Changing Balance and weight - what effect?

CJ Wiley

CJ Wiley

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I'm experimenting with changing the weight on a cue to see what is ideal these days. I used to play with a 19.4 cue and I've been putting LEAD TAPE around the joint area to move it up to 20.5-21 oz. . . Does it matter a lot or a little where this LEAD TAPE is placed? Someone told me that the farther up above the wrap (towards the tip), the more the flex, thus the spin and possibly the deflection would be effected......Can anyone that has experience with this tell me the best way to add weight WITHOUT changing the playing characteristics? Thanks C J WILEY

also: I'm doing this so I have a good idea of exactly what balance/weight/flex/kick point, etc. I like, that's why I need to know how the distribution effects these things so I can experiment with understanding. thanks in advance :thumbup:
 
cjssecrets4u2 said:
I'm experimenting with changing the weight on a cue to see what is ideal these days. I used to play with a 19.4 cue and I've been putting LEAD TAPE around the joint area to move it up to 20.5-21 oz. . . Does it matter a lot or a little where this LEAD TAPE is placed? Someone told me that the farther up above the wrap (towards the tip), the more the flex, thus the spin and possibly the deflection would be effected......Can anyone that has experience with this tell me the best way to add weight WITHOUT changing the playing characteristics? Thanks C J WILEY

also: I'm doing this so I have a good idea of exactly what balance/weight/flex/kick point, etc. I like, that's why I need to know how the distribution effects these things so I can experiment with understanding. thanks in advance :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I don't see how putting weight near the joint can possibly affect the flex. Flex where....... Butts have no measurable flex. Shaft flex is near the tip.

A nose heavy cue will feel lighter in the hand than a butt weighted cue.

How it plays will be the player's opinion.

Kim
 
Adding weight

Have you measured your cue to see where the balance point is? Flex has more to do with shaft stiffness and taper than anything else.

I have gone just the other way. Shot with a 21 oz cue for years, then went to 20.2 oz on a custom, and have been shooting with a 19 oz cue the last 9-10 years. I, also, only shoot with a 5/16 x 14 piloted SS joint. I like a little flex in my hit, a medium hard hit I call it, and how a cue is balanced is very important to me. I like to feel the weight evenly distributed between my bridge hand and my grip hand, so I need a forward balanced cue for it to feel right to me.

I would think that adding the tape at the top of the handle or bottom of the forearm would offer more benefit than anywhere else.

I am having my cuemaker (Bob Owen of Shurtz Custom Cues and Gabe's Dad) make me another cue in February, and it will be forward balanced with SS joint, probably around 19.2 ozs. I, personally, compared my last custom cue from Bob to a fancy Southwest, and they hit just about the same, but I liked Bob's balance a little better.

Are you experimenting with the tape as a way to find out what you like before having a cue made? My answer to that would be to simply tell Bob what you want, and he will deliver it to you.
 
If a thicker joint is used to achieve weight gain, a stiffer cue can be achieved by that additional weight.
 
whammo57 said:
I don't see how putting weight near the joint can possibly affect the flex. Flex where....... Butts have no measurable flex. Shaft flex is near the tip.

A nose heavy cue will feel lighter in the hand than a butt weighted cue.

How it plays will be the player's opinion.

Kim
Click to expand...

That makes sense, thanks
 
whammo57 said:
I don't see how putting weight near the joint can possibly affect the flex. Flex where....... Butts have no measurable flex. Shaft flex is near the tip.

A nose heavy cue will feel lighter in the hand than a butt weighted cue.

How it plays will be the player's opinion.

Kim
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree. You can go past a point going forward in the balance in which the cue begins to feel very heavy......just as you can go to far down and have a "but heavy" cue. It must be a good balancing point for that individual player.....for example a short guy with short arms isn't going to hold a 58 inch cue in the same place as a 6' 5" guy with a reach like a gorilla. The same forward balance will not work for them. The balance that feels right for the short guy will feel to far forward for the bigger fellow....and visa versa. That being said anyone can get used to any reasonable cue as far as balance and weight are concerned and its not always possible to fit every cue to every single player. Thats why I like selling to locals I can work with to try and get it Just right. And then you have the guys who either don't care or can't tell the difference and just run out anyway:thumbup:
 
im no cue maker, but it seems to me that if you want to add weight with tape, without changing the playing characteristics, then you should try to add the weight equally distributed between the joint and buttcap.
 
i am not a cuemaker
besides pool i play tennis
when changing the weight and balance point of a tennis racquet
it makes a huge difference in playing characteristics and "feel" of the raquet if you put all the weight at the tip and or butt
versus at differenent parts of the hoop and or butt
it has to do with weight distribution "polarized vs non polarized"
the same weight and balamce point acheived by the 2 methods described will play completely different

i dont know if this is relevant to pool
but since weight is distibuted in a graduated way along a cue
i would think its possible that adding weight above and below the balance point to acheive your desired weight and balance

might play more like a cue you would order than

the cue you try out with a lump of weight on one end

???? i dont know the answer and am interested to hear what people that know what they are talking about have to say:smile:
 
since it seems the op is looking for a cue that is heavier and more foward balanced that is the reason for my post

i dont know if 2 cues one manipulated by the weight bolt vs one built where the balance point and weight were achieved without the weight bolt
ie the weight change and balance point change is acheived alittle more gradual than all from one spot would play and feel different

since most weight is in the butt end that difference may not be as great theoretically as what the op is trying to do

looking forward to your responces
 
You can change the Joint Pin making it heavier or lighter and you can bore out and add and lessen weight in the butt. You however will change the balance point which in effect will also change the way you yourself will position your hand on the cue so the cue will play differant for you.

Steve Mizerack once told me the story of how after a match Balabushka came over and told him he wanted to make him a Cue. Steve agreed and Balabushka started walking away. Steve piped up and said "don't you want to know how I want it made to hit?" Balabuhska simply kept walking and said "I spent hours watching you play, I know what you need".

That cue became Mizeracks player and one of his most cherished Cues and Balabushka explained to Steve why it was made that way.

Over the years like all of us Steve's body fluctuated and though his prized Balabushka still remained unchanged it no longer was the "Perfect" cue for Steve. Rather than to try to make the masterpiece fit him he sought out a young Dennis Searing to make a Cue to fit the newer Steve and yes he had and tried many cues inbetween.

If your going Custom you don't have the person fit the cue, you have the cue fit the person.

Oh, I am not in denial, I am a hack and do not have these abilities, I do appreciate and honor them though.
 
TomHay said:
You can change the Joint Pin making it heavier or lighter and you can bore out and add and lessen weight in the butt. You however will change the balance point which in effect will also change the way you yourself will position your hand on the cue so the cue will play differant for you.

Steve Mizerack once told me the story of how after a match Balabushka came over and told him he wanted to make him a Cue. Steve agreed and Balabushka started walking away. Steve piped up and said "don't you want to know how I want it made to hit?" Balabuhska simply kept walking and said "I spent hours watching you play, I know what you need".

That cue became Mizeracks player and one of his most cherished Cues and Balabushka explained to Steve why it was made that way.

Over the years like all of us Steve's body fluctuated and though his prized Balabushka still remained unchanged it no longer was the "Perfect" cue for Steve. Rather than to try to make the masterpiece fit him he sought out a young Dennis Searing to make a Cue to fit the newer Steve and yes he had and tried many cues inbetween.

If your going Custom you don't have the person fit the cue, you have the cue fit the person.

Oh, I am not in denial, I am a hack and do not have these abilities, I do appreciate and honor them though.
Click to expand...
Interesting concept and comment, but I'm not certain it's valid.
 
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