Heavy Hitter

G

Gryphon17

New member
Okay, so I literally Just registered so I could ask this question of some people who I hope can help.

So my problem is that i have a tendency to hit Very hard, or so my friend (who has more experience) tells me, my problem is that my first cue a cheep $20 thing has recently broken . . . in the fore-arm area. He suggested that it broke the way it did because i hit it too hard on my break shot and on the shot where it fully broke (a light corner pocket, head on shot) just finished it off.

so to simplify and clarify i hit it so hard dead on that it broke in two. not as if one were to break over their knee but more because of the shear force of the impact on the tip.

so my question is what suggestions are there for a good durable affordable pool cue. i know that what i really need it to work on controlling my power but in the mean time and so i don't break another cue in the process.

the only thing i have found that sounds right or rather close to what i need is the Rage Pool Cue - Heavy Hitter or more simply the RGHH model.

I have had suggestions for aluminum, for North American Rock Maple, and one friend suggested i look to see if there is such a thing as a solid steel pool cue so as to eat up some of my power in its weight. this last friend came off as sounding slightly ridiculous.

so this is my rather lengthy plea to some hopefully knowledgeably people for some friendly advice.
 
I'm not a teacher, I'm a beginner... However what I've learnt from my coach is by using momentum to generate the force needed for the shot. Which I presumes to be using acceleration to drive the CB and not using strength to HIT the cue ball into the intended place. Maybe that'll help.

Shaun
 
Gryphon17 said:
Okay, so I literally Just registered so I could ask this question of some people who I hope can help.

So my problem is that i have a tendency to hit Very hard, or so my friend (who has more experience) tells me, my problem is that my first cue a cheep $20 thing has recently broken . . . in the fore-arm area. He suggested that it broke the way it did because i hit it too hard on my break shot and on the shot where it fully broke (a light corner pocket, head on shot) just finished it off.

so to simplify and clarify i hit it so hard dead on that it broke in two. not as if one were to break over their knee but more because of the shear force of the impact on the tip.

so my question is what suggestions are there for a good durable affordable pool cue. i know that what i really need it to work on controlling my power but in the mean time and so i don't break another cue in the process.

the only thing i have found that sounds right or rather close to what i need is the Rage Pool Cue - Heavy Hitter or more simply the RGHH model.

I have had suggestions for aluminum, for North American Rock Maple, and one friend suggested i look to see if there is such a thing as a solid steel pool cue so as to eat up some of my power in its weight. this last friend came off as sounding slightly ridiculous.

so this is my rather lengthy plea to some hopefully knowledgeably people for some friendly advice.
Click to expand...

The cue was a piece of crap if it broke at the forearm. I could see a miscue breaking a tenon and ferrule off (I've done it) but a broken forearm? My guess is that it broke at the joint.

Do not get fibreglass, aluminum or anything other than good old tried and true maple.

You can get into a decent cue for $100 or so. A plain jane from a decent maker is all you need. There was a nice McDermott in the sale section here for $125 used, or you could get into their Star or Lucky product line for cheap. There was also a listing here for the Black Widow started kit (McD pool cue and accessories) new in the box for $75. He had 2 of them

Buy something that has a decent maple shaft and good construction.

You can also work on how hard you are hitting the ball. Get a copy of the Mother Drills and start there...


:cool:
 
Not that I'm trying to diminish your heroic act, but probably a 3-year-old could break that cue.

If you were my friend, I would have broken it for you a long time ago --- over my knee.

If you hit the balls as hard as you say you do, then you are liable to hurt somebody with flying balls.If you aren't interested in stopping that kind of action immediately, then I suggest that you play hockey instead, or try an anger management class.
 
It takes a long time to learn that balls don't need to be hit hard, and to trust that they will roll straight.

Consider buying a cue slightly more expensive than what you have in mind. The extra investment will help keep you motivated to practice and play via the little bit of guilt it induces if you don't. It works :)
 
I think Cuetec makes fiber glass cues. I think they are wood with fiber glass outside to help prevent warping. I have a metal cue. I don't know where I got it. Look in sports stores or stores like sears or kmart.
Ask some of the more experienced players to help you with your stroke.
 
poolguy4u said:
I think you should buy a break cue for breaking and a different cue for shooting.


Try this------------

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221062171689?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649


This same seller also has cues if you don't want to spend a lot.
Click to expand...

As a beginner, I would advise him to break off the wall. Why spend the money on a second cue when you might quit in a year?

Once he's committed to the game and knows a few things he'll want a better quality cue. The cue he buys now will become the break cue.

:cool:
 
DelaWho??? said:
As a beginner, I would advise him to break off the wall. Why spend the money on a second cue when you might quit in a year?

Once he's committed to the game and knows a few things he'll want a better quality cue. The cue he buys now will become the break cue.

:cool:
Click to expand...

You wrote "As a beginner, I...." Sorry, are you saying that you're a beginner giving advice?

What does "break off the wall" mean? Is that a bar term?
 
DelaWho??? said:
The cue was a piece of crap if it broke at the forearm.
Click to expand...


I get what you mean but if you search the cuemakers forum you will find even the likes of Josswest cues broken in half at the forearm.

I think he needs to get somebody who knows instruction to check out what he's doing at the table. I have a feeling the cue didn't break, he most likely broke it...if you get my meaning.

Then, of course, get a decent quality hard wood cue.



.
 
Thank you all for the advice. In response to some of what you said:

I have learned to not hit hard when playing against a player equal or better than myself but playing against my brother who is much less experienced than even myself I leave more to chance and almost let the game play itself. To me it is . . . slightly more difficult to control only one part of my shot so finely. If I play to my ability all but one person who I am able to play with would stop playing because they would lose. This is not bragging this is simply a tried and tested fact that has yet to change. (though by no means am i anywhere near the best just that the circle of people i play with is behind me in skill and i have not found more than the one friend who i can play against and continue to grow in the game.)

I have not sent a ball off the table in more than 6 months so injuring someone while still a possibility is less likely.(i also understand that for most experienced people sending a ball of the table that recently could still be embarrassing to that i can only offer the fact that i only started playing last October and with me essentially not knowing my own strength and having no real instruction at all I am rather proud of that record.)

As for breaking that cue for me, while I agree it was not really a cue worth keeping for the long run it was my first cue and it was a gift admittedly from someone who knows nothing of pool.(having started in October i got the gift at Christmas it was a basic begginers set including a cue a case 3 spare tips 2 tip shaping tools all in one kit from Sportcraft)

As for where it broke if i take the bottom half of the fore arm and start making fists around it working my way up the first fits below the grip completely, then i can fit three more fists onto the grip before i get to the break which occupies the top inch of the grip section leaving me with a bottom piece one fist longer than the top piece. ( i apologise for the crude way of measuring but i do not have a tape measure that i can use near by)

The thought at the moment is that because of the force of the impact I increased the density of the cue momentarily and that on release the wood failed and on my next hit it fell apart. I should also mention that it is aparent that the break happened at a knot in the wood with some spots visibly filled in with fiberglass

So I can shoot with less force and when I am playing to ability that is not a problem but when playing with less skilled players I release control of my shot. I need to work on finding the valence where I control the power and shot more but not so much as to force those I am playing with away from the table. My problem is not so much learning to play while hitting it with less force it it more fine tuning my ability to downplay my skill so i do not offend and scare off other players. you could call it hustling and in a way i guess it kind of is but i do not play for money and do not bet on my games. i only down play my skill so that i get a mutually enjoyable game both for myself and for my less skilled brother and his friend. i need to find the balance of letting go control of my shot without letting go control of the power of my shot.

I hope this helped clarify some of my situation, thank you to all for the suggestions on what type of cue to search for. I have one last question that is somewhat detached from this. I live near Poughkeepsie, New York and so far have not found a place near by that has a decent instructor or anything that hosts more that the most casual player if any of you know the area and could give suggestions it would be great.
 
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FranCrimi said:
You wrote "As a beginner, I...." Sorry, are you saying that you're a beginner giving advice?

What does "break off the wall" mean? Is that a bar term?
Click to expand...

He's the beginner. The comma was meant to qualify the advice to a beginner. The post before mine was recommending the OP buy 2 cues. I wouldn't advise anyone to do that with any new activity until they are sure they are going to stick with it.

Playing off the wall means using a house cue...

Sorry for the confusion. Often something sounds better in my head than it reads in print...



:cool:
 
Gryphon17 said:
Thank you all for the advice. In response to some of what you said:

I have learned to not hit hard when playing against a player equal or better than myself but playing against my brother who is much less experienced than even myself I leave more to chance and almost let the game play itself. To me it is . . . slightly more difficult to control only one part of my shot so finely. If I play to my ability all but one person who I am able to play with would stop playing because they would lose. This is not bragging this is simply a tried and tested fact that has yet to change. (though by no means am i anywhere near the best just that the circle of people i play with is behind me in skill and i have not found more than the one friend who i can play against and continue to grow in the game.)

I have not sent a ball off the table in more than 6 months so injuring someone while still a possibility is less likely.(i also understand that for most experienced people sending a ball of the table that recently could still be embarrassing to that i can only offer the fact that i only started playing last October and with me essentially not knowing my own strength and having no real instruction at all I am rather proud of that record.)

As for breaking that cue for me, while I agree it was not really a cue worth keeping for the long run it was my first cue and it was a gift admittedly from someone who knows nothing of pool.(having started in October i got the gift at Christmas it was a basic begginers set including a cue a case 3 spare tips 2 tip shaping tools all in one kit from Sportcraft)

snip

So I can shoot with less force and when I am playing to ability that is not a problem but when playing with less skilled players I release control of my shot. I need to work on finding the valence where I control the power and shot more but not so much as to force those I am playing with away from the table. My problem is not so much learning to play while hitting it with less force it it more fine tuning my ability to downplay my skill so i do not offend and scare off other players. you could call it hustling and in a way i guess it kind of is but i do not play for money and do not bet on my games. i only down play my skill so that i get a mutually enjoyable game both for myself and for my less skilled brother and his friend. i need to find the balance of letting go control of my shot without letting go control of the power of my shot.

.
Click to expand...

You should always bring your best to the table. Those of your friends that want to get better will keep playing after you out skill them.

You need to get out and shoot more if you're saying that there is no one to give you a game after only 9 months of play...

Don't allow yourself to play down to the leve of competition. Bring your best game every time. Bad habits form quickly and they take a lot longer to break that they take to develope.

You need to focus on doing things the right way every time, this includes the force you apply to the cueball. Like salt, too much is never good...

:cool:
 
Gryphon17, you sound like a nice guy and I appreciate your consideration for your friends and brother. But if you truly want to be a better player then you need to practice a lot. That means a lot of playing by yourself. That's where you are really going to develop the most.

When I was 17, I was beating all my friends and family and sometimes I would miss intentionally because I didn't want them to feel bad or to quit. But once I started competing in tournaments I realized that I needed to be mentally tough, and that going easy on my friends was not helping my mental toughness.

You have to decide whether you want to be a competitor or a social player. If you want to be a social player, then it doesn't matter if you're mentally tough or not. But if you want to be a competitor, you need to forget about the feelings of the people you are playing and concentrate on your own game. As long as you play fair and show good sportsmanship, you can stand with your head high. You can't help it if they don't want to play you anymore.

As for getting help: There are many free sources these days on the web. You can go to forums like this one, and there is You tube where you can watch great players play. There are even some instructional bits on You tube that are very helpful. The information is out there if you are willing to do the work.
 
FranCrimi said:
Not that I'm trying to diminish your heroic act, but probably a 3-year-old could break that cue.

If you were my friend, I would have broken it for you a long time ago --- over my knee.

If you hit the balls as hard as you say you do, then you are liable to hurt somebody with flying balls.If you aren't interested in stopping that kind of action immediately, then I suggest that you play hockey instead, or try an anger management class.
Click to expand...

He just needs to come play on the Olhausen 9 footers at Marietta Billiard club and he will find the value of lightening his stroke or jaw balls from now till judgement day.
Monty
 
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