I have been hitting with a different cue lately, and seem to be having poorer results with it. The cue is certainly nicer, but it has a very different feel, different feedback, a softer tip, and the taper is thicker. I like the feel of the cue, but am having trouble getting used to the different shaft taper and softer tip. When I swith back to the other cue, it almost feels better, because I am so used to it. I certainly hit better with it right now. I had a house pro tell me once that he felt it took approx 1 month to get used to a new cue. I don't know if I should just keep hitting with this cue to see if I get used to it or not. Has anyone else experienced this?
Adjusting to a different cue
- Thread starter mantis99
- Start date
mantis99 said:
I have not experienced this myself as I have about 5 or 6 different cues I use from time to time. I always use the same cue on league night, but in pot tournaments and practice I might use any one of the 6 that I most often use. There are about four or five different feels to these cues as each has a different joint and/or tip than the others. I personally believe I could shoot with about any combination there is out there without being too uncomfortable with it. I never let myself get too used to only one cue. Just the way I do it. Probably not the way most people do it.
Maniac
I tend to take about a month or so to get use to a new cue.I think it takes me that long to be able to play at my normal speed.I switch back and forth between a few cues,but I have a main cue I play with every day.I am of the believe you have to have a good feeling for what the cue is going to do.You might try to draw a few inches and over or under draw the shot.I think until you reach a certain speed you should stay with one cue and learn the basics,stance,grip,bridge,stroke,and aiming.
Cues
Well everyone is certainly different, and everyone certainly feels more comfortable with what they are used to. I think that you should give your self a little time with the cue and if it still feels horrible to you, get rid of it. I think most of it is in your head though. When it all comes down to it, what is a cue, and what does it do? It is a stick with a leather tip that hits a plastic ball. That being said, you can put a decent cue stick in most pro's hands, and they can shoot with it. Yes they have their preferences, but they are all designed to do the same thing. If you like the look and feel of the cue, then it is right for you. If you don't like the feel of this cue then get rid of it.
Well everyone is certainly different, and everyone certainly feels more comfortable with what they are used to. I think that you should give your self a little time with the cue and if it still feels horrible to you, get rid of it. I think most of it is in your head though. When it all comes down to it, what is a cue, and what does it do? It is a stick with a leather tip that hits a plastic ball. That being said, you can put a decent cue stick in most pro's hands, and they can shoot with it. Yes they have their preferences, but they are all designed to do the same thing. If you like the look and feel of the cue, then it is right for you. If you don't like the feel of this cue then get rid of it.
I like the look, I am just not sure of the feel. It feels how I thought I would want. However, it is so different from the cue I have been using for the past 2 yrs, that I am not sure if I do not like or it, or it just feels different. I believe that any cue will play similarly, but these two cues are polar opposites in feel, especially with different tapers in the shaft. I have noticed that when I am in stroke, they play similaryl. However, I have also noticed that going back to my old stick helps me get back into stroke. May be in my head, may not. Will have to keep playing with it to see. One thing I am farly sure of, is that I need more power with the new stick to get the ball to travel as far. On the other hand, it is easier to hold the ball with the new stick.
I've gone through a Viking, Schon, 2 old Meucci Originals, 2 Espiritu's, and several custom cues, and now am on my Gilbert. And I honestly think only 2 of the cue's I've used ever gave me problem adjusting too right from the get go.
One was the Old Meucci Original, the two shafts it came with where both 12mm and very whippy! when using english.
The other was a custom Sneaky Pete, it had a 12.75mm shaft which had a very stiff hit. So alot of times the CB would end up a lil off of where I expected it to go.
All the other cues, I've just picked up and played with and didnt have to adjust how I played.
One was the Old Meucci Original, the two shafts it came with where both 12mm and very whippy! when using english.
The other was a custom Sneaky Pete, it had a 12.75mm shaft which had a very stiff hit. So alot of times the CB would end up a lil off of where I expected it to go.
All the other cues, I've just picked up and played with and didnt have to adjust how I played.
The hardest transition I ever made was from an ancient, very whippy, Meucci sneaky pete to a Schon with steel joint and very stiff hit. It was like night and day.
It took almost 3 months of playing every day before I made the adjustment.
I would have given up if I hadn't spent a lot of money on the Schon. In the end, I believe my game improved with the change.
Just hang in there and give the cue and yourself a chance.
It took almost 3 months of playing every day before I made the adjustment.
I would have given up if I hadn't spent a lot of money on the Schon. In the end, I believe my game improved with the change.
Just hang in there and give the cue and yourself a chance.
usuall a month for me, but i can tell if there is no hope after a couple days with some cues. i just got a G Szam and i'm already used to it in a week, but I had a very similar cue years ago so that made the adjustment to the Szam fast, the fastest of any cue I have ever. But i'll repete myself if its too difficult in the begginning to adjust, like a short taper(for me) it might never happen, but I'm sensitive to cues because I dont have the natural talent of a champion. I have seen guys use house cues and play lights out at different rooms,
as a side note its harder for me to adjust to a new cue than a different table/cloth.
as a side note its harder for me to adjust to a new cue than a different table/cloth.
mantis99 said:
i had the same thing happen to me. i loved the look of the cue and the feel when i played with it but i didn't like the taper. i now have 4 cues that all play differently. i mostly stick to one to try to limit the variables in my game. i played with a mezz cue with a predator shaft for 3 ish years and my consistancy improved a lot. that could have been the steady practice i was putting in too though. either way i say give it a month or 2 and if you can't adjust to it either get a different shaft made for it or sell it. there are a lot of nice cues out there if you can't adjust to one just sell it and buy another
In the past I've found some cues I can just pick up & be happy with immediately & a few that took time to get used to. The last snooker cue I owned was a beautiful cue (& fairly expensive) but it did take me a few weeks before I was totally comfortable with it. My patience was rewarded though, turned out to be a great cue to play with.
I'm sure when I can afford to buy a decent pool cue I'll go through this again. The El Cheapo I use now is very whippy & I do prefer a firmer hit. I'll probably be pulling faces for a week or two but it'll be worth it in the long run.
I'm sure when I can afford to buy a decent pool cue I'll go through this again. The El Cheapo I use now is very whippy & I do prefer a firmer hit. I'll probably be pulling faces for a week or two but it'll be worth it in the long run.
chilli66 said:
hay man you should look into a lower end used schon. you could probably get a firmer hit at an affordable price
shark3149 said:
I agree 100%.
I think it comes down to what are you expecting to happen from the cue and what you can do with it. I also know cues can be total opposites thus very frustrating to shoot with. I can get by with a house cue, but know the limits compared to my everyday cue. But I can tell by the feel, weight, and stiffness if a cue is a keeper or pass on it.(for purchasing that is) Cues I buy - to play with - tend to have the same characteristics.
ez
JimS said:
The tip is definately softer, and that is part of what makes the feel different. I wrote the maker (William Dominiak), and he offered to adjust the taper for me free of charge. I am going to do that, because I really like the thinner taper. I really like the cue, it is just very different thatn what I have been playing with.
I am no pro, but I do have a basic grasp on the game. I am not expecting the cue to change my level of play. I just wanted something with a more solid feel. My previous "players" brand cue had too much flex and feedback, and annoyed me.
mantis99 said:
Better treat your cue like a "wife." Having 2 or 3 "girlfriends" most of the time is troublesome.
