Does a 'good' hit actually matter or is it all hype?
- Thread starter zpele
- Start date
LMAO! I was thinking WTF when I read that too! I'm glad it wasn't just me.
Hahah...after the first sentence, sounded like he might be on to something...but then he counted to potato.
Yeah, and Efren insists that his cue must have black in it, or it isn't "lucky".
That said, "hit" means a lot to me, personally. I like a cue with a solid, substantial hit. If it has a softer hit, or makes a lot of noise (think "plink" instead of "thunk") it gets in my head. It makes me feel like the tip or ferrel isn't quite right, even if there's no issue with the control on the cue ball. I also like some level of feedback/vibration that I feel in my hands, that tells me exactly how I hit the cue ball. I've had two cues in my life that I felt were perfect hits for me...my Schon STL17 and my current player, an -R- I had made specifically to get the hit I wanted--and it worked. When the hit is right, I'm free to concentrate on the stuff that matters to run out.If you have to ask if hit matters, it probably doesn't to you...or you've been lucky to have a cue that hits good for you. Once you get a lemon, you'll know what hit means to you.
Yeah, and Efren insists that his cue must have black in it, or it isn't "lucky".
If you have to ask if hit matters, it probably doesn't to you...or you've been lucky to have a cue that hits good for you. Once you get a lemon, you'll know what hit means to you.
To be honest hit doesn't really matter to me because it disappears when I play. What matters to me is purity of form in the stroke, the pattern I am playing, and exact spin/speed to get the cueball to exactly where I want it after it touches the object ball.
The feedback of the hit of the cue is not something I have ever paid attention to. Maybe because the hit is feedback received after contact with the cueball. If speed/spin was wrong it likely originates from tip placement or stroke issues and I don't think the way a cue feels factors into it. Yes, one cue can feel different but I have always been of the opinion that it does not affect playability it only magnifies imperfections if you are looking for feedback based on hit.
Now I'm not saying that one cue to another will not play differently but I wonder if hit has anything to do with it or if it's just another type of feedback that we use.
This returns me to my original question- does hit actually matter (other than feedback)? Does the theoretical cue with the most perfect feeling 'hit' in the world actually play better?
Dr Daves link did a lot for answering some of my questions but I'm still wondering. I'm not even sure if it's something anyone can answer for me. A lot of us pool players search for the 'holy grail' cue but the more I play and the better I get the less I think it matters what you use and the more your stroke plays the most important factor.
A bat is actually a very good analogy.
As a player who uses different cues quite often, I generally agree with the statements above.
I'll expand on this by adding, once a player reaches a certain point where mechanics, stroke, aiming, cue ball control and pattern play become almost sub-conscious, I believe mental strength becomes the absolute most important aspect of play. And at that point, the most important thing about your cue is that it should not be something you ever have to think about during normal play. (Obviously, if tip flies off mid-match, you will be thinking about it... but you know what I mean)
Figuring out what kind of hit and cue characteristics you prefer are part of the development process, but I feel like beginners who start to overthink their equipment choice too deeply and too early tend to plateau in skill development... But I also think that once you reach a certain point, the equipment can hold you back as well.
I think an important consideration to this topic would be to ask at what point does a player become good enough to even realize they are playing with the wrong cue for them?
I look at it this way...Your hands, eyes, and knowledge of the game make up 85% of your success. Your equipment is the remaining 15%.
Most players would be better served by spending their $$ on private lessons rather than searching for better equipment. There are exceptions of course, but I suspect only a small % of players fall into that category.
While I prefer certain types of cues, I could likley get used to and win with most any decent cue.
Most players would be better served by spending their $$ on private lessons rather than searching for better equipment. There are exceptions of course, but I suspect only a small % of players fall into that category.
While I prefer certain types of cues, I could likley get used to and win with most any decent cue.
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Your well-expressed last sentence, if you believe it (I certainly do) directly shows why it's not all hype (as you initially state).
Arnaldo
A lot of people don't know the difference between a good hitting cue and just a regular cue.
Most people just want a certain color.
With me...you better believe the hit of the cue is everything.
To pocket balls and move the cue ball around to where you want
it to go----the cue has to hit good.
Most people just want a certain color.
With me...you better believe the hit of the cue is everything.
To pocket balls and move the cue ball around to where you want
it to go----the cue has to hit good.
But why? The function of a hit of a cue is just feedback that happens after the cueball is struck and is not something that directly effects the way a cueball travels. Why does it effect whether you make a shot? Is it all mental or does it actually make a difference?
If we are talking about balance that is something else entirely but I wonder if some mistake balance with hit.
It all makes a difference. If it didn't, you Sport Craft Cues sales would be through
the roof.:rotflmao1:
No...it's not mental. A good player will feel the difference.:smile:
If the function is to provide feedback, then couldn't it be presumed that the better the feedback, the better the cue? The better the cue, the easier it is for the player to use? The easier it is to use, the better the player can play?
There's no question certain cues spin the ball better so the ball doesn't have to be hit as far off center. Some have more efficient energy transfer, resulting in more power to the ball with less stroke. Some cues are simply easier to play with, easier to trust. Some are horrible. Most are somewhere in between, adequate but not special. Personally speaking, the cue has a big effect on my game. I find it tough to play with a cue I cannot control or cannot move the ball with. If you are one of those players who doesn't care, and can run racks with anything, then I guess it doesn't matter. But for me, I play best with a good cue.
I have never seen convincing evidence of this. For all practical purposes, regardless of the type of cue and type of tip, if the tip contact point on the ball is the same in any comparison (assuming the cue elevation is also the same, and the stroke is in the same direction, and there is no miscue), the amount of spin delivered to the CB should be the same (or extremely close).
Now, with a long shot, if you use the same stroke "effort" in the comparison, a heavy cue with a hard tip might create at different reaction off a cushion as compared to a light cue with a soft tip, but that's because the CB might have different speeds in the comparison. Since side-spin wears off over time, the slower shot will lose more spin before it reaches the cushion.
For more info, see the getting more spin with an LD shaft resource page and the tip hardness effects resource page.
Regards,
Dave