Shoot "good", yes.  Shoot your best, no.  I made over four grand with a cue off the wall in '68, but never ran more than four racks till I got my own stick.  You won't see anyone playing a real champion for real money with a house cue.  Why do you think they started making sneakies?
		
		
	 
Donny:
I agree.  I visit my folks in Denver, CO, every year at Christmas holiday to spend some quality time (having a hectic work schedule here in NY makes it a rare opportunity for me to get out there).  I hate to air-travel with my cues -- that's another topic, so I won't even go there.  Back in 2009, I'm visiting my folks as usual at this time of year, when, on New Year's Eve, I decided to go out to the nearby watering hole, 
Greenfields Pool and Sports Bar, which also happens to be a well-known APA stronghold (i.e. holding regionals there).  I had intended only to have a few pints of Guinness, maybe play a few racks or gamble some cheap sets to blow off some steam, and just have fun.  Being a native NY'er and used to the big tables, I knew there were only barboxes there ("remember where you are, Sean, this is barbox country"), but I figured what the heck.
When I walk in, the place is PACKED.  And I'm not just talking about the bar area -- it was standing room only in the entire place.  Forget about grabbing a table to play; that area was packed as well.  But I do hear the P.A. system (LOUD!), and they are announcing "last call" to enter an end-of-year-bash Open 9-ball tournament they were having.  I didn't have my cues with me, but I figured that it was 9-ball on a barbox (easier).  I also noticed that players had come in from miles around -- including from out-of-state (e.g. Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico), so I knew that this was both easy, and a challenge at the same time because it drew in talent from miles around.  I knew I was going to have my hands full, but I figured, what the heck, what a great way to celebrate the New Year, even if I get my butt kicked!
I pull a stick off the wall, examine it to make sure it's decent/playable, and jog over to the registration counter to hand in my fee (I think it was $20).  Because of the sheer number of players, it was short races (race to 5), and all the tables were in constant match use.  While waiting for my match to start, I do a little doctoring of the tip with my CueShark PUP and on the shaft with a Q-Wiz (I at least brought these with me, because they're small / easy to carry, and I knew there was a chance I'd play a little pool while out there).
Well, long story short, I end up winning the whole shebang.  Using a house cue straight off the wall, and without the benefit of hitting a few balls with it first.  Some matches I cruised through, others went hill-hill, but I was constantly adapting my play to the situation, and to the equipment.  
(Mostly, I found a "balls-to-the-wall" offensive approach to be best -- pocketing balls from everywhere, including when the opponent "thought" that pinning the cue ball to the cushion with the object ball at the other end of the table "was a good safety" on a barbox, but I digress...)  Ended up pocketing a nice chunk of cash, for what was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and it made for a very nice vacation indeed!  The locals weren't pleased that this "New Yawka" from out of town comes in and takes it with nothing but a "Wall-a-bushka." 
 
Would I normally play championship-level events like this with a house cue?  No way.  But I had no choice in this situation.  
(Well, I did have a choice -- not enter the tournament at all -- but for my intent, which was to have some celebratory fun, it was a risk I was willing to take.)
I'm a firm believer that a good player adapts to the conditions.  One shouldn't be *so* fixated on using very specific equipment every single time, otherwise, they're lost or hobbled.  I think everyone should have a "Wall-a-bushka" game -- being able to use a cue straight off the wall, with some minor doctoring, and adapt his/her play accordingly.
That's IMHO, anyway; your mileage may vary.
-Sean