Is Your Cue Right For You? Does Professional Instruction Pay Off? How Would You Know?
- Thread starter Bavafongoul
- Start date
So if pool players went back to using maces, it would make no difference?
Just chiming in to comment about your son. I knew a young kid like this when I was a serious golfer. He was a baseball player and man he could hit the ball. We had a 424 yard par 4 and he caught a driver from the back tees and ended up over the green and on top of the tee box for the next hole, about 40 yards past the fringe of the green. I believe he made six from there.
Seriously, hitting it that far is a gift but it's not going to help him score that much unless he really, really puts the time in on his short game. I recommend Dave Pelz' two books, Short Game Bible and Putting Bible. His Short Game Bible includes a system for dialing in wedges from 150 and in. Many of the top pros use some variation of his wedge system, Bryson DeChambeau is one that seems to measure his wedges the same way.
It might be too much to have that many wedges. I can (could?) hit my regular pitching wedge (48*) reliably any distance from a short chip to 150 yards and make it stop or roll. He might benefit from have 3 key wedges that he can hit any distance and is very comfortable with.
The other thing, I was never a particularly long hitter but even so, it's much better to use your driver sparingly, especially if you have that much distance. A safe club that he can reliably hit 250 off the tee and control the trajectory is something that can really help him score. I use a 4-iron a lot on shorter courses to get me in the middle and set up a mid iron to the green.
I know you are a good golfer with a lot of experience and you'll help your son along, just chewing the fat a little bit just in case I say something useful for you.
Paul Bell
Well-known member
Under Tiger's hardness-ranking system, Everest is only a medium hardness while its harder Emerald is medium hard and its hardest tips---only its break tips---ranked hard and super hard, Dynamite, Break, and IceBreaker.
IceBreaker:
Hardness: Super Hard+ (7)
Durometer (Type A): 99+
Durometer (Type B/C): 96-99
Break Laminated:
Hardness: Hard+ (6)
Durometer (Type A): 98
Durometer (Type B/C): 92-95
Dynamite Laminated (used in break cues):
Hardness: Hard (5)
Durometer (Type A): 97
Durometer (Type B/C): 80-83
Emerald Laminated:
Hardness: Medium Hard (4)
Durometer (Type A): 96
Durometer (Type B/C): 76-79
Everest Laminated:
Hardness: Medium (3+)
Durometer (Type A): 95
Mueller Durometer (Type B/C): 73-76
Onyx Laminated:
Hardness: Medium (3+)
Durometer (Type A): 95
Durometer (Type B/C): 73-76
Nitro Laminated Cue Tip- Darren Appleton Edition:
Hardness: Medium (3+)
Durometer (Type A): 95
Durometer (Type B/C): 73-76
Eagle Eye Laminated Cue Tip- Jayson Shaw Edition:
Hardness: Medium (3+)
Durometer (Type A): 95
Durometer (Type B/C): 73-76
Sniper Laminated:
Hardness: Soft-Medium (3)
Durometer (Type A): 94
Durometer (Type B/C): 72-75
Tiger Laminated:
Hardness: Soft (2)
Durometer (Type A): 93
Durometer (Type B/C): 65-69
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Correct, they list is as medium but apparently other people have had had the same problem as me where their particular Everest tips that came with their Vikore and Avid shafts played.
By contrast, the Ultra Skin Medium that came with my Meucci felt more like a soft medium, with this one feeling like a rock in comparison.
I think my cue, weight and feel, is perfect for me. It may be just because I’ve used it for so long.
I’ve been to a few pool schools and at first I was learning but then they seemed redundant in some area’s, seems they have different names for the same thing. In some schools it was PSR/SPF and in others it was the “System” or “Routine “. One school only allowed an open bridge for the entire 3 days, and others would do things like throw a quarter on the table, have everyone turn around while they picked up the quarter, and then see who could come closest to remembering the exact location of the quarter. Useless stuff!
I think if I did it all over again I would reach a certain level and then spend a couple of weeks with a good coach to work on patterns and strategies and skip a couple of schools
I’ve been to a few pool schools and at first I was learning but then they seemed redundant in some area’s, seems they have different names for the same thing. In some schools it was PSR/SPF and in others it was the “System” or “Routine “. One school only allowed an open bridge for the entire 3 days, and others would do things like throw a quarter on the table, have everyone turn around while they picked up the quarter, and then see who could come closest to remembering the exact location of the quarter. Useless stuff!
I think if I did it all over again I would reach a certain level and then spend a couple of weeks with a good coach to work on patterns and strategies and skip a couple of schools
Thanks for the advice about my son. He has his first lesson next Wednesday. He is taking a lesson a month so he can practice in between. His last lesson is a 18 hole playing lesson with his instructor. I expect next year he will be a true
golfer that understands his swing. The kid hits his 4 iron so long that he’ll likely not use it much except for a long par 3.
But the descent angle on that ball flight is different than a 21 degree hybrid which he hit longer than most players hit
their drives. His 3 wood goes 280 to >300 yards. I have no idea what his drives will become with the length he is already hitting so I think he could reach 330-335 yds. carry after already hitting a drive last Sat. 322 carry and 357 total yards during his fitting after switching shafts. The new shafts for his driver and 3 wood arrive tomorrow but he doesn’t need a driver to score. His fairway percentage with his 3 wood off the tee is about 80% and is still reasonably long off the tee. Even the club fitter when he when was fit for wedges commented wedges & his 9 iron will be his scoring clubs with his length. I don’t like a 6 degree gap between his 3 wood and hybrid (15 & 21 degrees) but a 5 wood serves little purpose at 18 degrees with how far he hits his woods. He just has to master 3/4 swings.
Now his PW wedge in the iron set is 44 degrees. We could have it bent but PW lofts are 44-48 degrees depending on the manufacturer. The new Volkey wedges he has are 50, 54 and 58 degrees because he did great during his fitting with those lofts. So I’d like to see him dump the 4 iron (20 degrees) and add a 5th wedge. Right now there is a 6 degrees gap between his PW and other wedges (50, 54 & 58). That is a disastrous combination for high lofted clubs like wedges for precision distances. So screw the 4 iron, add a 5th Volkey wedge and bend the existing ones 2 degrees weaker. It gives him a 44, 48, 52, 56 and 60 wedge set. That is so ideal to have the wedges spaced apart equally on loft instead of a 6 degree gap he’d other have with a 44 & 50 degree wedges. His game will always be longer than other golfers and he is hitting his clubs further than pro golfers on tour. His distance isn’t going to go away with his swing speed that I know will only get faster as his swing becomes more fluid. Right now his fastest recorded swing speed was 120.4 mph. But his swing speeds on his hybrid and 3 wood are faster than the pros so he is just built I guess for power. He’s 5’10” and about 185-90 lbs and powerful. In his Jujitsu class he practices against opponents that outweigh him 70-80 lbs.
I am certain wedges are the club that will allow him to get dialed in. He almost set a new top score record at Top Golf in Burlingame using just his 4 wedges. He is getting so accurate and swinging so smoothly already that with lessons, his game should take off. But look at baseball when young superstars get called up early and have some spectacular games that so go away, they fizzle and have to get back to the minors to get better. There are no sure bets even with professionals who get the best training and equipment. Let’s just say right now he’d be someone’s high draft choice.
The data has been updated for 2025 and pros averaged 302 yds on their drives.
golfer that understands his swing. The kid hits his 4 iron so long that he’ll likely not use it much except for a long par 3.
But the descent angle on that ball flight is different than a 21 degree hybrid which he hit longer than most players hit
their drives. His 3 wood goes 280 to >300 yards. I have no idea what his drives will become with the length he is already hitting so I think he could reach 330-335 yds. carry after already hitting a drive last Sat. 322 carry and 357 total yards during his fitting after switching shafts. The new shafts for his driver and 3 wood arrive tomorrow but he doesn’t need a driver to score. His fairway percentage with his 3 wood off the tee is about 80% and is still reasonably long off the tee. Even the club fitter when he when was fit for wedges commented wedges & his 9 iron will be his scoring clubs with his length. I don’t like a 6 degree gap between his 3 wood and hybrid (15 & 21 degrees) but a 5 wood serves little purpose at 18 degrees with how far he hits his woods. He just has to master 3/4 swings.
Now his PW wedge in the iron set is 44 degrees. We could have it bent but PW lofts are 44-48 degrees depending on the manufacturer. The new Volkey wedges he has are 50, 54 and 58 degrees because he did great during his fitting with those lofts. So I’d like to see him dump the 4 iron (20 degrees) and add a 5th wedge. Right now there is a 6 degrees gap between his PW and other wedges (50, 54 & 58). That is a disastrous combination for high lofted clubs like wedges for precision distances. So screw the 4 iron, add a 5th Volkey wedge and bend the existing ones 2 degrees weaker. It gives him a 44, 48, 52, 56 and 60 wedge set. That is so ideal to have the wedges spaced apart equally on loft instead of a 6 degree gap he’d other have with a 44 & 50 degree wedges. His game will always be longer than other golfers and he is hitting his clubs further than pro golfers on tour. His distance isn’t going to go away with his swing speed that I know will only get faster as his swing becomes more fluid. Right now his fastest recorded swing speed was 120.4 mph. But his swing speeds on his hybrid and 3 wood are faster than the pros so he is just built I guess for power. He’s 5’10” and about 185-90 lbs and powerful. In his Jujitsu class he practices against opponents that outweigh him 70-80 lbs.
I am certain wedges are the club that will allow him to get dialed in. He almost set a new top score record at Top Golf in Burlingame using just his 4 wedges. He is getting so accurate and swinging so smoothly already that with lessons, his game should take off. But look at baseball when young superstars get called up early and have some spectacular games that so go away, they fizzle and have to get back to the minors to get better. There are no sure bets even with professionals who get the best training and equipment. Let’s just say right now he’d be someone’s high draft choice.
The data has been updated for 2025 and pros averaged 302 yds on their drives.
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g0ds gReeN
Active member
Never been fitted by outside eyes for a cue, sounds like something out of John Wick lol. I imagine it wouldn't be be too dissimilar to clubs like in your example (Godspeed to your kid's playing, talent is there), a tailored suit, or tuning length of pull on a shotgun/rifle.
Do I care enough to try other cues? I care but not because I'm chasing a Goldilocks cue per se, more like an innate fascination with new things lol.
Do I care enough to try other cues? I care but not because I'm chasing a Goldilocks cue per se, more like an innate fascination with new things lol.
IF the cue feels good in your hands, and you like the weight, taper, and the tip is giving you decent traction... you can make it work.
Howevar, I don't believe it's all necessarily automatic.
IMO, the rest aside, the most critical issue is the balance of the cue and how that helps or hinders you maneuver into shooting position. Of course there is a lot you can do to modify the outcome but what I have found is that it is all very subtle... almost microscopic -- and it's one of the reasons so many players struggle from day to day.
Lou Figeuroa
Howevar, I don't believe it's all necessarily automatic.
IMO, the rest aside, the most critical issue is the balance of the cue and how that helps or hinders you maneuver into shooting position. Of course there is a lot you can do to modify the outcome but what I have found is that it is all very subtle... almost microscopic -- and it's one of the reasons so many players struggle from day to day.
Lou Figeuroa
My 'Carom' cue:
Length: 56"
Weight: 17.5oz
Butt: 28"/13.5oz/End butt diam. 32-33mm
Shafts: 28"/12mm/4.0oz/G2 soft tip
Joint: Flat face, Harvey Martin style/Wood/Metal Big pin
Balance point: from end of Butt 18"
Internal weight: 1/4oz set screw under normal grip
Length: 56"
Weight: 17.5oz
Butt: 28"/13.5oz/End butt diam. 32-33mm
Shafts: 28"/12mm/4.0oz/G2 soft tip
Joint: Flat face, Harvey Martin style/Wood/Metal Big pin
Balance point: from end of Butt 18"
Internal weight: 1/4oz set screw under normal grip
Sorry Gar, but I'm gonna have to be one of those "don't confuse me with facts, my minds made up" kinda people.
A wood to wood has a different feel to it than piloted steel, imo. And to make a further fool of myself, it's a softer type hit.
Boy, I've done it now.
If I got all these old wives tales outta my head, I'd prolly play better.
Good thoughts pop.
I'm a total head case then. Been using hard tips for as long as I've been playing.
The Everest part throw you??