How do you describe how a cue hits?

SCCues

SCCues

< Searing Twins
Silver Member
I notice in cue ads for cues listed for sale that every cue is described as "hits great" in one description or another in the ads. Are there any cues made that don't hit great? Do people just say this to make a sale or do all cues hit pretty good with some being a little better than others. I'm sure you'd never say the cue you're trying to sell just hits "OK". Just curious what others might think.....
 
Draws a ton. Hits like a freight train. Can draw the length of the table. Can run tons of racks. Test hits only. A player and highly collectible. Run racks. was in the PH that Willie walk in to use the toilet, and etc. Are all terms that are used to try and get some uniformed or player with out many skills or knowledge to buy their cue or so they think. They are just trying to add hype to the cue to sell or drive up the price.

If you pick up a cue. Hit a ball. You can feel if the cue is solid. Hit the ball at difference speeds with difference english applied. Does the cue make a different noise? Do you hear any strange noises? Does it feel the same no matter how hard you hit the CB? Does the cue sting your hand? Is there a spring to the shaft or butt? Does the cue make a ping, plunk, thud, boing, thunk, poing, plink or ....? To me this is feedback and how a cue feels. It is what feels comfortable to me.

Playing pool is playing feel, sound, sight. You need to know how a certain speed feels and sounds. When practicing you hit a ball at a certain speed. You sense that feel in your hand and hear a sound. Next time you play on a different table you hit a ball. You get that same feeling, but the ball either rolled too far or not enough. So now you have to either hit it harder or softer. You now have that feeling that you need to play that table. This is why your own cue helps you play better. If you are good enough you can pick up any cue and adapt real fast. That is what a hustler has the ability to do.

Some cues just do not have a solid feeling to them. Try a bunch out and you can tell the bad ones from the good. Just like driving a car. Some ride nicer that others. Some have that boulevard cushy feel and others have that tight sporty handling feel while those cheap cars ride like a cheap car.
 
TheBook said:
Some cues just do not have a solid feeling to them. Try a bunch out and you can tell the bad ones from the good. Just like driving a car. Some ride nicer that others. Some have that boulevard cushy feel and others have that tight sporty handling feel while those cheap cars ride like a cheap car.
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Yeah, but the quote SCCues gave was "hits great". The ONLY person that can determine if a cue hits great or not is the one using that particular cue at that time. If you think a cue that has that tight, sporty handling feel, therefore feeling great to YOU, does not necessarily mean it's gonna feel great to me or some other individual. It's all opinion, and opinion can't be argued. I personally roll my eyes :rolleyes: whenever I see the phrase "hits great" in a cue advertisement.

Maniac
 
"Hits like a ton of bricks".

Not sure what that means or how it pertains to the hit of a pool cue, but whatever.
 
I like to say "crisp hitting". Rifle, handgun and shotgun shooters describe a good trigger pull as crisp meaning there is no take up movement and no travel after the trigger breaks. It is likened to the snapping into of a glass rod. I like cues that hit analogous to this; no spongy feel, very little vibration, contact lasting just the smallest fraction of a second. Crisp.
 
matcase said:
I like to say "crisp hitting". Rifle, handgun and shotgun shooters describe a good trigger pull as crisp meaning there is no take up movement and no travel after the trigger breaks. It is likened to the snapping into of a glass rod. I like cues that hit analogous to this; no spongy feel, very little vibration, contact lasting just the smallest fraction of a second. Crisp.
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Maybe the best definition of "hit" I have ever seen. My Raven SP (and my Colt Python .357) hits like a glass rod breaking.
 
Interesting

matcase said:
I like to say "crisp hitting". Rifle, handgun and shotgun shooters describe a good trigger pull as crisp meaning there is no take up movement and no travel after the trigger breaks. It is likened to the snapping into of a glass rod. I like cues that hit analogous to this; no spongy feel, very little vibration, contact lasting just the smallest fraction of a second. Crisp.
Click to expand...

The best cue I ever hit with was a 1965 Balabushka that a player in one of my leagues bought brand new from George for $150. The only way I can describe the hit was that it was like playing with an unbreakable piece of glass.
 
I honestly think it is impossible to describe HIT. It's just too subjective to define. A lot of players say their cue "hits a ton" or that it has a "monster hit". I don't know what they mean by that.
 
bell said:
Maybe the best definition of "hit" I have ever seen. My Raven SP (and my Colt Python .357) hits like a glass rod breaking.
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MMMmmm! Colt Python! :)
 
A pool cue should have a moderate to severe quiver in it when held, lightly, in the left hand, about 8"-12" from the rear, and then struck, lightly with the palm of the right hand.

One should observe not only the overall quiver of the butt but also just how much the tip moves off center in this process. One might even listen for the harmonic vibration that this striking of the cue produces, both its tone and duration. Again, to hear this harmonic vibration best the cue must be held very lightly in one hand, and at a very certain point that is different for each cue and then struck very lightly with the palm of the other hand. Holding it close to your ear while you do this also helps.

This has been the process I've used for years in picking out a great "hitting" cue.
 
My cue hits like a wet noodle :eek:

It's tough to explain how a cue hits. Alot of the time, I just say its "smooth" or I'll just let someone play a rack with the cue to see if they like it.

I honestly wouldnt know how to explain what my Gilbert hits like, but I love to tell people that it makes me Wet in my pants lol :eek:
 
Hits a ton has to describe my ex, that B---h could hit.

Does what i tell it, my "Ted Harris" does that. Nothing more, nothing less !! anywhere in between is my fault. Hits a ton and a 1/4.

This subject is to personal, how do you like "your" hit ,is what matters. A new cue can help your game but its not going to fix it.

Put yourself in an uncomfortable game and then make yourself comfortable that will fix your game.
 
Ahhhhh, I'm sure some now realize why I wear my anti-propaganda protection which was modified to look like a colander.......
 
Speakin of Changin

Gregg said:
"Hits like a ton of bricks".

Not sure what that means or how it pertains to the hit of a pool cue, but whatever.
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I don't know about anything else here.....but, please if you would be so kind -- please change your bikini :D -- the yellow looks GREAT -- but I'm just curious about another color/mood/pose :eek: :rolleyes: ;)
 
TheBook said:
Draws a ton. Hits like a freight train. Can draw the length of the table. Can run tons of racks. Test hits only. A player and highly collectible. Run racks. was in the PH that Willie walk in to use the toilet, and etc. Are all terms that are used to try and get some uniformed or player with out many skills or knowledge to buy their cue or so they think. They are just trying to add hype to the cue to sell or drive up the price.

If you pick up a cue. Hit a ball. You can feel if the cue is solid. Hit the ball at difference speeds with difference english applied. Does the cue make a different noise? Do you hear any strange noises? Does it feel the same no matter how hard you hit the CB? Does the cue sting your hand? Is there a spring to the shaft or butt? Does the cue make a ping, plunk, thud, boing, thunk, poing, plink or ....? To me this is feedback and how a cue feels. It is what feels comfortable to me.

Playing pool is playing feel, sound, sight. You need to know how a certain speed feels and sounds. When practicing you hit a ball at a certain speed. You sense that feel in your hand and hear a sound. Next time you play on a different table you hit a ball. You get that same feeling, but the ball either rolled too far or not enough. So now you have to either hit it harder or softer. You now have that feeling that you need to play that table. This is why your own cue helps you play better. If you are good enough you can pick up any cue and adapt real fast. That is what a hustler has the ability to do.

Some cues just do not have a solid feeling to them. Try a bunch out and you can tell the bad ones from the good. Just like driving a car. Some ride nicer that others. Some have that boulevard cushy feel and others have that tight sporty handling feel while those cheap cars ride like a cheap car.
Click to expand...


i agree, but you have to play along time to be able to tell these subtle differences, the longer you play the more noticable they become. agree?
 
"great" means nothing if you don't describe the hit and what you like about.

basic breakdown for me...

stiffness.......combination of a couple of things but mainly how the cue TAPERS. from pro taper(of which there can be different lengths. i think meucci uses a 14" pro),,,to conical,,,,and all variations in between. meucci's flex in it's shaft is also called "whippy" of which you've heard many times before.

hardness.....again a combination of many things but immediately noticeable in the type of tip/ferrule/joint combination. yes,,,you can feel a difference in hardness by the type of joint.

another variable in the mix is the quality of shaftwood. there are many types from the grain tightness to grain type to grain straightness. there are different types of wood, though rock maple is the most common. i play with three,,,rock, rock with curly figuring, and birdseye.

one elusive quality for me is "spine". not all cues have it. it describes the quality of SNAP in a cue's hit.

finally, one cannot discount the overall template of the cue and the different parts used. some of it is common sense. if you like really hard hits, then every part in the cue should be hard to max the effect, even a hard bumper.

if i describe a hit, i'd do the simple stiffness/hardness, but also describe the rest if anyone cares.
 
if i knock a guy out with it first swing, i say it hits stiff

if it doesnt knock the guy out but leaves a red welt on his forehead, i call it whippy.
 
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