I got a $116 cue in the mail yesterday, took it out and played just as well with it as I do my $400 cue. Took it home, exact same length, both made the same vibration when tapped at different points, etc. Outside of inlays the only difference between the two is the $400 cue screws together more smoothly and has a silk wrap, which I think aids in lightening my grip some since there's nothing for the skin of my palm to stick to.
So I find myself wondering, what's the absolute point in which a pool cue is going to play as well as other cues? Like, I can tell when holding a house cue--the wood doesn't seem solid, the tips are kind of crappy, I can feel the poor quality in the cue. But now I'm kind of wondering, are $35-40 cues better than house cues? What's the minimum requirement for a cue to be considered a 'good playing' cue?
I realize a good pool player can just play regardless of equipment but in terms of equipment alone with the player taken out of the equation, what's fundamentally important?
Or even, let's say my $400 cue plays the same my the $116 cue because the $400 cue is in the same classification of cue. Would I notice a difference of wood quality and handling from a $400 cue when compared to a $1,000+ cue? I've looked online and most sources I've seen are from cue dealers trying to make a sale. So I wanted an opinion from the perspective of players instead.
So I find myself wondering, what's the absolute point in which a pool cue is going to play as well as other cues? Like, I can tell when holding a house cue--the wood doesn't seem solid, the tips are kind of crappy, I can feel the poor quality in the cue. But now I'm kind of wondering, are $35-40 cues better than house cues? What's the minimum requirement for a cue to be considered a 'good playing' cue?
I realize a good pool player can just play regardless of equipment but in terms of equipment alone with the player taken out of the equation, what's fundamentally important?
Or even, let's say my $400 cue plays the same my the $116 cue because the $400 cue is in the same classification of cue. Would I notice a difference of wood quality and handling from a $400 cue when compared to a $1,000+ cue? I've looked online and most sources I've seen are from cue dealers trying to make a sale. So I wanted an opinion from the perspective of players instead.