Does the cue make the player?

9balllvr

9balllvr

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have wondered this for a while - have even heard from pro players and road players that once they got "this" cue, their game improved, etc. I would like to know what you guys think - can a cue improve your game? or is it mental? if you are one that thinks it can improve your game, what cue does it for you?

Thanks for your responses.

9balllvr
 
its 90% player at the least, a cue helps some but you cant train in what god left out with any piece of wood.
 
I would say it depends very much on the player. A 314 shaft won't do too much for a banger but it may help a little, but it a good cue will definitely help a B player or A player if they have only ever played with crappy cues. But if they have always played with high end cues, I believe any noticeable improvement will probably be all in their head.

As for pros, I dunno. All I do know is that I have watched snooker pros run centuries with warped house cues, and then run another century with their own cue.

I believe a good player should be able to play well with anything that has a good tip on it.
 
Mostly mental. Certain cues are better suited to a certain player ie weight, balance point, length tip size etc etc etc. But its still the shooter that is making the ball go in the pocket, not the cue. Contrary to popular belief, people were pocketing balls long before we had "low deflection" shafts and 20 dollar leather tips. Sometimes ..... people pocketed balls in the 100s without a predator..... :eek: Hard to believe but true. :D
I can prove the point by putting a $50 poorly made cue in Efren Reyes hands, and putting a $2000 well built custom cue in the hands of a novice. See what Im getting at?
Chuck
 
A cue needs to meet certain requirements. If its straight, has a good tip and bends in a way that the shooter is accustomed to, they should have little problem executing most that they're familiar with. The cue doesn't make the shooter. I really wish it were that simple. However, it doesn't hurt to have good equipment.
 
Other than your stroke, the only thing that I believe significantly affects your game is the tip, ferrule and shaft. As long as the cue is straight and the shaft has little to no deflection; there isn't much of a difference between a $200 cue or a $20,000 cue. Sure some cues hit more solid; but that doesn't affect your aim nor does it make the cue ball magically give you position. Don't get me wrong, balance and weight are also a factor; but all that can be adjusted.

That doesn't mean you can go out and get a cue from K-Mart though. Those things are horrible. Sure you can put on a good ferrule and tip on them and they will play decently for a little while. But sooner or later they will warp on you or split somewhere in the butt. So yes, a cue does affect a persons ability to play; but only to a certain extent.
 
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RiverCity said:
Mostly mental. Certain cues are better suited to a certain player ie weight, balance point, length tip size etc etc etc. But its still the shooter that is making the ball go in the pocket, not the cue. Contrary to popular belief, people were pocketing balls long before we had "low deflection" shafts and 20 dollar leather tips. Sometimes ..... people pocketed balls in the 100s without a predator..... :eek: Hard to believe but true. :D
I can prove the point by putting a $50 poorly made cue in Efren Reyes hands, and putting a $2000 well built custom cue in the hands of a novice. See what Im getting at?
Chuck
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and don't forget the $1000 bet on the light. That makes a $50 cue in his hands act like a Balbushka. Johnnyt
 
Maybe the cue does make the player, but i doubt it...

according to Falcon Cues - "A cuestick's good looks can affect a player's mindset, and give him or her a competitive edge." :rolleyes:
 
despotic931 said:
according to Falcon Cues - "A cuestick's good looks can affect a player's mindset, and give him or her a competitive edge." :rolleyes:
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Players that think that way are always buying a new cue after every bad week. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
Players that think that way are always buying a new cue after every bad week. Johnnyt
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Sir, you do realize that that was a joke, correct? I wouldn't trade my sticker laden fiberglass sportscraft cue for the world ;)
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
A cue needs to meet certain requirements. ...bends in a way that the shooter is ...familiar with. ...doesn't hurt to have good equipment.
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Jude hits another homer: predictability leads to consistancy, translated into better play.
 
I personally believe a cue is only as good as the operator.

With that said I think a new cue can inspire one to play better.

I'm having one made that should be finished next month--I'll let you know if I play better.
 
I believe its what you feel comfortable with,i tend to play with big pin phenolic jointed cues because i am used to the hit with a med. hard tip,i dont think the maker of the cue matters alot to me as long as its straight.I wouldnt return to a small pin stainless steel jointed cue again though as the hit is too different from what im used to.
 
I feel like I play better, for a while, right after I get a new cue. It seems like I am focused more on the stroke and hit, therefore "zoning" myself into the game. This effect only lasts a little while, but I like it when it happens.

Mike
 
9balllvr said:
I have wondered this for a while - have even heard from pro players and road players that once they got "this" cue, their game improved, etc. I would like to know what you guys think - can a cue improve your game? or is it mental? if you are one that thinks it can improve your game, what cue does it for you?

Thanks for your responses.

9balllvr
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Sure it can, but only if that particular new cue fits the player. I just got a new cue. I couldn't make two balls in a row with it. This of course assumes that I could make two balls in a row with some other cue.

So, if a cue can make me play worse, I think its reasonable that there is a cue that will make a person play better (provided their playing with a cue that isn't allowing them to play their best).


Fred
 
I feel that always playing with the *same* specification of cue (weight, shaft taper, shaft size at tip, brand of tip, hardness of tip, and curvature of tip) will make for more consistent play in the long run.

So pick a certain weight and stick with that weight forever. Don't go changing things. Always use the same brand tip and keep it in excellent condition - same curvature. Always chalk well before each shot especially around the sides of the tip.

I see a lot of players get a new [different] cue and their game goes out the window. Or they get a different tip and their game goes out the window.

When I get a new cue, I order it to be exactly to my specifications. Then it plays the same as my older cue. So I have a cue which says Meucci on the butt/Predator 314 shaft, Moori hard dime shaped tip. 19.5 oz. Well that plays the same as a Predator sneaky pete I have which also is 19.5 oz, Moori hard dime shaped tip, 314 shaft.
 
Thank you to all that replied - very interesting answers. My curiousity stems from several conversations overheard in pool rooms and my assumption has always been that it was mental. Thanks again. 9balllvr
 
9balllvr said:
Thank you to all that replied - very interesting answers. My curiousity stems from several conversations overheard in pool rooms and my assumption has always been that it was mental. Thanks again. 9balllvr
Click to expand...

Get "Pleasure of Small Motions" and you will understand why a person will believe a new cue has helped their game.
 
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