Expensive Cue Shooter

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Xdecemberguy

Member
Do you play with an expensive cue out in the open or are you more reserved about what you bring to the pool hall? I have a few expensive cues and mid-level cost cues and I was just wondering if you use your really expensive cue at the hall? Do you think it's too flashy or risky? What's your opinion?
 
Xdecemberguy said:
Do you play with an expensive cue out in the open or are you more reserved about what you bring to the pool hall? I have a few expensive cues and mid-level cost cues and I was just wondering if you use your really expensive cue at the hall? Do you think it's too flashy or risky? What's your opinion?
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Sounds like you’re hanging out in the wrong places.
 
I happen to have some custom cues i carry everywhere in 6x12 case.This requires having a separate insurance rider on my homeowner’s policy. Like with most insurance coverages, there’s a stipulated maximum value for any one item unless I wanted to obtain actual replacement value which is more expensive. I don’t mind the shortfall coverage since it only involves two cues that exceed my policy’s limit but the overall policy coverage more than covers all my cues. This is the same type coverage I have for my gun collection. My take is you insure what you have that is relatively valuable or expensive.

Having said this, my cues go wherever I play pool, except at a bar. Then I have a SP cue for that environment but pool
halls, absolutely. Why else own these cues only then to wonder I wish it was here with me now. That’s why I have a big
cue case. I want what I want when I want it so if I wanted to switch cues, it’s so simple to do. And I do use all my cues.
 
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I don't really have any truly expensive cues. $2000-2500 is about the most expensive I've had and those certainly got played with. I don't have a table at home so if I'm not taking it out to play it's doing me no good. I'm lucky to have nice and what I consider very safe places to play and I'm good at keeping an eye on things. If I had more expensive cues I'd take them out too, but if I played in places where I didn't know a lot of people and where I might have to step away from my stuff occasionally then I might be more hesitant.
 
I carry two customs and a ~$2000 Schon into the pool halls I play in. I know most of the regulars in the pool halls I play in so I feel the risk of theft is pretty minimal. All three cues are fairly unique so they would be difficult to sell locally, at least.

That said, I have an Airtag in the bag, but I probably should consider additional insurance on the cues as well. Like Bavafongoul, I have a $150 CF OKhealing cue that I take that into places where I plan to drink or I'm in a place where I might worry about cues getting stolen or damaged.

For other people with expensive cues: There are many people in the various leagues I play in that have $1000 and up production cues, but I also know a guy that plays in bars with a Balabushka. It looks nothing like the Color of Money cue so it's not obvious unless you know what are you looking at. He says he played in a cash game in the 70s and the guy didn't have the money to pay up. He got the cue. I asked him about it once; why he plays with a ~$10k cue in bars. He told me that he enjoys using it and didn't see the point of it just sitting in a cue case somewhere. I have to say that I agree with that philosophy.

There's also another guy that has been collecting since the 60s and probably has 100 cues. I'd guess they average about $4000 each. He says he won most of them in money matches in his 20s and 30s. He's still a pretty high Fargo ranked player in his late 70s so I tend to believe him. He shows up with different cues a couple times a month.
 
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I have a tulip wood Scruggs. I bought it new. Without regard to value, it is too beautiful to be used, but it is my "player", and it goes everywhere I do -- if any environment is too tough for my cue, I got no business being there.
 
People used to chide me for playing with my Szamboti regularly….I told them I honor Gus every time I use it.
I had a lot of top cues in the 70s when you could still buy them in the $500 range. I took all the ivory ferrules off.
I only used linen fiber….I hate the hit of ivory or metal ferrules.
 
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On the positive for those worried about their fancy cues in public, it seems there are fewer people who "appreciate" them with the carbon craze. Probably not a positive for market values though. It seems rare nowadays when someone checks out my cue. The younger players seemingly could not care less.
 
axejunkie said:
On the positive for those worried about their fancy cues in public, it seems there are fewer people who "appreciate" them with the carbon craze. Probably not a positive for market values though. It seems rare nowadays when someone checks out my cue. The younger players seemingly could not care less.
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They’ll steal a CueTec before they’ll touch the SW
 
My most valuable cues are a fancy big pin Ed Prewitt cue and a radial pin Tim Scruggs cue, both having flat ivory joints.
The Prewitt cue design really does catch one’s eyes with its striking design & the TS has a subtly handsome appearance.

But the cues play so darn fantastic, I can’t imagine not wanting to have both with me when I go to play pool. However,
now that I’ve added 3 Kielwood shafts that fit the 6 cues in my case, it is hard not to want to play with all of my cues.

Well, that’s why I had a 6x12 cue case built. It carries the cues I really enjoy playing pool with and not having my cues
with me seems silly when all it requires is simply adding a couple lbs. to my cue case’s weight. And it’s a lotta fun to do.
 

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Xdecemberguy said:
Do you play with an expensive cue out in the open or are you more reserved about what you bring to the pool hall? I have a few expensive cues and mid-level cost cues and I was just wondering if you use your really expensive cue at the hall? Do you think it's too flashy or risky? What's your opinion?
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What's expensive? I know many players who think $300 is a lot to pay for a cue.

My main cue is probably north of $2,000 and I always use it. Many players I see locally play with $1,000 cues and higher, as their normal cues.

I don't travel with it though, I have a much cheaper set of cues I fly with, but if driving, I bring my full set.
 
I played with all my cues...Gus , Barry ,Gina , Mottey whatever . I always had a sp for crappy bar tournaments . I sold them all ttru the years and now my only cue of any value is an Owen..$2500 or so . The old guys at the senior center I frequent think it is a $400 cue . Worth 5 times more than my first car .

Chuickg
 
These are in my cue case. I always keep them within my vision. If you know, you know.
Biggest problem is no one cares and no one knows what they are so there is a great hazard
of people that would hit your cue with their carbon cues.
 

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I usually played with my best $$$$$$ cues, if I was going someplace "unknown:" or new, I took a cheap $100 Brunswick stick. Also, if going alone with no one to watch over my gear.
 
Just personal views but I believe (1) there are less crooks in pool halls these days; and (2) most people playing don't know anything about expensive cues. They're fine with a $200 cue with "overlays." In fact a lot of them don't know their cues have overlays.

I take my pretty good cues everywhere without concern, and that is all I have -- pretty good cues.
 
Xdecemberguy said:
Do you play with an expensive cue out in the open or are you more reserved about what you bring to the pool hall? I have a few expensive cues and mid-level cost cues and I was just wondering if you use your really expensive cue at the hall? Do you think it's too flashy or risky? What's your opinion?
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Never really thot about it much. I play with all my axes. Some are better than others. I try to think about the game, not what others are thinking about my cues or whatever.
 
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