Cue length ?

bencho

bencho

n00b
Silver Member
Hi,

Quick question about cue lengths. I feel the standard is about 58"~ and have been playing with such. My shape play is not the best and I find myself reaching just a little bit over the table. My stroke has changed drastically since I began 3 years ago and I've found myself scrunched up and relaxed with my grip. Lately I've noticed that I've been playing with my hand closer and closer to the butt of my cue. So the question is, does a longer cue, affect the 'feel' that you've acquired? Will the difference from jumping to a 60" cue be noticeable? How will it affect your stroke, if it does at all.

Thanks--
 
Cue length

I have found that playing with a 59" cue on 9' tables allows me to reach a shot or two that would be hard to make with a shorter cue. however I can't seem to get comfortable with a 60 " cue. I wouold sugest you try a 59 before you ever try a 60. Bill
 
bencho said:
Hi,

Quick question about cue lengths. I feel the standard is about 58"~ and have been playing with such. My shape play is not the best and I find myself reaching just a little bit over the table. My stroke has changed drastically since I began 3 years ago and I've found myself scrunched up and relaxed with my grip. Lately I've noticed that I've been playing with my hand closer and closer to the butt of my cue. So the question is, does a longer cue, affect the 'feel' that you've acquired? Will the difference from jumping to a 60" cue be noticeable? How will it affect your stroke, if it does at all.

Thanks--
Click to expand...

go to a 60 in cue.
but keep the shaft the same have the but 2 in longer.
the hit will be the same thats what i use.
 
A new case would almost definitely be in the cards if the additional two inches is all in the butt and you use JP's. I would imagine the selection of cases for a 31" butt plus the length of the pin/jp would be a little narrower.

BTW Chris, if you putt all of the additional length in the butt doesn't that more drastically change the balance?
 
Yup......................

BLACKHEARTCUES said:
You may have to buy a new case if you go to a 60" cue...JER
Click to expand...


I play with cues that measure 59 1/4 - 60 in and getting a nice case that fits em is a hunt. Had to order 2 custom cases for my cues. Best part is, I got to order 2 custom cases for my cues:D
 
longer cues

My experience is that short players ( 5'8" or shorter ) and taller players (over 6' in general) benefit from a longer cue for different reasons. If you buy, try a 60 inch cue. If it's too long, it's easy to remove an inch (or half an inch)at a time until you get the length right for you. It's harder to lengthen a cue without building a new shaft. Just my 2cents.
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues:cool:
 
bencho said:
Hi,

Quick question about cue lengths. I feel the standard is about 58"~ and have been playing with such. My shape play is not the best and I find myself reaching just a little bit over the table. My stroke has changed drastically since I began 3 years ago and I've found myself scrunched up and relaxed with my grip. Lately I've noticed that I've been playing with my hand closer and closer to the butt of my cue. So the question is, does a longer cue, affect the 'feel' that you've acquired? Will the difference from jumping to a 60" cue be noticeable? How will it affect your stroke, if it does at all.

Thanks--
Click to expand...

oh yeah it'll be noticeable. it's nothing that can't be adjusted to though. i played with a 59" cue for years and liked it.
 
Put a CB on the head spot. Get down into your normal stance to shoot that ball. Have the tip of the cue up against the CB. Look to see (or have someone else) if your forearm is perpendicular (90 degrees) to the floor. Now mark where the your grip hand is. Put a piece of tape to mark where your forefinger is. The cneter of your hand should be about the center of the wrap area. If your arm is not at a 90 degree angle to the ground your starting stroke is off. You need to work on that. If it is at 90 and your hand is too far back you may need a longer cue. Cue length is normally dictated by height. Sometimes someone may have longer arms or maybe the cue is not balanced properly.

Now if everthing seems to be right use that piece of tape as a guide to place your hand when getting into a normal stroke position and make sure that the tip of the cue is almost touching the CB when down on your shot. Address the shot, pull the trigger and follow thru. You will see your stroke improve tremendously. Also would recommend taking a 3 day course from one of the BCA instructors. They will get you off to a good start and will also correct your "problem". I don't know where you live but look on the BCA site for a list of instructors in your area. Call one of them and see about getting lessons.

Everyone needs to stretch on shots where the CB is far from the edge and this makes you grip the rear end of the cue. That doesn't mean that you need a longer cue. You either have to stretch, use a bridge or cue extender. You don't build a church to handle the Easter crowd.
 
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Im 6'3 and i have had other players mention that i need a longer cue because i grip way back on the cue, so im having my repairman (also makes nice plain janes) to build me a 30" butt and then put on a 30" predator shaft i figure this would be a good balance and would be easier to find a case.
 
I knew for a long time that I needed a longer cue than the standard 58" but hesitated in getting one because I was accustomed to 58". I am only 6' but have wide shoulders and long arms. 2 years ago I switched to a custom 60" cue. Yes there is an adjustment peroid getting used to the extra 2" of cue, however I am now kicking myself in the a$$ for not doing it years earlier.
 
Thanks. I'm only 5'7" and have a small frame. There's a lot of advice here with pros and cons for each but I should have started this thread before ordering a cue :) So I guess I'm stuck with managing the difference :) and to the guy who asked me how good I am, it depends haha Not only that, but I've ordered a different shaft for the cue too so I'm being hit with a double whammy. So I'll have to figure out how to adjust to the new length and shaft. I've always figured it would be good to be able to pick up any cue and just shoot (well) but I've been finding it hard to play with heavier cues. I've been playing with a 58" predator that's 17oz and I LOVE it. Now I can't seem to play right without adjustment time with my other, heavier, cue. Heaver cues now feel like a ton to move.
 
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I'm 6' and use a 60" Varney (30-30 split) and a custom Carmeli (29butt-30shaft).

Love'em both!!
 
I think this is a good question

I am 6,1" myself and I have always preferred my bridge length around 8". Well I had a lesson from Johnny A. and he immediatley noticed that my back arm was too far forward. Well I found out that for my stroke to really gain maximum benifit and apply much more spin with less effort, I need to place my grip off the wrap onto the butt, and shorten my bridge to about 5-6". Well I place my hand on my butt all the time now, but I don't shorten that bridge unless I'm really trying to spin the ball with a smooth stroke not a forceful one. I honestly believe a shorter bridge doesn't help a stroke shot but the shorter bridge in this instance gets that back arm hitting the CB at the right moment.

Due to all of this I believe I am in need of a longer cue. I don't want to spend to much and I already have two OB1 shafts that I like.

One more question. Won't a longer cue hurt you for off the rail shots when bumping the wall is possible?
 
im only 5 10 and i play with a 59 1/4 and love it its more about finding a good balence point on the but and i believe that anyone who has a natural stroke that puts there hand on the but cap needs a longer but, but thats just my opinion. hell look at chris bartrum hes shorter than me i think and i believe he plays with a 60 and hes a beast!
but i do agree with a earlier post that the length should be in the but not the shaft just my opinion once again.

you should have no problem getting used to the cue but you will have a problem finding a nice cue thats longer on the but when you want a new cue though.
 
Ok, I actually went ahead and ordered a custom and decided to go with 60" almost arbitrarily~ The cue will be 60" with the shaft being 29 1/4" and the butt making up the difference. So the shaft will be a 1 1/4" longer than what I'm used to. Can't wait to play with it; should be here sometime in June.

And to answer someone another question, I have an instroke cowboy and I think it will suffice for anything up to 32" with JP's i think.
 
bencho said:
And to answer someone another question, I have an instroke cowboy and I think it will suffice for anything up to 32" with JP's i think.
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I believe that you will be OK there.

I have a 60" cue (30/30) and it fits just fine with a JP on the butt's radial pin in my Instroke Buffalo, which should be the same length as the Cowboy.
 
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