I would like anyone who is interested to tell me what "production cue" they consider to be the best bang for the buck and why. I'm looking to buy a spare cue. I'm not looking for a cue because of its' looks, just a good quality, name brand, solid hitting cue such as a Joss, Lucasi, Viking, Cuetec, Judd, Meucci, McDermott, Schon, Dufferin, etc., etc. Thanks everyone!!!
Best bang for the buck?
- Thread starter nail
- Start date
drivermaker
Banned
nail said:
Joss or Helmstetter, they're priced right and just solid well constructed good cues that play great. You can pay less for a cue and you can pay more. More is good also like a Schon, but you said bang for the buck. These are equal in construction and playability.
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cut shot said:
i would have to agree here. you cant let people tell you whats good and thats it you have to try as many cue's as possible and then decide. trust me when i say this i have tried more then my fair share. but from you list i would have to go with schon. this is one of the best constructed and solid hitting cues out there production wise..... good luck and let us know what you decide.........
People, he did not ask what the best production cue is. He asked what the best bang for the buck is for a second cue. If you can get a cue that hits solid and costs a mere $50 then that is gonna be alot of cue for the $ then a Schon. Sure a schon is a nice cue, the best bang for the buck though? You can buy 10 Dufferin Sneaks for the price of a single Schon and that cue is not gonna be 10X the Dufferin. I might as well tell the guy to get a Gina Cue for $25,000 if we are going to ignore his actually question. The best bang for the buck is gonna be a cheaper cue that hits good. If no single cheap cue out there hit well then that would be different but that is simply not the case. You dont have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a cue that hits real good if you dont care about looks.
It's like a guy asks what the best bang for the buck is for a second car and people are answering with "well, 350Z are nice!" "Gee, I really like the Boxter!". This is not "bang for the buck people". Stop using this thread as a way to make yourself look enlightened and say "well cues are a personal thing, we really cannot tell you anything whatsoever so we suggest you drive around town to 5 different pool halls and shoot with 10 different brands of cues before you make your cheapo cue purchase, nevermind the $100 in gas you spend on a $50 cue" The guy is not going out to make a major purchase, he wants something simple and wanted simple answers.
It's like a guy asks what the best bang for the buck is for a second car and people are answering with "well, 350Z are nice!" "Gee, I really like the Boxter!". This is not "bang for the buck people". Stop using this thread as a way to make yourself look enlightened and say "well cues are a personal thing, we really cannot tell you anything whatsoever so we suggest you drive around town to 5 different pool halls and shoot with 10 different brands of cues before you make your cheapo cue purchase, nevermind the $100 in gas you spend on a $50 cue" The guy is not going out to make a major purchase, he wants something simple and wanted simple answers.
OldHasBeen
Tom Ferry
Lucasi - For Me - Hands Down!
I have an $89 Lucasi that I bought on eBay that plays as good as my 44 year old Balabushka. Buddy knows my Balabushka from Johnston City and still says it is the sweetest hitting cue he has ever played with. When the Balabushka had to be retired, I saw Buddy playing with a Lucasi here in St. Louis. He wanted me to hit a few with it. I was very impressed and found one I liked on eBay.
A Cue Is A Cue - Period.
Any Cue that has a good properly shaped tip - is straight & well-balanced - THAT YOU LIKE AND GET USED TO - Is the best cue for you !!!
Once you get used to the hit & feel of ANY cue - IT IS YOUR CUE.
Many years ago I was "On The Road" with a decent One-Pocket player from here in St. Louis. We found ourselves in Cincinnati at Family Billiards. Against my advice this fellow wants to play Joey Speath, 9-8 & 9-7. Pretty big game so he wants to use my Balabushka. I let him and watch the first few games. After seeing he was going to "Go Broke" again, I call myself OFF & go out into the main poolroom and start playing Joey's Son, Gary Speath. I have to play "Off The Wall" so I look for as good of cue as I could find. I work on the tip for about 10 min and start playing. I think we were only playing $10 or $20 Nine Ball but that was "Good Action" back then. I fall in "Dead Stroke" and win. I forget how much I won but he went busted and that isn't the point anyway. Joey & Gary were "Good People" and Gary got a lot better later in his career.
I bought this House Cue from the poolroom and played with it for about 6 months before it became warped. I later learned that you could keep a House Cue straight forever if you hang it from a rubber band at night.
Bottom Line - For 6 months - This House Cue was my cue of choice.
I'm sure that a lot of it was mental - but - SO IS POOL !
I have an $89 Lucasi that I bought on eBay that plays as good as my 44 year old Balabushka. Buddy knows my Balabushka from Johnston City and still says it is the sweetest hitting cue he has ever played with. When the Balabushka had to be retired, I saw Buddy playing with a Lucasi here in St. Louis. He wanted me to hit a few with it. I was very impressed and found one I liked on eBay.
A Cue Is A Cue - Period.
Any Cue that has a good properly shaped tip - is straight & well-balanced - THAT YOU LIKE AND GET USED TO - Is the best cue for you !!!
Once you get used to the hit & feel of ANY cue - IT IS YOUR CUE.
Many years ago I was "On The Road" with a decent One-Pocket player from here in St. Louis. We found ourselves in Cincinnati at Family Billiards. Against my advice this fellow wants to play Joey Speath, 9-8 & 9-7. Pretty big game so he wants to use my Balabushka. I let him and watch the first few games. After seeing he was going to "Go Broke" again, I call myself OFF & go out into the main poolroom and start playing Joey's Son, Gary Speath. I have to play "Off The Wall" so I look for as good of cue as I could find. I work on the tip for about 10 min and start playing. I think we were only playing $10 or $20 Nine Ball but that was "Good Action" back then. I fall in "Dead Stroke" and win. I forget how much I won but he went busted and that isn't the point anyway. Joey & Gary were "Good People" and Gary got a lot better later in his career.
I bought this House Cue from the poolroom and played with it for about 6 months before it became warped. I later learned that you could keep a House Cue straight forever if you hang it from a rubber band at night.
Bottom Line - For 6 months - This House Cue was my cue of choice.
I'm sure that a lot of it was mental - but - SO IS POOL !
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Best bang for the $$$$
The already mentioned Dufferin & I'll add a Pechauer J01.
I own both, paid $75 for the Dufferin & $200 for the Pechauer. They both work just fine for "spare" cues. In all honesty my Pechauer gets a little more play to call it a "spare" cue
The already mentioned Dufferin & I'll add a Pechauer J01.
I own both, paid $75 for the Dufferin & $200 for the Pechauer. They both work just fine for "spare" cues. In all honesty my Pechauer gets a little more play to call it a "spare" cue
I would recommend trying a rosewood sneaky pete made by Players. Retail that would run you about $45. You can get them cheaper on eBay, but obviously, you can't test the cue before purchase buying one through that avenue. I think you'll find it an excellent cue for the money. I can't recommend the Players cocobola sneaky pete though. For some reason, those cues that I tried out did not have the same quality hit as their rosewood counterparts.
azbicyclis85376
Banned
Lucasi
I only know what feels good to me, I have not shot many production Cues, and my VOTE for BEST BANG for the BUCK is Lucasi. Less then 150 Bucks will get you a nice Cue.
I only know what feels good to me, I have not shot many production Cues, and my VOTE for BEST BANG for the BUCK is Lucasi. Less then 150 Bucks will get you a nice Cue.
Well, here's a reply from someone (me) who knows next to nothing about cues. To me, I want enough "bang" to play at the highest level. I have a Predator sneaky Pete (shaft 1 inch longer than standard, bought used for $200). I've been lucky enough to play with at least 7 top professionals who have tried out my cue. I've asked each one whether I needed a better cue to play at the top level (I'll pay whatever it takes). Each one said no, this cue is fine.
All I care about is playability, and I don't want anything that is going to hold me back (my innate lack of talent is doing a good job of that already).
My wife gave me a $5,000 budget for a cue, I'm using it for lessons/tournaments/gambling and still playing with the Predator.
All I care about is playability, and I don't want anything that is going to hold me back (my innate lack of talent is doing a good job of that already).
My wife gave me a $5,000 budget for a cue, I'm using it for lessons/tournaments/gambling and still playing with the Predator.
Williebetmore said:
Tippity tap, my friend. While I have a very expensive (to me) cue that I play with and love, anyone that CAN PLAY, can play with a house cue. Lessons and gambling (different lessons) are money better spent.
To the original question--dufferins hit well, lucasi, joss or viking if you can go up to 2-250. However, if you can spend that much, I would recommend a custom sneaky pete or plain jane. My friend has a players sneaky pete that plays very well for the $$ he paid for it. (about 70$ I think)
Peace
~DC