Do I need a longer cue?

NewGuy

NewGuy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I started taking lessons with a new instructor and one thing he noticed is that my cue is too short for me. When he showed me where my grip hand should be to form a perfect 90 degree with my elbow, my hand was almost off the cue. I'm not that tall (almost 6 feet), but I do have long arms. I think my sleeve length is 36 or something like that. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm kind of surprised that my old instructor didn't notice this.

By the way, my new instructor doesn't sell cues, doesn't have friends who sell cues or anything like that. He didn't even suggest that I get a new one now. He just wanted to make me aware of it so that I get a longer cue when I do buy a new one.
 
JMO,

But whether you need a longer cue or not depends alot of times on not your height, but your wingspan so to speak. As people have evolved over the last 200 years, people are generally taller. When cues were being used back in the early part of the century, people were shorter and a 57 inch cue would work fine, but nowadays people are taller and their arms are indeed longer. Better nutrition has ALOT to do with this by the way...so yes...you probably do indeed need a 60"+ cue perhaps. Find someone with one and try it and see if it feels better is my advice. If you lived nearby me in Florida I have a 60" Schick I would be more than happy to let you hit a few balls with at my home.

Hope this helps,
Shorty
 
Last edited:
Entirely up to you

but I would go to a cuemaker, and see if he had a 60" that
you could stroke and get the feel for. Bewilders me a bit,
because I have friends that are 6'4" to 6'6" and they use
normal sized cues, so it makes me wonder how you are
holding the cue to begin with ... But you should do what
is RIGHT FOR YOU.
 
how long is your bridge? How far are you setting up from the ball, both those factors come into play
 
I do have a longer 'wing span' as Shorty says. My arms are slightly longer than other people my height. My instructor had me move my bridge hand closer, which seemed to help a little. Not sure what the distance is, maybe 10 inches or so. But my hand is still not on the wrap.

When I first started, people would always tell me to place my hand on the wrap. But something about it never felt quite right. I guess that's why I naturally always moved it down without really noticing.

I'll try to find a 60" cue and see if it feels better.
 
well im 6 4, and ive never had a cue that i got to put my hand on the wrap lol, my hand goes right behind the wrap on my schon but its not off the butt either.

I was like you, wrestled with the idea of a longer cue, finally picked up a 60" steve klein off ebay 2 weeks ago and i like it. The only downside is the extra weight, used to shooting with an 18.5 0z cue and this one is 20.1. Down the road i will probably get a nice custom made for me, 60" and maybe a lighter wood to get me back around 18.5

good luck
 
I am 5" 10", have short arms, build cues, play with 58" cue, and a play off the BACK of the CUE - not the wrap - off the Back of the Butt. I do not plan on building myself a longer cue. Key is: I am comfortable with where I play on the cue - and I WIN playing there.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
 
Jack Madden said:
I am 5" 10", have short arms, build cues, play with 58" cue, and a play off the BACK of the CUE - not the wrap - off the Back of the Butt. I do not plan on building myself a longer cue. Key is: I am comfortable with where I play on the cue - and I WIN playing there.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
Click to expand...

It's not so much playing off the back of the cue that's the problem. However, when you have to change your form or run out of cue then it's a problem.
 
zeeder said:
It's not so much playing off the back of the cue that's the problem. However, when you have to change your form or run out of cue then it's a problem.
Click to expand...
Zeeder
My point was - you play where you are comfortable. I have a lot of inquiries on "someone told me I need to have a longer cue". But as a player first, builder second my concern is - do you just order another cue because someone perceives that since you are tall, have long arms and playing off the back of the cue that it is "wrong". If it is uncomfortable or "run out of cue" then yes you need a longer cue. And with that statement I have probably lost a sale or two for a longer custom cue.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
 
NewGuy said:
I started taking lessons with a new instructor and one thing he noticed is that my cue is too short for me. When he showed me where my grip hand should be to form a perfect 90 degree with my elbow, my hand was almost off the cue. I'm not that tall (almost 6 feet), but I do have long arms. I think my sleeve length is 36 or something like that. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm kind of surprised that my old instructor didn't notice this.

By the way, my new instructor doesn't sell cues, doesn't have friends who sell cues or anything like that. He didn't even suggest that I get a new one now. He just wanted to make me aware of it so that I get a longer cue when I do buy a new one.
Click to expand...

I wear a 35 sleeve, and the only way I have my grip hand on the wrap is with a 60" cue. It will free up your stroke to get the longer cue.

Chris
 
Jack Madden said:
Zeeder
My point was - you play where you are comfortable. I have a lot of inquiries on "someone told me I need to have a longer cue". But as a player first, builder second my concern is - do you just order another cue because someone perceives that since you are tall, have long arms and playing off the back of the cue that it is "wrong". If it is uncomfortable or "run out of cue" then yes you need a longer cue. And with that statement I have probably lost a sale or two for a longer custom cue.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
Click to expand...

You've just gotten used to the feel (weight balance) of grabbing the butt sleeve and not having a wrap. That's fine. I know some other good players, even pros, who do the same thing.

It's better to put your hand where it naturally goes, like you do, based on your own mechanics and stroke than to try to force the grip hand to go on the wrap on a too-short cue.

But if someone wants to have their grip hand in the wrap area, which I prefer, they might need a longer cue.

Chris
 
Jack Madden said:
Zeeder
My point was - you play where you are comfortable. I have a lot of inquiries on "someone told me I need to have a longer cue". But as a player first, builder second my concern is - do you just order another cue because someone perceives that since you are tall, have long arms and playing off the back of the cue that it is "wrong". If it is uncomfortable or "run out of cue" then yes you need a longer cue. And with that statement I have probably lost a sale or two for a longer custom cue.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
Click to expand...

I agree. I didn't move to longer cues until I had some lessons and got my form straightened out a bit. After this the instructor, and I, noticed that I was all the way towards the end of the cue on most shots and on a lot of stroke shots my hand was hanging off the cue. I agree with the other poster who said that a longer cue can give you more stroke freedom like shorter people get to enjoy...lol.
 
higher tables?

Shorty said:
JMO,

But whether you need a longer cue or not depends alot of times on not your height, but your wingspan so to speak. As people have evolved over the last 200 years, people are generally taller. When cues were being used back in the early part of the century, people were shorter and a 57 inch cue would work fine, but nowadays people are taller and their arms are indeed longer. Better nutrition has ALOT to do with this by the way...so yes...you probably do indeed need a 60"+ cue perhaps. Find someone with one and try it and see if it feels better is my advice. If you lived nearby me in Florida I have a 60" Schick I would be more than happy to let you hit a few balls with at my home.

Hope this helps,
Shorty
Click to expand...

People are also taller these days. How many of you or friends of yours develop sore necks and backs from playing a lot of pool? I know some of the pros talk about it a lot. I noticed this and had my table made to sit 2.5 inches higher than the maximum allowed by the BCA rules. It makes a difference. When they made those rules people were considerably shorter. Think about it.

Pawnmon
 
Thanks for the replies everyone.

The way I currently hold the cue, my hand is just behind the wrap. My instructor noticed this and had me move it all the way to the end. Even then, he said I probably needed another inch or two. When I tried it this way, my stroke was a lot smoother. I was able to get a lot more action with the cue ball.

Another thing he changed is my stance. He has me standing more sideways to the shot with my entire body out of the way. My previous instructor had me square to the shot with my right foot near the line of the cue. Unfortunately this meant that my follow through wasn't completely free. With the new stance I was able to have a free range of motion.
 
pawnmon said:
People are also taller these days. How many of you or friends of yours develop sore necks and backs from playing a lot of pool? I know some of the pros talk about it a lot. I noticed this and had my table made to sit 2.5 inches higher than the maximum allowed by the BCA rules. It makes a difference. When they made those rules people were considerably shorter. Think about it.

Pawnmon
Click to expand...

Pawnmon
After I moved to Montana, I set up my shop differently. I raised my lathes off the floor for the same reason. Of course some of my lathes are older than I am. But it does make a difference - after 12 hours working on them my back doesn't hurt and I can go knock the balls around the pool table for a couple hours.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
 
Other factors...

Height does not directly relate to reach. Did you ever notice that almost everyone's arms are the same length, from elbow to wrist? One factor that effects the distance from shooting hand to bridge hand, is how high your stance is. Another is how open your stance is, a more open stance would give you more usable cue length. Another variable is angle of upper arm to forearm, on the bridging arm.

Tracy
 
I remember reading somewhere how to determine what length cue you would need. I think it was on Blackjack Dave Sapolis' site.

And to throw a wrench into the works, it depends on whether you like a forward-balanced cue or something that heavier towards the butt.

Which do you prefer?

Barbara
 
Barbara said:
I remember reading somewhere how to determine what length cue you would need. I think it was on Blackjack Dave Sapolis' site.

And to throw a wrench into the works, it depends on whether you like a forward-balanced cue or something that heavier towards the butt.

Which do you prefer?

Barbara
Click to expand...
Is this the one you're talking about?
 
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