Heavy vs. Light Cues...

[Dakota Cues]

Here's something that I've been experimenting with for a while, and wanted to get some other opinions on it.


First the poll - What weight range does your current playing cue fall in?


Now the question:


There has been some debate between advocates of heavier cues and lighter cues on which actually plays/feels better. I was wondering if anyone here has had an experience where going one way, either heavier OR lighter, has actually improved their game?

If so, what was it about the change in weight that affected you?

 

[ShootingArts]

tried them all

When I was starting out a heavier cue benefited my game. It was very heavy as in 24 ounces. As my game progressed my choice in cues moved from the heaviest on the wall to a 19 then through 17's for awhile and down to a fifteen, the lightest on the wall. I finally purchased a twelve ounce snooker cue to play pool with as the ultimate light weight stick I could buy.

The heavy stick seemed to help a banger stroke straighter, lighter sticks gave more touch and control. The twelve ounce stick was a monster to learn to play with but eventually gave me more touch than any stick I ever owned. We talk about grip on here a lot and that is one thing of interest; different weight sticks preferred different grips, some working best held more firmly, some looser. The twelve had to be held completely floating and vibrated like a tuning fork when I hit with it.

I'm currently thinking about adding weight to my stick which should tell folks where my game is at!:grin: :grin-square: :grin:

Hu

 

[Dakota Cues]

12 oz. cue... wholy crap!

When I made this post I was looking for some input from the 18.5 oz. guys as I thought that was the low end of the spectrum. I can't even fathom using a cue slightly heavier than a chopstick!

This is great input though, as this is definitely an extreme example.


P.S. Thanks for the info on the grip as well. I would never have thought that figured into the equation.

 

[Drawman623]

My Schick is 20.5 as is my Abe Rich cue. Both play lights out. I feel especially confident when playing balls off the rail. The cue is steady and strokes through. This may be my own immagination, but i feel more confident with the weight.

My 3C cue, on the other hand is about 18oz.

 

[ShootingArts]

your poll is surprising

Your poll is surprising, I thought the vast majority of people played with cues of 19 ounces or more now. Seems that isn't true but I'll keep an eye on the numbers as more people respond.

No surprise the 12 ounce cue had a thin shaft and either a 9mm or 11mm tip too. it did have an European taper making it stiffer than you would expect. It also had decent balance. I'm seriously considering recreating one for myself since they can no longer be purchased although I doubt I can play with it.

Heavier cues give the feeling they are doing the work, light cues feel like you are doing the work. I haven't weighed my cue since changing the pin, joint collar and shaft but I would guess the weight at about 15-16 ounces for a 60" stick.

Hu

12 oz. cue... wholy crap!

When I made this post I was looking for some input from the 18.5 oz. guys as I thought that was the low end of the spectrum. I can't even fathom using a cue slightly heavier than a chopstick!

This is great input though, as this is definitely an extreme example.


P.S. Thanks for the info on the grip as well. I would never have thought that figured into the equation.

 

[Texas Prez]

Well I started with a 20oz. Then moved to a 18.4. The change I felt when I did this was pretty dramatic. The 20oz kind of controled my stroke a created a larger pendulum affect. This meant that my stroke was very straight but it was very difficult to perfectly control speed shots and shots with a lot of english. When I moved down to the 18 range I felt like my stroke was much free-er. It took time to adjust but after awhile I could get the cueball to tougher spots than before. The downside was that I couldn't work the cueball as well. An extreme example would be that when I power-drawed, I could no longer get it to go as far as before. It also seemed that throw was a little reduced (but this could be attributed to other variables as well). Now I use a 19oz and I love it, but I think that I could play just as good with any weight after adjustment...all can be effective, just in different ways IMO

 

[gregoryg]

Cue weight...

When I first stated playing seriously, I used to play with a 19.50 ounce cue. After a few years, I learned from some much better players, that using a lighter cue helps you develope a better stroke. Reason that I was told this was you are not relying on the weight of the cue to move the cueball. You need a better stroke to do so. I went as low as 16 ounces and finally settled on my current cue weight of 18.25 ounces, what I have been playing with for over twenty+ years now. If I use anything heavier, even 1/4 ounce more, it takes me a while to stop over playing position with whitey.

 

[JesPiddlin]

14-16 ounces....

I like a 14-16 ounce cue... For my break cue, I use an 18 ounce cue, just because that's the lowest it will go and I don't want to change break cues. My break is usually good, though, so it's cool.

I used to play with a shorter, heavier cue... 56 inches, 19-21 ounces. As time went by and my wrist started acting up, lighter weight was much better. I seem to have much more control, now, too.

 

[real bartram]

cue

Well I started with a 20oz. Then moved to a 18.4. The change I felt when I did this was pretty dramatic. The 20oz kind of controled my stroke a created a larger pendulum affect. This meant that my stroke was very straight but it was very difficult to perfectly control speed shots and shots with a lot of english. When I moved down to the 18 range I felt like my stroke was much free-er. It took time to adjust but after awhile I could get the cueball to tougher spots than before. The downside was that I couldn't work the cueball as well. An extreme example would be that when I power-drawed, I could no longer get it to go as far as before. It also seemed that throw was a little reduced (but this could be attributed to other variables as well). Now I use a 19oz and I love it, but I think that I could play just as good with any weight after adjustment...all can be effective, just in different ways IMO

all the same for me.

 

[maldito]

Here's something that I've been experimenting with for a while, and wanted to get some other opinions on it.


First the poll - What weight range does your current playing cue fall in?


Now the question:


There has been some debate between advocates of heavier cues and lighter cues on which actually plays/feels better. I was wondering if anyone here has had an experience where going one way, either heavier OR lighter, has actually improved their game?

If so, what was it about the change in weight that affected you?

Mine is approx 18.5 oz but when I'm in dog stroke mode ( as usual ) it feels
like 19 or 20 oz

 

[J$Cincy]

balance not weight...

i have had the pleasure of using a couple of different cues. i currently use a searing that is 18.7 oz. but has awesome balance. i think the balance point is what matters. my friend bill had a searing that was over 20oz. but truthfully couldnt tell the difference because the balance points seem to zero out the weight...JS

 

[Texas Prez]

i have had the pleasure of using a couple of different cues. i currently use a searing that is 18.7 oz. but has awesome balance. i think the balance point is what matters. my friend bill had a searing that was over 20oz. but truthfully couldnt tell the difference because the balance points seem to zero out the weight...JS

Ya but you are using a Searing....us mortals shouldn't consider your advise because our cues can't compare ...seriously!!

 

[Shaft]

I used to play with 21s. I agree with those who believe that heavy cues tend to smoothe out sloppy stroke habits.

Now I play with 18.5 and would like to go lower, it's just hard to go lower without going $$$$$ custom. If I have my Meucci drilled out it will change the balance forward, and I think I don't want that.

With respect to breaking, previous threads have shown mathematically that lighter cues transfer more energy to the ball for the same arm-energy input, but there are debates on the limits of arm acceleration.

I find I get more action on the break with a lighter cue, but this should be confirmed with a robot. (Oh if we only had more robots, we could settle so many more questions....)

 

[Sev]

I used to use 21-22 oz and then went down to 18 for a bit and found it to be way to light for me. I have settled in at 19.3 and find it to be a nice compromise for me. The cues does the work with just a little assistance if you know what I mean.

 

[Caromsoft]

I play with a 17 oz. cue but started with 19 -19.5. The difference for me is that with 17 the cue feels like it is part of my arm. I hardly notice it is there, except when I miss and then I want to break that part of my arm in half.

 

[RKM]

i have had the pleasure of using a couple of different cues. i currently use a searing that is 18.7 oz. but has awesome balance. i think the balance point is what matters. my friend bill had a searing that was over 20oz. but truthfully couldnt tell the difference because the balance points seem to zero out the weight...JS

I agree, I feel the balance of a cue makes more of a difference than weight. I shoot with a 24 oz ( I like fat butts what can I say :grin: ).I think it feels light as a feather.

Jamie

 

[Dakota Cues]

Balance is key to a cue.

I know (in theory) that a 19.5+oz cue will do more work for you than an 18.75 oz. cue, even if they feel the same balance-wise. In other words, the energy imparted from a heavier cue has to be higher than that of a lighter cue. I'm just wondering what the benefits are from a lighter cue that would offset that.

It seems like both sides of the fence are claiming that heavier cues move the cb around easier (especially with draw), but can over spin it easier as well.

Players have said that lighter cues free up their stroke and give better feel, too.

I know with all things there is a trade off. I'm just trying to get more of a feel for what I'm giving up to get!

 

[Scott Lee]

gregoryg...Your friend was right, but for the wrong reason. In reality you WANT to let the weight of the cue, and timing, create the strokespeed. So, in the end, you want to let the cue do the work...not muscle! :grin:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

After a few years, I learned from some much better players, that using a lighter cue helps you develope a better stroke. Reason that I was told this was you are not relying on the weight of the cue to move the cueball.

 

[Dakota Cues]

2 votes for heavier cues...

Here's a little background for you on why I decided to post this question. It came as a result of some advice I had heard from one cuemaker, that was confirmed by another, fairly highly respected cuemaker named Dennis Searing. Here's what Dennis said:


"Your friend is right. A cue that is too light will not get through the cue ball as well, plus you get what I call the "bouncing off affect", where it almost needs to be pushed through the ball by the player. It will also force the player to grip the cue a little firmer, which can kill liveliness the cue may be capable of delivering to the cue ball on it's own. Of course how heavy a cue you can play with, and for how long is going to be different from player to player, but a heavy cue is much better.

This is one of the things I learned from Mizerak years ago. I think you already know I built most of His equipment for the last ten years of His career, as well as played in many of the same events against Him. I asked Him how come He liked his cues so heavy (21.2 oz)? The first answer He gave me was that with a heavy cue, you have a much greater sense of touch and feel in a shot. Then He pulled me aside, and proceeded to make me shoot some shots, and proved it to me.

If I was asked what I thought was the perfect weight cue for most pool games, my answer would be from 19.5 - 20.0 oz. With my size over 20.0 oz would get to be too heavy after a few hours of play, and lighter than 19.5 won't get through the ball as easy with as little effort. Of course this is just my opinion, but I believe not many would argue if they play. Plus, with a heavy cue, you're able to hold the cue loose, and let the cue do the work. Look at Efren Reyes and how loose He is, and He plays with a very heavy cue."

The other vote was from a legendary player's perspective. The fact that Mike Sigel played with a heavier (20 oz.) cue for *possibly* his entire career, and he didn't seem to have too shabby a stroke, either!

 

[axejunkie]

Interesting stuff from Searing. I always heard Efren played with a heavy cue too.

My playing cue of late is 19.5 oz. and my stroke has gotten better. I tried sub 19 but found my stroke was too inconsistent. I do feel balance is very important too.