Can inexpensive cues become great hitting cues?

Donovan

Donovan

Play it safe or go home.
Silver Member
If an inexpensive cue has been made well and is straight, I pose this question:

Can a cue after given some shaft conditioning and tip adjustments become a cue that has a great hit?

I think how a cue hits has to do with what feels good to you. That is the key. I also truly believe that if you put a Talisman or Moori or any layered leather tip on an inexpensive cue, you will increase the "feel" type of hit it gave originally. I also think if you use a softer tip it will give a more glued feel to a shot as opposed to a harder tip that will give you a more of a striking feel. Further, if you strip the shaft of the stuff that is on it, and condition it properly, it should feel better as well.

PS I still believe you can't beat a custom cue over production cues any day of the week. But now I am questioning my own bias in that way of thinking.
:D Ah heck, they do look better hands down and don't require much tampering to feel great! :D
 
Depends on what you mean by inexpensive.... a K-mart cue will always hit like crap, no matter what tip you put on it... The problem is in the materials and construction quality. No tip can fix that.

Now... if you are talking low-end production... I think you can find some that hit fairly well. I have played with some Meuccis, Malis, and McDermotts (3 M's?) that did not hit that badly, even with their factory tips.

Hit in general is such a personal preference that some people might prefer the feel and playability of an inexpensive cue. I just don't happen to be one of those people...
 
Donovan said:
If an inexpensive cue has been made well and is straight, I pose this question:
Can a cue after given some shaft conditioning and tip adjustments become a cue that has a great hit?
Click to expand...

Simple answer ... Yes!

More complex answer ... it greatly depends on the cue you start with.
A custom tapered shaft can do wonders for any cue but is of little use if the butt falls apart during play.

Most people buy a custom cue because they like the way it looks, like the way it feels, and/or its value as an investment.
If any of the above does not apply you should not buy the cue.
 
iF you are looking for cheap with a decent hit I would recommend "Players" they make a decent cue that gives a good hit. It was my first cue 4 years ago. It ranges between 60-150 depending on what you are looking for.
 
definitely. my lucasi sneaky pete which i bought new from a local cue store for $40 is the best hitting cue i've ever used. i have owned a southwest, a viattorre, a richard black and a jacoby, and i swear that none of these 4 cues compares to the hit and feel that i get from my sneaky pete.
 
Its been done several times

I know here in Terre Haute, Indiana a local cuemaker took the time and worked on a J&J sneaky pete.

I think he changed the ferrell, the tip and maybe even the taper and may have done it more than once. I think he spent quite abit of time on this project.

It was reported to hit like a champ.

Face it, the hit is really the related to the time and effort in labor of execution.

Regards
Ken
 
I was talking with Scot at Proficient....

Icon of Sin said:
iF you are looking for cheap with a decent hit I would recommend "Players" they make a decent cue that gives a good hit. It was my first cue 4 years ago. It ranges between 60-150 depending on what you are looking for.
Click to expand...


Last night or so I was talking with Scot with Proficient Billiards. He gets to see alot of cues and obviously gets to hit some balls with almost all of them. I asked him if has seen some pretty awesome cues and what was impressed with the hit of any.

He laughed and said that he is constantly impressed with the production Lucasi. He went on to say they hit as well or better than alot of custom cues.


I guess I better try one.


Ken
 
Ken:

Great input! I know that Scot must be an expert at hit vs. brand just because he gets to see EVERYTHING.
 
BillYards said:
Depends on what you mean by inexpensive.... a K-mart cue will always hit like crap, no matter what tip you put on it... The problem is in the materials and construction quality. No tip can fix that.

Now... if you are talking low-end production... I think you can find some that hit fairly well. I have played with some Meuccis, Malis, and McDermotts (3 M's?) that did not hit that badly, even with their factory tips.

Hit in general is such a personal preference that some people might prefer the feel and playability of an inexpensive cue. I just don't happen to be one of those people...
Click to expand...

LOL I said made well and straight cue...No Kmart comes out like that. LOL

Also, I am not looking for a cue like this. I play with a Samsara. I was posing the question as a point of interest and discussion.
 
Very possible, as long as you have a Hard rock maple shaft and decent ferrule and decent butt construction I say yes...

I was on my way to arkansas, from Bruswick Georgia, where I purchased a cheap cue from sears, I think it was a harvard, it played terrible, while in Arkansas I found a billiard supply shop and purchased a few ferrules, after alot of time (I changed the ferrule by hand) to get it right and a triangle tip that cue played great, I won alot of money with that cue, to whitch I was offered 300$ for and since I only had roughly 50$ invested I sold it right then...

Since then I buy cheap cues and modify them for hit and playability, you would be surprised how well some cheap cues can play...



2wld4u
 
I own a Samsara, but I love my Viking. It's great. I also like that I can replace the whole cue for $240, so I don't have to worry about it where ever I go.

I imagine that a $130 Viking would feel the same. $130, for a piece of sports equipment is not exactly a lot of money these days.
 
2wld4u said:
Very possible, as long as you have a Hard rock maple shaft and decent ferrule and decent butt construction I say yes...

I was on my way to arkansas, from Bruswick Georgia, where I purchased a cheap cue from sears, I think it was a harvard, it played terrible, while in Arkansas I found a billiard supply shop and purchased a few ferrules, after alot of time (I changed the ferrule by hand) to get it right and a triangle tip that cue played great, I won alot of money with that cue, to whitch I was offered 300$ for and since I only had roughly 50$ invested I sold it right then...

Since then I buy cheap cues and modify them for hit and playability, you would be surprised how well some cheap cues can play...

2wld4u
Click to expand...

That is a great story. Maybe this is just a new revolution to me and not everyone else. Funny how things just occur to you sometimes.
 
Gregg said:
I own a Samsara, but I love my Viking. It's great. I also like that I can replace the whole cue for $240, so I don't have to worry about it where ever I go.

I imagine that a $130 Viking would feel the same. $130, for a piece of sports equipment is not exactly a lot of money these days.
Click to expand...

That is so true. I do hate taking the Samsara some place that damage could happen easily.
 
I would have to agree that Players cues are remarkably good for the price. I have an old one that I use mainly for a break cue, and I recently bought one for my niece for about $70. For the money, they both hit pretty decent.

I still think the best hitting cue I've ever tried is my Adams version Balabushka. I recently purchased a Lucasi. I've heard lots of good things about their hit, and it's a nice cue. But, to me, it doesn't come anywhere near the hit of the Adams.
 
Donovan said:
That is so true. I do hate taking the Samsara some place that damage could happen easily.
Click to expand...

When I first got my Samsara I was surprised how many people recognized the cue brand and or workmanship/materials used for the inlays.
 
Donovan said:
If an inexpensive cue has been made well and is straight, I pose this question:

Can a cue after given some shaft conditioning and tip adjustments become a cue that has a great hit?

I think how a cue hits has to do with what feels good to you. That is the key. I also truly believe that if you put a Talisman or Moori or any layered leather tip on an inexpensive cue, you will increase the "feel" type of hit it gave originally. I also think if you use a softer tip it will give a more glued feel to a shot as opposed to a harder tip that will give you a more of a striking feel. Further, if you strip the shaft of the stuff that is on it, and condition it properly, it should feel better as well.

PS I still believe you can't beat a custom cue over production cues any day of the week. But now I am questioning my own bias in that way of thinking.
:D Ah heck, they do look better hands down and don't require much tampering to feel great! :D
Click to expand...
the answer is yes>>..when i see a question like this i think of some of the unfounded talent that have never entered a tournament but have great talent..with that said i think about those of that group that can play with a broom stick and out shoot most people.....a used broom stick is about as inexpensive as it gets !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
cuejoey said:
the answer is yes>>..when i see a question like this i think of some of the unfounded talent that have never entered a tournament but have great talent..with that said i think about those of that group that can play with a broom stick and out shoot most people.....a used broom stick is about as inexpensive as it gets !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

That's just not right. LMAO!!!!
 
Gregg said:
When I first got my Samsara I was surprised how many people recognized the cue brand and or workmanship/materials used for the inlays.
Click to expand...

Really? I must travel to the wrong places. ;) Hardly anyone recoginizes Samsara. All I ever hear about is Lucais, Viking, Meucci, and McDermott. It really does get old.
 
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