Deteremining proper cue length

[spliced]

Spliced,

I think you're on to something with the THD concept. Clearly, that is different for different people and is the largest part of what accounts for the need for different sized cues. But you said it shouldn't change much for different sized cues. I say it wouldn't ever change. That's because rather than measuring it as you normally grip the cue, which may not be optimal, and may change a little from shot to shot, the measurement should be taken with the grip arm in the vertical orientation, with the cue level.

You have the right idea but the THD does vary depending on the shot. It gets longer the lower your stance. On a shot where you are able to get very low, with your back arm vertical, your THD may be 50 inches. Now on a shot where you are more upright for whatever reason, your back arm will need to move foward on the handle to be vertical, and your THD may become 45 inches.

It also changes with how far your bridging arm is extended. This varies between shots as well.

When determining proper cue length, the longest THD measurement (when you are down with your chin on the cue, your back arm vertical, and with your bridge arm fully extended) should be used.

Ian

 

[manwon]

I've found a cue style that i really like would like to pick one up. However I've noticed since my game has gotten better, more angles on shots and postions have become excedingly awkward. Like the cue is to short. And i constantly have to watch i dont bridge too short and have to poke. I have two 58" cues that i shoot with. I'm thinking a 60" or 62" cue would allow me to keep better form and posture and have better control. Is there any type of mreasurements with CB position on the table that i can do to find out which length would be best? I'm 6'5" and am getting tired of holding my cue with 3" sticking out of the butt, and bidged 5". I prefer a longer bridge, closer to 10". But some shots force me to short bridge because i cant bend over the way i want to sight everything in. Its either that or standup.

Remember, if you have a custom builder build you a longer cue it best to make sure that the shaft and the Butt are of equal length. When the shaft is more than two inches longer than the cues butt, it becomes whippy and increases the cue deflection. In addition if you go beyond 30 1/2 or possibly 31 inches in length you will also most likely have to have a custom case built.

 

[conetip]

To solve the case issue , just get a snooker case. Then you can have a cue shaft 39 inches long.
Alot of snooker cues are a 2/3 or 3/4 break point.
With my cues , I have not seen any difference in playability from the short handle long shaft compared to the even break cue. The longer shaft is 36.25 inches long.
Both cues are about 59 inches long.
Neil