Ernie Martinez thoughts
- Thread starter egon
- Start date
Owned Omens and Martinez cues
Man, I know I shouldn't go here because everyone knows describing a cue's hit is completely subjective. I had 3 different Omen 3/8-11 jointed cues that all played marvelous and one was even an ivory joint amboyna burl pointed beauty in gaboon ebony. I have owned one Ernie and played with a couple others. I noticed a definite difference between my Omens and the Ernies. For lack of a better word, stiffness of hit is the factor I noticed most. The Omen had a medium solid hit with excellent feedback but would not be classed as a rock hard solid hitting cue in my book. They were on par with my Paul Mottey in the feel and hit.
My first plain Jane Ernie hit like a break cue crushing 9 and 8 ball racks. On two occasions, I sent object balls from the rack flying off the table on the break while the cue ball stayed on the table. Never seen that before, but it happened a couple times with that Ernie. Bad table or breaking technique maybe, but it was the same table I played weekly with my other cues.
I got rid of it because it hit so hard that It felt like had a steel rod running through it and I just wasn't used to a cue that hit so stiff. If I had a really good stroke, that wouldn't have been an issue. Since I am a hack player with a lousy stroke or no stroke at all 50% of the time and a decent stroke the rest of the time, I had trouble getting comfortable with Ernies I played with. Another issue you have to be prepared for is that he makes the screw completely a non-standard screw size like 3/8-8, 12 or 14 or something which means it is hard to find other cue makers with matching dies or taps to make added shafts or work on the cue.
For serious pro level 9 & 10 ball players who have a REAL stroke, that like a really Hard, stiff, tack driving cue, Ernies could be the trick. Compared to a Harris or Southwest, I think Ernies hit even more solid.
Pure opinion.
egon said:
Man, I know I shouldn't go here because everyone knows describing a cue's hit is completely subjective. I had 3 different Omen 3/8-11 jointed cues that all played marvelous and one was even an ivory joint amboyna burl pointed beauty in gaboon ebony. I have owned one Ernie and played with a couple others. I noticed a definite difference between my Omens and the Ernies. For lack of a better word, stiffness of hit is the factor I noticed most. The Omen had a medium solid hit with excellent feedback but would not be classed as a rock hard solid hitting cue in my book. They were on par with my Paul Mottey in the feel and hit.
My first plain Jane Ernie hit like a break cue crushing 9 and 8 ball racks. On two occasions, I sent object balls from the rack flying off the table on the break while the cue ball stayed on the table. Never seen that before, but it happened a couple times with that Ernie. Bad table or breaking technique maybe, but it was the same table I played weekly with my other cues.
I got rid of it because it hit so hard that It felt like had a steel rod running through it and I just wasn't used to a cue that hit so stiff. If I had a really good stroke, that wouldn't have been an issue. Since I am a hack player with a lousy stroke or no stroke at all 50% of the time and a decent stroke the rest of the time, I had trouble getting comfortable with Ernies I played with. Another issue you have to be prepared for is that he makes the screw completely a non-standard screw size like 3/8-8, 12 or 14 or something which means it is hard to find other cue makers with matching dies or taps to make added shafts or work on the cue.
For serious pro level 9 & 10 ball players who have a REAL stroke, that like a really Hard, stiff, tack driving cue, Ernies could be the trick. Compared to a Harris or Southwest, I think Ernies hit even more solid.
Pure opinion.
I have to agree
I have played with many SW and a Harris...I think Ernies cues play as well as SW, a little more feel; they are incredibly stiff playing cues...it is his taper. I could interchange with the Ernie and SW and not lose a stroke.
I have played with many SW and a Harris...I think Ernies cues play as well as SW, a little more feel; they are incredibly stiff playing cues...it is his taper. I could interchange with the Ernie and SW and not lose a stroke.
our_auctionguy said:
The last time that I saw Ernie he had modified his taper yet again. This time the shaft has a 9 inch or so protaper and then grows after that. As a result, these cues will play alittle more forgiving than his cues several months ago. The "hit" can totally be modified with the shaft taper. My main playing cue is a 12 year old Ernie and it plays wonderfully. Nice feedback, stiff, but not too stiff.
His attention to detail is very good.
His attention to detail is very good.