Optimal Cue Length Formula?

Mm2

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Hey guys, I am almost 6'4" and i hold me cue on the very end. I am thinking of ordering a custom made cue soon and was wondering if anyone had a formula for figuring out optimal cue length and/or balance? Thanks for the help
 
You go over to the wall and pick out a cue with a decent tip, make sure the end of the shaft is somewhat straight, and announce "the house has the 8" Any questions?
 
I know there is at least one cue maker who says the optimal length for a cue is where the tip meets the bottom of your lip.

For what it is worth, I'm short and I use a 59 inch cue and that is approximately where it reaches on me.
 
There's no optimal balance or length, since it depends on things like your stroke and bridge length. Figure out if you like a forward or rear-balanced cue and get something long enough to allow you to grip the cue comfortably and have your forearm perpendicular to the ground at contact.

By the way, if you're still shopping around, I'd recommend Josey Custom Cues.
I had a 61" fancy sneaky made and they hit it out of the ball park.
Solid hit, beautiful wood, reasonable pricing, and excellent customer service as well, so you can't go wrong there.
 
or you can get a cue extender, like a balancerite that goes between the shaft and butt. For $30 it is a much cheaper option.
 
See if you can find someone with a 30" shaft and try it out. The cue extender mentioned above is also an option.

Good luck!
 
Too much is made of balance points on a cue. With in reason you can put your hands in a place that is comfortable and very playable with almost any length cue and body type. Why do some pool players make everything such a big deal? Johnnyt
 
Hey guys, I am almost 6'4" and i hold me cue on the very end. I am thinking of ordering a custom made cue soon and was wondering if anyone had a formula for figuring out optimal cue length and/or balance? Thanks for the help
It's too bad that there is no kit of shafts and weights and extenders and wraps that would allow a prospective buyer to figure out what he would like in a cue.

If you have no problem holding the cue at the end -- that is, it doesn't cramp your stance or stroke or ability to reach shots -- I'd go with that length. Try the sticks at the PH to figure out if you have a preference for weight/balance but most rooms don't have sticks with a lot of variation.

The most important part of the cue from a playing perspective is the shaft. To see if the shaft works for you, try playing with it before you buy. Shoot spin shots -- shots through the middle of the cue ball are almost worthless for this test.
 
Hey guys, I am almost 6'4" and i hold me cue on the very end. I am thinking of ordering a custom made cue soon and was wondering if anyone had a formula for figuring out optimal cue length and/or balance? Thanks for the help

Depends on the cuemaker from a balance standpoint, and what you like.
Front weighted, rear weighted, etc.
With that said, I just ran some numbers..:smile:..and you need a 62" cue.
Take your height less 18-20%
Actually I had to massage those numbers a little, because technically I have no idea
 
Too much is made of balance points on a cue. With in reason you can put your hands in a place that is comfortable and very playable with almost any length cue and body type. Why do some pool players make everything such a big deal? Johnnyt

I am 6'2" and understand his issue. I sometimes wish there was a little more at the end of my cue to allow me to get further back with my bridge.
 
To tall

To short, bull crap. When I was young growing up in Salem In their was a great old player that was 6 foot 2 inches maybe a hair taller. He would come in pool hall after work in boots that made him roughly 6foot5, and grab a old house cue and usually beat any one in town with a 57 inch cue. It might have been 58inches not sure. May old Brick top Collines RIP, great guy great player. Also I think Jonnyt is right.
 
I'm 6-8
I have used several 60" cues and they are ok but I still felt I needed some more length. I had a nice 4" extension built for my JMW cue. That paired up with a 30" shaft and my cue is now up to 64" & I love it. A standard 58" cue now feels like a foreign object to me.

As an added bonus, I never need a bridge :thumbup:

pics...
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=370634
 
Too much is made of balance points on a cue. With in reason you can put your hands in a place that is comfortable and very playable with almost any length cue and body type. Why do some pool players make everything such a big deal? Johnnyt

Not sure why some pool players make everything a big deal, but I most certainly disagree on the balance point comment. I find a foreward weighted cue strokes much better for me. I am 5'5 and hold the cue far from the butt on many shots, physiology and geometry facts-of-life. Cues that are forward weighted feel more secure in an open bridge ... so sense of the shaft being so light it flies up.

Dave
 
Jimmy Reid had a chart at the beginning of one of his videos that showed height to cue length.
I will see if I can find it. The only thing about a longer cue is then finding a case that it will fit in.
I think the cue extension would be my choice. You could also use that to adjust the balance by using different wood and pin combos.
Mark
 
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Here is a good starting point
 

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I have always liked a longer cue, because I find myself griping the butt cap
on a 58" standard cue. I am only 5' 11" tall.
After trying out an Elite Big and Tall sneaky, ($150 on eBay), I decided 62"
was the perfect size for me. It is made in China, and I had to re-taper the shaft,
but it then played like I wanted.
I then called Schmelke, and ordered a full splice rosewood into rosewood 30"
butt with a G-10 pin and a 32" shaft. They did not want to linen wrap it to the
butt cap like I wanted, so today I had Nat Green of Southeast Cues do that for me.
For now I'm using the 1/1 tube case the Elite came with.
 
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Hey guys, I am almost 6'4" and i hold me cue on the very end. I am thinking of ordering a custom made cue soon and was wondering if anyone had a formula for figuring out optimal cue length and/or balance? Thanks for the help

Get a balance rite extension type thingie for your current cue, instant long cue and everyone is doing it, so may as well jump on the bandwagon. Oh and get a glove and a Cuetec like Shane. Those things are cool again :thumbup: ;). 60" is pretty much a standard for the longer cues, 30" butt, 30" shaft, many cuemakers have experience with making those and would get the balance done as well as their standard length cues.
 
Jimmy Reid had a chart at the beginning of one of his videos that showed height to cue length.
I will see if I can find it. The only thing about a longer cue is then finding a case that it will fit in.
I think the cue extension would be my choice. You could also use that to adjust the balance by using different wood and pin combos.
Mark

From his No Time for Negatives DVD Jimmy says
5'10" to 6'1" 58" cue and 19.5 oz
6'1" to 6'4" 59" cue 20.5 oz
6'4" and up 60" cue 21.5 oz
He also says to measure your arm span finger tip to finger tip.
I was told that your arm span is always equal to your height, but that may not always be the case.
Mark
 
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