Best Playing Cue Builder

Shooter08 said:
I am specif a cue. Computer programming is a skill, I just don’t think that part of cue building has anything to do with how a cue plays. I do not believe a cue with 1000 holes cut into it filled w other materials is going to hit as well as just solid wood.
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We think alike.

I’ve played with these intricate cues and they don’t feel lively. Like no spring in its step. It’s a hollow hit.

Full splice and Merry Widows are the best in my opinion. They are not ‘Swiss cheese’ to death.
 
DeeDeeCues said:
What is this opinion based on?

What about wrapped cues? Can they play as well as a solid wood cue? What about the fact that most cures are either cored or have a screw inside the a-joint? What about rings? How about points? Does it matter if the point veneers are paper backed? Does one glue play different than another glue if they both capably hold the pin, rings, etc.?

To believe that some pockets cut into the butt is going to make a difference in how a cue pockets balls or applies spin is a bit ridiculous when one considers the number of things that already remove material and are replaced with other material.

I feel sorry for people who have so much belief in these things. They must always be wondering if they are being held back by their cue, blaming every miss on the tool. Pool is enough of a head game without worrying about inconsequential shit.

Now you can reply by telling me that I only say that because my cues are junk made on a toy lathe. You'll then be wrong on more things.
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If the cue is cut and drilled to death for inlay then yes it affects how it hits.

The wood loses its structural integrity.

The ‘how does it play’ statement is reserved for intricate cues. It is never asked when talking about widows or full splice cues.
 
Shooter08 said:
I am specif a cue.
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I don't know what you're trying to say, and I have a feeling it's the crux of your reasoning.

Shooter08 said:
Computer programming is a skill, I just don’t think that part of cue building has anything to do with how a cue plays.
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I mostly agree, which is why there should be no reason to limit the discussion to non-CNC. The best part of CNC is repeatability for difficult tooling paths.

Shooter08 said:
I do not believe a cue with 1000 holes cut into it filled w other materials is going to hit as well as just solid wood.
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Really depends on the builder and their ability to execute the fine details of all those holes. Again, Tascarella (among others). No CNC, which is commendable for their old-school effort.

Could I try again and ask what you're looking for?

1. Cue with no inlays?
2. Cue with minimal inlays, no CNC?
3. Cue with minimal inlays, CNC on anything other than inlays is okay?
4. An ultra fancy, many inlays holes and angles, but no CNC

I think I can find at least one cuemaker for each of these four that most people would fall in love with the hit, and multitudes of players would say is the best playing cue they've had.
 
shooter_Hans said:
The wood loses its structural integrity.
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Considering the materials and glues are generally stronger than the wood, this statement is patently false.

Considering that the butt is much larger than the shaft, how does structural integrity even come into play?

If you would have said anything about wave propagation, I might have started thinking you know something about anything.
 
DeeDeeCues said:
Does anyone know what, 'I am specif a cue' means? 🤔
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DeeDeeCues said:
Considering the materials and glues are generally stronger than the wood, this statement is patently false.

Considering that the butt is much larger than the shaft, how does structural integrity even come into play?

If you would have said anything about wave propagation, I might have started thinking you know something about anything.
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It would seem to me that the "Wave Propagation" would be disturbed by the voids that are filled by a foreign object or another species of varying wood. E.G. Resonance - the reinforcement or prolongation of sound by reflection from a surface or by the synchronous vibration of a neighboring object. (credit some dictionary online). Covefe, still living rent free I see. When we see a cue you built with inlays, we will now you found the directions. Shooter08
 

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Shooter08 said:
It would seem to me that the "Wave Propagation" would be disturbed by the voids that are filled by a foreign object or another species of varying wood. E.G. Resonance - the reinforcement or prolongation of sound by reflection from a surface or by the synchronous vibration of a neighboring object. (credit some dictionary online). Covefe, still living rent free I see. When we see a cue you built with inlays, we will now you found the directions. Shooter08
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Yay, you can wiki something I've known about for 30 years.

Now tell me how those vibrations affect the function of a cue. Tell me how they will make you miss or change the spin you can put on the ball.

Personally I don't really like most inlays. I like the look of wood.
 
DeeDeeCues said:
Yay, you can wiki something I've known about for 30 years.

Now tell me how those vibrations affect the function of a cue. Tell me how they will make you miss or change the spin you can put on the ball.

Personally I don't really like most inlays. I like the look of wood.
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Actually I explained my opinion of "Wave Propagation" at your request. It just so happens I referenced a source so when you spewed more BS, you wouldn't be able to deny my explanation.
 
Shooter08 said:
It would seem to me that the "Wave Propagation" would be disturbed by the voids that are filled by a foreign object or another species of varying wood. E.G. Resonance - the reinforcement or prolongation of sound by reflection from a surface or by the synchronous vibration of a neighboring object. (credit some dictionary online). Covefe, still living rent free I see. When we see a cue you built with inlays, we will now you found the directions. Shooter08
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BTW, all of those cues in your avatar with SS joints...the stainless collar affects the waves much worse than any number of inlays. That heavy ring actually adds a node and drastically changes the harmonics, especially the first and second...the ones you might actually feel.
 
Shooter08 said:
Actually I explained my opinion of "Wave Propagation" at your request. It just so happens I referenced a source so when you spewed more BS, you wouldn't be able to deny my explanation.
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Okay, buckaroo, it seems someone with your vast knowledge and strong opinion on this subject would have stated something you knew in a thread you started.
 
DeeDeeCues said:
BTW, all of those cues in your avatar with SS joints...the stainless collar affects the waves much worse than any number of inlays. That heavy ring actually adds a node and drastically changes the harmonics, especially the first and second...the ones you might actually feel.
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I hit my cue with the tip end. That seems to help.

I don't notice any wetness, so maybe my waves are off. I also can't hear the harmonicas. I should buy a new cue 🤣

This thread got crazy haha
 
shooter_Hans said:
We think alike.

I’ve played with these intricate cues and they don’t feel lively. Like no spring in its step. It’s a hollow hit.

Full splice and Merry Widows are the best in my opinion. They are not ‘Swiss cheese’ to death.
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yup yup i would agree to that over the 100s and 100s of cues i have owned in over 40 years ,well stated. Plus may i add those older slow cuts on older shaft wood were better than ones makers are using today! heavier 2 in weight with many tight grains.
 
Hands down, Mike Sigel. Second would be tied with Bobby Hunter and Mike Gulassey.

And anybody who thought Tim Scruggs couldn't play never saw him play.
 
It is interesting to see how there are basically two schools of thought on the original query Shooter 08 posed.
Did he mean cue maker as a player or cue maker as a builder? But the 2nd sentence of his post did state…..
Who builds the best playing cue with no CNC inlay work? He did not ask which cue maker plays the best pool?

I am only pointing this out to illustrate how easily different forum members can read a thread, or post, and come
away with a different impression, or interpretation, about the specific point in question the OP was posing. It is
a example of why and how the NPR section gets so convoluted and diametrically opposed to differing opinions.

In actual conversation, you get to ask followup questions to clarify and confirm what the other person thinks or
what they meant. In written exchanges, sarcasm and vitriol too easily enter into the discussion & a fracas ensues.
We could all learn from this simple thread if and when we visit the NPR section and decide to post our opinion.

Back to the topic that Shooter 08 didn’t ask about, I heard Bill Stroud was a great pool player and from what I understand, Bob and Gabe Owen would be a tough team to beat in a father and child cue maker tournament. Interestingly, Gabe has honed his skills in cue making and has produced some cues that his dad, Bob, has to be very proud about.
 
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Any thoughts on Andy Gilbert? Is he retired or active. Seen a few I like but they all seem to be dated back to 00’s. And some ‘10’s.
 
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