300-600 dollar cue advice
- Thread starter CeaseLess
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tomatoshooter
Well-known member
Have you never played with a cue and the balls went into the pockets a little more often? Have you never had a cue where the pockets seemed to tighten up? You like every cue you've ever played with exactly the same? A cue won't make the player but if you either get position or sink a ball 1 more time in 10 shots that you would have otherwise you will win a lot more games.
Players, new or returning, will be working on the stroke as well as basics. They stand to benefit from the new technology, but many make cf sound bad for their growth...without any reason given.
That's because bunch of old guys have to say it's the Indian not the arrow, it is a requirement. Funny, except for very old guys virtually all strong players I know use the technology.
Unless you have played with original wood shafts from the cue maker for awhile….for conversation, let’s say 10 yrs.,
carbon fiber is the way to go. All of my cues have original maple shafts that weigh in the 4 ounces neighborhood. I’ve
played with wood shafts for six decades so switching at this stage is senseless. Deflection is just part of how I sight
and aim so less of it would play havoc with my game. Plus, I don’t play enough due to nagging injuries to try making the adjustment. IMO, carbon fiber shafts are just superior in performance to a cue maker’s wood shafts & LD wood shafts.
carbon fiber is the way to go. All of my cues have original maple shafts that weigh in the 4 ounces neighborhood. I’ve
played with wood shafts for six decades so switching at this stage is senseless. Deflection is just part of how I sight
and aim so less of it would play havoc with my game. Plus, I don’t play enough due to nagging injuries to try making the adjustment. IMO, carbon fiber shafts are just superior in performance to a cue maker’s wood shafts & LD wood shafts.
Joss make really nice shafts, nice taper. as the the guys have said, you could get a really nice custom for that money. It also depends what kind of shaft you want as well?
CF, LD, solid.
CF, LD, solid.
i was really disappointed with the quality of the wood when i bought a 3rd gen. went back to the ol' trusted pre-cat 1st gen 314.
All in your head honestly... The greatest LD CF, or the most high deflection wood shaft, it boils down to the adaptivity of the player.
If you understand the dynamics of squirt and how to compensate for them, then the rest is simply what you want to spend your money on.
Will someone 'think' a cue puts the balls in a pocket better than another..? Of course, but that's driven by the "new cue's" charactisitics and how closely they match what the player was using prior.
In the case of new players. There is no nature, only nurture when it comes to dealing equipment characterisitics. Those continually swapping equipment in search of a magic pill generally plateau well before reaching their true potential.
I like 314-2. I didn't notice difference in wood quality. However, 314-3 is less lively and power shots deflect more than 314-2 which deflection is more linear.
Some cues feel better some feel worse. 2 different people one loves it the other hates it. It's better to get used to something and play with it but some cues are junk and not worth getting used.
I would say when comes to butts, 80% are about the same. As for shafts 80% are different.
Now for some people cues are a hobby almost more than the game itself.
Similar to some wives that keep buying new purses.
Again though... This is all in the user's head. Given a good enough player. They could sharpen a mob handle and run racks in relatively short order. You can give a first time player the worst hitting cue on the planet and tell them that's the way they're supposed to "feel". Eventually that garbage cue will be that player's favourite.
Yep... Put my playing shaft on any butt and I won't miss a beat. Put a different shaft on my playing butt, I'll need a day or so. Unless of course the replacement shaft plays similar to my original. I hit the 10.5mm cynergy while down in Vegas, and I was potting 1/4-1/2 ball shots with heavy action within moments. It plays extremely close to my wooden wx900 tapered down to 11.5mm. Couldn't tell the tip differences. They're inconsequential to potting balls anyway.
Yep... That's a different class of "player" though. They're typically not interested in skill growth to reach their highest potential. Just think that playing with top dollar equipment makes them look the part.
That is only partially true. Good equipment can improve both a weaker and a great player, if it matches to what they like and how they aim. The trick is to try enough of it to find out which is the right thing to use for the individual. It won't give knowledge or good mechanics of course, but a shaft swap can help people pocket balls or get a bit more action out of the cueball. The best racecar driver in the world in a Camry won't beat a normal driver in a Corvette around a track. Equipment matters.
Mezz all day. But if you find a nice Joss , itcs also a good option.
They boyh make great cues. I am partial to Joss as I have 6 of them
and I love how they play. You won't go wrong with either one
CeaseLess
Active member
Currently I shoot with a Schmelke, it's 19oz but it feels kinda heavy and clumsy, I'm assuming it has to do with the balance of the cue. I've really only played with my cue so i don't have a lot of comparison. I think it hits a bit soft for my liking so I think I need something a bit stiffer. Is the stiffness of the cue primarily a tip issue or does it have more to do with over all construction of the cue?
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CeaseLess
Active member
Do you have anymore input on those cues? Likes and dislikes of both and if you had to pick one which one do you prefer and why. Thanks in advance.
CeaseLess
Active member
That is also what I play with currently, I think they might hit a bit soft for my liking.
CeaseLess
Active member
Are there anything specific you like most about it? Hit, balance, feel