buying a NAME

trustyrusty

trustyrusty

I'm better with a wedge!
Silver Member
I have a buddy who started playing league (VNEA) last fall, and is looking to get more "serious" about his game. Well, he is playing with a mid-level McDermott cue, and is READY for a change (in his mind). He has taken the advice of a better player that he knows on which cue to buy as a replacement. Without ever hitting one, he is now in the market for a Southwest. Don't get me wrong, quality cue, fantastic resale, etc. etc. etc., but I've never seen this kid run a rack of 8ball on a barbox, and there are some quality instructors around here.....

BTW, he was the same way with golf....asked me what "THE" clubs were. I laughed, and told him anything with the TP logo from Taylor Made, but only if they were in a big leather, matching, staff bag. You guessed it, next time we played, that's exactly what he had. He's since played 2 rounds this year :eek:

How do you talk sense into someone like this? That throwing money into "the BEST" isn't going to improve your game....working on your game will. Is it worth even trying to reason with this kinda guy?
 
Probably not going to be a good use of time... Just be ready to buy the SW when he is 'tired' of it and moves on to the next one.

LOL
 
Welcome to "Cuephoria" - the belief that buying a more expensive cue (or switching from production to custom) will make you a better player. Fact is, a butt is a butt. I LOVE when someone buys a high end custom cue, and sticks an OB-1 or a Predator shaft on it. Production shaft on a custom cue? Say it ain't so!

I loved my McDermotts. They play good, ESPECIALLY for a newer player that is still developing their stroke. It has a fairly flexible taper, but not quite a bullwhip.

One time I was playing a guy in our league, and I hit a sweet draw shot that came back a table length, and back up to about half table. After the match, the guy was talking about cue tips, and mentioned the shot that I had made, and that I had to be playing a Moori, because of all the spin I put on the ball. I told him I play with a Le Pro tip. He didn't believe me - I actually had to sand the top of my tip to show him it wasn't laminated. He told me that it must be a special tip, because he had never seen that kind of spin from a one piece tip. He then showed me his Moori tip. I told him that next time, he should spend the $40 on getting someone to show him how to follow through, and save the money on the tip for after his stroke was fixed. Point is - it's the arm holding the cue that works the magic, not the other way around. Let your buddy buy the Southwest. When he struggles with it, offer to take it off his hands at a reduced retail. It's win-win. He should learn his lesson, and you get a SW for 30% off of market value.
 
deadstroke7 said:
Probably not going to be a good use of time... Just be ready to buy the SW when he is 'tired' of it and moves on to the next one.

LOL
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lol - I'll buy it from him when he hears how much more a Szam or Bushka costs....while driving him somewhere cuz his 'Cedes is in the shop, again. :p
 
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I have a friend the same way. He has atleast a 30K cue collection and a 3$stroke. I have tried to get him to take lessons but simply refuses. I play on a APA team with him, he is a 3 which is nice to have the lower handicap, problem is he often plays like a 2. I try and work with him but it more often seems to go in one ear and out the other. Gets frustrating :angry:. He is a great friend though.

Oh don't forget to let us know how much he wants for the Southwest
 
Shawn Armstrong said:
Welcome to "Cuephoria" - the belief that buying a more expensive cue (or switching from production to custom) will make you a better player. Fact is, a butt is a butt. I LOVE when someone buys a high end custom cue, and sticks an OB-1 or a Predator shaft on it. Production shaft on a custom cue? Say it ain't so!

I loved my McDermotts. They play good, ESPECIALLY for a newer player that is still developing their stroke. It has a fairly flexible taper, but not quite a bullwhip.

One time I was playing a guy in our league, and I hit a sweet draw shot that came back a table length, and back up to about half table. After the match, the guy was talking about cue tips, and mentioned the shot that I had made, and that I had to be playing a Moori, because of all the spin I put on the ball. I told him I play with a Le Pro tip. He didn't believe me - I actually had to sand the top of my tip to show him it wasn't laminated. He told me that it must be a special tip, because he had never seen that kind of spin from a one piece tip. He then showed me his Moori tip. I told him that next time, he should spend the $40 on getting someone to show him how to follow through, and save the money on the tip for after his stroke was fixed. Point is - it's the arm holding the cue that works the magic, not the other way around. Let your buddy buy the Southwest. When he struggles with it, offer to take it off his hands at a reduced retail. It's win-win. He should learn his lesson, and you get a SW for 30% off of market value.
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Yep, he knows the better tip too (had a Moori installed on his McD - per recommendation ((of someone selling Mooris)) ). I tried it out with a couple of draws and forced follows, and said, "NICE!". He went on and on about how no other tip could do that...after hearing enough, I pulled off nearly identical shots with a house cue (with the big slip over tips), lol. Oh well, just find it all a bit amusing....
 
Personally I see nothing wrong with want to own the best equipment you can afford regardless of how well you play the game. Playing with crappy equipment isn't going to help your game. Not that buying the best is necessarily going to help it but it can't hurt.
That being said I don't think it's the best idea to buy something without at least trying it before you buy or having had some experience with that brand/maker in the past.
But from the sounds of it he doesn't have much experience with higher end cues so I think it's great that he went and asked someone with more knowledge for advice. Thats how many products are sold and had I not listened to someone with more experience than myself when I first started I may still be playing with a Meucci.
 
trustyrusty said:
I have a buddy who started playing league (VNEA) last fall, and is looking to get more "serious" about his game. Well, he is playing with a mid-level McDermott cue, and is READY for a change (in his mind). He has taken the advice of a better player that he knows on which cue to buy as a replacement. Without ever hitting one, he is now in the market for a Southwest. Don't get me wrong, quality cue, fantastic resale, etc. etc. etc., but I've never seen this kid run a rack of 8ball on a barbox, and there are some quality instructors around here.....

BTW, he was the same way with golf....asked me what "THE" clubs were. I laughed, and told him anything with the TP logo from Taylor Made, but only if they were in a big leather, matching, staff bag. You guessed it, next time we played, that's exactly what he had. He's since played 2 rounds this year :eek:

How do you talk sense into someone like this? That throwing money into "the BEST" isn't going to improve your game....working on your game will. Is it worth even trying to reason with this kinda guy?
Click to expand...
There's one positive to the advice he was given. If he does buy a SW cue he shouldn't lose any money unless he grossly over pays. I've owned 6 nice SW cues and i've never lost a dime on any of them. I even made a profit on a couple of them before the prices rose to where they are now.

James
 
Whenever I take on a hobby/sport, I have always had the opinion that I would at least use better than average equipment so that no matter how much I sucked at whatever I was doing :embarrassed2:, at least I couldn't blame the TOOLS!!! However, in this case I think that a Southwest is going a little over the top. Actually, a mid-level McDermott is a fine piece of equipment. Like others posting here, I believe this friend would be better served paying "Southwest prices" for some quality lessons and just stick with the McDermott until he sees signifigant improvement in his game.
FWIW, if it were my friend, I would print-out these posts and show them to him. There's strength in numbers!!!

Maniac
 
SCCues said:
There's one positive to the advice he was given. If he does buy a SW cue he shouldn't lose any money unless he grossly over pays. I've owned 6 nice SW cues and i've never lost a dime on any of them. I even made a profit on a couple of them before the prices rose to where they are now.

James
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I agree with James, it could be worse... At least he wants to buy a cue that will most likely get all his money back. Unlike golf clubs. Just make sure he doesn't get an eye for a super high dollar Mike Seigel cue or anything.
 
What's wrong with wanting the best and being willing to spend the money?

Guys like that keep the economy moving.
 
If it makes him happy who cares. I am kind of the same way. I always buy the best I can afford, for me to use and enjoy, not to impress anyone.
 
Rusty, I love these guys.....as long as he's flush with cash and not depriving his family, let him have his fun.....in the skating days, these guys were known as posers.....they had the expensive board, all the high dollar gear, and couldn't carve to save their life....I'm not sure of the right term for 2009, but I think it still fits....

These people make the secondary market so sweet....think of the great deals these guys provide for us:

"5 year old jeep, bought new, only used on weekends, never off-road"

"2 year old Pings, only used about 10 times, practically new"

In 3 years:

"3 year old Southwest, just sits in closet"

These guys make the secondary market beautiful and save me tons of cash :D
 
Let him spend the money and get it out of his system or he will blame you and his Mcdermmot for every lost set. Besides the economy needs all the help it can get.

Larry
 
Cues are more of an investment than bowling balls and golf clubs. The latter have no resale value. Cues can and do go up in value if you buy something good.

Kids buy athletic shoes that cost hundreds of dollars. Why? Because Mikey wears them; therefore if I have them I can play like Mike.

This is why champions get paid for endorsement to sell the product. Even though SW doesn't sponsor anyone their cues are desirable because they are nice cues.

I don't see your concern about him buying one.

The way I feel is it is his money and it makes him happy.
 
easier and a great confidence booster

Working with top notch equipment it is easier to learn and also as others have mentioned a great confidence boost to know your equipment is up to the task.

I have jumped around and competed at many different things. I learned my lesson early and usually get good equipment. Less than the best functional equipment makes learning far harder. The McDermott is probably up to the task but the Southwest surely won't harm his game. It might be the magic goose feather that launches him to new heights!

Worst case, remember a fool and his money are some party!

Hu
 
I think some of the responders may have taken my post differently than I meant it. He thinks having the SW will better his game (and image with real players). It may actually may do a little of both (who knows for sure), but I'm not sure he'll play/practice (or seek out instruction) any more than he does now....

I don't fault the guy for wanting nice things, it just seems that he wants the nice things to do for him only what hard work will do. I know there are guys out there that spend $THOUSANDS$ on the latest, greatest golf equipment each year, and can't break 100.....I'm sure that happens in the pool world too. SVB could beat the living crap out of me with the worst house cue you've ever seen, and PGA tour players could do the same with a mixed set of 1950's 60's and 70's clubs from the local Goodwill store....they are better cuz they worked to get that way. I'd never expect to have Tiger's short game if I could by his wedges and putter from him.....

Again, not bagging on SW at all, I'd just want to get to a certain skill level before having a cue (from any maker) that cost THAT much when quality instruction seems to be the most prudent way to spend the cash to achieve a goal.... :cool: And, by the way, SW's wait list has them pretty much set thru this economy....instructors might need the money now a bit more (as far as the economy argument goes).
 
trustyrusty said:
I think some of the responders may have taken my post differently than I meant it. He thinks having the SW will better his game (and image with real players). It may actually may do a little of both (who knows for sure), but I'm not sure he'll play/practice (or seek out instruction) any more than he does now....

I don't fault the guy for wanting nice things, it just seems that he wants the nice things to do for him only what hard work will do. I know there are guys out there that spend $THOUSANDS$ on the latest, greatest golf equipment each year, and can't break 100.....I'm sure that happens in the pool world too. SVB could beat the living crap out of me with the worst house cue you've ever seen, and PGA tour players could do the same with a mixed set of 1950's 60's and 70's clubs from the local Goodwill store....they are better cuz they worked to get that way. I'd never expect to have Tiger's short game if I could by his wedges and putter from him.....

Again, not bagging on SW at all, I'd just want to get to a certain skill level before having a cue (from any maker) that cost THAT much when quality instruction seems to be the most prudent way to spend the cash to achieve a goal.... :cool: And, by the way, SW's wait list has them pretty much set thru this economy....instructors might need the money now a bit more (as far as the economy argument goes).
Click to expand...

Whatever....what kind of shoes are you wearing?

BVal :D:D
 
TheBook said:
Cues are more of an investment than bowling balls and golf clubs. The latter have no resale value. Cues can and do go up in value if you buy something good.

Kids buy athletic shoes that cost hundreds of dollars. Why? Because Mikey wears them; therefore if I have them I can play like Mike.

This is why champions get paid for endorsement to sell the product. Even though SW doesn't sponsor anyone their cues are desirable because they are nice cues.

I don't see your concern about him buying one.

The way I feel is it is his money and it makes him happy.
Click to expand...


He's a good guy, and my concern is after he buys a high dollar cue and doesn't notice an immediate improvement in his game from it, that it'll collect dust just like the golf clubs. It is his money, and I want him to enjoy the game....I just think he'd enjoy the game more if he learned to play it better, and not hung his hopes on a MAGIC wand.
 
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