Did that Custom ~really~ help You??
- Thread starter raemondo
- Start date
Find a custom cue and use it for a month.
After that month is up, put it away and go back to the cheap stuff......and then tell us the difference.
After that month is up, put it away and go back to the cheap stuff......and then tell us the difference.
custom stick => better game?
Custom cues are wonderful objects, top craftsmanship infused with whatever you imagine them to be. Production cues have a wide range of prices and quality. There's some overlap - great production cues can be better than poor custom cues.
But it isn't the expensive tennis racket that makes Agassi great, nor the best clubs that makes Tiger the best, nor the high priced glove that makes Jeter a Gold Glove winner.
And your new cue won't make you better; heart, skills, determination and (mostly) practice will make you better.
On the other hand, the best want the best equipment, and you only go round once, so what the hell - get the cue & enjoy it.
Custom cues are wonderful objects, top craftsmanship infused with whatever you imagine them to be. Production cues have a wide range of prices and quality. There's some overlap - great production cues can be better than poor custom cues.
But it isn't the expensive tennis racket that makes Agassi great, nor the best clubs that makes Tiger the best, nor the high priced glove that makes Jeter a Gold Glove winner.
And your new cue won't make you better; heart, skills, determination and (mostly) practice will make you better.
On the other hand, the best want the best equipment, and you only go round once, so what the hell - get the cue & enjoy it.
I guess its just personal opinion, for what you want to use.
I see some guys who are A or AA or Open rated players using Schons or Predators, and some of them using a Custom cue like a Hunter, or Gilbert, or Jacoby, or whatever.
I have also seen some guys who are APA 3's, 4's, and 5's using a 1000$ Schon or Gilbert or Jacoby.
Does it make them play better? No
i use a 400$ Espiritu stock model, and love the way it plays.
dave
I see some guys who are A or AA or Open rated players using Schons or Predators, and some of them using a Custom cue like a Hunter, or Gilbert, or Jacoby, or whatever.
I have also seen some guys who are APA 3's, 4's, and 5's using a 1000$ Schon or Gilbert or Jacoby.
Does it make them play better? No
i use a 400$ Espiritu stock model, and love the way it plays.
dave
raemondo said:
A personal cue will help your game for several reason, the most obvious being that you put a consistent stick in your hands.
If you truly buy a custom cue, and you get the specifications that you want, then it should help your game. The weight, balance and taper would be made to match your stroke, and that should be a plus. However, if you simply buy a cue from a custom maker, it may be a complete detriment to your game if those parameter don't jibe with your stroke.
Fred
raemondo said:
You didn't mention how long you have been playing. I only started playing (again) this year after I retired and I would not consider ordering a custom cue because I haven't played with enough different cues to make an intelligent decision as to what to order. I stumbled upon a Schon at a good price awhile ago and I'm happy with it, haven't played with anything else since I got it. I'm still a long ways from being a good player but that's me, not the cue.
raemondo said:
There is no right or wrong answer here. The right cue for you may happen to be a production cue, or a custom cue.
There are many different "set ups" of cues for a reason... everyone is different in build, tempo, power, style, taste, etc....
What is right for you, only you know...but it is not weather it is a custom cue or not... It is if it has the right hit, balance, weight, tip , taper, deflection, feedback, look, etc.
The whole idea behind a "custom" cue is that you get more control over those factors....but you may very well find a $150.00 Lucasi or Cuetech that fits all those specs above...
A good player will be a good player with any cue...they will be able to pocket balls with any cue....The CB control is where the "right" cue makes the biggest difference in your game.
Oh wow guys, thanks a MILLION for all those responses, I really appreciate all the advice given. It's answered quite a few questions I've had in my head and brought out more concerns for me that I should think about before buying the custom.
First of all, I played snooker for 5 years, then switched to pool, which I have been playing for about 2 years. I have a pretty decent stroke I guess, probably because of my snooker background. However, I do NOT know what kind of taper, ferrule, tip, balance point etc etc I'd like. I've only played with 3 different pool shafts so far and I don't have a full grasp of what's the best combination for me. All I have is a fuzzy idea because I play well with a stiff taper, but I can't say how stiff it's gotta be.
I do see the point about being able to fully reap the benefits of a custom only when I do know what I want, but if I never step into this realm of first purchasing a custom cue, I will never know, will I? I don't know this for sure, but I'm guessing that most people find out what they like from being able to play or try many different cues. In this respect, I'm going to hold myself back a notch and not set my sights too fixedly on a Gilbert. I'm gonna go to the Derby, and hopefully, there are enough customs for me to try and find what I like. Even if I custom-make a cue now, I'd be going for mostly the standard defaults the cuemaker would recommend.
I guess partly the reason for getting a custom is because I see so many beautiful customs here (I'm blaming you guys) and it translates into a desire and a want. I know that Andy makes a cue for as little as 450 but I gotta have some veneers and some inlays in there, else I'd never feel good about it. I agree with the feeling good and playing good part...it just contributes more to the fact that pool IS BEYOND A DOUBT a mental game between you and the table. But I agree, I'd be having sex with the right girl whilst doing that.
People also tell me about the "feedback" I'd get from a custom...I guess this is something I'd never understand until I try it for myself. IMO, the Pechauer is a wonderful hitting cue.
I'm not one to get the cue for bragging rights....the cue is what it means to me, and that's more than enough.
I guess I was also naively wanting to believe that if I had the best equipment possible, there'd be more room for me to make jumps in my game. Truth is, I think I'm still a solid C+ player, and there's probably more in my game I should work on than contemplating the custom.
So thanks guys again for the great comments ------ the verdict is that I'm going to the Derby and trying out the cues, and take it from there. I'm sure that when I meet the AZers at the private room, they'd / you'd be able to give me more advice on my game and my cue.
thanks,
ray
First of all, I played snooker for 5 years, then switched to pool, which I have been playing for about 2 years. I have a pretty decent stroke I guess, probably because of my snooker background. However, I do NOT know what kind of taper, ferrule, tip, balance point etc etc I'd like. I've only played with 3 different pool shafts so far and I don't have a full grasp of what's the best combination for me. All I have is a fuzzy idea because I play well with a stiff taper, but I can't say how stiff it's gotta be.
I do see the point about being able to fully reap the benefits of a custom only when I do know what I want, but if I never step into this realm of first purchasing a custom cue, I will never know, will I? I don't know this for sure, but I'm guessing that most people find out what they like from being able to play or try many different cues. In this respect, I'm going to hold myself back a notch and not set my sights too fixedly on a Gilbert. I'm gonna go to the Derby, and hopefully, there are enough customs for me to try and find what I like. Even if I custom-make a cue now, I'd be going for mostly the standard defaults the cuemaker would recommend.
I guess partly the reason for getting a custom is because I see so many beautiful customs here (I'm blaming you guys) and it translates into a desire and a want. I know that Andy makes a cue for as little as 450 but I gotta have some veneers and some inlays in there, else I'd never feel good about it. I agree with the feeling good and playing good part...it just contributes more to the fact that pool IS BEYOND A DOUBT a mental game between you and the table. But I agree, I'd be having sex with the right girl whilst doing that.
People also tell me about the "feedback" I'd get from a custom...I guess this is something I'd never understand until I try it for myself. IMO, the Pechauer is a wonderful hitting cue.
I'm not one to get the cue for bragging rights....the cue is what it means to me, and that's more than enough.
I guess I was also naively wanting to believe that if I had the best equipment possible, there'd be more room for me to make jumps in my game. Truth is, I think I'm still a solid C+ player, and there's probably more in my game I should work on than contemplating the custom.
So thanks guys again for the great comments ------ the verdict is that I'm going to the Derby and trying out the cues, and take it from there. I'm sure that when I meet the AZers at the private room, they'd / you'd be able to give me more advice on my game and my cue.
thanks,
ray
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Can't say my game changed much with my custom daily player. I played with a schon and joss before that (well ok I've played with tons over the years). Custom cues let you get what you want, looking how you want. Mine don't play or hit better than my schon did in reality. I just like them more from a personal preference level.
I will say my dz sneaky hits and feels better to me than any other sneaky I've had. I've owned meucci, mcdermott, joss, schon, and scruggs sneaky's and prefer the dz over all of them. I really should make it my daily player, but I like a wrap so I use a different cue.
I will say my dz sneaky hits and feels better to me than any other sneaky I've had. I've owned meucci, mcdermott, joss, schon, and scruggs sneaky's and prefer the dz over all of them. I really should make it my daily player, but I like a wrap so I use a different cue.
raemondo,
Seriously if you have the $$$ to spend on getting a Gilbert, then do it.
And the only way you will improve is by practice and practicing with better players.
I cant say, you will make more notice-able jumps in improvement, but sometimes you get that sence of " Hey i have a custom cue so i can make this shot no Prob " confidence so you tend to make shots you normally wont. Or tend to take shots you might normally not take also and make them too.
dave
Seriously if you have the $$$ to spend on getting a Gilbert, then do it.
And the only way you will improve is by practice and practicing with better players.
I cant say, you will make more notice-able jumps in improvement, but sometimes you get that sence of " Hey i have a custom cue so i can make this shot no Prob " confidence so you tend to make shots you normally wont. Or tend to take shots you might normally not take also and make them too.
dave