Have you tried cues “Black Blade” “Liquid Weight” — cues that use a movable-weight system?

Hey, all I said was it just seems too complicated not that it wouldn’t work. On the website, it says that it dampens vibrations, which makes sense.
 
I think I can get the effect if I simply forget to tighten my cue properly, the shaft hits, then the rest follows and basically a microsecond later , hits again. I never thought the effect would be desired. Snake oil maybe?
 
snookered_again said:
I think I can get the effect if I simply forget to tighten my cue properly, the shaft hits, then the rest follows and basically a microsecond later , hits again. I never thought the effect would be desired. Snake oil maybe?
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I don't like putting hang-the-9 on the spot but he and others have liked the hit on this cue. Maybe its something akin to the cue stroke where you sort of throw the cue stick forward. Maybe it feels a little like that and that smooth response is ok.
 
There may have a better response, too, because of the greater weight in the shaft of the Black Blade cues than that with regular cues especially if it was one with the shaft weight greater than the butt weight.
 
Both butts and shafts can have the weight system. Four years ago, Billiard Product Reviews gave positive reviews of the regular cue (14.5 oz.) and the break cue (23 oz.). Players in a pool hall either liked it or did not like the break cue. From the review:

This cue is not going to appeal to everyone. The response to the cue that I received from other players was mixed. Everyone I showed it to was really interested in the cue and thought it was quite unique. They often walked it over to their friends and showed it to them and asked them to try it. Generally, the pool players that tried it fell into two camps.
  • Players who have been playing with a traditional cue throughout their pool playing lives and would not consider a new unique experience
  • Players who would be open to something new and would consider one if they were in the market for a new cue


 
Paul_#_ said:
Some players like Hang-the-9 liked the cue. Even if the claim it enhances the force may be false (see below), it may still make for a better hit and follow through.

It is thought that as the shaft is pulled back, the weighted piston is pulled back. When the shaft is pushed forward, the weight moves forward, albeit slower than the shaft itself. This results in a milliseconds delay in the weight hitting the shaft from when the shaft hits cue ball. That delay is probably enough that the force of the moving-forward weight does not increase the force at contact between shaft and cue ball.

The company is more than five years old. Some are buying it although, who knows, maybe not enough and the end is near.

A common complaint of cue modifications is that it is inconsequential, its company hype, or the super-duper cue is really not much different from a house cue. Say what you want about this cue but admit that it is different from other cues. Hang-the-9 provided a lukewarm endorsement of it. The company seems to have ended its earlier recommendation that its shaft be heavier than the butt. The company's "forward weight" seems more now to refer to the weight moving forward in the shaft. I bet the earlier Black Blade cues with a shaft heavier than the butt AND its weight system made it really different from a house cue.

As far as I know, alhough not advertised, the forward-weight system could be installed in shaft and butt. Maybe that doesn't work so well.
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spend your $$ on a REAL cue not some goofy pseudo tech.
 
When I was a teen and got hooked into pool, one day I slid quickly the gallon container of milk on the top shelf of the refrigerator. The milk splashed around after letting go, and "pushed" the container another inch or so. I then thought of that applied to a pool stick, of course:)

Probably everyone here has done the same and had the same thoughts.

Many years later I saw the product in this thread advertised on the AZB banner ad. It made me chuckle, nothing more.
 
I just looked at their new website. The website claims that they are pairing a very heavy shaft (10 oz range) with a very light butt (9 oz range) to make the cue very forward balanced compared to traditional cues.

I didn’t see any claim about a moving weight.

1) Are we sure this is the same company that had the moving weight a few years ago?

2) does the weight in the new product move? If so, where is the description of that?
 
I saw their booth yesterday at the expo, but from far away I didn’t stop by. Maybe I’ll give it a shot if I go back.
 
iusedtoberich said:
1) Are we sure this is the same company that had the moving weight a few years ago?

2) does the weight in the new product move? If so, where is the description of that?
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Yes, this is the same company that sold the old Liquid Weight Cues a few years ago.
Yes, the new product, the Black Blade cues, have a movable weight system.
Yes, descriptions of that are in the Black Blade website and another website put up by the company.
Yes, this means Black Blade is vague about its movable weight system but its clear that the system is used in those cues.

Click on the “About” link at the Black Blade website for the company’s reference to the movable weight system. It notes:
To take advantage of our FWD weight technology (patent pending) you need a very light cue butt with a forward weighted cue shaft.

It then goes on and explains benefits of the patent-pending technology:
Feeling of more power
2.8 to 3.7 % more ft/lbs of energy at same stroke speed, which produces a very solid cue ball strike, and on break shots more ball dispersion.

And then notes the system allows for “great stroke feel”.

Granted, these references to the movable-weight system are vague but they also only make sense if the cues employ the patent-pending, movable-weight system.

There is no vagueness about the movable-weight system in the Black Blade cues at the company's website hosted by the general manager.

That website, https://www.cuetrader.org/ , explain the movable-weight system in its Black Blade AND the earlier Liquid Weight cues. Videos there describe the newest and the older cues. A link at the cuetrader website there takes you back to the Black Blade website and the cues there.
 
I believe the weight system uses the principle behind dead blow hammers. Here is info on that: from https://www.ustape.com/how-to-prope...d blow hammer is,striking force of the hammer

A dead blow hammer is a mallet-like tool used to absorb tremors that occur when the hammer strikes.

It’s a useful tool in that it prevents damage to soft surfaces, while reducing the amount of rebound and improving the striking force of the hammer. They’re great tools for tapping joints together, or knocking them apart.

The head of these hammers is typically hollow and partially filled with steel shot, lead shot or sand to distribute the energy of the strike over a longer stretch of time.

And while these may not be precision tools, there is a precise way to use a dead blow hammer. Here are a few tips to make sure you’re wielding this tool safely and wisely.

Hmmm, I don't think rebound and tremors are issues with a striking cue stick.
 
Paul_#_ said:
I believe the weight system uses the principle behind dead blow hammers. Here is info on that: from https://www.ustape.com/how-to-properly-use-a-dead-blow-hammer/#:~:text=A dead blow hammer is,striking force of the hammer

A dead blow hammer is a mallet-like tool used to absorb tremors that occur when the hammer strikes.

It’s a useful tool in that it prevents damage to soft surfaces, while reducing the amount of rebound and improving the striking force of the hammer. They’re great tools for tapping joints together, or knocking them apart.

The head of these hammers is typically hollow and partially filled with steel shot, lead shot or sand to distribute the energy of the strike over a longer stretch of time.

And while these may not be precision tools, there is a precise way to use a dead blow hammer. Here are a few tips to make sure you’re wielding this tool safely and wisely.

Hmmm, I don't think rebound and tremors are issues with a striking cue stick.
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Honestly I think I'd hate it. Feeling the vibrations in your cue is one of life's great pleasures.
 
Paul_#_ said:
. Everyone I showed it to was really interested in the cue and thought it was quite unique. They often walked it over to their friends and showed it to them and asked them to try it. Generally, the pool players that tried it fell into two camps.
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boogieman said:
Feeling the vibrations in your cue is one of life's great pleasure
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From others' reports, the Black Blade cue affects the hit. It is not just a do-nothing marketing gimmick. Whether there is benefit from it? Hmmm, maybe more effect than using a soft versus hard tip?

The company no longer argues the benefits of having heavier shafts than butts. I am unaware of others promoting that with any kind of cues. The question left for the Black Blade cues is what beneficial effect there is to the moving-weight system.
 
Paul_#_ said:
2.8 to 3.7 % more ft/lbs of energy at same stroke speed
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If this is supposed to result from the moving weight, I think it's nonsense.

I strongly doubt the weight can hit the front of its chamber before the CB leaves the tip (in 1/1000 of a second), so that much of the cue's weight is still free floating at impact, and therefore subtracted from the cue's total weight/force into the CB.

I think this belongs in the "Waste of money pool items" thread.

pj
chgo
 
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