Meucci Originals from Olive Branch, Mississippi
It's simply the cue that you have the most confidence in. I haven't owned as many cues as many on here (4 dozen or so), and certainly i haven't owned as many "high-end" custom cues as many, but I've played with some nice cues over the years.
The three i keep coming back to, or have the most confidence in are all Meuccis. A DH-2, with its original solid maple shaft, a HP-3 with a BlackDot shaft, and most recently a ANW-3 with an Ultimate Weapon shaft. And I've owned an Espiritu, a J. Pechauer Signature (think that's what it was called), an Albrecht, a Schon, etc. They all played well, some better than others, at least for me, some I just never got really confident in.
But probably because the 2nd cue i ever bought was a Meucci, I always seemed to like them the best. Couldn't really tell you specifically why, which is why I say it's personal. You find what you like and after a few years that's your "best" stick.
I'll tell you a story though: many years ago a friend of mine owned a small bar that had two tables; a bar box and a Gold Crown III, I think. He had the usual assortment of cheap bar sticks, but he actually bought new ones every two or thee years and made sure they all had decent tips, which is why I kept going back there even when I moved across town. And there this one stick, a reddish hued 17 oz. stick that just played better than all the rest. I mean, this $25 stick played better than the 3 sticks I had in my quiver at the time (Mcd, Joss, Meucci). I kidded with Scott many times that I was going to steal that stick one day. Well, one day he told me he was closing the place for good, and he gifted me that stick. And for years I marveled at just how good it felt, and how nicely it played compared to sticks that cost 10 or 20 times as much.
Anyway, like I said, what plays the best is not in the brand, it's about what you like. Right now, if I had to make a really tough shot, I'd pick up my old Meucci HP-3, because that stick is magical. I've made shots with that thing that I can't even really explain. But someone else might shoot with it and think "it's a dud."
Tried out a lot of cues - 4 are my daily players and magic for me:
1. Tascarella `Ginky`wrapless 18.6 oz
2. JMW Oak Titlist conversion 18.05 oz
3. Ca$h BEM one piece 17.8 oz
4. Cem/Davis curly Oak 18.85oz
Best
Flo
At last count, I am at a few dozen cues
Schuler
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LOL
I had a friend that owned a pool room in Paducah Kentucky. He has passed but he played pretty good, and I would consider him a shortstop level.
He played with Joey Gold cue with 14mm shafts. Yep, you talk about stiff. You wouldn't believe how much stiffer the shaft going from 13mm to 14mm.
I hated the cue, but he played well with it and loved it.
Ken
I've owned some really nice custom cues and some off the shelf turds... From Meucci, McDermott, and Schon to BlueGrass, and South West etc. I decided a long time ago that flat faced joints with big pins is what I liked and have for the most part stuck to that. I've sold most of the "fancy" stuff off for various reasons and just have my Vigus, Hunter, Hulsey, Schick Sneaky, and most recently a Shelby Williams to keep me company (among a few sentimental production cues). the ONLY thing thats changed is I now play with an OB classic shaft which makes them all play basically the same.