oldschoolr
Registered
this is the best answer ok... buy the first one that is good and you get a deal on it...find a player that is getting out of the game and score a great deal.
Beginner that needs help finalizing decision!
- Thread starter JoshKC
- Start date
Schmelke is definitely the way to go. They make a great cue and like was said they make their own blanks in house. Really a good product. And on top of that you can call and talk to Schmelke anytime and they'll answer any questions you have. Good people to deal with and they stand behind their product. I'm sure you will be 100% satisfied. I'd get one of the standard joints as opposed to the Schmelke joint so if in the future you want to get an aftermarket shaft you won't have any problems. 5/16x18 or 3/8x10.
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19oz seems to be the standard in terms of not to light and not to heavy. weight bolts are easy to add/remove so i wouldnt stress to hard about that.
smaller diameter shafts help with deflection but also have a bigger learning curve as they are not as forgiving in your stroke. for where you are at the standard size by schmelke will be fine.
edit: i wouldnt get a matching color shaft but that is just me.
Generally speaking most people I've ever played against or watched in league hit too hard. This is more true for beginners. A lighter cue and/or a softer tip help to curb this.
a 12.75mm or 13mm tip is standard but if he's going to get a custom cue I'd strongly advice on getting a smaller tip. Anything in the 11mm range would be too small to learn on effectively (in my opinion) but this would help him get used to a smaller tip early.
Helping him start with something that gives lower deflection only benefits him. Later on if he wants a more pronounced LD setup it won't be a huge learning curve then from a standard 13mm tip on a regular deflection shaft.
a 12.75mm or 13mm tip is standard but if he's going to get a custom cue I'd strongly advice on getting a smaller tip. Anything in the 11mm range would be too small to learn on effectively (in my opinion) but this would help him get used to a smaller tip early.
Helping him start with something that gives lower deflection only benefits him. Later on if he wants a more pronounced LD setup it won't be a huge learning curve then from a standard 13mm tip on a regular deflection shaft.
the best bet weight wise would be to shoot a bunch of house cues. most are marked with their weight, so you can see what feels best in your hands
i'd count uniloc as a decent choice too.
I started with the Players cue that you are looking at. Players cue are good for a beginner an for the most part they hold up well. I suggest to you to change the tip to a medium. That cue comes with a hard tip and it is a miscue waiting to happen not to mention it would mushroom if you leave your case in the car and its a bit too cool or hot.
as far s buying a used cue, AZ has a solid reputation as far as I can tell. i have seen some stories about a few being less than honest. Research who ever you are dealing with just as I am doing right now about getting a new cue.
The Schmelke is OK however if it were me I would choose the Players but that only from a feel an preference stand point.
Good Luck in your search my friend..
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Schmelke, made in USA by a family that has been doing it for decades...Quality wood, quality product...
I've got 3 custom cues, but I also have a Schmelke for the times I go to a dive bar and don't want my customs to grow legs....
You cannot go wrong..... and if you wanna add a LD shaft later, it's an easy add on to a Schmelke.....
PS: My house cues that I use in the basement of Players SP's..... I got them cheap, and wanted something decent for friends and family to shoot with.... there is NO comparison between the Players and Scmelke.... My Schmelke SP is heads and shoulders above the Players cues.....
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Players makes a surprisingly good cue for the money. Schmelke also makes a very good cue and when it comes to quality I would give Schmelke the edge.
So out of the 2 you are looking at I would say get the Schmelke, but don't forget the used market here on AZ. You can find some great deals there.
So out of the 2 you are looking at I would say get the Schmelke, but don't forget the used market here on AZ. You can find some great deals there.
I purchased the Scmelke sneaky you have linked from the same place you mentioned. If I remember correctly it came direct from the Schmelke factory. The only two things I didn't initially like was the standard tip (too soft for me - but to each his own) and the UV coating on the shaft. I did sand the shaft over time and again it is only my preference not to have coating on it. I have owned about 50-60 cues in my life with the majority being worth under $200. This cue had no issues with quality or hit.
I put the Schmelke away for about a year and noticed when I went to use it again that the joint facing was off. I contacted Schmelke as this was obvious factory flaw and David was great to deal with. Sent me an RMA and repaired the cue no charge. I seriously doubt you would ever get the service from the import places.
Make sure you get the weight right if you go the Schmelke route. The one I had did not have a weight bolt!
If you had $150 to spend there was a really nice Viking lurking somewhere here that retailed for well over $300. If interested I will find it for you.
I put the Schmelke away for about a year and noticed when I went to use it again that the joint facing was off. I contacted Schmelke as this was obvious factory flaw and David was great to deal with. Sent me an RMA and repaired the cue no charge. I seriously doubt you would ever get the service from the import places.
Make sure you get the weight right if you go the Schmelke route. The one I had did not have a weight bolt!
If you had $150 to spend there was a really nice Viking lurking somewhere here that retailed for well over $300. If interested I will find it for you.
technoid101
"fades in, fades out"
measurman, thanks for this info. I was clueless on this point.
you could not have nailed my personality better....
ill look at things for weeks before actually purchasing..
at this point i think i've just about came to my final decision....
Im gonna get a Schmelke S series (no wrap of course) and then i think im going to pay the extra $3 and have it come with a triangle tip.... or do people have any other tip recommendations?
It has been many years since I shopped for my first cue.Cue makers and their quality can come and go.Considering who is posting and what they are recommending I would go with the Schmelke.19oz and 12.5 to 13mm is pretty standard.Enjoy!
ya as of right now im about 100% ima get a 19oz. and im about 80% ima get a 13mm at this point.
also ima start with a triangle tip ftw. i've searched through the forum and people seem to really love em.
i've also decided to get an ulti-mate tip tool for general maintenance and shaping to keep a good cue head, anyone have thoughts on this tool?
this is really sellin me
Keep in mind the standard shaft may hold you back. Finding a used
Pred sneaky is always a good option. Predator sells boat loads of 'em.
And yes, the quality is good.
ya ill probably use this cue for a year-ish i assume? then end up upgrading the shaft on it and maybe starting to try some different tips or something.
from what people have been telling me this schmelke will be a good point for me to just start with. something nice and basic, but also quality.
I would keep it simple at first and go with a standard shaft and get a feel for it.After time you will acquire a deeper understanding of the game and you may want to experiment with a low deflection shaft.
this is a better wording of what i wanted to say lol