Thoughts on cue purchase

jokrswylde

jokrswylde

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I apologize in advance for the millionth "recommend a cue" thread. So my sister in law is getting married in a couple of months. Her fiancee is trying to get into pool more seriously since he has been hanging around me and shooting on my table. We have even talked about putting together a team for the local apa.

I would like to get him a cue as a wedding gift. Here are the criteria I am working on:

-Budget is around $ 150. I feel good about being able to find him a pretty good player at this price point. For all i know he never really takes to it and the cue rarely gets used.

-I want it to be new so he can return it if he wants, I am not sure non-pool junkies would appreciate getting a used gift, even if it were a nicer cue.

-It needs to look good and "feel" like a quality cue. I want him to appreciate that it is not some Academy Sports house brand.

I have read good reviews of the HXT line and have found a few that fit in my criteria:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HG8JH6C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1L3NBDTB7IW6P

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HG8I4RA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005F7UY72/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1L3NBDTB7IW6P

I like the warranty against defects and warping on these cues, and amazon has great buyer protection.

Also, while doing some research on AZB, I found some old (2012) threads on the Ebay Dale Perry Customs that can be had for around the same price. Most posts from then said the cues may not have flawless F&F, but would be better than any imported production cues at the same price. Is this still true today? Should I look into the Dale Perry customs?

I feel the Players would be a fine purchase, but I would also like to support American custom makers if I can.

What say those experienced in the art of cue buying? I can not go above 175.00 including shipping due to the wife and I having an agreement on the budget for the gifts. Thanks in advance for sharing the knowledge!
 
jokrswylde said:
I apologize in advance for the millionth "recommend a cue" thread. So my sister in law is getting married in a couple of months. Her fiancee is trying to get into pool more seriously since he has been hanging around me and shooting on my table. We have even talked about putting together a team for the local apa.

I would like to get him a cue as a wedding gift. Here are the criteria I am working on:

-Budget is around $ 150. I feel good about being able to find him a pretty good player at this price point. For all i know he never really takes to it and the cue rarely gets used.

-I want it to be new so he can return it if he wants, I am not sure non-pool junkies would appreciate getting a used gift, even if it were a nicer cue.

-It needs to look good and "feel" like a quality cue. I want him to appreciate that it is not some Academy Sports house brand.

I have read good reviews of the HXT line and have found a few that fit in my criteria:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HG8JH6C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1L3NBDTB7IW6P

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HG8I4RA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005F7UY72/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1L3NBDTB7IW6P

I like the warranty against defects and warping on these cues, and amazon has great buyer protection.

Also, while doing some research on AZB, I found some old (2012) threads on the Ebay Dale Perry Customs that can be had for around the same price. Most posts from then said the cues may not have flawless F&F, but would be better than any imported production cues at the same price. Is this still true today? Should I look into the Dale Perry customs?

I feel the Players would be a fine purchase, but I would also like to support American custom makers if I can.

What say those experienced in the art of cue buying? I can not go above 175.00 including shipping due to the wife and I having an agreement on the budget for the gifts. Thanks in advance for sharing the knowledge!
Click to expand...

Going by the customer reviews, the third cue on your list is the one I would get if the choices were limited to those three. It will more than likely be a fine playing cue. I have one HXT shaft and while it's no Predator, it's a decently playable shaft.

The internet Dale Perry cues are nice hitting cues for the price. If you can deal with less than perfection in the fit and finish department, you can get a decent playing cue with his cues. I had a teammate with one and it had a real nice hit to it.

If the guy you're buying it for DOES take to the game, it won't be the only cue he ever owns. :wink:

You may get a lot of other suggestions before this thread is done.

Maniac
 
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I would recommend against a Dale Perry cue as his customer service, should you need it, is poor.

In the $150 range you can actually have a great cue made or get one from their ready-stock at USA cuemaker, www.schmelkecue.com

they make a great hitting, high quality cue and have a stellar rep. :thumbup:

GL

best,
brian kc
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
In the $150 range you can actually have a great cue made or get one from their ready-stock at USA cuemaker, www.schmelkecue.com

they make a great hitting, high quality cue and have a stellar rep. :thumbup:

GL

best,
brian kc
Click to expand...

You are going to here this recommendation echoed more than once on this thread....and I wholeheartedly agree with it.

Maniac
 
Maniac said:
You are going to here this recommendation echoed more than once on this thread....and I wholeheartedly agree with it.

Maniac
Click to expand...

I will certainly research more into the shmelke as I like to support american small business when possible....question, is the consensus that shmelke is a better cue for the price even though the players comes with a kamui tip and the low deflection shaft vs. a generic leather tip (I assume) and standard shaft?

Where does the Shmelke shine? Is it the fit and finish? materials? attention to detail?
 
jokrswylde said:
I will certainly research more into the shmelke as I like to support american small business when possible....question, is the consensus that shmelke is a better cue for the price even though the players comes with a kamui tip and the low deflection shaft vs. a generic leather tip (I assume) and standard shaft?

Where does the Shmelke shine? Is it the fit and finish? materials? attention to detail?
Click to expand...

think about Irving Crane, Willie Mosconi, Harold Worst, Efren Reyes, Allen Hopkins, The Miz, and the many other greats who were beating the world with good old hard rock maple shafts. ;)

The maple shafts that Schmelke provides will not hold your friend back. A lot of players nowadays do like low deflection shafts and a lot of mfgs offer them that can be added at any time, such as predator, tiger, OB, just to name a few. And, even Schmelke offers an optional LD shaft.

I don't think the Players cue you are considering is a bad option, btw, for me though, I give USA made Schmelke the edge.

best,
brian kc
 
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jokrswylde said:
I apologize in advance for the millionth "recommend a cue" thread. So my sister in law is getting married in a couple of months. Her fiancee is trying to get into pool more seriously since he has been hanging around me and shooting on my table. We have even talked about putting together a team for the local apa.

I would like to get him a cue as a wedding gift. Here are the criteria I am working on:

-Budget is around $ 150. I feel good about being able to find him a pretty good player at this price point. For all i know he never really takes to it and the cue rarely gets used.

-I want it to be new so he can return it if he wants, I am not sure non-pool junkies would appreciate getting a used gift, even if it were a nicer cue.

-It needs to look good and "feel" like a quality cue. I want him to appreciate that it is not some Academy Sports house brand.

I have read good reviews of the HXT line and have found a few that fit in my criteria:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HG8JH6C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1L3NBDTB7IW6P

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HG8I4RA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005F7UY72/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1L3NBDTB7IW6P

I like the warranty against defects and warping on these cues, and amazon has great buyer protection.

Also, while doing some research on AZB, I found some old (2012) threads on the Ebay Dale Perry Customs that can be had for around the same price. Most posts from then said the cues may not have flawless F&F, but would be better than any imported production cues at the same price. Is this still true today? Should I look into the Dale Perry customs?

I feel the Players would be a fine purchase, but I would also like to support American custom makers if I can.

What say those experienced in the art of cue buying? I can not go above 175.00 including shipping due to the wife and I having an agreement on the budget for the gifts. Thanks in advance for sharing the knowledge!
Click to expand...
No brainer, get a Schmelke sneaky-pete. Get the "extended pro-taper" unless you want a stiffer cue. All American company in Wisconsin. Everything else in your price range is gonna be Chinese.
 
On the hxt shaft: I'm on my third one in a year. It was purchased through Amazon as a gift and it's a nice cue for the $, however, the first shaft warped in about six months, I mean at least an 1/8 of inch of runout with it screwed apart. Returned it and they sent a new one. The new one was warped worse than the first so I returned that as well. The last one I received and still have is perfectly straight but the shaft is 13mm not the 12.75 it's supposed to be and I think something is wrong with the ferrule because it makes a weird snapping noise when I hit the cue ball. Just giving you a heads up on it.
 
 
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jokrswylde said:
I will certainly research more into the shmelke as I like to support american small business when possible....question, is the consensus that shmelke is a better cue for the price even though the players comes with a kamui tip and the low deflection shaft vs. a generic leather tip (I assume) and standard shaft?

Where does the Shmelke shine? Is it the fit and finish? materials? attention to detail?
Click to expand...

I think most people only think Kamui is a better tip because they advertise so heavily. When I first started playing a few years ago I bought into the Kamui hype and after I tried other brands I will probably never buy another Kamui again. As far as the top 10 reasons to buy 1 cue over another I would put the tip manufacturer at about number 99 on that list, plus Im sure you can have a Kamui installed by the cue builder if it is a must.
 
jokrswylde said:
I will certainly research more into the shmelke as I like to support american small business when possible....question, is the consensus that shmelke is a better cue for the price even though the players comes with a kamui tip and the low deflection shaft vs. a generic leather tip (I assume) and standard shaft?

Where does the Shmelke shine? Is it the fit and finish? materials? attention to detail?
Click to expand...

I'd say, compared to the players hxt, the schmelke shines in every aspect you mentioned. You can also choose whatever tip you'd like, joint, taper, ferrule, even the wood you want. The Kamui is an extra 30 I think. As far as low deflection, in my opinion there isnt any difference between the hxt vs the standard shaft schmelke offers at all.
 
Mike81 said:
I'd say, compared to the players hxt, the schmelke shines in every aspect you mentioned. You can also choose whatever tip you'd like, joint, taper, ferrule, even the wood you want. The Kamui is an extra 30 I think. As far as low deflection, in my opinion there isnt any difference between the hxt vs the standard shaft schmelke offers at all.
Click to expand...
I agree. I will advise you try a 12.5mm w/ extended pro taper if you go Schmelke. I just got a 12.75 pro-taper and its pretty firm. Not super stiff but it starts growing in size pretty early in the shaft. Great cues for the $ spent and really nice people to deal with.
 
+1 for Schmelke.

I'd also throw Lucasi in there if you can find one for that. They play great.
 
fastone371 said:
When I first started playing a few years ago I bought into the Kamui hype and after I tried other brands I will probably never buy another Kamui again.
Click to expand...

Me neither, and I've tried the Kamui blacks and the browns in soft, medium, and hard. Have not tried the Kamui clear tips yet, but probably won't after my forays into their other offerings.

Quite frankly, I have tried about 25 or so different tips of various brands and hardnesses and have decided to go back to a simple Triangle tip. I do not notice any decline in my game whatsoever.

Imho, I think the layered tips are overrated and certainly overpriced. I bet Willie ran his 526 balls with a single-layered tip as probably did Earl when he ran 11 racks for a million $$$.

YMMV

Maniac
 
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