Hit of a cue - Tink or Thud!!!

billiardbum

billiardbum

Listen U Might Learn!!!
Silver Member
I have developed a "Hit" of a cue that hits exactly how I want it to hit. I consider a good hit of a cue to be Crisp - Solid - with a TINK. Maybe "Tink" is not the correct term, but it Rings when I hit it. When test hitting each cue, I remove the Bumper and then I can really hear it... This is how I want my cue to hit, but it is only my opinion on what a good hit is. Typically when someone hits my cue, they have 2 reactions - WOW, love it - I do not like that Tink in the cue. I have the luxury to be around several Great Players, and a few Pro Players, and they all love the hit or the "Tink" in my cues. Most of their cues actually have the same sound when I hit them. One more bit of info - When you watch Pros on TV, and the Mic is on the player, you can hear the Tink (Ring) in most of their cues in case you are wondering that I am talking about.
Question is to you cue makers - Do you want your cue to have this sound?
If you do not want that sound, what is the sound or hit your looking for? Thanks for responding - Jim
 
Jim, I have heard that sound in cues you are talking about. Don't know if I would call it a tink. To me it sounds like a click. The only time I have ever had it is when I use phenolic joints. But I mostly use stainless steel joints on my cues and this eliminites this sound. And your right, some people like that sound, some people don't. Hell some people go as far to think that when they hear that click that there's something wrong with the cue. When in fact in some cues that's the sound of a clean crisp hit.
Good Cue Building
 
wouldn't the sound of a hit be a creation of SEVERAL factors in a cue?, and the + or - of each factor can change the hit on the cb and the sound it makes? or that several players using the same cue can create a sound unique to their stroke?, like a pro golfer and a duffer using the same club can each make two radically different sounds.

i do know that many good players are acutely aware of the sound of their instrument, and i wouldn't be surprised if the "music" their cue makes plays an important role in playability.

there are certainly cues that sound like sh!t. (none are mine, of course)
 
I like the "tink" or "click" in my cues. I always thought that a strong shaft taper along with a flat faced joint, hard ferrel and a medium hard/hard tip contributed to the sound that we are talking about. It will be very interesting to hear the opinions about this "subjective noise".
John
 
Ridge Runner said:
I like the "tink" or "click" in my cues. I always thought that,,,,,,,,,,,,subjective noise".
John
Click to expand...

i would surmise that 50 qmakers would say their cues have that click, yet we know that all 50 don't make good cues. :):):)
 
I was watching a pool match on TV a few weeks ago and noted that all the pro players used a cue that made a sound like the sharp 'tink' you discribe.
It is the cue sound that I associate with a hard tip.

Personaly I prefer a med tip and that has more of a 'thud' sound and feel.
Perhaps if I ever learn to make more than two or three balls in a row and decide to turn pro I will seek out a cue that goes 'TINK' when I hit the cue ball.

Willeecue
 
WilleeCue said:
I was watching a pool match on TV a few weeks ago and noted that all the pro players used a cue that made a sound like the sharp 'tink' you discribe.
It is the cue sound that I associate with a hard tip.

Personaly I prefer a med tip and that has more of a 'thud' sound and feel.
Perhaps if I ever learn to make more than two or three balls in a row and decide to turn pro I will seek out a cue that goes 'TINK' when I hit the cue ball.

Willeecue
Click to expand...
Bill,

The tink in not associated with the tip, I build mine with Elkmasters, and it still has it. I want it, just trying to get a perspective from cuemakers.
 
I have two Tascarella full spliced cues with piloted stainless steel joints and 5/16-14 stainless steel pins that make that beautiful sound I call the "PING" which is music to my ears. It is solid and wonderful. Both cues have ivory ferrules and medium tips. When you screw the shaft down it takes a little effort on the turn to snug it up. I'm sure the tight tolerances make for a much better sound on impact.

John
 
i call it a "plink" and if it sounds right I know I will like the hit of the cue. I believe the sound can be somewhat enhanced by the way you strike the cue ball as well as how light or tight you hold the butt of the cue.

Dave
 
I like the sound the cues make when Vincent and Felson lag at the end of The Color of Money, my Scruggs sounds just like that. Musical indeed.
 
bruin70 said:
wouldn't the sound of a hit be a creation of SEVERAL factors in a cue?, and the + or - of each factor can change the hit on the cb and the sound it makes? or that several players using the same cue can create a sound unique to their stroke?, like a pro golfer and a duffer using the same club can each make two radically different sounds.
Click to expand...

this is very true. you can give the same cue to many players and the sound may be different for all of them depending on how and where they hold the cue and their stroke. the differences won't be night and day but it can differ quit a bit.
 
A fairly quite sounding hit is what I like. Those older cues with stainless joints, ivory ferrules and hard tips produced the sound many love and others hate. I am one who does not like it. I found most of those cues produced inferior cueball action to the flat faced quiter playing cues that I liked. Not knocking anyone here. I started 18 years ago and I am relating experiences from way back then when I was figuring out how I wanted my cues to play. A few of those tinky sounding cues played good, but most did not. I know a way to produce the sound without changing the hit much, but I find the sound distracting and would not want to build it into my cues.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
 
jkmarshall_cues said:
I have two Tascarella full spliced cues with piloted stainless steel joints and 5/16-14 stainless steel pins that make that beautiful sound I call the "PING" which is music to my ears. It is solid and wonderful. Both cues have ivory ferrules and medium tips. When you screw the shaft down it takes a little effort on the turn to snug it up. I'm sure the tight tolerances make for a much better sound on impact.

John
Click to expand...

that "ping" is so sweet. i used to have a G.S and a P.T. that had similar feed back like that. i've always loved the way Szamboti's and Tascarella's sound.
 
cueman said:
A fairly quite sounding hit is what I like. Those older cues with stainless joints, ivory ferrules and hard tips produced the sound many love and others hate. I am one who does not like it. I found most of those cues produced inferior cueball action to the flat faced quiter playing cues that I liked. Not knocking anyone here. I started 18 years ago and I am relating experiences from way back then when I was figuring out how I wanted my cues to play. A few of those tinky sounding cues played good, but most did not. I know a way to produce the sound without changing the hit much, but I find the sound distracting and would not want to build it into my cues.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
Click to expand...
Chris, Then how do you explain how your cue hits or sounds? That is what I am trying to figure out in this post. I have hit tons of cues which have that Dull hit, without crispness (if that is a word). Just curious what that sound is, because I cannot get a feel out of a cue with that hit. Just curious...
 
The click/tink/plink is the sound of a cue that transmits more feel to my finger tips... or at least that is what I believe. I think I can feel the slight differences in the way the cue vibrates depending on the way I strike the cue ball. I don't KNOW that there is a difference but I do BELIEVE it so there it is.

I've always thought that part of that sound and feel came partially from a hard tip and perhaps had to do with a larger joint screw, like the SW but I am very much a layman.

I don't like the soft sound or thud. I believe that these cues deaden the feel to the fingers. That's also why I avoid wraps preferring a no-wrap cue and really prefer a 1 piece butt.
 
Everytime I here that "pink" sound in the pool hall, I turn and examine the cue that produced the sound. Most of the time ,an ivory ferrel and steel joint are on the cue. My new Tascarella will be here in a couple days- I hope it has that "pink"
thanks jeff
 
jkmarshall_cues said:
I have two Tascarella full spliced cues with piloted stainless steel joints and 5/16-14 stainless steel pins that make that beautiful sound I call the "PING" which is music to my ears. It is solid and wonderful. Both cues have ivory ferrules and medium tips. When you screw the shaft down it takes a little effort on the turn to snug it up. I'm sure the tight tolerances make for a much better sound on impact.

John
Click to expand...
That's the kind of sound I associate with a well made cue.....like tonewoods used in guitars...cues can produce good or bad tones....
 
I like the sound.....of a solid hit!?

billiardbum said:
Chris, Then how do you explain how your cue hits or sounds? That is what I am trying to figure out in this post. I have hit tons of cues which have that Dull hit, without crispness (if that is a word). Just curious what that sound is, because I cannot get a feel out of a cue with that hit. Just curious...
Click to expand...

Hi Jim,

I have several different cues that have different joints, ferrules, tips and such but, the sound you have with a solid stroke on any given cue has a click, plink, ping? sound ;)

I think you're maybe on to something :rolleyes: -- what about a little test cue research here on AZ :D You mail me a "test" cue and I'll check it out and give you some feedback and then I'll mail it on to your next choice for an opinion, and so on!? :)
 
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