Balabuska cues

measureman

measureman

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Balabushka cues

Sunday I was at Felt Billiards here in Colorado and met a guy that had 2 unrestored original Balabushka cues. I had never had the chance to play with a real one. So he let me hit about 6 balls with each one.
Now I understand why they are lengendary.
They were both perfect in balance and hit. Fluid is a good word to use.
They just glided to the cue ball.
 
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measureman said:
Sunday I was at Felt Billiards here in Colorado and met a guy that had 2 unrestored original Balabushka cues. I had never had the chance to play with a real one. So he let me hit about 6 balls with each one.
Now I understand why they are lengendary.
They were both perfect in balance and hit. Fluid is a good word to use.
They just glided to the cue ball.
Click to expand...

Bruce:

So are we to assume that you'll be on the lookout to get one? I know one thing, if you do manage to get one, you'll obviously have a new pet name for your cue -- the "Bala-bruce-shka." :p

Seriously, you're a lucky dog. One of these days, I'll make the trek up to Pool Table Magic in northeastern CT, and see if I can bribe those folks to hit a few balls with a genuine 'bushka, Spain, or Rambow.

-Sean
 
measureman said:
Sunday I was at Felt Billiards here in Colorado and met a guy that had 2 unrestored original Balabushka cues. I had never had the chance to play with a real one. So he let me hit about 6 balls with each one.
Now I understand why they are lengendary.
They were both perfect in balance and hit. Fluid is a good word to use.
They just glided to the cue ball.
Click to expand...

Nice gesture by the owner!

(was in Denver over Easter weekend, but no time for pool or I would have looked for you in Hanks)
 
sfleinen said:
Bruce:

So are we to assume that you'll be on the lookout to get one? I know one thing, if you do manage to get one, you'll obviously have a new pet name for your cue -- the "Bala-bruce-shka." :p

Seriously, you're a lucky dog. One of these days, I'll make the trek up to Pool Table Magic in northeastern CT, and see if I can bribe those folks to hit a few balls with a genuine 'bushka, Spain, or Rambow.

-Sean
Click to expand...

Our local pool cue expert (Ted aka Cuesblues) put a value on the one very fancy Buska at $30,000 so chances of me ever getting one are slim to none and slim left town hours ago.But I like the name you thought up.
 
measureman said:
Our local pool cue expert (Ted aka Cuesblues) put a value on the one very fancy Buska at $30,000 so chances of me ever getting one are slim to none and slim left town hours ago.But I like the name you thought up.
Click to expand...

I guess for the time being you'll have to continue to go by "Brucasi". :D
 
sfleinen said:
Bruce:

So are we to assume that you'll be on the lookout to get one? I know one thing, if you do manage to get one, you'll obviously have a new pet name for your cue -- the "Bala-bruce-shka." :p

Seriously, you're a lucky dog. One of these days, I'll make the trek up to Pool Table Magic in northeastern CT, and see if I can bribe those folks to hit a few balls with a genuine 'bushka, Spain, or Rambow.

-Sean
Click to expand...

Sean,
Come on up.. always one or two you can hit some balls with.

JV
 
bbb said:
why do you think [B]six balls [/B]was your limit???
Click to expand...

I was being very careful not to have the cues touch the table, And after 6 balls with each cue I found out what I needed to know.
Also I did not want to take advantage of the guy.
So with about $50,000 or so in two cues I just wanted to put them down.
I have about $450 in my two cues,I was way out of my comfort zone.
 
Bruce,
It was a pleasure meeting you and letting you shoot with my Balabushka's. I'm so glad you enjoyed them.
Brian
 
measureman said:
Our local pool cue expert (Ted aka Cuesblues) put a value on the one very fancy Buska at $30,000 so chances of me ever getting one are slim to none and slim left town hours ago.But I like the name you thought up.
Click to expand...

That's water for life at Hank's.
 
I had a similar experience about 25 years ago. Very plain four pointer, the guy who brought it into the room said it was his brother's. I got to play with it for an hour while he played with my Southwest. I agree, I've hit nothing like it since!
 
measureman said:
I was being very careful not to have the cues touch the table, And after 6 balls with each cue I found out what I needed to know.
Also I did not want to take advantage of the guy.
So with about $50,000 or so in two cues I just wanted to put them down.
I have about $450 in my two cues,I was way out of my comfort zone.
Click to expand...

i understand completely
i also would be nervous with a cue(s) that expensive in my hands
 
skierlawyer said:
Bruce,
It was a pleasure meeting you and letting you shoot with my Balabushka's. I'm so glad you enjoyed them.
Brian
Click to expand...

very generous of you to let someone try your treasures
:thumbup::thumbup:
are they your regular players???
if so i wonder what cues you have that are only for collecting
:smile:
 
Bushka

I had a similar experience as well about four years ago. An older friend of the league director had a plain four point Balabushka that he bought for himself directly from the maker in 1967. I asked him if I could hit few balls with it and I played with it for about 20 minutes. I had never played a cue that felt or sounded like that. To me it was like playing with an unbreakable piece of glass. It was a memorable experience.

The Tascarella hoppe I have now is the closest I have ever felt to that Balabushka. The owner told me he was going to sell it to put his daughter through college, and he was well aware of its value.
 
I hit 6-balls with each as well. although Brian would of let use play with them as long as we wanted.
Skierlawyer is very generous with his cues.

Although they were both self-shooters, I thought the fancy Szamboti forearm Balabushka had the edge on playability.
 
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bbb said:
very generous of you to let someone try your treasures
:thumbup::thumbup:
are they your regular players???
if so i wonder what cues you have that are only for collecting
:smile:
Click to expand...

Yeah the fancy Balabushka is my main player, and I have a collection of Moochies.


Just kidding of course. My main player is an Ernie Martinez. A real self-shooter too. I have a collection of cues and I play with every one one of them and will let anyone who I know that won't harm they try them too.
 
cuesblues said:
I hit 6-balls with each as well. although Brian would of let use play with them as long as we wanted.
Skierlawyer is very generous with his cues.

Although they were both self-shooters, I though the fancy Szamboti forearm Balabushka had the edge on playability.
Click to expand...

Ted thanks for the kind words, you are very generous too. Thanks for bringing the lighting bolt cue, it was a real treat. I asked the guy who made it and he said the front was east indian rosewood on that cue.
 
skierlawyer said:
Ted thanks for the kind words, you are very generous too. Thanks for bringing the lighting bolt cue, it was a real treat. I asked the guy who made it and he said the front was east indian rosewood on that cue.
Click to expand...


So if I give it to you and then take it back, I'm an East Indian giver
 
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