What really makes a great playing cue?

M

mohrt

Student of the Game
Silver Member
Say someone in a pool hall hands you a cue and says "go hit a few balls with this, tell me what you think." The cue has no visible markings of its maker.

So, tell me what do you look at, what do you look for, what do you feel for when trying this cue? This is with no outside influence of a brand name, reputation, or vouches from other players.

I know a lot of this may chalk up as personal taste and appearance will play a role. But what I'm really looking for is the difference between a good hitting cue and a *great* hitting cue. How do you spot the difference?
 
Everyone's going to chime in and say "it's subjective"...which ultimately it is (see...it's started already), however, for me, the difference in a "good" cue and a "great" cue is how much I feel the cue doing the work (great) versus me putting effort into it (good)...

When it feels like the cue goes through the cueball like a hot knife through butter, I know I've found a great playing cue...for me...

Jason
 
mohrt said:
Say someone in a pool hall hands you a cue and says "go hit a few balls with this, tell me what you think." The cue has no visible markings of its maker.

So, tell me what do you look at, what do you look for, what do you feel for when trying this cue? This is with no outside influence of a brand name, reputation, or vouches from other players.

I know a lot of this may chalk up as personal taste and appearance will play a role. But what I'm really looking for is the difference between a good hitting cue and a *great* hitting cue. How do you spot the difference?
Click to expand...

I usually hit a few shots with it. If the balls go in the pockets, it's a good cue. If the cue ball goes where I want it to go, it's a very good cue. If the balls don't go in, then it's a piece of s*** that should be thrown in the fireplace since I always hit them perfect.
 
It has to become a feeling to you. Once you play so long you can feel the dnsity of the hit you prefer. I prefer a stiff hitting cue. So When i test hit a cue i want to feel how the shaft vibrates after contacting the cue with medium hard stroke and i feel how it feels in my butt hand, how it sings and vibrates in that hand (me being right handed my right hand). then secondly i feel where the balance point is and how good the balance point is distrubited through out the cue.. but again this is all preference, I like a high balance point, some like a middle, to some liking a real ass heavy cue.
 
mohrt said:
So if you ask SVB to shoot with a bar cue in a major tournament, he should have no problems with that request, yes? ;)
Click to expand...

Lipsky once ran 103 on me with a crooked house cue. That's not to mention the half dozen interruptions he had to endure because everyone was saying, "Hey Steve, you can use MY cue!" My own friends, too.
 
.


Look at the fit and finish.

How it feels in your hand as to how the weight is distributed, balance, diameter of the butt and etc.

Quality of the shaft. Straightness of the heart line, tightness of the grain.
Taper

How it sounds when you hit a ball. Mike Lambros claims the cue should sound the same no matter how hard or soft you hit it.

funny noises.

Stiff or soft hit.

Stiffness of the shaft.

Quality of the joint. How it fits together.

How it looks overall.

Cheap wood looks like cheap wood and cheap materials look like cheap materials

Best way is to look at a good cue and put it next to a cheap one for starters. One you see the difference it becomes easier.

.

.
 
TheBook said:
.


Look at the fit and finish.

How it feels in your hand as to how the weight is distributed, balance, diameter of the butt and etc.

Quality of the shaft. Straightness of the heart line, tightness of the grain.
Taper

How it sounds when you hit a ball. Mike Lambros claims the cue should sound the same no matter how hard or soft you hit it.

funny noises.

Stiff or soft hit.

Stiffness of the shaft.

Quality of the joint. How it fits together.

How it looks overall.

Cheap wood looks like cheap wood and cheap materials look like cheap materials

Best way is to look at a good cue and put it next to a cheap one for starters. One you see the difference it becomes easier.

.

.
Click to expand...

what makes a great playing cue
is the cue that feels like an extension of your arm and brain
the cue that can effortlessly make the cue ball do what you want it to
THATS A GREAT PLAYING CUE

to the quote you are looking at the cover not the book:yikes:
its how a cue PLAYS that makes it great
not all that other stuff

now i will concede a great playing cue will have many features you describe
BUT it still comes down TO how IT plays FOR you
 
mohrt said:
Say someone in a pool hall hands you a cue and says "go hit a few balls with this, tell me what you think." The cue has no visible markings of its maker.

So, tell me what do you look at, what do you look for, what do you feel for when trying this cue? This is with no outside influence of a brand name, reputation, or vouches from other players.

I know a lot of this may chalk up as personal taste and appearance will play a role. But what I'm really looking for is the difference between a good hitting cue and a *great* hitting cue. How do you spot the difference?
Click to expand...



You answered your own question, however, looks have nothing to do with a great playing cue. There is no way to spot the difference, you can only feel the difference and no body can tell you what the difference is they can only offer their opinion.

You have to find what is good and what is great by trying different cues. Also do not assume that because you tried a cue by this maker or that maker that all their cues are going to play exactly the same. You have to educate yourself on what is good for you, such as weight, length, shaft diameter, wrap or no wrap, and last but not least the cues balance point.

Sometimes the thing your looking for is nothing more than how the cue is balanced. Some people like a cue neutral balanced ( Balance Dead Center), some like a cue with forward balance, and last some people like a cue with the weight slightly in the back of a neutral balance point on a cue.

This may be the most important thing to remember, do not let anyone tell you what is good for you, because no one can. If you watch this forum many of the same people who buy a number of cues also sell them in short order. They are not selling them in most cases because there is anything wrong with the cue, in most cases the cue just does not have the right feel for them.
 
manwon said:
[/B][/SIZE]


You answered your own question, however, looks have nothing to do with a great playing cue. There is no way to spot the difference, you can only feel the difference and no body can tell you what the difference is they can only offer their opinion.

You have to find what is good and what is great by trying different cues. Also do not assume that because you tried a cue by this maker or that maker that all their cues are going to play exactly the same. You have to educate yourself on what is good for you, such as weight, length, shaft diameter, wrap or no wrap, and last but not least the cues balance point.

Sometimes the thing your looking for is nothing more than how the cue is balanced. Some people like a cue neutral balanced ( Balance Dead Center), some like a cue with forward balance, and last some people like a cue with the weight slightly in the back of a neutral balance point on a cue.

This may be the most important thing to remember, do not let anyone tell you what is good for you, because no one can. If you watch this forum many of the same people who buy a number of cues also sell them in short order. They are not selling them in most cases because there is anything wrong with the cue, in most cases the cue just does not have the right feel for them.
Click to expand...

i think many use cues as a commodity just to buy and sell and make a profit
thats the difference between the players and the traders
jmho
icbw
 
mohrt said:
Say someone in a pool hall hands you a cue and says "go hit a few balls with this, tell me what you think." The cue has no visible markings of its maker.
Click to expand...

So what you think is like the Coke verses Pepsi Blind Taste Challenge, your can on make a vote for good, bad, or indifferent without being influenced by a MAKERS NAME.....WAHOO So I think that is a very fair way to judge a Cue!


So, tell me what do you look at, what do you look for, what do you feel for when trying this cue? This is with no outside influence of a brand name, reputation, or vouches from other players.
Click to expand...

Is Quality of the Finish, aka Workmanship. Close you EYE, and let you finger be you Eyes, and feel for imperfections. Hit a Few Racks of Balls, and say to yourself would I want to play with this Cue for a YEAR?

Does it feel good? Does it have a Soft, Hard, Good or Bad Hit?

Again this is all like TASTING SALSA and Trying to Find one with Flavor & Heat you personally like. Or a good Chinese Restaurant, what you love, I might hate it, but it is YOU, not me who has t be HAPPY with the Cue.


I know a lot of this may chalk up as personal taste and appearance will play a role. But what I'm really looking for is the difference between a good hitting cue and a *great* hitting cue. How do you spot the difference?
Click to expand...

IMHO it is what you like, what feels good for you. what is your budget, and if you are happy. Do not let the people who are not paying for your Cue talk you up to something you can not afford.

The ONLY person who has to be HAPPY with your Cue is you.
 
bbb said:
i think many use cues as a commodity just to buy and sell and make a profit
thats the difference between the players and the traders
jmho
icbw
Click to expand...



They is certainly true but it is also the only way to find a cue that really suit you. I don't think there is another way to find a cue that meets all of an individuals requirements unless you build cues yourself, that one of the reasons I started building cues.
 
FOR ME FROM ME
It's how well the cue plays for you!It's NOT;the sound
the finish
the balance
it's not even the feel
It IS; Does the rock go where I tell it to go,can I make this or that shot,and get the shape I want with this cue consistently!
STRETCH
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top