custom vs. production: n00b thread

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stricken6

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is it reasonable to expect a custom cue to "feel" better than a production cue of the same value? depends on the maker? or is it basically if you don't like it, just buy an LD for it and be happy with what it looks like..

only a top-side APA player and I've played with 3 different cheap production cues my whole life.

thanks

if this is in the wrong section just let me know and i'll go slit my throat
 
Like anything and everything else that is subjective, YMMV.

Just because it's a "custom" doesn't necessarily mean it will "feel" better to you. Only you will be able to determine that, and only by trying it out for yourself.
 
thanks. pretty much what I expected but didn't know if there were some in depth info on how the joints were seated into the wood that made the production process of either, "better". i'm an aesthetics guy and it seems like none of the big names make any cues I like.


and I just googled it and found an almost exact thread from 3 years ago.:rolleyes:
 
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stricken6 said:
thanks. pretty much what I expected but didn't know if there were some in depth info on how the joints were seated into the wood that made the production process of either, "better". i'm an aesthetics guy and it seems like none of the big names make any cues I like.


and I just googled it and found an almost exact thread from 3 years ago.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I don't get it.. custom cue makers make cues the customer wants. Are you talking about how the cue looks or how it plays?

Dale
 
I play with a midrange production cue. I like it because it has a soft, quiet hit (any guesses?).

I don't like a stiff, crisp hit, no matter how much it costs, who made it or that the best players in the world swear by it.

Experience a lot of different cue and tip combinations (the tip makes a big difference in how a cue feels). You'll figure out what you like best.
 
stricken6 said:
is it reasonable to expect a custom cue to "feel" better than a production cue of the same value? depends on the maker? or is it basically if you don't like it, just buy an LD for it and be happy with what it looks like..

only a top-side APA player and I've played with 3 different cheap production cues my whole life.

thanks

if this is in the wrong section just let me know and i'll go slit my throat
Click to expand...

That escalated quickly...
 
stricken6 said:
thanks. pretty much what I expected but didn't know if there were some in depth info on how the joints were seated into the wood that made the production process of either, "better". i'm an aesthetics guy and it seems like none of the big names make any cues I like.

and I just googled it and found an almost exact thread from 3 years ago.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

All (most) of the "big name makers" will make you anything you want.
 
stricken6 said:
is it reasonable to expect a custom cue to "feel" better than a production cue of the same value? depends on the maker? or is it basically if you don't like it, just buy an LD for it and be happy with what it looks like..

only a top-side APA player and I've played with 3 different cheap production cues my whole life.

thanks

if this is in the wrong section just let me know and i'll go slit my throat
Click to expand...

Just my two cents.....

hohmann plays with a lucasi hybrid
shane van boening plays with a production cuetec

what are you looking to do with pool?
Start a collection of value?...the get an original custom cue.
Play better, like a pro? Spend the money to get your own table a practice the right way for 10 k hours with a mid range production cue.
 
so...i've played with a few different production brands as well as a jacoby custom. the first i had was a predator roadline sneaky...hit ok for where i was at when i bought it (moderate player...still just above a beginner). over time i decided that the predator shaft didn't feel quite right to me. the hit felt and sounded a little on the hollow side at times, so i started looking again. ended up with a jacoby cocobolo sneaky. simple. with the hybrid shaft. the hit felt great to me since it was a full splice (imo the best feeling hit you'll come across) but i wasn't 100% sold on the feel of the shaft. they're good and feel more like maple than the predator, but i sold that cue and got a fancier jacoby custom. this cue hit firmer than the sneaky...but i wasn't 100% in love with the hit. i prefer the full splice sneaky hit. so long story short...i'm playing an ob sneaky pete now (121 is the model number i think) with the ob1+ shaft and absolutely love it (softer feeling hit due to the stacked maple ferrule and the shaft feels awesome).
yikes...longer post than expected. hope that helps some though.
 
Cardigan Kid said:
Just my two cents.....

hohmann plays with a lucasi hybrid
shane van boening plays with a production cuetec

what are you looking to do with pool?
Start a collection of value?...the get an original custom cue.
Play better, like a pro? Spend the money to get your own table a practice the right way for 10 k hours with a mid range production cue.
Click to expand...


just play better. not looking into collecting. I "practice" 4 hours on average every day I can for the last 5 years.

what I meant in my original post is I've only played with cheap productions and didn't know if I was completely missing out by not getting into "custom" cues at the same price of a production.
 
stricken6 said:
just play better. not looking into collecting. I "practice" 4 hours on average every day I can for the last 5 years.

what I meant in my original post is I've only played with cheap productions and didn't know if I was completely missing out by not getting into "custom" cues at the same price of a production.
Click to expand...

A predator ikon 2 $500
Predator p3 $800
Lucasi hybrid $300 -800

Custom cues go into the thousands.

Depends on what your definition of cheap is.

My first cue was a $60 players cue...that was cheap to me.
 
stricken6 said:
thanks. pretty much what I expected but didn't know if there were some in depth info on how the joints were seated into the wood that made the production process of either, "better". i'm an aesthetics guy and it seems like none of the big names make any cues I like.


and I just googled it and found an almost exact thread from 3 years ago.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

There is probably a question like this or close to it once a month it seems :wink:

I have played with quite a few cues, and it does take a bit of work to find one where a certain shaft feels right on along with a tip. For example, my Ned Morris has an amazing feel with the stock shaft, a not so good hit with a Predator and a very good hit with a Players HXT. My son's cue from Bishop in Ohio has an OK feel with the same Players shaft, a bad hit with a Predator and a good feel with an OB. I like the OB on his cue better than on my cue but like the Players shaft better on my cue than on his.

If you want to improve the feel of your hit, get a decent quality cue for say $200 with a good shaft that you like. McDermott, Joss, etc... You can also find quite a few custom makers that have cues for sale in the $300-500 range, same as a quality production cue.
 
If a "custom" is not made to YOUR specifications and preferences, you might as well consider it a "production" cue.
 
Two primary reasons to buy custom. You like pretty wood and want one of a kind cue. Second, you want an investment as customs will generally hold their value better than a production cue. Aside from that, they're plenty of high quality production cuts that look and play great.
 
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