Help me with unwrapped/wrapped... What would you do?

JazzboxBlues

JazzboxBlues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I had a near 10 year layoff from the game and now I'm back in. I've always favored unwrapped cues but my main player 10 years ago was a linen wrapped Southwest. After trying a few cue makers I'm reasonably sure whose I like and currently using a sneaky. What I'm finding right now is that my palm is sweating particularly in tight matches against tough competition. What are your opinions on me going to a wrapped cue? I also think I'd like a lizard skin If I do. I'd appreciate all opinions. Thanks! Dean
 
JazzboxBlues said:
I had a near 10 year layoff from the game and now I'm back in. I've always favored unwrapped cues but my main player 10 years ago was a linen wrapped Southwest. After trying a few cue makers I'm reasonably sure whose I like and currently using a sneaky. What I'm finding right now is that my palm is sweating particularly in tight matches against tough competition. What are your opinions on me going to a wrapped cue? I also think I'd like a lizard skin If I do. I'd appreciate all opinions. Thanks! Dean
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I'm not sure you'd want any kind of leather if you have a sweaty hand. I usually don't sweat, and I've owned two cues with leather wrap, and I have to say when your palm does sweat it feels like you're holding a dead limb....
 
JazzboxBlues said:
I had a near 10 year layoff from the game and now I'm back in. I've always favored unwrapped cues but my main player 10 years ago was a linen wrapped Southwest. After trying a few cue makers I'm reasonably sure whose I like and currently using a sneaky. What I'm finding right now is that my palm is sweating particularly in tight matches against tough competition. What are your opinions on me going to a wrapped cue? I also think I'd like a lizard skin If I do. I'd appreciate all opinions. Thanks! Dean
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My preference has mostly been for unwrapped cues, even my break cues. They seem to work best in any and all conditions. The ones that I have that are not unwrapped have a stacked leather wrap on them. I'm in a minority here, but I simply do not like a linen wrap. If it HAD to be linen, then double-pressed with some kind of finish over it.

That said, I've never noticed any significant sweating on my grip hand. I have however, felt enough sweat on my bridge hand that sometimes I have to resort to a glove.

So, imho, if it were a poll I'd have to vote wrapless.

Maniac
 
Over the years I've had all wrap versions but am in the process of selling off my wrapped cues, both leather and linen. Wood just feels better to me with a looser grip under all playing conditions.
 
JazzboxBlues said:
I had a near 10 year layoff from the game and now I'm back in. I've always favored unwrapped cues but my main player 10 years ago was a linen wrapped Southwest. After trying a few cue makers I'm reasonably sure whose I like and currently using a sneaky. What I'm finding right now is that my palm is sweating particularly in tight matches against tough competition. What are your opinions on me going to a wrapped cue? I also think I'd like a lizard skin If I do. I'd appreciate all opinions. Thanks! Dean
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Wrapless, all day. :cool: If I had to choose a leather wrap, it would probably be one of Martins (aka jazznpool, here at AZ) Spanish Bull wraps. They are superb. Quality stuff with a great feel.
Good luck.
j2
 
Personally, Cortland Linen is my preference, especially as it gets used more over time.
I haven;t come across a linen wrap I like anywhere near as much so if not Cortland, then
leather......elephant preferred, then Kangaroo, next is Spanish Bull but never wrap-less.
 
I'm in the leather wrap group. I've had all my cues for the last 20 years wrapped in leather or some type of skin. my 2 current cues have real elephant ear wraps and they feel fantastic.

Play with whatever fells best so your no wasting time thinking about your grip while shooting
 
Bavafongoul said:
Personally, Cortland Linen is my preference, especially as it gets used more over time.
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I am with you. :thumbup:

But to each his own. Sounds like the OP is a wrapless guy.

The exception is his new sweating problem. IMHO that is the greatest practical advantage of linen. No material handles that as well as linen. Some ways of finishing linen can in fact diminish that effect though.



Since the OP is historically a wrapless guy I would suggest just carrying a clean hand towel and wiping the cue and drying the hands frequently. If that turns out to be not good enough or too distracting, then go with a good linen properly installed. :smile:




.
 
My hands get sweaty too and line works best for me by far. Wrapless gets too slick when my hands are damp. I think people who have dry or just slightly sweaty hands do great with wrapless as a tiny bi of moisture in your skin helps it stick a little...bit straight up sweaty hands and wrapless isn't a great combo in my experience. I do break wrapless, but I wipe my hand right before that shot.

Linen absorbs some of the moisture and gets nice and grippy if my hands are damp.
 
Bill glass cue

JazzboxBlues said:
I see that you play with a Sugartree. It is a maker I have not played with but is of interest. Could you compare it to a Blue Grass? Thanks, Dean
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I never played with a Blue Grass so I can compare it to my Sugartree
 
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what happened to the southwest?

if you get lizard don't nick it because it barbs and is really distracting.
 
Wrap or No Wrap.... try CORK

Here is my Cue with a cork grip... It is Great
 

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PhilosopherKing said:
what happened to the southwest?
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I blamed my poor playing on it and traded it for 2 cues I never really liked. Not one of my finest moments. In reality I had an injury to my grip hand which really threw my game off when prior to that I was playing the best pool in my life and improving. I ended up having surgery and just kind of lost momentum.

Fortunately I found my way back and my game is getting better. My speed control is poor and I'm playing in a Valley League and before it was BCA on 9' Gold Crowns. I'm in the top 5 right now but wouldn't say this league is super competitive. I want to get back to a BCA league on 9 footers and currently waiting to get on a straight pool league. As far as cues I'm using a Blue Grass and will stick to wrapless.
 
Chopdoc said:
I am with you. :thumbup:

But to each his own. Sounds like the OP is a wrapless guy.

The exception is his new sweating problem. IMHO that is the greatest practical advantage of linen. No material handles that as well as linen. Some ways of finishing linen can in fact diminish that effect though.



Since the OP is historically a wrapless guy I would suggest just carrying a clean hand towel and wiping the cue and drying the hands frequently. If that turns out to be not good enough or too distracting, then go with a good linen properly installed. :smile:




.
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One other suggestion out of left field Doc, he might try a cork wrap. I am either wrapless, or Spanish Bull myself, but I have heard good things about the feel of a properly done cork wrap. Just thinking out loud.
Regards.
Joe P
 
I'm actually glad some started this thread. I was curious myself about Players Preferences and Why you guys use what you do.

I have always used linen wrapped until my current OB cue. It's leather and although I like the feel. After a long night of play or a weekend in a tournament. The leather becomes a little sticky. My hands don't feel wet or damp. Maybe moisture from my hands builds up on leather after awhile. No idea.

Been serious considering a new cue without a wrap. Plus I had never even though about cork.

Thanks for all the information guys
 
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