Cues the pros use

[JAM]

I must say... Yours are some fine looking cues!

Ever since I have been with Keith McCready, he was always looking for the cue that would give him the so-called "hit" that players desire. He had shot with a Bobby Hunter, a Fury, a WilleeCue, and a Schon, and these cues performed well for Keith, but Keith pined for that one Balabushka cue that he bought 25 or more years ago from Buddy Hall for 500 bucks with 5 shafts. The Balabushka was stolen from Keith. He later found out who had it, but the guy said he bought it from somebody else, and Keith had no claim to it anymore. Nice deal.

A year ago, Keith ran into an old sparring partner, a player he used to run with by the name of Jack Madden at the SBE in Valley Forge. Jack hung up his own cue stick years ago and began to make custom-made cues. Keith was checking out Jack's cues in his booth, when Jack kindly offered to create a custom-made cue for Keith.

Keith gave Jack his specs: skinny butt, 4-ounce shaft, long professional taper, et cetera. Jack worked dilligently, and over the course of the next month or so, he and Keith exchanged phone calls talking about the cue which was in progress. One pleasant day, Jack phoned Keith to let him know the Madden cue was finished and was en route, giving Keith the UPS number as well as the day the cue would arrive at our front door.

When Keith rose that morning, he was pacing the front door, back and forth, back and forth, peering out to see if there were any big brown trucks pulling up. Finally, the UPS man arrived, but he didn't even have a chance to step out of his truck. Keith was outside helping him with the freight.

Keith opened a long tubular-shaped box. The cue stick was wrapped in a lot of protective material. Keith couldn't tear it off quick enough, and then he saw it, a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. It sure was a beauty. Keith grabbed one of the shafts that Jack made for this cue, screwed it on, and as soon as Keith held this Madden cue in his hands, a broad smile came across his face. He immediately said that this Madden cue felt better in his hands than his beloved Balabushka which was stolen from him years ago.

The very first time Keith got to shoot with this Madden cue was at an IPT qualifier in Frederick Maryland, the same weekend in which Keith received the cue. Keith was the IPT challenge table player. First up to bat was a Reno Open Champion and One-Pocket phenom by the name of Cliff Joyner. Keith barbecued Cliff, running a 6-pack from jump street. Cliff didn't know what hit him, but Keith sure did. After every game, Keith would look over at me on the rail, holding his Madden cue, saying, "I'm now a dangerous man. There's going to be a new sheriff in town."

They say it's the player and not the cue stick, but let me tell you, a player can't be all that he can be without a professional cue. This Madden cue will never leave Keith's side. There are some secret ingredients that make this Madden cue very special, but it's something that money cannot buy. Keith's Madden cue is not only a real beauty, but it was truly a labor of love. Jack poured his heart and soul into this cue, and there will NEVER be another one like it.

JAM

 

[chrstc]

I remember watching 9 ball on Fox Sports Network a couple years ago and in the little bar at the bottom of the screen cue information was given. I really liked that, but alas, I haven't seen anything like this since.

Hello,
All the Matchroom Sports events always tell you what cue a player is using in the bio box that flashes up at some point in the game for both players. It isn't in-depth info (shaft taper, weight or anything like that) but it does give you a rough idea. I suppose most TV production companies just think the average viewer doesn't care about that sort of info.

Thanks,
Chris (Chrstc).

 

[TheBook]

Jack, a great magazine ad for your cues could be kindof like the Capitol One commercials, but instead of David Spade saying " what's in your wallet?" you could have Keith saying " what's in your case?"

Keith's case would be empty Bud's. I don't know if Bud could afford to sponsor Keith. The free beer would be more than his other expenses, but they sure would get their money worth in the exposure.

 

[DaveFagan]

This is probably been brought up before...But was wondering why when they introduce the players on TV or a tournment for that matter ,why don't they say what kind of cue they are using??

At all Joss Northeast tournaments, Mike Zuglan acknowledges cue sponsors when he introduces the players. The information is provided by the players on forms they must fill out upon entry. It is a very professional method and if a players sponsor is not mentioned, it is the players fault for not providing the information.

 

[whitey2]

Why did Keith get rid of his Meucci Gambler?

First, I'm assuming he did give up his Meucci Gambler, since
I saw one on ebay (twice I think) that was described as Keith's
cue. They were asking something like $1600 for it!

Anyway, I'm wondering why he chose to stop using the Meucci,
and how long he did use it.

Thanks!

 

[cueman]

I'll save everybody a bit of time searching that thread. Here's the last summary that was posted there... enjoy.

1/Acosta, Roland- Widowmaker, original shaft
2/Adkins, Dee- Nova, OB-1
3/Alcaide, David- Buffalo, Smart Shaft
4/Alvarez, Frank- Predator, Predator Z
5/Appleton, Darren- Predator, Predator Z
6/Archer, Johnny- Scorpion, original shaft
7/Bartram, Chris- Custom cue, predator shaft
8/Basavich, Daniel- Pechauer, Predator 314
9/Beaufils, Yannick- ................................
10/Breedlove, George- Rick Howard, original shaft
11/Brienza, Paul- Judd Fuller, original shaft
12/Broadhurst, Jackie- ................................
13/Bryant, Charles- Olivier cue, X-shaft
14/Bustamante, Francisco- Bear, Predator(?)
15/Butera, Lou- ................................
16/Butera, Sal- Mali, X-shaft
17/Calderon, Jerry- Buffalo, original shaft
18/Carter, Linda- Viking, original shaft
19/Carvajal, Alejandro- ................................
20/Catledge, Wayne- Nitti, Predator 314
21/Cernero, Michael- Mike Bender, original shaft
22/Chamat, Marcus- Predator, Predator 314
23/Chenman, Lee- Predator, Predator 314
24/Chohan, Tony- Bobby Hunter, unspecified shaft
25/Colenso, Colin- Jian Ying, original shaft
26/Corr, Karen- Custom, unspecified shaft
27/Crane, Wade- Schon, original shaft
28/Czetli, Aaron- Jacoby, unspecified shaft
29/Daulton, Shannon- Schon, original shaft
30/Davenport, Kim- Gus Szamboti, original shaft
31/Davis, Mike- Eddie Anderson, Predator 314
32/Deuel, Corey- Woodpecker, Predator 314
33/Di Liberto, Dann- ................................
34/Di Toro, John- Pechauer, unspecified shaft
35/Dodson, Robin- Casanova, original shaft
36/Dominguez, Ernesto- Tad, original shaft
37/Eberle, Max- Schon, Predator 314
38/Eckert, Ralph- Arthur, original shaft
39/ Edey, Tyler- Predator, Predator 314
40/Ellerby, Sarah- Lucasi, Smart Shaft
41/Facquet, Vincent- Thierry Chevron, original shaft
42/Feijen, Niels- Longoni, Predator 314
43/Fisher, Allison- Cuetec, original shaft
44/Fisher, Kelly- Fury, Predator 314
45/Földes, Vilmos - ....................................
46/Frank, Troy- Mike Guluassy, X shaft
47/Franken, Aaron- Dishaw, original shaft
48/Friend, Bernie- Mali, regular shaft (Capone Jr.)
49/Fusco, Jimmy- ................................
50/Fusco, Pete- ................................
51/Gay, Leil- Cognoscenti, original shaft
52/Goh, Tuan Kiat- Meucci, Predator 314
53/Gonzalez, Rafael- Predator, Predator 314
54/Groce, Brian- Madison Bob, original shaft
55/Gulyassy, Mike- Gulyassy, X shaft
56/Hann, Quinten- ................................
57/Harrison, Philip- ................................
58/Hatch, Dennis- Schon cue, predator shaft
59/Hill, Mick- Custom, Predator Z
60/Hofstatter, Gerda- Predator, Predator Z
61/Hohmann, Thorsten- Lucasi, Smart shaft
62/Holtz, Patrick- Falcon, Predator 314
63/Hopkins, Allen- Prather, original shaft
64/Hundal, Raj- Bear, Predator 314
65/Hunter, Bobby- Bobby Hunter, original shaft
66/Immonen, Mika- Mezz, Hybrid Pro
67/Incardona, William- Cognoscenti, regular shaft
68/Jahnke, Bernd- ................................
69/Jakulj, Zlatko- Ivan H Cue, original shaft
70/Jones, Loree Jon- Meucci, original shaft
71/Jones, Jeremy- Schuler, original shaft
72/Jones, Sammy- Meucci, original shaft
73/Jones, Tammy- Mike Stacy, Fusion shaft
74/Juva, Markus- Edwin Reyes, Edwin shaft
75/Keller, Ryan- Schon, regular shaft(Pettit)
76/Kelly, Ed- ................................
77/Kennedy, Thomas- SouthWest, original shaft
78/Kenniston, Mary- ................................
79/Kiamco, Warren- Predator, Predator 314
80/Klasovic, Andreja- Bear
81/Kutcher, John- Southwest, original shaft
82/Laurance, Ewa- Bob Hunter, original shaft
83/LeBron, Mike- ................................
84/Lely, Alex- Predator, Predator Z
85/Leonardo, Gunnar- ................................
86/Lohtander, Marko- Mezz, Predator 314
87/Macias, John- ................................
88/Manabu, Mori- Lambros, original shaft
89/Manalo, Marlon- Paul Drexler, Predator 314
90/Martin, Ray- ................................
91/Massey, Mike- Schuler, original shaft
92/Mathews, Grady- Scruggs, original shaft
93/McCready, Keith- Jack Madden, original shaft
94/Mckenna, Robert- ................................
95/Miller, Jason- Dufferin, regular shaft by Schon
96/Minici, Joe- ................................
97/Montal, Edwin- Schon Cue, Tiger "X" Shaft
98/Morris, Carl- ................................
99/Morris, Rodney- Szamboti, original shaft
100/Murphy, Austin- Fury, original shaft
101/Ouahbi, Amine- Thierry Chevron, original shaft
102/Orcollo, Dennis- Mezz, hybrid pro
103/Ortmann, Oliver- Kruger, original shaft
104/O'Sullivan, Ronnie- Parris Cue, Predator Z
105/Owen, Gabe- Troy Downey, original shaft
106/Pagulayan- Alex- Schon, Predator 314
107/Parica, Jose- Judd Fuller, Tiger X
108/Peach, Daryl- Viking, Predator 314
109/Petroni, Fabio- Cognoscenti, unspecified shaft
110/Potier, Paul- Deroo, Deroo shaft
111/Putnam, Shawn- Josey, Tiger X
112/Putnik, Ivica- Bear cue, original shaft
113/Raney, Jim- ................................
114/Raybone, Neil- ................................
115/Reljic, David- ................................
116/Rempe, Jim- Meucci, Meucci shaft
117/Reyes, Efren- Judd, original shaft
118/Roberts, James- ................................
119/Robles, Tony- Predator, Predator 314
120/Runnels, Ike- Darrin Hill
121/Sakai, Miyuki- Gina, Predator 314
122/Saleh, Brian- Dale Perry, Predator Z
123/Salvas, Luc- Schon, original shaft
124/San Souci, George- SouthWest,Predator 314
125/Santl, Stefan- Jacoby, original shaft
126/Schmidt, John- Bobby Hunter, regular shaft custom
127/Schwartz, Larry- Cognoscenti, original shaft
128/Sigel, Mike- Mike Sigel, original shaft
129/Souquet, Ralf- Joss, Predator 314
130/Stalev, Evgeny- Pyramid
131/Storm, Tom- ................................
132/Strickland, Earl- Cuetec, regular shaft
133/Thornfeldt, Helena- Judd, regular shaft
134/Tourangeau, Stan- Predator, Predator 314
135/Townsend, Scotty- ................................
136/Travers, Laurent- Thierry Chevron, regular shaft
137/Van Boening, Shane- Joss, OB-1
138/Van den Berg, Nick- Musashi, Musashi shaft
139/Varner, Nick- Nick Varner, original shaft
140/Vickery, Howard- ................................
141/Watson, Gerry- ................................
142/Webb, Monica- Judd, original shaft
143/West, Dallas- ................................
144/Wetch, Jimmy- ................................
145/Wheeler, Adam- Sigel Custom, original shaft
146/White, Jimmy- John Parris, original shaft
147/Williams, Charlie- Predator, Predator Z
148/Wims, John- ................................
149/Younger, Johl- unspecified snooker cue, original shaft
150/Zimmerman, Michael-Roger Pettit, Dave Jones, original shaft

Original/regular shaft: 61(51.69%)

Predator 314: 26(22.03%)

Predator Z: 8 (6.77%)

Unspecified shaft: 7(5.93%)

Tiger X shaft: 6 (5.08%)

OB-1: 3(2.54%)

Universal Smart shaft: 3 (2.54%)

Hybride shaft: 1 (0.8%)

Edwin shaft:1 (0.8%)

Deroo shaft:1 (0.8%)

Fushion shaft:1 (0.8%)

Musashi shaft:1 (0.8%)

Total; 118

Scotty Townsend plays with a Andy Gilbert, regular shaft.

 

[JAM]

First, I'm assuming he did give up his Meucci Gambler, since
I saw one on ebay (twice I think) that was described as Keith's
cue. They were asking something like $1600 for it!

Anyway, I'm wondering why he chose to stop using the Meucci,
and how long he did use it.

Thanks!

Let me preface my remarks by saying I know not much about cues.

Getting that out up front, I had heard Keith say that he liked the way the OLD Meucci cue sticks hit because of the "whip." Keith is an english player and utilizes it in many of his maneuvers, and I guess he liked the way the older Meucci cues would whip, whatever that means.

The new Meucci cue sticks do not respond the same way as the old Meucci cue sticks for a player like Keith who likes to "whip" from time to time.

If you can understand what Keith means by "whip," then you're doing better than me! I just don't want to take a whipping on this post.

JAM

 

[Ken_4fun]

Yes, butt

All of the pro's are or want to be sponsored by any cue maker. they really don't care. They just want the 50k to 100k that the sponsor pays. But, the type of cue they use affects them very little- because they customize the cue from the beginning- new tip, new taper, change weight, different shafts... etc. ----------and the stick plays a role but the stroke is what really makes them play at the pro level. Any pro can pick up a house cue and play, but a great cue helps them play even better.

I agree with you but, I think they deserve some reconginition.

NASCAR DOES IT, while I hate nascar, the old "tide, zebart chevy" ran pretty good today.

JMO

Ken

 

[whitey2]

"whippy" term used to describe a shaft

Let me preface my remarks by saying I know not much about cues.

Getting that out up front, I had heard Keith say that he liked the way the OLD Meucci cue sticks hit because of the "whip." Keith is an english player and utilizes it in many of his maneuvers, and I guess he liked the way the older Meucci cues would whip, whatever that means.

The new Meucci cue sticks do not respond the same way as the old Meucci cue sticks for a player like Keith who likes to "whip" from time to time.

If you can understand what Keith means by "whip," then you're doing better than me! I just don't want to take a whipping on this post.

JAM

Well, my understanding of the "whippy" term, is that the shaft is very flexible, "like a whip". It
allows the shaft to bend more when applying side (and top/bottom) and it results in less cue ball
deflection off the line of the stroke. I also use an older Meucci, and prefer that type of shaft.

BUT, again, I'm wondering why then would Keith get rid of the Meucci. I searched the web this
morning, and found sites that say all kinds of things. He fell in love with a fury, he uses Predator
technology, and something about Shon which I have forgotten. Getting back to Meucci, and
whippy shafts, I have also heard that they allow the cue tip to stay in contact with the cue ball
longer, allowing more spin to be generated, but I do not know if this is true. It sort of feels that
way though to me. And I hope Keith will share the reason(s) as to why he chose to abandon the
use of the Meucci he had.

 

[diller47]

''o''really???????????

 

[Jack Madden]

I must say... Yours are some fine looking cues!

Thank you.

 

[cueman]

Well, my understanding of the "whippy" term, is that the shaft is very flexible, "like a whip". It
allows the shaft to bend more when applying side (and top/bottom) and it results in less cue ball
deflection off the line of the stroke. I also use an older Meucci, and prefer that type of shaft.

BUT, again, I'm wondering why then would Keith get rid of the Meucci. I searched the web this
morning, and found sites that say all kinds of things. He fell in love with a fury, he uses Predator
technology, and something about Shon which I have forgotten. Getting back to Meucci, and
whippy shafts, I have also heard that they allow the cue tip to stay in contact with the cue ball
longer, allowing more spin to be generated, but I do not know if this is true. It sort of feels that
way though to me. And I hope Keith will share the reason(s) as to why he chose to abandon the
use of the Meucci he had.

I can't speak for Keith, but I can tell you why a lot of pros quit playing with Meucci cues. They flat put too much follow, draw and english on the cue ball for most players to control on the fast cloth. As long as they played on the Mali and other types of slower cloth, Meucci cues ruled the pro circuit. Now that they use Simonis, the power is not needed and often causes them to over play the cueball.
That is my opinion. It is also shared by Bob Meucci himself. The IPT and slow would have been the best thing that could have happened to Meucci and Predator. It might have brought back power pool. Pool might have been fun to watch again if they had played 9-ball or 10 ball on slower cloth. I love power pool.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

 

[crosseyedjoe]

I totally agree...i know there stuff is custom and it's not that i want to use the same cue...i just thought it would be a good idea to get there sponsers name out there ..i mean isn't that why they give them or pay them to use their cues??

Or maybe most of the players aren't sponsored by cue manufacturers.

 

[Fatboy]

I can't speak for Keith, but I can tell you why a lot of pros quit playing with Meucci cues. They flat put too much follow, draw and english on the cue ball for most players to control on the fast cloth. As long as they played on the Mali and other types of slower cloth, Meucci cues ruled the pro circuit. Now that they use Simonis, the power is not needed and often causes them to over play the cueball.
That is my opinion. It is also shared by Bob Meucci himself. The IPT and slow would have been the best thing that could have happened to Meucci and Predator. It might have brought back power pool. Pool might have been fun to watch again if they had played 9-ball or 10 ball on slower cloth. I love power pool.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

i'm not even closeto a world beater and feel the same way Meucci cues worked great on Mali cloth, when I started playing in 85 that was all there was in about 86-88 pool rooms started switching to Simonis, and the rock was all over the place-I was a C class player back then and had problems, You cant play with a stiff hard hitting cue on Mali cloth the rock comes off the tip to soon and you dont get the spin you need(it can be done if you stroke the ball like buddy or earl etc), in contrast with a cue with alot of whip in it the contact with the rock is longer, thus putting more spin on it and making it more controlable on Simonis. I had to change cues when the cloth changed-we all did.

 

[Captain Dan]

Scotty Townsend plays with a Andy Gilbert, regular shaft.

Thanks for the info. I was the person who started that tread, and have been updating it when new information came along.

I was hoping that I'd be able to do a new list for each new year of the IPT, but that's dead in the water .

Daniel

 

[JAM]

Thanks for the info. I was the person who started that tread, and have been updating it when new information came along.

I was hoping that I'd be able to do a new list for each new year of the IPT, but that's dead in the water .

Daniel

What would be a BETTER list, IMHO, is knowing which pros have used which cue sticks for the longest. Rodney Morris comes to mind when he told me that he has been shooting with his Szamboti since 1994.

JAM

 

[JAM]

BUT, again, I'm wondering why then would Keith get rid of the Meucci.

Keith told me that back in those days, cues were a dime a dozen, and players would run across "better" cues all the time. Because of the deflection of the Meucci cue, Keith decided to make a switch. Plus, truth be told, he needed money at the time. Back then, people used to pawn their cues like giving popcorn to the birds.

I searched the web this morning, and found sites that say all kinds of things. He fell in love with a fury...

Actually, those are the words that were written on the Fury cue website I think, if memory serves me right. Keith did shoot with a Fury, a cue which was given to him by Jose Parica. Unfortunately, it warped on him when he left it in somebody's car in Las Vegas, a trip I did not accompany Keith on, in 110-plus degrees.

Having said that, though, Keith defeated Francisco Bustamante in Virginia shooting with his Fury cue. So the Fury cue can get the job done. I think anybody would love a Fury if they beat Bustie with it. Keith is one of those players that can pick up a cue, any kind of cue, and play semi-good with it.

...he uses Predator
technology....

About 5 years ago, Predator was gifting every pro players and aspiring pro player with a brand-new Predator break cue. Keith was one of those fortunate players who received a free Predator. Some players also received cue cases with the Predator logo emblazoned on the side, as well as collared shirts with the Pedator logo. So, in essence, Keith did use Predator technology when he was breaking with the Predator break cue.

...and something about Shon which I have forgotten....

The Schon was a great cue for Keith. When I met Keith, the cue was, shall I say, being kept by a friend of his in N'Orleans. We sent for the cue, and Keith played with it for quite a long time. However, because of his never-ending desire to shave shafts and change tips, looking for the perfect "hit," he turned these Schon shafts into twigs with no zing.

That Schon, we sold on eBay when it was retired, and believe it or not, the guy who bought Keith's Schon happens to own a gothic style pool room near Chicago. He has it on display in a glass case with Keith's autographed picture by it.

Getting back to Meucci, and whippy shafts, I have also heard that they allow the cue tip to stay in contact with the cue ball
longer, allowing more spin to be generated, but I do not know if this is true. It sort of feels that way though to me. And I hope Keith will share the reason(s) as to why he chose to abandon the use of the Meucci he had.

I guess Keith didn't like the deflection that the Meucci cue provide and decided to move on in his quest for a weapon of mass destruction.

JAM

 

[mjantti]

I can relate to Keith's story, although I'm not a pro, far from it. It just took me 15 years of playing to finally find a perfect cue for me, a simple-looking Tim Scruggs. From the first shot on, everything on that cue felt right and never had to blame the cue for rebelling against the player, me.

Btw, on that list, Markus Juva changed his Edwin Reyes cue to a Keith Josey. I think he's using Universal Smart Shaft now.