what are the advantages and disadvantages of foward balanced ss joint cues
foward balance
- Thread starter danny turner
- Start date
Regardless of joint, I believe forward balance cues aid in keeping a smooth & level stroke by keeping the front of the cue from lifting mid stroke. The downfall is that the same quality also highlights bad aim by making it more difficult for players to "steer" the cue mid stroke. So it's not really an advantage, just a different approach that some players feel better with & some not so much.
Hi,
Explanation, well stated! I believe that the balance point of a cue is far more important than the actual weight of the cue. When the cue is forward balanced it tends to give the player a feedback that makes the cue feel heaver.
I have put a cue that was 17.7 oz. with a fulcrum 4 inches forward of the A-Joint in the hands of many an A Player and asked them to hit with it. Afterward when asked to guess the weight everyone has guessed between 19 & 19.5 oz.
Rick G
Depending on how forward the balance is the cue can feel front heavy, though I have had cues that the butt end weight was pronounced and you could feel it.
I have mine slightly forward, just enough that the weight feels evenly distributed when a player gets down to take a shot. I have had players say some of my cues feel light, than I weight it for them and it 19oz or more !
It is all in the players perception, likes and dislikes as to whether they like a forward balance or not. That is one example of what makes the cue building world go round, if you look you can find a hit, weight, balance and feel that suits you.
I have mine slightly forward, just enough that the weight feels evenly distributed when a player gets down to take a shot. I have had players say some of my cues feel light, than I weight it for them and it 19oz or more !
It is all in the players perception, likes and dislikes as to whether they like a forward balance or not. That is one example of what makes the cue building world go round, if you look you can find a hit, weight, balance and feel that suits you.
I have a theory.
Stroke-slippers like forward balanced cues.
Death-grippers like weight at the bottom.
Stroke-slippers like forward balanced cues.
Death-grippers like weight at the bottom.
That is also what I try to accomplish with the cues I am building. I find that by balancing cues in this manner the weight of the cue almost disappears when you on down stroking the ball.
19" from the butt on a 58" cue. I strive to keep mine at 19"-19.75". 18"-18.5" is right at about neutral. 20"+ feels too forward weighted for me and akward. So realistically, there's about a 1.5" window of comfort zone, and every .25" is noticeably different.
TheThaiger
Banned
Does the shaft make any difference whatsoever to how a cue is balanced? The reason i ask is, I've an entry level viking that's too forward balanced for my taste - I prefer some weight in the butt, so i can give the balls a bit of a bash. Anyway, I'm thinking of sticking an LD shaft on it - would this make any difference at all to the balance of the cue (assuming old and new shafts are of equal weight)?
Also, is there a way of determining where the balance point actually is? I've been balancing the butt on my finger, but I presume there's an easier way?
The way you are measuring the balance is basically the only way. Whether it's on your finger or on another type of fulcrum, the principle is the same.
The weight of the shaft does affect the balance quite a bit. If the LD shaft you are looking at is lighter, then the balance will move back. In my cues, with my shaft taper, every 1/10oz accounts for 2/10". Basically, if a 4.0oz shaft gives a 19" balance, I can achieve an 18.5" balance by using a 3.8oz shaft, roughly. Hope that makes sense. Every cue will be differently though because of dimensional size & shape.
The weight of the shaft does affect the balance quite a bit. If the LD shaft you are looking at is lighter, then the balance will move back. In my cues, with my shaft taper, every 1/10oz accounts for 2/10". Basically, if a 4.0oz shaft gives a 19" balance, I can achieve an 18.5" balance by using a 3.8oz shaft, roughly. Hope that makes sense. Every cue will be differently though because of dimensional size & shape.
TheThaiger
Banned
Thanks very much - very helpful.
It is easily done, just talk to the cue maker of your choice and order it to your specifications.