I left pool for about 10 years 5 years ago. Going back 15 years, there were no where near as many quality cuemakers as there are now. And back then, only a handful of cuemakers made flat faced, pin to wood joints, which is strongly my preference. Nearly all the prominent cuemakers then used some form of piloted joint, either SS or ivory. So my choice of cue then was a South West, which is what I'm still playing with.
Since coming back to pool 5 years ago, I've tried loads of different cues. Among the better cuemakers, there is a consistency of hit that I do not like. They are almost all very solid, but lack feel, or resonance in the butt. I thought it might be due to the proliferation of the radial joint pin, but now I've tried a bunch with pins similar in design to the SW pin. And, still, these new cues have that solid but dull hit.
This weekend I was playing with a guy who makes cues. He had one of his and offered it for me to try. I hit a few balls with it, and although it was beautifully balanced and performed well, it had that same solid dull hit I have objected to in so many other fine new cues.
So I asked him to hit my SW. He did, then I asked him if he could feel the resonance the SW transmits. He said he did feel it. I then asked him why the SW has that feel and his and many other modern cues do not. Now I should preface this by saying I have asked dozens of players and cuemakers this same question without ever hearing an answer that really explained it.
But this fellow immediately said his cue is cored and the SW is pinned. He said it's the pin that joins the two sections of the SW is the reason for that resonance. I was stunned to hear the answer so matter of factly stated. I'm sure he's right.
Now, I do understand why cuemakers core cues. I can see how it makes for a stronger cue and how it allows for flexibility in terms of wood choices and weight and balance. Conceptually, I like the idea of a solid one-piece core. And clearly it does make for a solid, strong cue. From an engineering perspective it makes more sense than a cue butt joined together with a pin.
However, the SW unmistakably offers a more pleasing hit. Of course hit is a subjective thing, but seldom does a good player hit one of my two SW's without commenting on its hit and even asking if I'd like to sell it. So, if the pinned together butt is the answer to its exceptional feel, I wonder if there isn't a way to core, for its obvious benefits, yet preserve the resonance of a pinned SW?
Since coming back to pool 5 years ago, I've tried loads of different cues. Among the better cuemakers, there is a consistency of hit that I do not like. They are almost all very solid, but lack feel, or resonance in the butt. I thought it might be due to the proliferation of the radial joint pin, but now I've tried a bunch with pins similar in design to the SW pin. And, still, these new cues have that solid but dull hit.
This weekend I was playing with a guy who makes cues. He had one of his and offered it for me to try. I hit a few balls with it, and although it was beautifully balanced and performed well, it had that same solid dull hit I have objected to in so many other fine new cues.
So I asked him to hit my SW. He did, then I asked him if he could feel the resonance the SW transmits. He said he did feel it. I then asked him why the SW has that feel and his and many other modern cues do not. Now I should preface this by saying I have asked dozens of players and cuemakers this same question without ever hearing an answer that really explained it.
But this fellow immediately said his cue is cored and the SW is pinned. He said it's the pin that joins the two sections of the SW is the reason for that resonance. I was stunned to hear the answer so matter of factly stated. I'm sure he's right.
Now, I do understand why cuemakers core cues. I can see how it makes for a stronger cue and how it allows for flexibility in terms of wood choices and weight and balance. Conceptually, I like the idea of a solid one-piece core. And clearly it does make for a solid, strong cue. From an engineering perspective it makes more sense than a cue butt joined together with a pin.
However, the SW unmistakably offers a more pleasing hit. Of course hit is a subjective thing, but seldom does a good player hit one of my two SW's without commenting on its hit and even asking if I'd like to sell it. So, if the pinned together butt is the answer to its exceptional feel, I wonder if there isn't a way to core, for its obvious benefits, yet preserve the resonance of a pinned SW?
