old timers using heavy cues

T

The Old Jaybird

Well-known member
I am just curious if any old players used a heavy cue.....23 ounces or so, or heavier. Or if there are any players today using a heavy playing cue. 19 seems to be the standard, with most within an ounce or 2 of that.

Just an old guy sitting here wondering.
 
I played with 18 to a tad under 19 when I was younger. Now I play with 19-19.5

I tend to be fundamentally sound with my stroke widen playing with a heavier cue.

I still like lighter cues because I naturally played with backhand English growing up. I was more fascinated with cue ball control growing up so I naturally adapted to BHE.

Older and wiser now so I use a lot of FHE.
 
I am 70 and have played with a 21 ounce cue (59") for 49 years. It just isn`t heavy to me. My stroke feels more solid than when I play with 18 or 19 ounce. With lighter cues my back arm feels like it is waving around.
 
Same here, Sammy.

Playing off the wall, I'd roll a 21 or 22 every time I saw one. All things being equal, my perception was that heavier sticks seemed to rest more "solidly" in my hands and "carried truer" when stroked. 18's and lower just felt "flighty" to me. No idea whether any of this is true or not, but I always return to the touchstone that believing something true will make it true -- if one is convinced they play better using X then they will play better with X, and vice versa.

As time went on and I bought cues, I have tended toward 19's, but, here again, availability plays a large part in my decision making -- I have never been one to tinker with weight bolts, etc.
 
Last edited:
I could play my game with anything between 17 and 22 oz. To me, the tip and taper are way more important than weight. Of course, my game ain't world caliber so take that in consideration too.
 
Most all my cues are set within a tenth oz from 19.5 oz. My more back weighted ones feel good down to 19.2 oz or so, my more front weighted ones 19.5-19.7 oz. I used to think I had to have a front weighted cue like my Schons as they just felt right to me. That was till the other day when I picked up a new Jacoby cue on a whim as I like no wrap cues, and I really liked the looks of the cue, and also they are somewhat local to me and I wanted to buy one from them.
That cue was much more back weighted than my Schons yet after shooting it for a couple games I really liked it. I initially set the weight a tenth oz lighter than my playing Schon yet it actually feels slightly heavier. I have been mixing them up lately playing at home and not sure which one I like better now.
I do find for me that the more back weighted the cue is, the more steady it feels in my grip hand. I also must say that as I am slowly getting better, I am slightly cutting back the cue weight a couple tenths of an oz and would actually like to get my weight down to around 19.2 to 19.3 oz. I'm really not sure how much all this matters anymore if you are somewhat in a comfortable range for you.
 
shooter_Hans said:
I played with 18 to a tad under 19 when I was younger. Now I play with 19-19.5

I tend to be fundamentally sound with my stroke widen playing with a heavier cue.

I still like lighter cues because I naturally played with backhand English growing up. I was more fascinated with cue ball control growing up so I naturally adapted to BHE.

Older and wiser now so I use a lot of FHE.
Click to expand...
Is that the LGBTQIA flag in the background of your avata?
 
Pre 1965 about half the cues made by independent cue makers were 20 to 22 ounces - early Palmers were heavier too. The cue butts were thicker on many cues back then as well. Shaft diameters were mostly 13 to 13.5.
 
The Old Jaybird said:
I am just curious if any old players used a heavy cue.....23 ounces or so, or heavier. Or if there are any players today using a heavy playing cue. 19 seems to be the standard, with most within an ounce or 2 of that.

Just an old guy sitting here wondering.
Click to expand...
Most of mine run in the 20 to 21 oz range.
That's what I started with and just never changed. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!👍🏻😂
 
mikemosconi said:
Pre 1965 about half the cues made by independent cue makers were 20 to 22 ounces - early Palmers were heavier too. The cue butts were thicker on many cues back then as well. Shaft diameters were mostly 13 to 13.5.
Click to expand...
More concerned with making a solid stick w large butt. Longevity.
Deflection wasn't an issue, we learned to use it, work with and around it. Lightweight materials available now weren't back then and probably wouldn't have been used if they had them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top