I believe that the persons stroke, height, weight, and attitude all figure into how a cue fits a person. If the person likes the looks and weight distibution on a cue they will play a ball(or more) better than with another cue. Points and other decorations do nothing except sell cues.
If you really want to know who constructs the best cue, contact Kerry Zyler (McKready's old room mate) in Los Angeles and ask him for details on a maker. He was the first to x-ray cues and has done hundreds from various makers to see how they were constructed. He can tell you who uses cheap glue, who leaves air pockets, how deep inlays are set, if the cue has been cored with another piece of wood, who's points are sharpest (Padgett wins that I believe), and prob. where the wood was even grown. He himself makes great cues, though they have no points and mostly go to Japan. I have been to Blacks in Texas, Franklins in Vegas, met David Kersenbrock, and met tons of cue makers over the years. I respect all that try to build quality cues for the effort that they put out. But I have never met anyone that has as much knowledge about wood or cue construction as Kerry. I spent a few days reviewing wood blanks, shaft material, and other things cue related with him. Even though I wouldn't attempt turning a broom handle, I did learn about all the steps and processes that it takes to build a quality cue.
There may not be a best playing cue, but there are top constructed cues.
I like a bunch or I wouldn't have so many
If you really want to know who constructs the best cue, contact Kerry Zyler (McKready's old room mate) in Los Angeles and ask him for details on a maker. He was the first to x-ray cues and has done hundreds from various makers to see how they were constructed. He can tell you who uses cheap glue, who leaves air pockets, how deep inlays are set, if the cue has been cored with another piece of wood, who's points are sharpest (Padgett wins that I believe), and prob. where the wood was even grown. He himself makes great cues, though they have no points and mostly go to Japan. I have been to Blacks in Texas, Franklins in Vegas, met David Kersenbrock, and met tons of cue makers over the years. I respect all that try to build quality cues for the effort that they put out. But I have never met anyone that has as much knowledge about wood or cue construction as Kerry. I spent a few days reviewing wood blanks, shaft material, and other things cue related with him. Even though I wouldn't attempt turning a broom handle, I did learn about all the steps and processes that it takes to build a quality cue.
There may not be a best playing cue, but there are top constructed cues.
I like a bunch or I wouldn't have so many
