Double down on players or wait for OB?

[Lockbox]

Hi everyone,

I've taken pool up seriously in the last few months and my first real cue has been a players cue using the HXT skinny shaft. I really like it, but am starting to think the balance point and the 11.75mm tip is keeping me from winning more games. So, few questions for the crowd here:

1. Is it better for me to keep working on my game with this cue in order to improve?

2. I have been considering either (A) buying another HXT shaft with the 12.75mm tip or (B) waiting and saving up some funds and moving to an OB or Predator shaft.

To be honest, I really wanted to move up because of all I hear about these higher-end cues. But I really love my players cue and think I am learning quite a bit and that maybe just adding the regular HXT 12.75mm shaft to my bag might be the right (see: cheaper) move. In the end, I want to do what will help me learn and improve the most.

Thoughts?

 

[B0r]

Disclaimer: I am probably newer than you, this is more of a general experience thing that I am able to offer. Prepare grains of salt.

I would go with the upgrade to a new cue. Not at all insinuating that you could plateau with your current cue in just a few months, but the sooner you start getting proficient with the new cue the sooner you will be better overall. In my opinion. Especially if you already THINK personally that the cue is preventing success and not your fundamentals, a change is definitely warranted. I would take the higher road because everything is good now, right? Health, interest in the game, amount of free time. We only live once they say, so go hard!

 

[pocket]

<snip>but am starting to think the balance point and the 11.75mm tip is keeping me from winning more games.<snip>

Lockbox, that is pretty unlikely.

That said, get what you are going to be comfortable with. Table time is what will improve your game.

 

[Lockbox]

Lockbox, that is pretty unlikely.

That said, get what you are going to be comfortable with. Table time is what will improve your game.

To be fair, I don't presume my win % will change astronomically - but I do think the 11.75mm tip is more "challenging" to play with. At any rate, I do really like the cue, but would like to add a 12.75mm tip to my arsenal.

I appreciate the feedback, but I think in general I will stick with my players cues as the advice in a different thread re: Players vs. OB tends to say just what you did - table time will be the most useful tool of all.

If anyone has more insight, i'd love to hear it. Thanks!

 

[pocket]

To be fair, I don't presume my win % will change astronomically - but I do think the 11.75mm tip is more "challenging" to play with. At any rate, I do really like the cue, but would like to add a 12.75mm tip to my arsenal.

I appreciate the feedback, but I think in general I will stick with my players cues as the advice in a different thread re: Players vs. OB tends to say just what you did - table time will be the most useful tool of all.

If anyone has more insight, i'd love to hear it. Thanks!

Well, I bought a Lucasi cue because I loved the design. I had been playing with a Cuetc R360 prior to that.

I hated the taper that came with the Lucasi and had heard such good things about OB I bought an OB Classic + shaft for it.

I can't say my game improved or declined from any of these changes, though I enjoyed having a cue that was designed to my liking, and greatly preferred the taper of the OB to the Lucasi shaft.

Hope that helps you some.

 

[ronscuba]

To be fair, I don't presume my win % will change astronomically - but I do think the 11.75mm tip is more "challenging" to play with. At any rate, I do really like the cue, but would like to add a 12.75mm tip to my arsenal.

I appreciate the feedback, but I think in general I will stick with my players cues as the advice in a different thread re: Players vs. OB tends to say just what you did - table time will be the most useful tool of all.

If anyone has more insight, i'd love to hear it. Thanks!

I definitely find thin shafts less forgiving. They are a little lighter too which slightly changes the balance. I prefer to play with 12.75.

 

[Jdm34]

I have had all of the above if you like the HXT shaft and are a fan of LD shafts than OB or predator would be a better option IMO. Also if you going to change go with a new or used cue a players with ob or predator shaft will hold no value if you ever want to sell or trade. you can find a used cue with a ob or predator shaft for a few hundred that's already lost value. Pecheaur is a great option for price and playability. If you go to a cue with a radial or 3/8-10 pin and have a shaft you love you can change cues and keep the shaft you like cause those are very common threads unlike the players thread.

 

[Lockbox]

I definitely find thin shafts less forgiving. They are a little lighter too which slightly changes the balance. I prefer to play with 12.75.

Thank you to everyone for all of the advice, thusfar. This comment resonated with me - I went and purchased the players HXT 12.75 and have practiced with it once so far. Aside from just having the larger tip size, the weight, balance and taper seem to be more agreeable.

I don't know if it will have a big impact, but overall the cue feels more steady in my hand. I am still working on all aspects of my game (obviously) but will be shooting with this as my main cue for the next few weeks to see how it goes.