Cue weight and longevity play.

[ShootingArts]

If you want to reduce fatigue when playing, get more exercise. Back when I was swimming nearly every day it was easy to play long sessions or tournaments. I recently saw that SVB tries to run 7 miles a day when his schedule permits. Shaw and Styer can often be found in the host hotel's workout room. Lots of the other pros exercise regularly.

I doubt that an ounce or two in the cue is going to make any difference to anyone.

There are three stages to our workout career:

Tri-Weekly
Try Weekly
Try Weakly

I have been on the third stage for awhile!

Hu

 

[Dan White]

As time turns me into an elder man; I realize that I tend to fatigue more easily,(sooner). I am talking about playing deep into tournaments, or playing straight pool for hours. We talk in forum about shaft composition and length, but what about the total weight of the cue? Think about all the practice strokes in your PSR, and warm-up as well as strokes during play. Rarely do I see a PRO stroke more than 3 times before the hit.
So I ask AZB.

I think practice strokes significantly increase the time you have to be bent over in shooting position. Frankly, I don't think they are usually necessary. I get down on a shot and usually take a couple short waggles like an inch or two, if that. I know it is against most standard practices to do that but I don't think it negatively affects my play. Might be something to play around with and see.

 

[Dunnn51]

If you want to reduce fatigue when playing, get more exercise. Back when I was swimming nearly every day it was easy to play long sessions or tournaments. I recently saw that SVB tries to run 7 miles a day when his schedule permits. Shaw and Styer can often be found in the host hotel's workout room. Lots of the other pros exercise regularly.

I doubt that an ounce or two in the cue is going to make any difference to anyone.

Ya right about that! Swimming starts 3x/wk beginning in Aug for the month of August. Looking forward to it.

 

[Dunnn51]

I believe that if you are truly worried about fatigue during a match affecting the feel of a cue in your hands then the cue balance would be more important than a half ounce or so of weight. Most cues today fall between 18.5 and 19.5 in weight and most are not heavily rear weighted cues.

In the pre 1980s, cues would more often could be weighted 20 to 22 ounces and be much more heavily rear weighted, thus, "rear balanced". Those older cues may cause the cue tip to rise a bit too much during the final stroke as one tired and the rear weight pulled down against a tiring forearm muscle.

With your concerns, I would say strive for a neutral to slightly forward balanced cue that is comfortable to you and not much more than the 19 ounce range.

My personal choice is a very neutral balance to slight forward balance - I find that a cue in my hands that I am least aware of is the best cue for me- I don't like the cue to pull too much in one direction or another. When a cue feels like that to me, I can go on playing forever

Some cue makers do not use weight bolts at all - like Mike Capone ( his cues tend to play in a more neutral balance zone). Some of the newer cue companies use a very adjustable weight "system"- you may want to investigate those options as well.

I will agree here b/c I physically felt it. My playing cue at the time was my 8-ball cue. It is 12.6 thick on the shaft and weighs19.6 oz. I switched to my backup cue which was already together which is of the pencil thin design. It is 11.75 shaft dia., and weighs just 17.3oz.
The difference was noticeable as soon as I went to line up the next shot. Still kept pretty good position and got the chance to rifle a straight-in shot a few minutes later.
I forgot how nice it was to play that cue.
I am not making any kind of solid statement. My intent was to gather opinions.
As always, I respect others and believe others may not even notice. (YMMV)

 

[straightline]

There are three stages to our workout career:

Tri-Weekly
Try Weekly
Try Weakly

I have been on the third stage for awhile!

Hu

Don't forget weakened warrior.