What is the theory of a Bumperless cue?

Kevin Lindstrom

Kevin Lindstrom

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Silver Member
Is it looks only?

Is it a hit factor? If so can you decribe the hit difference between a bumperless cus and one with a bumper.

I have never understood a bumperless cue other than if you only play in a carpeted area 100% of your playing time.
 
I have 2 bumperless. They both have a similar hit. Crisp, I guess. I'd like to believe that the fact that they are bumperless is what makes them that way. But, both are Purple heart, one a BBC and one a Tru Balance. So both the same wood and full splice cues.

Of the other cues that I own, I have a couple that have a different hit, or they make a different sound but nothing like the BLs. I guess I could also use the word, lively. Kind of hard to describe Kevin. You would have to be here and try one of the full splice out to get a feel for them yourself.

I know that we say that hit and other things is subjective but with both of these, I believe that any 2 players would agree or would get the same feel from them.

I played mainly at a hall with carpet but got into the habit of resting them on the toe of my shoe anyway. One has a phenolic cap, the finish hasn't been affected
by resting it on the carpet or my shoe. The other has a longer Tad style Delrin cap. You could run over the Delrin with a tank and not do any harm.

Regardless if the cues don't have a bumper makes a difference in feel, I think that they look pretty snazzy anyway. Nice big chrome bolt on the back end.
 
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Yeah, I think "snazzy" is the reason why.... they look sharp !!
 
Looks are a factor, but technically speaking rubber bumpers absorb vibrations. If there is no bumper, you will feel the hit differently when striking the cue ball. This thread might get some good responses in the "Ask the Cuemaker Thread" as well. They would know more about how energy transfers through a cue.
 
I had two bumperless cues and sold it fast. Was think too much bout not damaging it instead of concentrationg on my shots at the table. I dont think it will change a hit of the cue compared to same cue with a bumper. So I would say its just for look(which I like btw, I guess I am just a practical person)
 
i really don't know

but as i look back at some of the old brunswick cues, i see bumperless, no ferrule, and full splice cues.i believe the titlist fullsplice is the best cue ever. they also made a hoppe that was bumperless. i think some of the builders are doing it to make their cues a bit different. i have made a few bumperless, and to be truthfull i cannot feel any difference in the hit.
they are NOT for the guy that gets mad and slams the butt of this cue on the floor when he misses.
 
Chuck, which is why I asked for a Delrin cap on the second one. I am not a cue slammer but I suppose I did fuss a bit with the phenolic cap.
 
fastone371 said:
Just take the bumper out of your cue and hit it a few times, you will feel a difference.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Bumperless cues have a slightly heavier butt-end, as a result. Stiffer hitting, more feedback available to the grip hand.
 
Personally I like the look. Most of my play is in my basement on carpet. When I do go out to play, I take a different cue with me.
 
There was an up and coming cue maker that started as a hobby for him and in no time at all, was making very desirable cues.

I think it got to be too time consuming and he sold out as he hasn't been around for some time now. Too bad as he made some very nice cues.

I think his name was Joe and had an Italian last name. One of his cues that he had advertised on AZ had a brass ring that he fashioned on the back of a bumperless.

It looked unique and was very functional. With a protruding metal ring, it would have been
difficult to damage the butt cap.

Joss bumpers are very thin. You have to be a bit careful on how you set them down as it would be easy to touch the cap if you weren't careful. Leon Sly uses them or used them as I have 2 of those bumpers on my Sly sneakys.

A Joss bumper would be as close to a bumperless as one could get while still having a bumper.

Edit - Calaluca was his name. I will do a search and see if that pic is still up.
 
Here is the one that I made for me. I used ivory for the bottom. I have never been one to slam a cue on the ground so I have not had any problems with it. I also play mainly on carpet so that helps. As far as the hit I love the way it hits, sounds and feels when I play. Ivory ferrule, steel joint and a wizard hard tip....just what the Dr ordered.

BEM Bishop.jpg

BEM Bishop2.jpg
 
galipeau said:
Looks are a factor, but technically speaking rubber bumpers absorb vibrations. If there is no bumper, you will feel the hit differently when striking the cue ball. This thread might get some good responses in the "Ask the Cuemaker Thread" as well. They would know more about how energy transfers through a cue.
Click to expand...

I have a bumperless Tascarella Hoppe and played it back to back with my buddy's Tasc which has a bumper.

The difference in sound and vibration is there and noticeable, his cue was much more "muted" in both sound and vibration-

-dj
 
I took the bumper out of my main playing cue and fabricated an aluminum screw-in "plug" of sorts. It just felt a little more crisp/"alive", as others have mentioned, without the rubber bumper.
 
Bumperless Cues

It all started with the rubber shortage during WW2. I though everyone knew this because of the population explosion back then.
 
Aloha,

The bumper or lack thereof in Hoppe-style cues make for a totally different "hit" and "sound" compared to a similar cue with a bumper.

I tried to get Richard Black to make me a "Hoppe Copy" from his limited catalog way back in 1978 and he wouldn't do it. Even though it was listed in his catalog, he said he wouldn't do one until he could figure out how to get the "ping" sound out of the cue.

He eventually went to installing a rubber bumper in the butt and it is the same as the one that can now be seen in his catalog.

I spoke with him last Friday and reminded him that I still want one of those cues.
 
Isn't that Ping sound a desirable sound for some. I know that it is for me.

Much better than the dead feel and sound of a cue with a Predator shaft.
 
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