Hit: "Hard/Soft" vs. "Feel"

[thejeffcho]

This is probably to sound like a dumb question to many of you, but every time I read AZ'ers using these adjective to describe the hit of a cue, I'm a bit lost.

What exactly do these adjectives mean? I had thought that the firmness of a hit describes the amount of vibration transferred to the stroke hand--hard = lots of vibration and vice versa--but apparently a hit can be "hard with lots of feel"? Perhaps the firmness of a hit describes the amount of force transferred to the cue ball? Yeah I'm pretty confused.

I had thought that I have a preference for "softer" hits, but I have limited exposure to cues (after years with a no-name K-mart cue, I played with a Viking G06 with implex joint for maybe 5 years, and currently plays with a Predator 4-point sneaky, 314, no wraps, w/ wood joint). It would be super helpful if your comments can use these cues (and/or Mezz/Schon as I'm itching to try these as well) as points of reference.

Although I'm pretty happy with my predator, I'm itching to try out another production cue. I really would like to know about what my preference is, and what cue constructions (shaft, ferule, joint, wood etc etc) it entails, before talking to a custom cuemaker.

 

[Eric Wynne]

It's all personal preference , just like tips . Different strokes for different folks . You want a feel that's comfortable to you as the feel is all you have to judge how hard or soft to hit the ball to control distance . spin is just the steering wheel you use to drive around on the table . You want a great production cue get a Prather or Joss East . I'd steer clear of the Schon and Predator . You want performance , not a name . The 3/8 joint pin , whatever thread , flat face wood to wood joint will give you the most feedback and whatever tip you like will pretty much give you the feel , hard , med , or soft . Shaft taper helps how a cue plays , stiff or conical - low deflection , pro - softer , more comfy to stroke for novices . Good luck and I hope it helps a little . If you don't shoot the balls in , you don't get paid ...

 

[Lexicologist71]

Don't get caught up in all the hyperbole. You're right as far as hard=more recoil. If you read many ads, you'll discover some cues being advertised as being everything, even if some of those things are opposites. "More powerful stroke" is my favorite. How much power do you need? My favorite is the cue that actually ADDS power to your stroke. I guess there's some nuclear reactor embedded in the cue like the Terminator? Don't get caught up in the marketing BS that the industry is full of. Full of, yeah, that about sums it up. Manufacturers don't care too much about what they say as long as it sounds like it's positive. Too much of what they claim is immeasurable, so who's going to claim false advertisement?

I have played with wood to wood cues that hit firmly and some that felt soft. I've played with stainless steel jointed cues that hit hard and some that hit like a cream puff. There are oodles of things a cuemaker can change to alter the hit of their cue. It isn't just the joint.

 

[jason.hwnd]

You want a great production cue get a Prather or Joss East . I'd steer clear of the Schon and Predator . You want performance , not a name

Were you drunk when you wrote that?? If Schon is going to be considered a production cue - it's by far the best production cue.


At one point and time, I had 6+ cues laid out on a table for me to play with.
I honestly didn't know jack at that point and time. These ranged from a $1k+ mcdermott, custom sneaky pete, etc and two lower end Schon LTD cues. I honestly knew nothing at that point in the way of how cues were made, what contributed to different feels, etc etc.

So I played with the McDermott for a few games, grabbed the sneaky pete and didn't like the feel of it. it was sorta dead/muffled.

I grabbed a joss cue - too stiff! (i'm starting to sound like Goldilocks & 3 Bears)

Then I grabbed one of the Schon LTD's (birds eye, schon 13mm shaft).
I knew at the first few hits "I like this!"; It felt fluid, smooth, fitting.. whatever the terms are that we use to describe a proper cue.

So since it's all a personal preference, how can you tell him to avoid of the better "production" cue companies?


Listen mate, forget that guys nonsense.. play with as many cues as you can. make some notes about the cues that have feels that you like. try to compile a list of woods you like (hard, soft) and joint configs, etc.


I did this for about 6 months then set out for a custom cue. Meanwhile, I continue to play with my own Schon Elite ...I've tried other cues since then and to be honest, I only try them to remember why I picked Schon.
Thats honestly all it takes for me to recall why I have it - I use someone else's cue.