Cue style changing?...or is it me?

Gerry

Gerry

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have been watching some older match vids and not that long ago it seemed everyone was playing with what I call "Maryland" style of cues. These are the Joss, Schon, Black Boar, Black, JW, etc....SS jointed traditional cues.

Lately it seems rare to see top players with that style, and it seems most EVERYONE is playing with or switched to "non-steel" jointed cues. Like...Reyes, Bustamante, Pagulayan, Archer, to name a few.

1. Why?...is it the cue style?, or sponsorship $ ?

2. Why are there so many cues/cue makers out there making "almost" copies of Southwest cues?....honestly, it's like every third cue I look at to buy is a different maker with the same look?

just a short rant...I have been tinkering with different cues lately, and tilting towards a "non-stainless" cue.

Gerry
 
Now Double Bye

DoubleBye said:
It's what plays best. Stainless steel joints are clanky, out-dated, technology. Schuler seems to be the only cue-maker who has caught on to this idea.
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Why would you say this? ... LOL I have never known a SS player to clank his joint ... ROFL, crank it maybe, but not clank it. And just how are they outdated technology? The techniques for SS joints is the same as used by other types of joints. Plus, I might add, they have a higher maintenance free quality to them than most other joints.

I, personally, have always preferred the hit with a SS joint over other type joints. I do recognize though, that even in the cuemaking business, some trends do catch on for awhile, especially when trying out new techniques or innovations.
 
Gerry said:
I have been watching some older match vids and not that long ago it seemed everyone was playing with what I call "Maryland" style of cues. These are the Joss, Schon, Black Boar, Black, JW, etc....SS jointed traditional cues.

Lately it seems rare to see top players with that style, and it seems most EVERYONE is playing with or switched to "non-steel" jointed cues. Like...Reyes, Bustamante, Pagulayan, Archer, to name a few.

1. Why?...is it the cue style?, or sponsorship $ ?

2. Why are there so many cues/cue makers out there making "almost" copies of Southwest cues?....honestly, it's like every third cue I look at to buy is a different maker with the same look?

just a short rant...I have been tinkering with different cues lately, and tilting towards a "non-stainless" cue.

Gerry
Click to expand...

Gerry,

Stainless steel vs phenolic joints ---- I build both, if you look at my website there are quite a few stainless steel joints --- that is what I played with for years. But, I have found that the younger guys like the phenolic and the older guys seem to like the stainless steel. This is not hard and fast but just generally what I have experienced. Some of the younger really big (we are talking 6'4" 250lbs) men prefer the stainless steel.

Looks ---- I have been around Southwest Cues since Jerry started in business, I sold some of his plain jane years ago in Phoenix. I don't care to copy his style - as a cuemaker, I want to do my own.
 
Class is Timeless
S5030548.jpg
 
Jack Madden said:
Gerry,

Stainless steel vs phenolic joints ---- I build both, if you look at my website there are quite a few stainless steel joints --- that is what I played with for years. But, I have found that the younger guys like the phenolic and the older guys seem to like the stainless steel. This is not hard and fast but just generally what I have experienced. Some of the younger really big (we are talking 6'4" 250lbs) men prefer the stainless steel.

Looks ---- I have been around Southwest Cues since Jerry started in business, I sold some of his plain jane years ago in Phoenix. I don't care to copy his style - as a cuemaker, I want to do my own.
Click to expand...
I agree Jack. And if I can add one other tidbit, alot of the older guys still play with a much heavier cue than is the concensus of most younger players now. I guess with the way cloth was much slower years ago, it took a heavier cue to move the ball around the table. All the older players I know play with at least 19.5 oz cues, while most younger players seem to be 19 oz and below. I guess it is easier to move the ball on Simonis than it was on the old, heavy, Mali cloth.

Mike
 
If heard that the SS joint isn't that much popular because it gives lesser feedback to the player. Phenolic or wood gives a better hit to me. SS give a pretty dead hit.
 
WesleyW said:
If heard that the SS joint isn't that much popular because it gives lesser feedback to the player. Phenolic or wood gives a better hit to me. SS give a pretty dead hit.
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Good steel jointed cues give enough feedback for me. Good is a matter of personal taste, however. The ones I've owned were a Joss {East}, Tim Scruggs, and Andy Gilbert. I haven't hit a Tascarella I didn't like. I've been playing with wood to wood since I first hit Allen Hopkin's Soutwest. It's what I prefer mostly, now. There just aren't that many steel jointed cues that give the "feel" that I like.
 
joints

I'm an "older" player and I started with ss jointed cues. Still have some. But my favorite is a flat faced ivory joint. Can't explain it. Don't know what the difference is, but I always favor that type of joint.
 
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