Are Custom Cues a waste of money?

TATE said:
I agree. A $2,000 cue isn't going to do much for your game, so why bother? My experience is you have to get into the $10,000 league to see any noticible improvement. Personally, I didn't get a "pop" until I was up to about $25,000. But you really haven't pocketed balls until you get out of the low end and up over $200,000.

Try out the Golden Buska, or the Gina Silver Cue, or a Szamboti box cue - come back and give us a report. If you can't find one of those, then I guess an Ivory Tad would be worth a try, but keep in mind you can only expect so much from a $50,000 cue.

Chris
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Chris

The "Last Szam" didn't play for shizzle, it was unfinished.

What a sap that buyer was, couldn't make a ball. let alone run table after table.

When I first started playing with Ernie Gutierrez, he was BREAKING with an ivory handled MONSTER from the 1960s. It drove me so crazy I ground him down until he stopped. I guess he figured if he busted the stick, he knew a guy that could put it back together.

Kevin
 
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My best shooting is with an older $150 CueTec. Customs are a beautiful craft, look great on the rack in your game room. If you can afford it buy it. I do have a $1000 cue. It is a good shooter. It is a good looking ebony. Never again. I do not regret buying it but I'd rather use the money for professional lessons.
 
acousticsguru said:
While it is true a great player can play with almost anything, do not underestimate that said great player would be even more qualified to judge the feel of a cue, and one won't get a cue which provides great feel for a couple of dollars. But a few hundred bucks at most is enough to buy a non-fancy cue that'll provide all the feel one needs, that is, new and not used, straight and built to remain straight and not fall to pieces on one's first massé etc. Everything beyond that is fancy, rare, collectible, whatnot… Mind you, collecting fancy cues is a respectable hobby like any other, and I have no problem with it as such, but to think the playing quality can be much improved beyond a certain point, well, perhaps in minuscule gradations, such as using old growth shaft wood, a taper that truly fits one's personal needs, closer tolerances overall etc. Having said all this, life's too short to play with a cue one hates, so why not leave it to each to choose what they feel is best for them?

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
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+1. Excellent post. Green rep to you, sir.
 
If you are expecting to be able to buy a good game, save your money. A good custom cue may help, but it won't give you the game on its own...its a tool but also is functional art. Custom cues are like anything else that is custom made...homes, cars, clothes, shoes, art, jewelry, etc. Custom cues are made to higher tolerances than production cues, and therefore performance of it is improved. If you have never used one, Dom Pappa, don't bother, it won't help you. If you can't afford it, don't worry about it, just enjoy the game. If it pisses you off that other people can afford it and enjoy it and you can't, well, sorry, too bad.
:p
 
Just for the record, Shannon plays with a 25k Gilbert. But mostly I've found the nicer the cue, the worse the player.
 
scsuxci said:
I agree totally with the last statement,but there are many production Schons and older Predators that are sought after and worth much more now than 15 years ago.
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Agreed but they are the exception to the rule. Custom cues are far more likely to increase in value.
 
Mitchxout said:
Just for the record, Shannon plays with a 25k Gilbert. But mostly I've found the nicer the cue, the worse the player.
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And he used to play with a Black Boar that wasn't a slouch. Strawberry also played with a BB. Rodney Morris played with a Szamboti for a long time. Ralf Souqet's Joss was a couple thousand.

There are countless pro's that play with very high end cues. There are also those that play with a sponsored cue. Sure they play great with them.

Let me ask you this. How many pro's play with a production cue that are not being payed to play with it? Given a choice in cues, how many of them have chosen Mezz, Joss, CueTec, etc.?

That should be the answer to your question. If someone payed me to play with a cuetec I would jump right on board. If not, well I think we know where nearly all of the pro's go with that one.

-Brandon
 
dom_poppa said:
I am starting to think and realize that expensive custom cues are a waste of money. I know this may sound controversial but give any good pool player a house cue and have him practice with it, this player will do amazing things with it. Heck, you can give him a broom stick.

The question remains....are these expensive cues overrated? They have nice jewels in them and the fancy BS, but the really good players in today's world can easily shoot with their sponsor cue.

Mezz or Predator are fine examples of playing cues that the pros use. They do their job and they play great.

I have yet to see a pro play with anyting over 2K....

thoughts?


P.S. A majority of the players in my pool hall who have these fancky cues can't play worth a lick, if their life depended on it...........
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Sounds like you have CUE Envy :) A rusted out pinto will take you where you want to go just like a Bentley or Ferrari.
 
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rayjay said:
If you are expecting to be able to buy a good game, save your money. A good custom cue may help, but it won't give you the game on its own...its a tool but also is functional art. Custom cues are like anything else that is custom made...homes, cars, clothes, shoes, art, jewelry, etc. Custom cues are made to higher tolerances than production cues, and therefore performance of it is improved. If you have never used one, Dom Pappa, don't bother, it won't help you. If you can't afford it, don't worry about it, just enjoy the game. If it pisses you off that other people can afford it and enjoy it and you can't, well, sorry, too bad.
:p
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I agree with what you've said but i think the same thing can be said for people who run out and buy a low deflection shaft thinking it's going to change their game. They then proceed to practice and play more with the new shaft and when they improve their level of play attribute it to the new miracle shaft instead of their own hard work.

Sad in my mind that people believe in products and not themselves.
 
dom_poppa said:
I am starting to think and realize that expensive custom cues are a waste of money. I know this may sound controversial but give any good pool player a house cue and have him practice with it, this player will do amazing things with it. Heck, you can give him a broom stick.

The question remains....are these expensive cues overrated? They have nice jewels in them and the fancy BS, but the really good players in today's world can easily shoot with their sponsor cue.

Mezz or Predator are fine examples of playing cues that the pros use. They do their job and they play great.

I have yet to see a pro play with anyting over 2K....

thoughts?


P.S. A majority of the players in my pool hall who have these fancky cues can't play worth a lick, if their life depended on it...........
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Who are all these people playing with 2k cues, I don't know any? I think you complaint is a moot point, you are complaining about something that does not exist.

As for as the broomstick goes, I think I can safely say I will play anyone in the world if they use a broomstick.
 
I shoot with a custom cue. I suck, plain and simple. I shoot as an APA 3 in 9 ball and 8 ball. Did the new cue step me up a skill level or 2, No. But it gave me confidence I've never had before. It also works on fast and slow tables due to 2 shafts made for the table conditions. I don't have to change my game due to table conditions. It has been worth every penny I paid for it. People who know cues compliment me on it when they see it.

Now I am a poor pool player. But I can certainly tell a good cue when it is in my hands. I work with my hands. And I know a good tool when I have it in my hands. I have played with a lot of production cues. None can compare with the way my Josie plays. I can feel it. Many here will pooh-pooh me. But I have also shot with a bunch of customs that people have let me hit with. I can just tell. The customs are just a little tighter, crisper in their play. Now mine is only an 800$ cue, not a 25 grand piece of art. I went with function over form. But it sure is sweet.

BTW don't read into my words. I like production cues too. I have a very sporty Pechauer. It's my backup. I like to hit with it sometimes. I am in no way knocking production cues. Joss, McD, Pechauer, Mezz ect all make fine cues, no doubt. Heck I would like a wrapless Viking. Maybe when they are fully back on line I will get one. Because I just plain want one. But for the most part it is a custom for my main player.

Mark Shuman
 
What % has the top 10 custum cuemakers cues gone up in the last 5 years? I know nothing about cue collecting, but all I ever read on here is how much value they have lost. Johnnyt
 
What I find is that most people I know are playing with a 1000$ plus cues.
Some even play with $3000 Meucci cues.
Well, those are not 1000$ plus cues but everyone likes to make their cue either expensive or unique or best playing.
A monster player of the sort you see in the wanted section which is all nonsense.

Custom cues don’t play any better and many play worse.
Some customs look way better, but are also more likely to have imperfections than a decent quality production cue.

Having said all that, most people that pick on people with custom cues have an envy issues.
They cannot afford the expensive art so they put down those that can and try to pretend they are somehow superior, blah, blah, blah.

It is the same as the pumpkins that will tell – ‘ if I didn’t have a job or family I would be a player’.
Same as the guys that tell you they never play and of course they are lying.

All those people are the same, they go through life making excuses.
They try to raise themselves above others , somehow making themselves more talented, more noble, - all at the expense of others.
 
They are worth the money if you enjoy them. Generally, they are beautifully made. Each maker I've had involvement with has pride in their methods and material selection. Also, the cue makers are interested in using their beliefs to get you what you want. As far as making you play better, well, you can stilll improve your game but not be an excellent player. In other words if I play better next week than I do now, I've improved. The cue may help but in my opinion, The nice cues stir interest which will lead to learning how to play better. sooo If it makes ya happy do it.
 
Let me cut the chase here. If you drive up and park in front of a top- disco or restaurant where they park the cars in your 70 chevy, you are considered a bum, but if you drive up in your new Lincoln Navigator SUV, you are somebody. A 2K car is driven by a bum, a 75K car, is driven by a cool guy. But they both get you there, so it’s a matter of style and buying prestige.
If you are playing with a $100 decal Chinese cue here, this is your chevy. If you have a $400 meucci, you are considered a real dummie. Only until you blow a minimum of $800 on something that looks like a house cue, and plays like one, will you be cool, and can be admitted into the club. Then you can take a picture of it, show it on every post off to the left, showing everyone, I am one of you, look how cool I am, I just blew two grand to be liked and admired by all of you. Now, I am one of you. Look at all the new respect points you will get. And now life is grand for you.
 
Larry Fine said:
Let me cut the chase here. If you drive up and park in front of a top- disco or restaurant where they park the cars in your 70 chevy, you are considered a bum, but if you drive up in your new Lincoln Navigator SUV, you are somebody. A 2K car is driven by a bum, a 75K car, is driven by a cool guy. But they both get you there, so it’s a matter of style and buying prestige.
If you are playing with a $100 decal Chinese cue here, this is your chevy. If you have a $400 meucci, you are considered a real dummie. Only until you blow a minimum of $800 on something that looks like a house cue, and plays like one, will you be cool, and can be admitted into the club. Then you can take a picture of it, show it on every post off to the left, showing everyone, I am one of you, look how cool I am, I just blew two grand to be liked and admired by all of you. Now, I am one of you. Look at all the new respect points you will get. And now life is grand for you.
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Nice one.

BTW I drive a Kia and couldn't care less what anyone thinks of me. My cue (production) is solid black - looks great, plays great. I hate the designs of many top customs - what dogs' dinners!
 
matta said:
Secondly, buying a production cue can actually be a worse purchase. Every production cue is going to lose near half it's value the moment you buy it. If you make an educated purchase of a custom cue, you can actually get 100% or more of your investment back when you decide to sell it. That will never happen with a production cue.
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You've clearly not spent much time in the For Sale section of this forum, where it appears every old, beaten-up, knackered, modified for personal use (ie ruined) production cue is being hawked for at least 95% of retail. For reasons that escape me, it is considered bad etiquette to point this out to the seller.
 
Fart and Burp well I think that about sums up my feeling for the OP's comments.

Did anyone else notice that that Op has not made any other psots to this thread, I think we have discovered another:

troll.jpg

JIMO
 
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