High quality cue vs. Low quality cue?

The OP claims to be able to get out 8 out 10 racks...if he can see the ball. Now that's using his Players cue, with a good tip (which, imo, is really what's most important). Do you think with a higher priced cue he will run out 10 of 10? I think not... If he plays as good as he says, he should keep his money, and step up to play the big dogs...cuz they don't even run out 8 out of 10 racks (maybe once in a while). :D

To the OP...there's nothing wrong with the cue you have now, if you truly do play that well. The best players still run out, playing off the wall (house cue). If you want a higher priced cue...buy it because you just WANT it...not because you mistakenly believe it will help you play better (how much better can you play?).

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Hard to argue with this,,,,,,,
 
The Players sneaky is a great cue. If they were $400 everyone would be raving about them. A used car salesman told me once if a certain unit wouldn't sell he'd raise the price and it would sell quickly. I have a Players sneaky and the shaft has been retapered to suit me and it would be hard to do better.
 
Hello, I was wondering if it really matters when shooting with a high or low quality cue? For example I shoot with a players sneaky pete with a Tiger onyx tip and love it but Im wondering if im selling myself short by not having say a Joss, Predator, Or an Ob cue. Do you guys think it makes a huge difference? A little background may help, I have been playing for 18 years and i have always shot with a sneaky pete of the lower quality, first i had a 95-1 Meucci, then my current cue i purchased 10 years ago. I am a B+ to A player, 8 out of 10 times i have a clear shot i have the run out. I am thinking very hard about buying a Higher quality cue because i think it may make a difference, what do you think?


My opinion is you probably wouldn't get a big benefit from a more expensive cue. You may however benefit from a performance shaft (i.e. 214, Z2, Ob1, Ob2, Jacoby Hybrid). The butt of the cue isn't going to impact play nearly as much as the shaft.
 
hello, i was wondering if it really matters when shooting with a high or low quality cue? For example i shoot with a players sneaky pete with a tiger onyx tip and love it but im wondering if im selling myself short by not having say a joss, predator, or an ob cue. Do you guys think it makes a huge difference? A little background may help, i have been playing for 18 years and i have always shot with a sneaky pete of the lower quality, first i had a 95-1 meucci, then my current cue i purchased 10 years ago. I am a b+ to a player, 8 out of 10 times i have a clear shot i have the run out. I am thinking very hard about buying a higher quality cue because i think it may make a difference, what do you think?

well if you have a player speed. Treat yourself to a good cue. You deserve it.
 
Hello, I was wondering if it really matters when shooting with a high or low quality cue? For example I shoot with a players sneaky pete with a Tiger onyx tip and love it but Im wondering if im selling myself short by not having say a Joss, Predator, Or an Ob cue. Do you guys think it makes a huge difference? A little background may help, I have been playing for 18 years and i have always shot with a sneaky pete of the lower quality, first i had a 95-1 Meucci, then my current cue i purchased 10 years ago. I am a B+ to A player, 8 out of 10 times i have a clear shot i have the run out. I am thinking very hard about buying a Higher quality cue because i think it may make a difference, what do you think?
Save your money, if you're running out 8 out of 10 racks a different cue won't help you. I play with a cue that's worth around $3K and I wish for the day I could run out 8 out of 10 racks! That's strong in anybody's book!

I've been through so many cues in my life I've lost count and I have to say some felt like they played better than the others, but it was probably due to the tip and shaft taper more than anything. I've played with LD shafts the last few years and I've recently switched back to solid maple shafts and I'm starting to hit the ball well with the solid maple shaft. I'm not knocking LD shafts at all because I play as well or better with my 314-2 shaft as I do with my solid shaft, but I prefer the feel of the hit I get with the solid shaft.

If you want a nicer cue get one because you like the style and look of it, but don't expect it to pocket more balls for you. That's up to you and not the cue!

James
 
... and the smartest Indians choose the best arrows. Hence... buy a good cue.

the smartest indians may choose the best arrows
but they get killed by the indians who hit their target.....:eek:
just sayin:grin-square:

the cue wont make you play better
an ld shaft might help some
you already play good
 
also learn what really is a good cue. some of which you mentioned are nothing short of a better looking cue than you have but not a better shooting cue.
a good shaft which is probably the most important part of the package is around 150 and up.
 
Thank you..

I just wanted to say thank you for all who replied. You definately all have valid points and alot to absorb. I have been one who always concentrated on my game not so much my equiptment, I dont believe the cue makes the player, i believe you have to be a player to benefit from a better cue. :wink:


PS. If your wondering im thinking about an OB 1 classic or a Katana shaft for my players. I think the shaft may make a bigger difference than anything else.
 
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You probably shoot pretty strong, but FYI the 9b pros of yesteryear only got out like 65% of the time with ball in hand. So either you're a top pro in the making, or you're totally overestimating how often you get out.

Even if you actually run out only 40% instead of 80%, you still are playing some great pool and I wouldn't mess with a winning formula. Especially if you've been using a cue for 10+ years. Using the same cue makes you consistent, switching will just force you to relearn your 'touch' and speed control and maybe slightly alter where you need to aim shots with english.

IMO a cue just needs a minimum level of quality. It can't warp, rattle, make weird noises, or chafe. Once it passes all those tests, and you like the weight and how it hits, you have all you need to play great pool.
 
its like having a b.m.w. or a chevy both will get you home but one has a better ride it want you like no more no less
 
cues vs lessons

I have bought plenty of cues over the years. If I would have spent a third of the money on lessons, I would have a much stronger game. Another thing to consider is the period of adjustment you go though with buying a new cue. Sometimes it takes me a couple of weeks to gain confidence with a different pool cue.
 
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pricier cues means two things, 1: design. 2: quality of material which means durability. You'll find cues on here that are 20 plus years old, still very much playable, that doesnt mean custom necessarily, well known manufactured cues such as meucci, joss, mezz and predator and plenty others offer the same quality and durabilty, but in the end its like others have mentioned, its a test drive kinda deal. plenty of people buy $2000 cues and never use them bc they dont "feel" right. NY pro Tony Robles is sponsered by predator, he can basically get any cue he wants for free, but he cant let go of his P2 with the 314 shaft, so basically that tells you all you need to know about cues.( i WISH i had that problem:wink:)
 
pricier cues means two things, 1: design. 2: quality of material which means durability. You'll find cues on here that are 20 plus years old, still very much playable, that doesnt mean custom necessarily, well known manufactured cues such as meucci, joss, mezz and predator and plenty others offer the same quality and durabilty, but in the end its like others have mentioned, its a test drive kinda deal. plenty of people buy $2000 cues and never use them bc they dont "feel" right. NY pro Tony Robles is sponsered by predator, he can basically get any cue he wants for free, but he cant let go of his P2 with the 314 shaft, so basically that tells you all you need to know about cues.( i WISH i had that problem:wink:)

P2 ftw!!! Hell Yeah!
 
It makes you proud

Hello, I was wondering if it really matters when shooting with a high or low quality cue? For example I shoot with a players sneaky pete with a Tiger onyx tip and love it but Im wondering if im selling myself short by not having say a Joss, Predator, Or an Ob cue. Do you guys think it makes a huge difference? A little background may help, I have been playing for 18 years and i have always shot with a sneaky pete of the lower quality, first i had a 95-1 Meucci, then my current cue i purchased 10 years ago. I am a B+ to A player, 8 out of 10 times i have a clear shot i have the run out. I am thinking very hard about buying a Higher quality cue because i think it may make a difference, what do you think?

One cue may have less vibration that the other, the setup of the shaft the taper etc might be different. You can alter a cheap cue just as well as a custom to be your perfect cue......but....if you know how you want it set up a custom is nice it makes you proud to have a cue that is handcrafted to your specifications. Thats what youre buying and shaft quality might be a little denser maybe depending on what you ask for.....

My advice is learn the different ways to set a cue up.....then decide what you want...and order you a cue. Makes you proud and supports a cue maker.
 
I finally decided....

I decided to pull the trigger and get my new cues. I went with a Poison Bolt-1 sneaky, Poison VX Jump, and a Predator Racer Special addition 4x8 case. I didn't want anything too flashy plus i play with a sneaky already.I feel it is an upgrade coming from a players cue. I didn't want super low deflection like the predator but i do want it semi-ld with a firm hit. The jump i bought because i want to learn to jump consistently in bigger tournaments i feel with out it you have a handicap against a better player. Hopefully i can start playing as a AA this year.
 
Hello, I was wondering if it really matters when shooting with a high or low quality cue? For example I shoot with a players sneaky pete with a Tiger onyx tip and love it but Im wondering if im selling myself short by not having say a Joss, Predator, Or an Ob cue. Do you guys think it makes a huge difference? A little background may help, I have been playing for 18 years and i have always shot with a sneaky pete of the lower quality, first i had a 95-1 Meucci, then my current cue i purchased 10 years ago. I am a B+ to A player, 8 out of 10 times i have a clear shot i have the run out. I am thinking very hard about buying a Higher quality cue because i think it may make a difference, what do you think?

for me it doesn't matter in the least. the tip is more important. a good well shaped and chalked tip goes a lot farther than a high dollar cue. i have a players break cue i spent $20 on and a dick neighbors shooter i spent considerably more on. i have broke and run racks with both.
i spent the money on the custom because at the time i had the money. not because i thought spending more would make me play better. i get made fun of quite a bit for having a "thousand dollar cue and a ten dollar game". if you have the money and want to treat yourself, buy a new cue. but if cash is tight i'd say wait. a new expensive cue will not make you go from running a 2 pack to an 8 pack and it will not make you go from running 2 or 3 balls to being able to run out. the only thing it can really "do" is make you feel good about having a new cue.
 
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