Bumperless Custom Cues?

[SCCues]

I would like to get some opinions pro and con on why someone would want a nice custom cue built without a rubber bumper. Is it just the way it looks and if that's the reason why wouldn't you want a rubber bumper on your nice cue to protect the butt cap of the cue? Some pool rooms don't have nice carpet on the floor so if you had a Bumperless cue in one of those rooms you can't rest your cue on the floor without the danger of scratching the finish. I'm puzzled on why I'm seeing more and more cues built this way. Can someone shed some light on this for me?

 

[Kim Bye]

I like the look of bumperless cues and both my players are bumperless hoppe cues.
Not a huge difference, but bumperless cues does feel a little bit livelier than cues with bumpers.

 

[HawaiianEye]

Personally, I just like the LOOKS of a bumperless cue better. Especially, cues with some ornate chrome screw or something in place of the usual bumper. To me, it looks a bit more "classy".

I haven't played with enough bumperless cues to determine if they hit any better, but the ones I have played with seemed to have a "different" hit or feel than those with bumpers. The "sound" of the cues seemed to be a bit more "high pitched" and "pingy" to me also.

I know that in 1978 when I had Richard Black make me a cue, he refused to make a Hoppe Copy (that was in his lineup at the time) for me. He said it had a "PING" that he couldn't determine the source of and he wanted to "get rid of it" before he started selling them again. He "isolated" the cause of the "PING" and "fixed it" by utilizing a rubber bumper in it (see his current lineup).

Aloha.

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

I have a couple of PH Tru Balance cues without bumpers.

I am partial to notched diamonds, window boxes, acrylic windows and bumperless cues.

One cue has a delrin butt cap so there is not much chance of any damage to that one.

The other is phenolic with no damage yet from it resting on the toe of my shoe.

It becomes second nature to place it on your shoe when not shooting.

When you consider how thin Joss bumpers are, there is not much between the butt and the floor anyway.

To me, you just can't beat the look of a shiny Chrome bolt at the back end of the butt cap.

 

[Cuebuddy]

I have a couple of PH Tru Balance cues without bumpers.

I am partial to notched diamonds, window boxes, acrylic windows and bumperless cues.

One cue has a delrin butt cap so there is not much chance of any damage to that one.

The other is phenolic with no damage yet from it resting on the toe of my shoe.

It becomes second nature to place it on your shoe when not shooting.

There are few here that are as careful with their cues as I am. Having stated that I must say using my first bumperless cue drove me crazy. Every time I would ding something or even set it down I was worried about chipping the finish.

I finally took out the polished weight bolt and replaced it with a rubber bumper and have never looked back. It changed the weight and balance point of my cue and that did not bother me at all.
Its so nice to put it down and know its on the bumper. I will say bumperless cues look awesome but they are not for me.

 

[WildWing]

It's pretty much nostalgia, and you have to take care of a bumperless cue. You can't slam it on the floor, and you can't wave it around in anger. But if you want to recreate the look of a Rambow or Paradise or old Palmer, and you're willing to take care of it, then a bumperless cue is one of those things you like to admire and play with:

 

[michael4]

1) its for the "look"

2) if you like the look, you will deal with the burden of being very careful with the cue.


(not unlike many other things in life)

 

[ridewiththewind]

It's not difficult to get in the habit of resting the butt of your cue on top of your shoe. I do it and both my cues have bumpers.

Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk

 

[THEREALSDKID]

I have a few bumperless cues baxter, szam, jw, and they play great. I think its the looks what I and maybe people like. I personally think they don't play any different than a cue with a bumper.

 

[GoldCrown]

For me it's about the look. I currently have 3 bumper-less. 1965 Doc Fry

 

[Twice]

I have a bumperless Hoppe as well as one with a bumper. I love the way the bumperless cue looks and feels. I used to stuff a 4"x4" square piece of indoor/outdoor carpet in my case to set my cue on when I was playing on wooden or concrete floors. The bumperless cue likes to slide on smooth floors. I now shoot almost exclusively with the Hoppe cue with a bumper. If I were to have a new custom Hoppe built, I would think hard about a bumperless, but the practical side of me would win, and it would have a bumper.

 

[misterpoole]

I prefer the classic bumperless hoppe look. My hoppe's only ever played on carpet.

 

[SouthernDraw]

I've never played any large amount of time with the bumperless (like with the chrome weight bolt at the end of the butt). But, I've taken the bumper off of many of my players. I get more feedback this way. Both by feeling the hit (with my hands) and by the sound of the hit. Especially sound, I can hear a deeper ping when my grip is most loose. As the grip becomes more strong, the ping goes away. Also, it doesn't hurt that I like a lighter cue. And the bumper takes off a little less that a half ounce.

 

[olauzon]

i hate the 'thump' my butt make as i walk away from a missed shot. with a bumper less, at least i get a good 'knock' and a 'pfffftt' from the other

 

[SCCues]

There are few here that are as careful with their cues as I am. Having stated that I must say using my first bumperless cue drove me crazy. Every time I would ding something or even set it down I was worried about chipping the finish.

I finally took out the polished weight bolt and replaced it with a rubber bumper and have never looked back. It changed the weight and balance point of my cue and that did not bother me at all.
Its so nice to put it down and know its on the bumper. I will say bumperless cues look awesome but they are not for me.

You and I think along the same lines. I don't abuse my cues and in fact I may go overboard in taking care of my cues, but I think for peace of mind a Bumperless cue isn't for me either.

 

[ideologist]

Contrary to many posts, going bumper-less does effect play. It changes the feedback tremendously! I also rest mine on my shoe or I have a rag I will toss under my cue rest to stand it on. Maintenance is fairly simple. Don't whack it around. The finish should not wrap over the end of the butt. Use sealer on the very end and the finish will be safe.

 

[Ken_4fun]

The Gus Hoppe cue I play with was originally bumperless. When it was sent to Barry, he added his bumper that he would use on his current cues.

I agree the look is good without it, but I wouldnt remove the bumper on my cue to achieve it.

Ken

 

[desi2960]

ideoolgist, i agree

photo is of a brazilian rosewood titlist conversion i just did, it has the finish on the sides of the buttcap, but not on the end of the butt, it just has a shaft sealer finish. it has no shine and there is no problen setting it on the floor. the polished bolt is just slightly recessed, so it will not scratch.

 

[KRJ]

Contrary to many posts, going bumper-less does effect play. It changes the feedback tremendously! I also rest mine on my shoe or I have a rag I will toss under my cue rest to stand it on. Maintenance is fairly simple. Don't whack it around. The finish should not wrap over the end of the butt. Use sealer on the very end and the finish will be safe.

Just curious, how does this "feedback" help you in any way or form. I'm assuming you feel it at contact with the cue ball. and by the time you "feel" anything, the shot is just about over. So, it may affect a little less or more vibration, possibly, who knows, and prolly depends on the woods, joint, shaft and tip....but to say it will affect play. No chance.

 

[ideologist]

Just curious, how does this "feedback" help you in any way or form. I'm assuming you feel it at contact with the cue ball. and by the time you "feel" anything, the shot is just about over. So, it may affect a little less or more vibration, possibly, who knows, and prolly depends on the woods, joint, shaft and tip....but to say it will affect play. No chance.

Well, with 'dead' cues (Uni-Loc joints come to mind), you don't know the exact spot you're striking. Yes you can see it with your eyes, but you don't have the response in your hands that says "yep, that was a nice stroke" that many people favor in customs. Bumperless cues enhance all of the resonance because there is no rubber to dull the vibrations, as you mentioned. (Brunswick referred to bumpers as 'noise subduers' - I love that name)

Bumperless cues don't pocket balls for you (I'm first in line to get one of those), but they maximize how much control you have over your game.