That reminds me of a tournament where I watched Efren play and could hear a definite "ping" on almost every shot he made - even the softer hits. Don't know what the weight of the cue was he was using but Efren is known for playing with heavy cue. Wonder how much the tip has to do with the ping?
What is a cue's "hit" to you?
- Thread starter Patrick Johnson
- Start date
That reminds me of a tournament where I watched Efren play and could hear a definite "ping" on almost every shot he made - even the softer hits. Don't know what the weight of the cue was he was using but Efren is known for playing with heavy cue. Wonder how much the tip has to do with the ping?
Couldn't be his tip. He uses milk dud blue diamond.
What year was this ?
Was he playing with the $15 Filipino cue ?
Im far from an expert. But I have had 4 different hitting cues. My first one was a Joss Sneaky 95C. This was a hard hit...the sound...the way it felt in your have you knew is was solid. My next 2 cues were Muecci...A freshman 4 and a 97-21. Both hit lighter than the Joss. The Muecci moved the ball around more. Next one was a custom from Chris Abaya. This hit the lightest. I couldnt get used to this cue. It looked awesome but I just couldnt get used to it. Now Im back to a Joss sneaky and I couldnt be happier.
It was in the 90's at some big casino in Los Angeles. Parica beat Efren in the final match.
The "ping" comes from a really hard wood, weight has nothing to so with it. It's a wood characteristic, or maybe a loose bolt. Full ebony noses ping so loud you think you forgot the turn off the boiling water.
The consensus answer seems to be. . .
. . .the amount or quality of information transmitted to the user about the cue's impact with the cue ball.
And really, I'd very much like to agree with that conclusion. I can't quite get there, however, as there is no reliable way of quantifying either the "amount" or "quality" of the information that a cue transmits. For some, sound is paramount. Others look for a certain set of good vibrations. And others seek a certain feeling of balance during the stroke.
With all of this, I can only conclude that the best choice among PJ's three answers is a purely subjective measure of what feels good to the user.
I'll add two more thoughts: 1) almost any player can adapt to just about any cue given enough time and practice. 2) a player's preferences in "hit" and "feel" are highly fluid and can change dramatically over time as this process of adaptation takes place.
I tend to believe that most players who have have maintained a fixed set of cue preferences over a long period of time are those who were fortunate enough to find a good, workable cue early in their playing careers, and who (if they've changed cues at all) stayed very close to their original spec's. Most players who have used cues with varying specifications tend to "evolve" in their preferences-- even though they all seem to wind up in very different places.
. . .the amount or quality of information transmitted to the user about the cue's impact with the cue ball.
And really, I'd very much like to agree with that conclusion. I can't quite get there, however, as there is no reliable way of quantifying either the "amount" or "quality" of the information that a cue transmits. For some, sound is paramount. Others look for a certain set of good vibrations. And others seek a certain feeling of balance during the stroke.
With all of this, I can only conclude that the best choice among PJ's three answers is a purely subjective measure of what feels good to the user.
I'll add two more thoughts: 1) almost any player can adapt to just about any cue given enough time and practice. 2) a player's preferences in "hit" and "feel" are highly fluid and can change dramatically over time as this process of adaptation takes place.
I tend to believe that most players who have have maintained a fixed set of cue preferences over a long period of time are those who were fortunate enough to find a good, workable cue early in their playing careers, and who (if they've changed cues at all) stayed very close to their original spec's. Most players who have used cues with varying specifications tend to "evolve" in their preferences-- even though they all seem to wind up in very different places.
Ah, at the Legends of 9-Ball in Commerce Casino.
That was the $15 cue with cueball ferrule.
If you thought that pinged, Rodney Morris's Szamboti pinged all the way to the next zip code.
I was watching a match and kept looking a few tables away b/c one cue pinged so much.
It was the Rocket shooting a Gus.
A ld shaft with a well balanced and certain weight cue gives me the hit I like.The cues balance is most important.(to me)
This mite not be answering your post correctly but this is how I get the hit I like.
I think there are two parts. The first is what happens when you hit the cue ball in the middle. The sound/vibration tells you how solidly the tip/ferrule/joint/butt are put together. The second is how the cue sounds/feels when you spin the ball a lot.
Physics says to expect two kind of vibration. The first is a "wiggle" like what you see when you whack the cue sideways and it vibrates like a plucked string. The frequency of this vibration is about 20/second. The second is the compression wave travelling end-to-end along the length of the stick. This has a frequency of about 1000/second so it is in the audible range.
Both kinds of vibration have been captured by ultra-high-speed video. The "wiggle" kind normally is much large for off-center hits (spin shots).
Superbly stated by Bob Jewett.
For me, a cue that hits great, gives me additional confidence that when I face a difficult shot, the cue will perform to high expectations and deliver exactly what is called for, as long as the shooter has some ability.
Physics says to expect two kind of vibration. The first is a "wiggle" like what you see when you whack the cue sideways and it vibrates like a plucked string. The frequency of this vibration is about 20/second. The second is the compression wave travelling end-to-end along the length of the stick. This has a frequency of about 1000/second so it is in the audible range.
Both kinds of vibration have been captured by ultra-high-speed video. The "wiggle" kind normally is much large for off-center hits (spin shots).
Superbly stated by Bob Jewett.
For me, a cue that hits great, gives me additional confidence that when I face a difficult shot, the cue will perform to high expectations and deliver exactly what is called for, as long as the shooter has some ability.
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I"m not Bob, but...
For me, I want a cue with the least vibration (muted) throughout all the ranges of spin. Others want more from a feedback point of view. I don't want feedback because probably I just get too distracted by additional vibration.
But I also say that that the taper adds to my idea of "hit" because the feel of the cue sliding through my fingers at the moment before, during and after contact is part of the experience of "the hit."
Maybe "hit" is misnomer for me and we need a different term to describe that whole final stroke energy transfer.
The cues that get me that muted hit I'm looking for are Schuler and Lambros with pro tapers. Many other cuemakers are pretty close, but those two get me what I'm looking for.
Freddie <~~~ wants them pretty and quiet
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I have to admit that I don't have a good answer for myself. Aside from a small tip and stiff hit I wouldn't know where to begin. I've played with the same cue for so long that I'd probably think anything else sucks.
That kinda sums up my thoughts on the subject: I think people like what they get used to.
pj
chgo
I think a cue hit's best when using the bottom half.
Or, at least, that's what my friend Tommy "The Fink" Finkbiner once told me.
He was leaving the pool hall late one night when out from the shadows jumps this guy with the butt end of a Schon STL 5 and whacks Tommy across the side of his head. As he was losing consciousness he notices the guy bears a remarkable resemblance to "Two Tooth Sally's" first husband, Arnie Bemsteen. You remember Sally, don't you.
What's the haps, Pat? :smile:
Or, at least, that's what my friend Tommy "The Fink" Finkbiner once told me.
He was leaving the pool hall late one night when out from the shadows jumps this guy with the butt end of a Schon STL 5 and whacks Tommy across the side of his head. As he was losing consciousness he notices the guy bears a remarkable resemblance to "Two Tooth Sally's" first husband, Arnie Bemsteen. You remember Sally, don't you.
What's the haps, Pat? :smile:
TRAMP!!!!!!!
Nice to see you post.
I hope your friend Tommy came back for more.....
..most pool players like double knockouts...
regards
pt
pt, my old friend.
Just dropped by to say howdy and offer my 2cents, which, when adjusted for inflation, isn't worth a plugged nickle.
Don't mean to hyjack this thread though. :smile:
Just dropped by to say howdy and offer my 2cents, which, when adjusted for inflation, isn't worth a plugged nickle.
Don't mean to hyjack this thread though. :smile:
TRAMP sighting!
Tramp-howdy back at ya. Your humor is missed.
Take care and come around more often.
Tramp-howdy back at ya. Your humor is missed.
Take care and come around more often.
Trampster!
nice to see you - well, actually, I don't see you...
did 'The Man' repo the steamer, too?
what kind of monsters are they? :wink:
get yourself over to the avatar store and see what's available. I'm sure if need be, we can put together a hull painting and deck swabbing party.
nice to see you.
best,
brian kc
Hey, Brian. Nice to see you to.
I've always liked your posts, by-the-way. Humorus, yet with a touch of class.
Unlike mine, of course, which had a wee fishy smell. :wink:
I've always liked your posts, by-the-way. Humorus, yet with a touch of class.
Unlike mine, of course, which had a wee fishy smell. :wink:
it was mostly a "wee" smell if you ask me.
but you won't.
pls give sally my warm regards.
best,
brian kc
A combination of all three of your definitions really, although I'd like to add something on the aspect of the "purely subjective" in the first: there's got to be a reason/reasons why people agree on some things to be preferable from a qualitative perspective (i.e. "better") to others, even if we lack objective means of measuring what properties/characteristics make us agree.
Greetings from Switzerland, David.
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