Cue "Hit" Mobo Jumbo, or a Real Measure of Cue Quality

[PoolSleuth]

I have seen several post lately about cue hit, and How GREAT a Southwest Cue Hits and I personally think the term Cue Hit can not be measured accurately. As I have never seen a Hit-O-Meter design to measure Cue performance

Also being fair to Southwest, and about 95% of the other popular brands of Cues. I can honestly saw I have not hit with most of em, and expect not to in the near future.

I personally think many times when hit is discussed it is like trying to describe the Best Restaurant Meal you ever had, or the Best Car you ever Driven, or the best of anything else one has experienced in life.

Personally of the few Cues I have hit with the one to me that seem that I personally like the way they played, or hit were.

a Bert Schrager made in the 70

a Lambros with its Ultra Joint

a Ted Harris

a Jack Madden

a Jim Buss

a Lucasi

a Brunswick Will Hoppie

a Unknow maker Cue with what I will call Old Groth Deep Water Maple Shaft per the owners explaination of the funny Coffee colored Maple Shaft.

Plus 5, or 10 more who's names slip my mind.

Than there were a few what I will call High Dollar Cues that cost over $1,500.00 folks let me try, that I just thought were so, so. Pretty Cues, but I would not stand in any line to get one.

So until someone invents a Computerized Cue Hit-O-Meter that can factor in all the factors that make a Cue Hit, or FEEL a certain way. I personally think discussions of Cue hit will be like talking Religion, or Politics with no winners. I hear a Religious Expert the other day on the radio say Jesus was actually born in March, and not December.

Last you got to factor in Shaft Taper, Shaft Wood Dentistry, and Ferrule & Tip that add to the cues Hit, or Feel.




Also I think sometime a Cues hitting characteristics changes as a Cue ages with time, and also the time of year you are playing with a Cue because of changes in the Weather, Temperature. Barometric Pressure, Humidity. Plus other Weather & Pool Room Related factors like Table Cloth Type, Condition of Cloth, and the Inside the Pool Room Weather, Temperature, Barometric Pressure, Humidity, etc.

 

[Cornerman]

����I have seen several post lately about cue hit, and “How GREAT� a Southwest Cue Hits and I personally think the term “Hit� can not be measured accurately. As I have never seen a Hit-O-Meter design to measure Cue performance

A vibration or frequency meter will do the trick, as most people when describing the hit are really talking about the feedback vibration and the sound the cue makes.

Fred

 

[Craig Fales]

I've found that it's not about overall "hit" of a cue, but what "feels" right in your hands when playing....Two cues side by side made by the same person will play totally different....
________

 

[Andrew Manning]

 

[Gregg]

The dollar value and prestige of being able to call a cue "custom" defiantly without a shadow of a doubt have a direct correlation to how sweet a cue hits. Bank on it!

 

[PoolSleuth]

A vibration or frequency meter will do the trick, as most people when describing the hit are really talking about the feedback vibration and the sound the cue makes.

Fred

Well the strangest Cue I ever hit with was by a makers who name I forgot. It was only about 18 Ounces, and had a Maple Shaft that the wood was over 100 year old, and had been in the bottom of some cold water lake before being made into a Cue Shaft.

Cue felt feather light, the sound it made when hitting a ball was like nothing I ever heard before, and the hit was like a Slow moving Semi gross out at 40 Ton, colliding with a VW Beetle.

Hit was strange, sound was strange, but over all I liked it.

 

[cuejoey]

Well the strangest Cue I ever hit with was by a makers who name I forgot. It was only about 18 Ounces, and had a Maple Shaft that the wood was over 100 year old, and had been in the bottom of some cold water lake before being made into a Cue Shaft.

Cue felt feather light, the sound it made when hitting a ball was like nothing I ever heard before, and the hit was like a Slow moving Semi gross out at 40 Ton, colliding with a VW Beetle.

Hit was strange, sound was strange, but over all I liked it.

That's because it was made by what is called "old growth timber"...use wood from a 400 year old tree compared to say a new growth timber 50 years old....there will be a difference .......

 

[Donovan]

That's because it was made by what is called "old growth timber"...use wood from a 400 year old tree compared to say a new growth timber 50 years old....there will be a difference .......

CueJoey,

You are a wealth of some of the coolest information. KUDOS!

 

[TheBook]

Isn't so called feedback affected by the wrap and tip? Wouldn't a different wrap or tip on the same cue make it feel different?

 

[onepocketchump]

The dollar value and prestige of being able to call a cue "custom" defiantly without a shadow of a doubt have a direct correlation to how sweet a cue hits. Bank on it!

Maybe for you. I can tell you that I have played with cues that cost $30,000 that "hit" like crap. "Hit" is very personal but also very much something that better players tend to agree on more than average players do. What I mean by that is that when one really good player hands another one a cue and says hit some balls with this, you will see that the other player usually likes it and can accurately describe the nuances of the feeling fairily accurately in terms of what the first player thinks.

Average players on the other hand have ideas of what the "hit" is that are all over the board. I call them tire-kickers. Their games really is not at the level where they feel the shot so they cannot really feel the cue responding. They do know, however, when one cue feels better than another to them, but not really why.

Hit is more than a measurment. I am sure that all the parameters of a so-called "good-hitting cue" could be measured and then reproduced. As a matter of fact, SouthWest cues does this with every cue they make. That is Jerry Franklin's legacy and one that Laurie carries on. To me, the hit is a combination of the heft and balance and the sound/vibration the cue makes when it strikes the ball.

This is why I prefer to sell cues by letting customers hit with them. I tell everyone who will listen to simply pick up a cue and start hitting balls. Whether it feels right or wrong they instantly know which way to go.

The only correlation between the amount of money spent on a cue and the hit is expectation. All it takes to play with a $1000 cue is a $1000.

John

 

[blud]

hit

The hit of a cue can only be judged by the guy trying the cue. I have
been saying this for years, all of us, have a differant feel, touch, and responces to hits of cues. You can only be the judge.
However the same question comes up time and again,
HOW DOES IT HIT???????????????
Like some guy can really tell you. PLEASE.
Kinda like having someone kiss a girl and then tell you, she's the girl for you, PLEASE!

blud

 

[Flex]

The hit of a cue can only be judged by the guy trying the cue. I have
been saying this for years, all of us, have a differant feel, touch, and responces to hits of cues. You can only be the judge.
However the same question comes up time and again,
HOW DOES IT HIT???????????????
Like some guy can really tell you. PLEASE.
Kinda like having someone kiss a girl and then tell you, she's the girl for you, PLEASE!

blud

The hit of a cue is not entirely subjective. A cue that has a ticky sound when the cue ball is struck pleases nobody. A cue that feels dead when shooting an off-axis shot will please no-one. A cue that sends the cue ball in an unintended direction will elicit scowls, at best.

However, a cue that makes the shooter feel powerful, in control, and able to make the cue ball dance is something totally different! However it must "shoot straight" too... Hmmm...

In any case, if you like the hit your cue produces, all the more power to you!

I think that a good player will be able to make ANY cue work for him.... It's just a question of adapting to the way the cue shoots, and the best players can make that adaptation most quickly...

Flex

 

[CaptainJR]

What I mean by that is that when one really good player hands another one a cue and says hit some balls with this, you will see that the other player usually likes it and can accurately describe the nuances of the feeling fairily accurately in terms of what the first player thinks.
John

John
I would think that your answer to this is a good answer. And it answers this question without just saying 'it's a personal thing'. I'm curious if there are any 'nuances' that your talking about that might not be in the normal (solid, firm, vibration, etc.) terms we amateurs are familiar with.
Thank you
JR

 

[Gregg]

I always relate to the debate people have with Predator shafts.

Some swear you need to have one, others say that play with a Predator shaft ruins their game.

Same must go for "hit" when it comes to any cue.

 

[2wld4u]

What "hit" means to me

" HIT" is feel, without positive feedback from the cue you couldnt encorporate finnesse... I rate a cue by the effort nessasary to move the cue ball around the table while acurately shooting shots... If I stroke top english I expect top english, but If I cant acurately hit balls with high ball the cue isnt for me, shaft flex, tip, shape, ferrule material, weight, joint type all play a role...


If you install a soft tip on a stiff shaft your gonna get alot of mushrooming, and chances are the cue will not play well, same with a hard tip and a whipy shaft... either of whitch can "HIT" good, if the proper hardness tip is used..

The role of the cue is dictated by the user, the ideal cue will have a balance between hit and feel, english should come easily with a positive feel... deflection when english is applied is how I measure accuracy.. as I havent used to many cue's that if I hit center ball the cue ball doesnt travel accurately..

Consistancy, If I shoot low right, I expect the same results everytime, If your shooting with spin and the cue strikes the cue ball consistantly and reacts consistanly to english applied its a good cue..

Weight can have a profound effect.. a light cue say 18 oz will generate alot of spin, but will not carry the english as far, some people call this tip speed..

useualy people who shoot hard might want to consider a lighter cue, because position will be easier to control...

Balance has an effect to, but this is all about feel, a weight forward cue might feel unconfortable to some players, some may notice an ark in thier swing with such a cue, it seems some people need to feel some weight in thier hand.. a heavier cue balanced weight forward will not help... a butt heavy cue will feel unconfortable to some players, as it seems the shaft is feather light, but it seems people have an easier time controlling in and out movement of thier stroke..

Fury seems to me to be balanced right, I can grab one and feel totaly confortable with it, meaning I dont need lot of time at the table to "GET USED TO IT" I believe thats fury's strongpoint.. and ofcourse the wrap, I really like the pressed Irish linen.. it feels silky smooth..

I only mentioned Fury because this is the only production cue that has ever had this quality to me.. the hit isnt bad either, english ritch, but to inconsistant for me... Thats why Im not using a fury as my playing cue..





2wld4u

 

[Donovan]

I hope that this observation isn't flamed. I am loving this discussion, but to play devil's advocate...

You can take a great player and hand him a Players Sneaky Pete (keep in mind I firmly believe for inexpensive cues this is a good one) from the production line and he can shoot a few shots with it and quickly be able to start running racks. What does this have to do with hit you ask?

I just wonder if hit that some may feel is not that good, can simply be compensated to the point that it begins to feel like it hits good?

I would simply say no way, but I have hit some really good player's cues that hit like crap and they seem to feel that it is the best thing they ever hit.

 

[Cornerman]

However the same question comes up time and again,
HOW DOES IT HIT???????????????
Like some guy can really tell you. PLEASE.

Funnier yet is someone actually answers with similes and metaphors.

"It hits like a runaway train through the mountains, loaded with bricks near the front, but loose hay in the back."

"Its hit is a Cadillac in a pond of so many Yugos."

or the very basic...

"It hits a ton..."


Fred <~~~ my Schuler hits like a Schuler

 

[Jeff]

Just a quick link about the old growth water salvaged timber.

http://www.underwatertimber.com/

 

[PoolSleuth]

The hit of a cue can only be judged by the guy trying the cue. I have
been saying this for years, all of us, have a differant feel, touch, and responces to hits of cues. You can only be the judge.


blud

Nice observation blud

 

[Colin Colenso]

The things is, you almost never see the cue makers of these great hitting cues make any specific cliams about performance functions.

I think it's 99% subjective nonsense. I can pick up any bar cue with a decent tip and with 10 minutes trialing can play near as well as with a cue I've used for years.

If a cue rattles and vibrates it doesn't feel so good in your hand on some shots, but it will make very little difference to where the OB and CB will go.

A good tip much more important that seeking through a multitude of cues with similar performace. The cue can't line up the pot. It doesn't know where the pocket's at!