Snooker Cue For BB Pool

[Johnnyt]

After watching some of the Chinese 8 ball and seeing some of the best in the world using snooker cues, I got my old snooker cue out and shot 9 ball for 45 min outside at 51 degrees with 30 MPH winds. I shot good with it. Is this the Silver Bullet we all look for or just a placebo? I seemed to hit center ball more W/O much effort. Again, this is on a 7' table. Johnnyt

 

[Swighey]

After watching some of the Chinese 8 ball and seeing some of the best in the world using snooker cues, I got my old snooker cue out and shot 9 ball for 45 min outside at 51 degrees with 30 MPH winds. I shot good with it. Is this the Silver Bullet we all look for or just a placebo? I seemed to hit center ball more W/O much effort. Again, this is on a 7' table. Johnnyt

I know some very good social players with a snooker background who now play only 8 and 9 ball on "American" 9 footers. They are comfortable with their snooker cue and have never made the transition - they just smash the break with any old house cue and then use their fine tip. The gain from switching would probably be outweighed by the need to adapt as they are not in it to reach the top or anywhere near it. Even Steve Davis, who is a far better cue sports player than these guys and all of us, played with a snooker cue at first and then with a specially made hybrid when he was playing 9 ball. He never intended to dedicate himself to becoming a top 9 ball player but he had some very good days against the best in the world. I've also seen very good players playing English 8 ball with American pool cues.

I think just play with whatever cue you are comfortable with - there may even be an argument for having a range of cue like a golfer's set of clubs, although for many players it might be mentally better to use just one. I for one prefer one cue and one cue only. It's tradition as much as it is deemed best which type of cue should be used for whichever cue sport.

 

[Johnnyt]

I went out again for over an hour with the snooker cue. I think the reason I pot longer shots better (I know, there are no long shots on a BB) (at 75 and a bit shaky, there are for me) is because I use an open bridge much more now than before the Arthritis creped in. So I pick up center ball much better with thinner shaft and tip. Make any sense? Johnnyt

 

[Pidge]

The thinner shaft does make seeing your tip lined up easier. I used an old Parris snooker cue up until about 6 months ago. It has a 10.5mm tip and I had a plastic ferrule put on it. Played really nice but it felt weak and fragile on power shots. I didn't know it felt this way until I tried a friend's Players cue. I absolutely loved his cue and bought it off him. It plays like a dream. The Parris cue cost £800.the players cost £100. It plays ten times better than the Parris. My advice would be to buy a cue made for American pool but get the shaft customised to about 10.5-11mm.should help with seeing more of the white ball and at the same time will be able to withstand the extra impact that pool balls bring.

 

[HurdyGurdy]

My cue is not specifically a snooker cue...

I had Schmelke make me a cue that is 57in long with a 23.2mm joint and a 12mm tip. Straight or conical taper. It plays great for me. I am going to have another shaft made at 11mm to see if I like it, but 12mm has been good. I also use an open bridge, never understood the closed method, putting your pointer finger across the sight-line seemed odd at best, and uncomfortable. Friends have tried the cue using a closed bridge and they didn't like it. From 12mm to 23.2mm in 28.5inches is a serious climb.

Hits like a club, which I love.

 

[vacation]

My cue is not specifically a snooker cue...

I had Schmelke make me a cue that is 57in long with a 23.2mm joint and a 12mm tip. Straight or conical taper. It plays great for me. I am going to have another shaft made at 11mm to see if I like it, but 12mm has been good. I also use an open bridge, never understood the closed method, putting your pointer finger across the sight-line seemed odd at best, and uncomfortable. Friends have tried the cue using a closed bridge and they didn't like it. From 12mm to 23.2mm in 28.5inches is a serious climb.

Hits like a club, which I love.

I love how this sounds. Do you have any pictures of the cue?

 

[HurdyGurdy]

I love how this sounds. Do you have any pictures of the cue?

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The cue on the table is the Schmelke. I cobbled together a wood case for a one piece Dufferin house cue and used it as my player for several months, but decided to have it copied in two pieces for convenience, which is what the Schmelke is.

Schmelke cues are great, their customer services is great, and their prices are better than good.

 

[peppersauce]

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[vacation]

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The cue on the table is the Schmelke. I cobbled together a wood case for a one piece Dufferin house cue and used it as my player for several months, but decided to have it copied in two pieces for convenience, which is what the Schmelke is.

Schmelke cues are great, their customer services is great, and their prices are better than good.

Thanks for the pictures. I keep a two piece cheapo Riley in my bag but have been looking for a nice in-between/hybrid cue. I may try a Schmelke myself.

Thanks again.