Has switching cues/shafts made a significant difference in your game?

A cue or shaft improved my game

  • Yes

    Votes: 70 67.3%

  • No

    Votes: 34 32.7%
  • Total voters
    104
Bob Callahan

Bob Callahan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
For "significant", let's say one more ball in 9-ball or 1P, or an extra rack in 14.1, for instance.

If so, it'd sure be nice to know what cue or shaft did it for you.
 
I haven't switched to a cue that has made me improve. I can say that the cue I have now I have used for about 2.5 years and have gotten a lot better while using it. I don't attribute the improvement to the cue, but I am probably a half a ball worse without it.

I try other cues and can still make balls and run out, but it feels like I have a cue in my hand. When I go back to my cue, it feels like it is a part of me. I don't really feel the cue weight in my hand and I just let the cue work.

I am having a cue made now, and I hope I can play with it. I just don't know if this cue will ever leave my hands. I have bought/sold probably 15 cues since I bought this one and sold them all. They feel like a cue; mine feels like a part of me, if that makes sense.

-Brandon
 
Hell yes!

I had a cue from a well-known maker that I replaced with a Diveney and within a month I was playing significantly better.

The cue I got rid of was a noodle. The Diveney is not.
 
I have had a lot of cues thru the years and none have changed my game very much. But I never have had a cue since or before the Meucci in the mid 80's that could move the cue ball as easy as that one.
 
What I tell people I this. Pool is sport of mental power. When you find a cue you like you will play better because you like to play more. Hit more balls play more pool... Get better.

So yes, but no at the same time. When you find a cue you love to play with instead of like to play with, you will see an improvement I promise.


-- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums
 
I switched to a Pechauer with an Universal Smart Shaft a couple years ago and my shot making did improve. I attribute it to the LD shaft. I've tried a couple custom cues since then that I really liked (with normal shafts) but I still shoot better with the Pechauer. I plan on keeping that cue and shaft combo for a long time!

Chris
 
I went from a Poison to a Predator Z2 and I can say that I have noticed an improvement in my game. My inside english has improved beyond words and I can hit those shots with confidence where before I used to shy away from them. Only complaint is cheating pockets has become harder. Often I'll follow the cue right in. I think this is common but I could just be doing it wrong.
 
RickVaughn said:
I went from a Poison to a Predator Z2 and I can say that I have noticed an improvement in my game. My inside english has improved beyond words and I can hit those shots with confidence where before I used to shy away from them. Only complaint is cheating pockets has become harder. Often I'll follow the cue right in. I think this is common but I could just be doing it wrong.
Click to expand...

You should never follow the ball in when cheating the pocket.
Try this. Instead of a smooth stroke use a little "pop"stroke kind of a sharp poke. the cue ball will jump to side a little before going forward allowing it to hit a little more of the rail. I noticed you are in NJ there are a ton of good players there that can help you with this.
 
jhanso18 said:
What I tell people I this. Pool is sport of mental power. When you find a cue you like you will play better because you like to play more. Hit more balls play more pool... Get better.

So yes, but no at the same time. When you find a cue you love to play with instead of like to play with, you will see an improvement I promise.


-- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums
Click to expand...

In the example I gave, the prior cue was completely unpredictable... long cut shot with spin, especially at medium speed, who the F knew where the CB was going? I might as well have taken a shot of Jaeger, spun around 3x and closed my eyes.

with the diveney there is CB movement, but it was immediately predictable...unlike the prior, which I couldn't figure out after ~3yr.

So your input should contain an, 'in my experience', or, 'IMO'...
 
Yep

I recently started playing with a Mike Lambros ultra laminated shaft and it has improved my make percentage by 1-2 balls/game. Very good playing shaft/cue combo. Mike has it going on...
 
Back when I first started playing "serious" pool, I had a cheap cue. I bought a better cue and put a Pred Z shaft on it and my game improved. In the span of a couple of years, I went from an APA3 to an APA6. Now, 5 years later, although I have bought and use even more expensive cues I realize that it was the TIME I was puuting in on the table that made my game go up a ball or two. Today I realize that if I'm on my game, I can run a rack of balls whether I'm using my custom Jacoby w/Pred 314 shaft or a cheap $27 Rage cue. I've run racks with every cue I have in my house, whether they are nice cues from custom cuemakers or cheap cues that I have in my wall rack.

The reason I went to a more expensive cue was when I started to get serious about pool, I didn't want my equipment to hold me back. If I was going to fail to get better, I didn't want to be able to blame my failure on my equipment.

Now, a few years later, I realize that it's just ME that sucks :embarrassed2:!!!

I voted no.

Maniac
 
Yes

Yes, but for different reasons. A high end cue or new shaft certainly did not make me better overnight. However, owning and playing with precise, beautifully crafted equipment such as my Schons and OB shafts makes this game truly fun. And when it is fun, I practice and play more ... And that improves anyone's game more than anything. And I will continue to buy the latest high quality gear so long as it helps make the game more enjoyable.

Glen
 
I voted No, But if someone is playing with a VERY low line cue, say
30 bucks. A good cue could make a difference.
I play with a Predator and I am positive a 20k dollar cue would not give me as much as 1 ball. A Players cue will play to about anybody's potential IMO
To me the rest is hype
 
Nah. 30 years and probably thousands of cues, of course they all have adjustment periods, but in the end your game is your game. After a couple racks with a house cue and decent tip ill be playing my game.

I suppose if your still learning as a player you'll probably improve during the ownership of a certain cue. Or that some cues will make certain things easier on the learning process (deflection
/throw) so its a possibility for some.
 
yes for me, i'm real sensitive. If I dont have a cue that I like, I cant play. I wish I could pick up anything and make it work but I cant.
 
I said yes, and Ill tell you why. Its not about new technology, or a better tip etc making the difference. Its the increased focus from going back to basics so to speak. It makes you revisit everything from how you address the ball to your follow through. Grab a house cue and try it. Some folks have convinced themselves over time that certain cues/shafts/tips have magical powers and to stray from that "perfect combination" will hurt their game. Thats just a self fulfilling prophecy.
Learn to play with anything, and youll be better off for it. I hate to parrot the phrase, but it really is the archer, not the arrow.
Chuck
 
I'm not sure which side of the fence I am on. While I agree with the folks that say it is the indian not the arrow, I do feel a quality arrow provides an advantage to the indian. I started using OB-2 shafts about 3 yrs ago and feel like they allow me to utilize my admittedly limited skills to fullest advantage. Just one mans opinion......Dan
 
Definately, my game impoved when I switched to the 314, and my game improved again when I switched to the Z, then again when I switched to the Z2. While I can still play with any cue or shaft, I can not shoot as well as I do with my cue with my Z2 at this stage of my game.

So for me I hope that this answers the question.

Black Cat.
 
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