Customs Cue Vs Production Cue...which one? Pros & Cons?

[thejeffcho]

(Disclaimer: I have not owned a custom cue and I shoot with a Predator SP)

Maybe the reason why no custom cuemakers have commented on this thread is that they do not feel the need to justify their "art." When it comes down to it, maybe it's not appropriate to compare cuemaking to engineering and technology, and the better analogy would be something like violins (I dare not say Stradivarius) or samurai swords or barbeque. Cuemaking is not exactly high art like paintings or music, but there's a definite feel of timelessness and romance to owning a custom cue built by someone who had dedicated countless hours/decades to his/her art and craft. Sure it's possible that the end result of a custom cue, which MIGHT be quantifiable, might not be that different from production cues--but you cannot say that a production cue has more soul.

After all, poolplayers are not machines (for an opposing view see http://geeks.thedailywh.at/2011/06/05/pool-playing-robot-of-the-day/#more-17399) so maybe it's worth a bit more to shoot with a cue knowing that somebody had been devoting as much time and attention to building it as I have to refine my own game.

 

[bbb]

Hi bbb,

Yes there is a big price difference for the car companies you mentioned however they all are considered production car companies, with robot assembly and spray paints and they are produced down conveyor lines therefore backed with strong abilities to do R&D and with deep pockets to keep doing as well. Cos what sets a Rolls Royce and a Benz apart is really aesthetic and details to interior and importantly the name that has become synonymous to high end and luxury.
But what I'm really curious is whether Cue making has that kind of technological or engineering involvement. Because from what I've been reading it appears to be more of a butt design competition, where the more exotic and intricate it is the higher the price it warrants and that custom cues are all about that and that you can customize it however you want.
I dont know, perhaps it's a never ending argument and at the end of the day it is really a matter of who likes what.

its the indian not the arrow:yikes:
you pay extra for the custom cue for the "soul" of the cuemaker who put in the time and loving effort to make it

if you are not into "the butt design competioin"


than you really only want a cue that will stay straight and feel good to you when you hit it


you can accomplish that from either

 

[classiccues]

Hi JV,

So base on what i'm reading I say your more of a buy from a good custom cue maker when possible kind of guy? So does that mean from your point if view those big brands supposed "high tech" stuff don't really work or mean much?

I'm just really trying to find out more..I'm very new to this forum and it's only after I came here that I realized that there's so many custom cue makers out there, and so many of you guys play with them. So it's puzzles me whether those production brands are after money from people like me?

So does it mean that if one has say 1k to spend on a cue he'd get a better one going custom than buying some beautiful limited runs from say macdermott, schon, pechauer or mezz?

Yes.

Individual dependant. If you are a LD kind of guy, then the butt will have limited performance characteristics. (Unless it's last name is Kardashian) So if you are a Predator shaft, Obi-One, whatever kind of shaft guy then you can make a choice accordingly. I know someone that has a Boti butt with a P-shaft. It's what he likes, and he plays good with it. To me, if you are into the pro low deflection camp, then a nice looking butt, regardless of the maker, will probably suffice.

In your last paragraph, if resale is a possibility, then yes. But, no pun intended, if you have an LD shaft, and just want to pay for a good looking, ornate, butt end, it's unlikely that you'll get that with a good custom. So then get the production butt, if it's what suits you.

JV

 

[ridewiththewind]

I can't resist.....

The reality is that it's a bit of a rite of passage to go through some cues until you find just what you like...just about everyone who purchases their own cues for play does. There is no magic word or secret formula for finding that 'perfect' player right out of the gate.

One also needs to be aware that as one's game progresses, that one's preferences with regards to joint/pin type, balance point, weight, shaft specs, etc., will likely change as well to accommodate one's advancing skill set.

With all that said, one could find either a custom or production cue suitable. Remember that the game is 98% mental....if you are most comfortable AND confident with a broom handle, then that's going to be the cue for you.

When you take the time to educate yourself properly and do the research, you can make better informed decisions. Top custom makers are going to, typically, provide you high quality materials and an attention to detail that a production facility just can't. It's like a teacher with one student, and a teacher with 30 students....which do you think is going to be able to provide a better educational experience per student?

Production cues are perfectly fine...but bear in mind that the specs are pretty much limited from model to model. For example...I prefer flat-faced, big pin joints on my cues...but I also like a SS sleeve on that joint, just 'crisps' the hit, IMHO. I also only play with wrapless full spliced cues...with very nicely figured woods. I can't get a production facility to do that for me.

I had a local maker once tell me that the best cue is the one you play with.


Lisa

 

[SeanC]

I shoot with a Schon/314-2/triangle tip combination. I break with Mezz PB2, and jump w/ Predator air (working on the latter lol)...

I drive an older BMW M3.

It's all about the performance, feel, and handling