Fulltime cue extension really helped my game

eastcoast_chris

eastcoast_chris

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I played in a tournament over the weekend and in the main draw (96 players) I played like shit. Won one match to a lesser player, but lost 2 matches again people well below my level.

It's a new pool hall with great, tight brand new 9' tables. Tough corners and tiny side pockets.

So Sunday comes and their is a second chance tournament. i thought that for the hell of it, I'd play the whole day with my 10" extension on. (home made btw)

I won the tournament beating some tough players that would have killed me the day before (and one did ...he beat me 9-6 in the main draw and I then beat him 9-4)

It made a huge difference to me. I feel like it kept things more in line on long shots and didn't affect my positional game/feel at all. It didn't take any time to get used to. I noticed that very often (maybe 1 out 6 shots) that I was holding some part of the extension.... just felt more natural that way.

I think I'm a convert now... only issue is I can't play with it on my home table due to space, but I'm hope to have a more spacious setup fairly soon.

I think I'll make another extension that's a little shorter (5"-6") and use it full time. Those tops pros know what's up!
 
I love my 4" extension.

I pretty much never need the bridge. I think I've only used it once in 2017 lol.
 
I have a 6 and 10" never played with the 6 yet. Huge difference in playing - welcome to the smart people club:thumbup:
Jason

Btw, where is this new room???
 
smashmouth said:
smart? lol

placebo much?
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While I haven't tried using an extension yet, it seems there could be some science that supports it. The longer something is and/or the more you can get the weight out towards the ends, particularly when you are trying to apply the torquing force from nearer the middle of the item, the more difficult it can be to accidentally (or intentionally for that matter) torque or pull it off its own line. To see a form of this principle in effect think about one of the reasons why a high wire walker's balancing pole is say 23 feet long instead of say 4 feet long. The length of the pole, partly because of the distance the ends (and their weight) are from the torquing force (the person), makes it difficult for the ends to be made to move up and down or side to side and it is therefore easier to keep it in the same plane.
 
extensions? ...or you could just get a longer cue.... :rolleyes:

I like my 31 inch shafts....:smile:
.
 
Woody (RIP) helped me order a Viking cue at Triangle Billiards in Orange, back in '04. He thought 62" was about right for me. Shaft and butt both 31".
 
eastcoast_chris said:
I played in a tournament over the weekend and in the main draw (96 players) I played like shit. Won one match to a lesser player, but lost 2 matches again people well below my level.

It's a new pool hall with great, tight brand new 9' tables. Tough corners and tiny side pockets.

So Sunday comes and their is a second chance tournament. i thought that for the hell of it, I'd play the whole day with my 10" extension on. (home made btw)

I won the tournament beating some tough players that would have killed me the day before (and one did ...he beat me 9-6 in the main draw and I then beat him 9-4)

It made a huge difference to me. I feel like it kept things more in line on long shots and didn't affect my positional game/feel at all. It didn't take any time to get used to. I noticed that very often (maybe 1 out 6 shots) that I was holding some part of the extension.... just felt more natural that way.

I think I'm a convert now... only issue is I can't play with it on my home table due to space, but I'm hope to have a more spacious setup fairly soon.

I think I'll make another extension that's a little shorter (5"-6") and use it full time. Those tops pros know what's up!
Click to expand...
How did you make your own extension? I'd like to see a picture of it.

Cuetec finally started making extensions again for the r360. I got one in May. I especially like it when playing on a 9 footer. I'm quite used to it now so I might just keep using it on 7 footers as well. I like the solid feel of it. The only drawback is that it feels a slight bit awkward on certain shots- you have to alter your stance to accommodate the cue on certain shots
 
westcoast said:
How did you make your own extension? I'd like to see a picture of it.

Cuetec finally started making extensions again for the r360. I got one in May. I especially like it when playing on a 9 footer. I'm quite used to it now so I might just keep using it on 7 footers as well. I like the solid feel of it. The only drawback is that it feels a slight bit awkward on certain shots- you have to alter your stance to accommodate the cue on certain shots
Click to expand...

I bought a joint of eBay for about $5. This one; https://tinyurl.com/yaja77us

Used an old house cue I had around and my lathe. Tapped the extension to put the male piece in. Added the female joint to the butt of my cue (permanently). Only downside is I can't change the weight of the cue again, but it is where I'd want it anyway.

I made a rubber bumper out of an one I had laying around that screws into the cue when the extension is off.

Super simple if you have the tools.... cost ~$5 to me. vs. the $100+ Predator ones.

I ordered the 5 pack of the joints to play around some more... Make a really short one (1") to just not need the bumper and a mid size one (6") ... and maybe make some for other locals.
 
... so many laughed at earl when he first brought out that super long cue years ago. god bless the man. he's come up with many seemingly crazy ideas over the years that actually made a lot of sense. kind of a genius in his unique way
 
pinkspider said:
... so many laughed at earl when he first brought out that super long cue years ago. god bless the man. he's come up with many seemingly crazy ideas over the years that actually made a lot of sense. kind of a genius in his unique way
Click to expand...

I just hope that doesn't extend to the finger weights, arm weights, and ear muffs! Extensions are one thing, but....


I tried a full time extension for a while...didn't love it myself. Cue just felt kinda cumbersome and heavy (even though the extension didn't weigh much). It did track a straight line a little easier maybe without as much concentration, but I found it more challenging on small finesse shots.
 
pinkspider said:
... so many laughed at earl when he first brought out that super long cue years ago. god bless the man. he's come up with many seemingly crazy ideas over the years that actually made a lot of sense. kind of a genius in his unique way
Click to expand...

Maybe, he's right about the extension, but the finger stuff is insane. I can't imagine how it would make people play better.

The weights might help, but I'd be embarrassed to shoot pool with weights on my arm and around my waist.
 
iusedtoberich said:
OP: Report back in a month if you still think you are playing better:)
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I tried a Balance Right extension but the thing was horrible, my tip lifted at least 3/4" off of the table when I rolled it. I had a local cue maker build a 4" extension for me, I love it. I have been using it for 3 months now. I practice long straight in shots diagonally on my table for stroke exercise, I can tell you it has definitely helped me shoot those shots better. On the other hand I have been told from a few people that they think I would benefit from a longer cue due to my height and wingspan.
 
slide13 said:
I just hope that doesn't extend to the finger weights, arm weights, and ear muffs! Extensions are one thing, but....


I tried a full time extension for a while...didn't love it myself. Cue just felt kinda cumbersome and heavy (even though the extension didn't weigh much). It did track a straight line a little easier maybe without as much concentration, but I found it more challenging on small finesse shots.
Click to expand...

I did remove it for a few shot.... one in particular was a kick where I had to masse around the ball to get even close to the correct angle to make the hit. I think I fouled out it, even though the masse part of the shot worked fine :)
 
Cue extension?

Being a gadget person I generally buy some of all the wonder gadgets that will improve my game. Think it's good for support of the pool industry but not one has improved my game. Only practice and dedication will do that IMO. I have most of the commercial extensions and several that my local cue maker built. When new tips, shafts, cues, etc, come out I will buy them too, but likely all the people who beat me regularly still will. Although, I'll only be disappointed with the product if it is falsely advertised. Has anyone bought a product that immediately improved their game to a level above those who were considered better players?
 
Doug said:
Being a gadget person I generally buy some of all the wonder gadgets that will improve my game. Think it's good for support of the pool industry but not one has improved my game. Only practice and dedication will do that IMO.

I have most of the commercial extensions and several that my local cue maker built. When new tips, shafts, cues, etc, come out I will buy them too, but likely all the people who beat me regularly still will. Although, I'll only be disappointed with the product if it is falsely advertised.

Has anyone bought a product that immediately improved their game to a level above those who were considered better players?
Click to expand...
Doug...you should prob post more. Well said.
 
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