Confused on theory that a forward balanced cue helps with follow shots and a rear balanced cue helps with draw shots

[mikemosconi]

If a cue is reasonably straight and the tip is a decent leather tip well shaped and chalked then your only other concern should be your stroke- everything else will flow from that point forward in terms of results. Even though I love cues and all their nuances, etc. I firmly believe that cues have very little to do with performance; like every other sport, marketing is the culprit.

Golf and tennis are different animals in terms of the power parts of those games. In pool you are moving a round smooth hard ball on a flat level hard surface, not much is required from the cue, much is required from the player in terms of skill.

 

[gregcantrall]

If it's written that makes it common knowledge.
This discussion reminded me of my grandson asking, "How do you jump from a cloud to a cliff?" Well it's a rhetorical question as everyone knows the answer is, "you throw a brick in half!"

 

[The_JV]

Such bunk... Man I love this place

 

[Willowbrook Wolfy]

They do if applying force lifts the front end.

Hmmm. I’ll have to ponder that one for a while. Physics can be fun.

 

[rexus31]

I prefer a forward balanced cue. My player is balanced at 19.25". I can follow just fine and can draw table length. As was mentioned, the tip is important but IMO, It's more about the Indian than the arrow.

 

[hang-the-9]

I made an experimental cue once to test some of these theories. In short, I don't think balance point matters much.

I built a quick test butt out of some scrap poplar trim. The butt is 30 inches long, has a 3D printed collar and bumper, and weighs in at 8.3 oz (8.8 oz once I installed an aluminum radial pin). I paired it with a 30-inch CF shaft that weighs 3.3 oz. Surprisingly, this ~12.1oz cue, with a balance point 21 inches from the butt, plays just fine provided I don’t have to move the cue ball too much.

To dramatically change the balance point, I made a donut with removable weights (5.5oz to 7.5oz) that can secure to any point on the butt using collets. This allowed me to test a range of balance points from ~13inches to ~25 inches.

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• The forward balance points were the most unnatural. I’d rather play with the unweighted 12.1 cue than a 18oz cue with the balance point at 25 inches. Occasionally I still play with the 12.1 oz cue as I like the way it feels.
• I preferred the rearward balance point more than forward balance points, although I didn’t notice that much (or any) difference between 13 inch and 15 inch balance points. The main difference is the cue feels lighter when I’m walking around holding the cue with only my grip hand. Once I’m down on the table small changes in balance point didn’t impact my stroke, which makes sense given the small differences in force the cue places on my bridge hand and grip fingers based on balance point.

Science, bitches! Fun experiment.