skill level re: equipment

E

evergruven

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
"it's the archer, not the arrow" is often repeated here, and other places
in spirit, I agree- I've always liked the idea of grabbing off the wall and playing well
and I don't think my game has historically been very affected by using different gear

over the past year or two, I've felt I'd do better with a more forward-balanced cue
eventually, I want to get a custom cue, but until then, I've been experimenting
thanks to azb, I learned to add lead tape to my shaft, to see how extra weight feels
so, two weeks ago, I went ahead and did it- and it's been working really well for me
I mostly use an open bridge, and the shaft stays down in my bridge real well
and in general, the extra weight just helps me feel more comfortable shooting

what I'm wondering is
is it reasonable that my game would improve, after making such a seemingly nominal change?
 
evergruven said:
"it's the archer, not the arrow" is often repeated here, and other places
in spirit, I agree- I've always liked the idea of grabbing off the wall and playing well
and I don't think my game has historically been very affected by using different gear

over the past year or two, I've felt I'd do better with a more forward-balanced cue
eventually, I want to get a custom cue, but until then, I've been experimenting
thanks to azb, I learned to add lead tape to my shaft, to see how extra weight feels
so, two weeks ago, I went ahead and did it- and it's been working really well for me
I mostly use an open bridge, and the shaft stays down in my bridge real well
and in general, the extra weight just helps me feel more comfortable shooting

what I'm wondering is
is it reasonable that my game would improve, after making such a seemingly nominal change?
Click to expand...
You'll know the answer in a couple of weeks if you are still playing better. If you feel more comfortable and that makes you more relaxed then that could be the difference.
 
Even arrows come in custom lengths and weights. We always hear that a good player can play with anything, and for the most part they can, but there's a reason the pros have their own sticks. We all have preferences and sticks that just hit a ton for us individually. Getting a stick that matches our personal preference can't hurt and seems like a good way to get more table time in which is always a good thing.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to be able to play better with a stick that matches our individual play style and preference. I know even shifting the balance point can make a cue feel much better. You know how this game is, even the little stuff can be detrimental if we let it. Better off to have equipment that feels right and keeps our minds on track.

EDIT: Not an instructor so parse this info appropriately.
 
There are a few possibilities why this seems to feel better to you.

1.) Maybe the cue you were using had too much back weight to begin with and you helped to balance it out.

2.) Or maybe you just needed a little heavier cue.

If your cue is already balanced, I'd be a little cautious about adding forward weight. Forward-weighted cues are great for finessing shots, but not so great to help your shot-making skills. You'll have to be a strong shot-maker first.

Back-weighted cues are more recommended for amateur players because they are more favorable towards shot-making but less favorable towards finessing shots.
 
FranCrimi said:
Forward-weighted cues are great for finessing shots, but not so great to help your shot-making skills. You'll have to be a strong shot-maker first.

Back-weighted cues are more recommended for amateur players because they are more favorable towards shot-making but less favorable towards finessing shots.
Click to expand...
Do you know the physical explanations for this, Fran? Why is forward weighted better for finesse but back weighted better for shot making? (And what does "finessing shots" refer to - speed control?)

pj
chgo
 
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Patrick Johnson said:
Do you know the physical explanations for this, Fran? Why is forward weighted better for finesse but back weighted better for shot making? (And what does "finessing shots" refer to - speed control?)

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
I agree PJ. How does the cue ball kown about forward or back weighted cues.
 
Dan White said:
You'll know the answer in a couple of weeks if you are still playing better. If you feel more comfortable and that makes you more relaxed then that could be the difference.
Click to expand...

hey dan, thanks for the reply. why a few weeks? just more time?
 
FranCrimi said:
1.) Maybe the cue you were using had too much back weight to begin with and you helped to balance it out.

2.) Or maybe you just needed a little heavier cue.
Click to expand...

hi fran, I definitely have been feeling like more weight ahead of my grip hand would make me feel more comfy, and now it is
I think it's more about the balance than the overall weight..I've used much lighter cues but that were better balanced with success
as others have mentioned I'm curious about your thoughts on how weight distribution affects shotmaking, etc.

thanks all for the replies-
 
Well if I buy a set of world class Neurosurgeon tool the same as Dr. Ben Carson used in his medical practice.

Whos coming forward for brain surgery, need some Nuckelheads to practice on.

Think me personally would choose Dr. Ben, over me. 🤥
 
evergruven said:
hey dan, thanks for the reply. why a few weeks? just more time?
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Just speaking for myself, and I guess full disclosure -- I know more about playing with different tennis racquets than different cues. I think the "new racquet" syndrome is probably universal across various sports. Maybe it has to do with playing more relaxed because you're not expecting much while playing with an unfamiliar racquet or cue. I think that takes time to wear off. Maybe a couple of days but certainly after couple of weeks you should know if it is a permanent improvement.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Do you know the physical explanations for this, Fran? Why is forward weighted better for finesse but back weighted better for shot making? (And what does "finessing shots" refer to - speed control?)

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
Well, since I'm not a scientist, I can give you some clues that may help you figure it out more scientifically. What I will say here comes strictly from a position of feel.

Yes, finesse shots aren't the typical continuous stroke acceleration from start to finish. During a finesse shot the player intentionally changes the speed of acceleration of his stroke at some point before impact. Does it work? Yes. Is that particular technique necessary? Who knows? What I do know is that it works, and it works beautifully. It's all feel.

I'll answer the next part with a question for you. You asked how back weight and forward weight affects something like ball-pocketing. My question to you is why aren't all cues weighted with the same distribution from front to back if weight distribution doesn't affect the performance of the cue? Why do players prefer a particular weight distribution if it has no effect on how they play? Why do cue makers make cues with different weight distributions? Even if you take arm span into consideration, if back weight and forward weight mean nothing towards performance, then balance should mean nothing as well.

Maybe you can do some experimenting yourself. I can only share info from myself and other players who feel these things.
 
Dan White said:
Just speaking for myself, and I guess full disclosure -- I know more about playing with different tennis racquets than different cues. I think the "new racquet" syndrome is probably universal across various sports. Maybe it has to do with playing more relaxed because you're not expecting much while playing with an unfamiliar racquet or cue. I think that takes time to wear off. Maybe a couple of days but certainly after couple of weeks you should know if it is a permanent improvement.
Click to expand...

hey right on, I'm also a tennis person and have also owned many rackets over the years ^_^
agree new racket syndrome is a thing and there are aspects to that which can hurt and help
I think trying to evaluate the game honestly goes a ways in mitigating variables like equipment
hence the thread. I know what I know, but I want to know what you all know as well
so, thanks for sharing. time telling more makes sense to me, we'll see what the future holds-
 
FranCrimi said:
Well, since I'm not a scientist, I can give you some clues that may help you figure it out more scientifically. What I will say here comes strictly from a position of feel.

Yes, finesse shots aren't the typical continuous stroke acceleration from start to finish. During a finesse shot the player intentionally changes the speed of acceleration of his stroke at some point before impact. Does it work? Yes. Is that particular technique necessary? Who knows? What I do know is that it works, and it works beautifully. It's all feel.
Click to expand...
Sounds like it's mostly speed-related, alright...

FranCrimi said:
I'll answer the next part with a question for you. You asked how back weight and forward weight affects something like ball-pocketing. My question to you is why aren't all cues weighted with the same distribution from front to back if weight distribution doesn't affect the performance of the cue?
Click to expand...
If there's one thing we know about pool, it's that physics doesn't explain everything that affects a player's performance - and how the cue feels to the player can be an important factor in the equation.

pj
chgo
 
FranCrimi said:
Forward-weighted cues are great for finessing shots
Click to expand...

after another read, I think I agree with this
the weight in front makes the cue steadier/easier to control at slower, more measured speeds
and at those speeds, momentum can't help you as it might when stroking at a faster clip
so not only does the forward balance seem to help when finessing, it also doesn't seem to hurt
 
I remember a Balabuska cue that I played with in the late sixties, during the 14.1 era.

I was an 80 ball runner, when Joey Gold and Tommy Spencer were max 50 ball runners.
Varner and I never had problems with them in 14.1.

Buskas' were heavy in the 20-21oz weight.
What became obvious too me in straight pool was this....when you cut the break ball into the thick of the rack with follow, whitey would ''churn'' allot more than lighter cues. It would hit the middle of the stack and keep on motoring thru with over spin, more so than any other cue I owned.
 
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One other item during the 14.1 yrs was the cue ball.
Almost every pool room used Brunswick Centennials ball sets.

The Centennial sets had the Blue circle cue ball standard.
In the 70's when 9 ball became the game of choice, the red circle/Belguim? cue ball came into play, a little lighter than the obj. balls.
This cue ball created a new dimension for the good players, when on the wrong side of the ball.
They now had the ability to utilize DRAW to get back into position when off angle, when the heavier blue circle cue ball (same weight as the obj. balls) would NOT allow this cueball/object ball reaction/movement.
I remember when Bob Osborne/aka Black Bart visited Grady Matthews pool room in Colorado Springs in the early 70's and offered em a game on the wire in a race to 11 in 9 ball.
Grady ''gurgled'' with his banter/laughter/smile and did not ''bite''.
 
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