looked back. I don't even own a break cue. I just pull one off the wall and smash em! I could afford a nicer cue. But that sneaky pete is like apart of me. Total spendings (with tips, I have a stock pile of em): under $500.00
tap, tap, tap
Well said . I have 3 cues,I may never sell but if I needed or wanted to I could get at least 80% back of my initial investment.Quality and getting a cue just like I want it to me is worth it. :thumbup: Long live true american craftsmanship and skill .
Well said . I have 3 cues,I may never sell but if I needed or wanted to I could get at least 80% back of my initial investment.Quality and getting a cue just like I want it to me is worth it. :thumbup: Long live true american craftsmanship and skill .
It's the same as buying a Corvette VS Kia. Nothing wrong with either I suppose, but everyone's tastes and finances are different. A cue is worth what the buyer is willing to pay, no more, no less.I see no issue with buying an expensive cue if you can afford it.