Do you like forward or rear balanced cues?

HawaiianEye

HawaiianEye

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
How do you like your cues balanced and why?

I prefer somewhere around 18-19" from the butt.

That fits my wingspan best and feels balanced when I am in my normal stance over the table.

Most of my cues are somewhere within that range.

Here are a few showing the differences in balance points (marked with tape).

The cues are different weights but the balance points are about the same.

The top cue is 57" (made in May 1973) and the rest are 58".

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IMG_0153.jpeg
 
Black Blade Carbon cues sells balance points not at your 19 inches but some at 29 inches. I have not had a chance to try one. Generally, players don't like them but someone is buying them. See AZ discussion here and reviews at the company's website. Here is one owner's comments:

I believe not holding the weight of the cue with my back hand has slowed my backswing which helps me to stay in line on the shot. You are effectively pulling the weight backward which seems to really aid in this. I am currently playing with a soon to be released variable weight shaft at 9.66oz so with the 9oz butt, I am at an 18.66oz cue. When compared to competitors 19oz cue with a carbon shaft and traditionally balanced, I swing the Black Blade Carbon Cue slower to get the same distance of cue ball travel. This once again is a "feel" thing but being able to swing slower and get more is a win in my book. I really like the ability to adjust weight for table sizes and cloth age.​
Black Blade cue all CF.jpg
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Black Blade cue yellow.jpg
 
When I hold an assembled cue in my hand I prefer a neutral balance - that is, not feeling the cue to be heavier at either end.
For me, a cue swings more smoothly if it does not feel pushed( rear balance) or pulled( by a forward balance).
My Richard Black cue has the best neutral balance of any of more than a hundred or more owned cues .
 
mikemosconi said:
When I hold an assembled cue in my hand I prefer a neutral balance - that is, not feeling the cue to be heavier at either end.
For me, a cue swings more smoothly if it does not feel pushed( rear balance) or pulled( by a forward balance).
My Richard Black cue has the best neutral balance of any of more than a hundred or more owned cues .
Click to expand...
What is the balance point on the Black.

I think both of mine were around 18" or so.
 
FWIW, I tend to find that tall people or those who hold the cue at the end of the butt or have really long bridges prefer rear weighted cues.
 
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As I used to mostly use my 4 Schon's, When weighting them for my preferred weight at the time,19.5-19.6 oz, they all balanced between 18 7/8 and 19 1/2". I tried to make every cue I had balance and weigh similar. In the last year, since I got my 2 Jacoby's, I have been experimenting shooting my cues slightly lighter, and slightly less forward weight.
I struggled and shot worse for a bit as when I took some weight out of the butt or with the lighter shafts, I didn't feel as smooth with my stroke. A lot of this was brought on because of the carbon and now Kielwood shafts for the Jacoby's. I've played with weighting the Kielwood shaft a few tenths, and adding some weights to the joint of the carbon.
I've played around a lot, and for about three months my game has suffered but it's not only getting better now, but I'm now shooting better than I have in a long time with a slight weight change of .3 to .4 less oz. Right now my cues are 19.1-19.2 oz and balance 18 3/8-18 7/8". I'm now liking the lighter weight and feel it is easier shooting soft shots. I just have to be careful shooting balls off the rail edge and shooting over the top of a ball especially with the less forward weight of the Kielwood shaft. I think some of this is with those two types of shots, my hand is more forward on the cue. I just need to pay attention and not get sloppy.
I've dropped the weight of my Schon also to closely match the Jacoby I've mainly been playing and really like it now.
I'll keep shooting the Jacoby though as I really like the Kielwood shaft the way I have it set up.
Anyway, I used to like 19- 19 1/2 balance, now I'm fine with an 18 1/2-19".
 
Funny I almost started a thread on this because i have a old McD butt that I shortened and sanded down to use as butt for a break cue. Also in the bars where a shorty is needed. Long jumps pretty good also. Anyways I put a 4" extension on it and a regular shaft and it is so front heavy that I thought guys that want a front heavy cue can't mean this front heavy.
 
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