Here is what i have found over many years of playing with everything out there- First a player needs to determine for themselves if they prefer a softer hitting cue or a more harder IMPACT with the cue ball- that is your number one individual preference, second would be shaft diameter and/taper- a stiffer hitting shaft or one that bends a bit more easily on impact with the cue ball- from those two determinations and individual preferences, select the correct shaft diameter and taper coupled with the right tip/ferrule combination- Honestly my experience is those factors have more of an influence on feel than the joint material - but I will say that generally I have found non metallic joints such as Juma, Micarta, ivory, etc.- to hit a bit softer than metallic joints and "Sleeved" Joints of any material where there is wood to wood contact between the cue butt and shaft COUPLED with the sleeved joint material will assist in giving MORE feedback through the butt end of the cue than solid joints of any material. But to me shaft taper and tip hardness rule in determining the hit.
Everything else about a cue- wood choice, weight, balance points, butt diameter, cue handle wrap or no wrap all add various dimensions to how a cue plays - it takes a lot of experimenting over time to figure out one's exact preferences to have a cue built from scratch that matches all of these possibilities to your ultimate satisfaction.
