How does a Palmer feel compared to a Balabushka?

TATE said:
Hi Dale,

I sent your comments to Peter Balner. Here's his response:

" Hello Chris,

I remember George buying all kinds of cue parts, including shafts from us. He was so selective that when I got in 5,000 7/8" maple dowels, George would come and select from this batch maybe 30 pieces for which he'd pay more than I was getting for a finished shaft. I never quite understood the entire process - he'd spend a full day looking at dowels and valuing imaginary characteristics that only he was party to.

I'm sure that George was also buying shaft wood from lumber suppliers. I don't remember buying any shafts from George, but it's possible.

I hope all is well.

Peter


In terms of how Palmer's play compared to a Balabushka, well here's my take on it. I've only played with three Balabushkas but they were surprisingly similar. They are a very well made cue, especially for the era, finely balanced, and "just right" in every department. In my opinion, Balabushka's were a more refined playing cue than other cues of this era. If you find a nicely balanced one piece Titlist from the 1950's, they seem very similar to me.

Palmer's are all over the board in the feel department. There is a great deal of variation in their materials and weights. The early Palmers made from Titlists are the closest thing they made to playing a Balabushka. If you have owned and many Palmer's as I have, believe me, you'll find some great playing cues. I still have a couple that are similar to Balabushka's and if anybody is coming my way they can test them out. The cues from the first and especially the 2nd catalog made from Titlist blanks are the closest you will come.

I am sure you would find the vast majority of players could not pass a blindfold test between many hand selected Palmers and a Balabushka or Szamboti.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info - I will call Victor tomorrow and demand a refund. :)

For the How-do-they-play part, I concur on both fronts. Tho I don't have nearly as much exposure
to Palmers as you I feel some are great, some are blah, and most are in between.
Just what one would expect from a company making so many cues.

I do recall one old Model D that had a replacement shaft made by a local hack that I
banged a few balls with nearly thirty years ago - it hit as well as any Szamboti I ever
missed a ball with... go figure.

Dale
 
deanoc said:
I have had several of each
and i liked both
can't really define the difference,but I do remember the feel
on a bushka

both are nice cues
Click to expand...

I go the chance to hit with a Bushka here in Tulsa a few years ago-
The gentleman had a case full of really nice, expensive cues,
One being a Mint Bushka he supposedly just paid 20K for from Joe Salazar-
DEFINITLY The BEST Hitting steel joint cue I hit with-
Very crisp ,lively hit and feel
 
HawaiianEye said:
I would have to think my Titlist conversion would play very similar to a Balabushka Titlist full-splice conversion of the same simple build (SS joint and 5/16-14 pin, collars, wrap, delrin butt cap, weight bolt (if any), rubber bumper, and bumper screw).

Other than mine being slimmed down to a more modern feel, there really isn't much difference. It has all the same parts. I had it made to resemble the real Balabushka Titlist that is shown in the center picture with the carpet. My cue is at the top and bottom..
Click to expand...

Very nice classic cue...
"Is this a Tascarella ????
 
jay helfert said:
Completely different feel! The Bushka felt light and perfectly balanced in your hands (average weight was a 19) and went through the ball like a hot knife through butter, so smooth. You only had to guide the cue and let it do the work. Bushka, Rambo and Martin were on top in the 50's and 60's. Palmer's to me felt like a production cue, adequate but not exceptional in any way. When Szamboti and Joss started making cues, they took over the serious players market in the early 70's. Ginacue and Tad were very popular player's cues as well. Palmer's only seemed popular with the East Coast crowd and even the real players back there wanted a Szam or Joss.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly.

I have a titlist Balabushka and it plays incredible. I have Palmers and while they are nice, and some have been good players, the GB is at a different level.

Even more amazing is the GB titlist I have was built in the 1960's, and it compares with the best players of today some 50 years later....he was far ahead of his time.

Ken
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top