A forward balance tends to weigh down the front end of the cue, keeping the tip end a little more stable. It's especially noticeable with open bridges and draw shots. It helps keep the player from inadvertently pulling the tip up before contacting the ball. However, the more forward the balance, the heavier the cue feels. I have always made the effort to keep the balance just forward from neutral, so the cue feels comfortable, while having some of the benefit of the forward balance. On a 58" cue the neutral balance is generally in the 18-18.5" range. I prefer a 19"-19.5" balance. The trick is getting the balance & weight in balance. That's where having a broad range in shaft blank weight to choose from, and butt weight placement are paramount.
Each player & each builder must decide these things for themselves. Some don't pay any attention to balance at all. For some players it doesn't matter. For others it's critical. Balance is one of those tuning issues where it's very personal.
