Yeah.. it was a myth. But it was widely believed back then. And you know how strongly belief affects things, huh PJ? I really felt like I could get more english with one with less stroke than other cues. I might *still* believe it. Who knows...
Your first ( good ) cue
- Thread starter Michael Andros
- Start date
Yeah.. it was a myth. But it was widely believed back then. And you know how strongly belief affects things, huh PJ? I really felt like I could get more english with one with less stroke than other cues. I might *still* believe it. Who knows...
I might have believed it then too - I know I loved my Mooch.Yeah.. it was a myth. But it was widely believed back then. And you know how strongly belief affects things, huh PJ? I really felt like I could get more english with one with less stroke than other cues. I might *still* believe it. Who knows...
pj
chgo
My first real cue
My first real cue was an early eighties moochie bought new. Rumor had it that his shafts were such a noodle because he was using soft maple instead of rock maple to make them. I dunno, I do know for months after I got it, it would sometimes get slung in a corner midmatch and I would grab a house cue off the wall. Hard to get used to that shaft. Played just fine once I did.
Hu
My first real cue was an early eighties moochie bought new. Rumor had it that his shafts were such a noodle because he was using soft maple instead of rock maple to make them. I dunno, I do know for months after I got it, it would sometimes get slung in a corner midmatch and I would grab a house cue off the wall. Hard to get used to that shaft. Played just fine once I did.
Hu
Did you ever notice the increased table time when you guys played with those cues....
...that’s ‘cause every time you hit a power spin....you had to wait a while for the cue to
stop vibrating.....
uttahere:
Did you ever notice the increased table time when you guys played with those cues....
...that’s ‘cause every time you hit a power spin....you had to wait a while for the cue to
stop vibrating.....
I'll tell ya what, PT, and this ain't no "myth". I dunno if it's this particular cue, the shaft, the ferrule, whatever... or if it somehow got dropped in a pile of pixie-dust... but my Huelber-Meucci I bought in 78 gets more english with less stroke then any cue I have EVER hit a ball with, period. And I'm not saying that for effect. I mean every word of it. Because it's a Mooch? Who knows... not me! I just know that cue inside out, after 40+ years.
MY first cue was a Balicini by McDermott.
Then a John Guffy by Viking.
My first real custom cue was an ebony Judd with bem points.
Then a John Guffy by Viking.
My first real custom cue was an ebony Judd with bem points.
I always liked McDermotts back in the day but I never bought one until 3 years ago. I liked that they used wood in their trim, rings, etc... Huebler did the same thing. Solid cues.
And, as I said, my first "real" cue was a beat-up Viking at 16.
It could be true, but I'm betting it's for mundane reasons - like that cue suited you so well that you stroked a little straighter, allowing you to hit closer to the miscue limit.
Either way it's the cue.
pj
chgo
Block letter JOSS
Summer of '83, I was getting ready to head to RI for college. Went to the local bowling and game room supply store to pick up a 2-piece cue. Not even sure what brand, but it was $35 for the cue and a cheap vinyl soft case. I was set!
I wasn't at school more than a couple months when one of the guys from another dorm wanted to sell his cue because it was too nice for him, and he would rather have some extra cash.
He told me he wasn't very sure about the details of the cue, other than the fact that his grandmother gave it to him. It had previously belonged to his grandfather. Well, once I got a look at it, I have to admit, I had a hard time keeping my cool.
It was a very nice Joss with flat-faced solid ivory joint! It came with 2 shafts and a nice Fellini case.
I threw out a quick offer of $140, cash. Plus, I even told him I'd give him my cue so he still had something to shoot with. He was all too eager to make a deal. I couldn't believe my luck!
To this day, it is the one cue that I will NEVER part with, and it still plays great!
https://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=6229399#post6229399
Summer of '83, I was getting ready to head to RI for college. Went to the local bowling and game room supply store to pick up a 2-piece cue. Not even sure what brand, but it was $35 for the cue and a cheap vinyl soft case. I was set!
I wasn't at school more than a couple months when one of the guys from another dorm wanted to sell his cue because it was too nice for him, and he would rather have some extra cash.
He told me he wasn't very sure about the details of the cue, other than the fact that his grandmother gave it to him. It had previously belonged to his grandfather. Well, once I got a look at it, I have to admit, I had a hard time keeping my cool.
It was a very nice Joss with flat-faced solid ivory joint! It came with 2 shafts and a nice Fellini case.
I threw out a quick offer of $140, cash. Plus, I even told him I'd give him my cue so he still had something to shoot with. He was all too eager to make a deal. I couldn't believe my luck!
To this day, it is the one cue that I will NEVER part with, and it still plays great!
https://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=6229399#post6229399
Yup... I agree on all counts, PJ. I just know the best I *ever* played, by far, was with that cue. And just a tiny bit of stroke went a lonnnngggggggggggg way.
It's definitely the shaft, though... I showed Freddie that shaft and he was like... WTF? He just laughed. The shaft is so flexible, it's like a gymnast! I've never seen a shaft even CLOSE to it before. And even as flexible as it is, it's dead straight. After almost 50 years ( made in 72-73 ).
This is it... my baby:
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Well, that was easier than I thought it would be. A quick Google search and, not only did I find pictures, I found the model, which I’d never known. My first cue was a dufferin two piece that had a small diameter, probably 11-12mm, that I purchased for ~$50. The next was a Mali I purchased for ~$120. Finally, I purchased a Huebler H-G for ~$350, IIRC. I definitely miss that cue and wish I had it back but there are several,since that I feel that way about.
This thread has made me nostalgic and has me trying to compile a list of cues I’ve owned. I’ve got a decent start but, weirdly, the last ten years is proving more difficult than the twelve before lol.
This thread has made me nostalgic and has me trying to compile a list of cues I’ve owned. I’ve got a decent start but, weirdly, the last ten years is proving more difficult than the twelve before lol.
Not a bad cue at all for your first. The Huebler was a keeper, however. :yeah:
I remember my sister had a cue given to her. It had a screw on tip and an unraveling wrap. The shaft was ramin, and the rest of the cue was littered with plastic dots. I took it to the pool hall and shot better than I ever had before. That's when I realized that as crappy as this cue was, it was simply better than a random house cue in terms of weight distribution, straightness, and most importantly, the tip, screwy as it was. Getting my own cue would be the path forward.
I bought my first cue on a trip to Manhattan at V. Loria & Sons. I tried out a dozen and found that a 20 oz, Mali T-6 was to my liking. I remember thinking that I was a bit nutz to be spending so much money for a pool stick.
I do wish I had that cue back.
Freddie <~~~ and then came the Meucci
I bought my first cue on a trip to Manhattan at V. Loria & Sons. I tried out a dozen and found that a 20 oz, Mali T-6 was to my liking. I remember thinking that I was a bit nutz to be spending so much money for a pool stick.
I do wish I had that cue back.
Freddie <~~~ and then came the Meucci
My first good pool cue.....1968 Joss....got it in 1978
Took me awhile...duh...to realize I was never going to play my game on a pool table with
13 mm tips....I’d had some good days...but basically I felt I was entering a casino when
I played 9-ball.
A friend gave me a Joss with a cracked ivory ferrule...wouldn’t take any money for it...
...when I got to Detroit, I took the cue to Al Safron....told him to cut the ferrule right off...
....my snooker cues are 57 inches...won’t mind that length for pool.
...I hate ivory ferrules except to break with...Al says then I’will introduce you to over-drilled
ferrules....you get a better hit....as an afterthought, I told him to take it down to 12mm...
When I took it to a pool hall....it was like somebody had turned the lights on...
...I could now spin on a pool table like I could spin on a snooker table...:idea2:
I started making 9-ball games with players I wanted no part of before this....
...within a week, I was winning giving the 8-ball....
...within three weeks, they were turning down the 7-ball...
...Al Safron had handed me a whole new universe...may he rest in peace
...within six months, I was glaring at one-pocket players
It’s the one on the right...big letter Joss...doesn’t show in the pic...
...who do you think I am...Ansel Adams?
Took me awhile...duh...to realize I was never going to play my game on a pool table with
13 mm tips....I’d had some good days...but basically I felt I was entering a casino when
I played 9-ball.
A friend gave me a Joss with a cracked ivory ferrule...wouldn’t take any money for it...
...when I got to Detroit, I took the cue to Al Safron....told him to cut the ferrule right off...
....my snooker cues are 57 inches...won’t mind that length for pool.
...I hate ivory ferrules except to break with...Al says then I’will introduce you to over-drilled
ferrules....you get a better hit....as an afterthought, I told him to take it down to 12mm...
When I took it to a pool hall....it was like somebody had turned the lights on...
...I could now spin on a pool table like I could spin on a snooker table...:idea2:
I started making 9-ball games with players I wanted no part of before this....
...within a week, I was winning giving the 8-ball....
...within three weeks, they were turning down the 7-ball...
...Al Safron had handed me a whole new universe...may he rest in peace
...within six months, I was glaring at one-pocket players
It’s the one on the right...big letter Joss...doesn’t show in the pic...
...who do you think I am...Ansel Adams?
Still got the Joss, Dean....and still straight with the original shaft....
...Paul Mottey refinished it for me in the middle 90s....like a dummy, I told him to change
the Cortland to black with white flecks....I miss that original linen.
Danny Janes, after watching a 9-ball match, told me he didn’t have a ‘68 in his collection...
...asked me what I wanted for it...I told him...”Half an hour in your shop with an empty truck.”
...he kinda liked the fact that I liked it that much.
Did they glare *back* at you? I've heard 1 hole players can be pretty nasty people.
I mean... I'm just sayin'...
And no... if you were Ansel Adams, the photo would be in black and white... duh.
I *heard* you play pretty sporty... but then, when you pay people to say that kinda stuff, word will get out, right? Rigghtttttttttttt. :wink:
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