How much do I really need to spend on my first cue?

Ziljibar said:
I originally posted this in the cue review forum and I'm reposting here at at another user's suggestion.

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I told you would get a greater response on this forum, but could be more confusing.
I went through the same thing 5 years ago. I finally bought a Lucasi and still have it and play with it.
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Dont get a cheap cue. My brother and i both found that our first cues became pretty sentimental, and we occaisionally get them back out and enjoy playing with them. My first was a meucci with a couple shafts and i still really like it 4 cues later. Find a good deal on a nicer used cue, go somewhere that sells them and hit around and see what weight/shaft size you like and look for something similar. You can score a nice viking or mcdermott or meucci for 150 easy
 
i would spend in the $150 - $250 range and would stay away from meucci, i buy/sell a lot on ebay and wouldn't recommend it or azb for buying a cue because it really is gambling when it comes down to item quality/description, find somewhere u can go and test hit cues and find what u like the best so u know exactly what you're getting!
 
Ive bought a couple meucci now and havent personally had a single issue with them, but i bought then all in person and people saying dont buy them probably have dealt with them a lot more so id say take their word for on it on the meucci's
 
Might as well throw my two cents in here. Since it seems like the two arguments people seem to be making here are for affordability and longevity, I'd recommend trying to get a hold of an old Dufferin phantom - it's their original sneaky pete with the pin in the shaft that they stopped making when the company got bought in the early-mid 2000s or so. I've heard them as being frequently touted as one of the best low-cost options (I typically see them go for 50-100 bucks on eBay) and there are a lot of them floating around out there. I have one and it's great. I'd bet someone on this forum has one they'd be willing to let you take off of their hands.
 
ScottK said:
Any Player's with their HXT LD shaft.

Oh, the answer to your question is $115.59. (http://www.seyberts.com/products/Pure_X_by_Players_HXT4_Pool_Cue-102576-10161.html)
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I'd have a hard time arguing this choice. I have an HXT shaft, and although it is not at the top of the class when it comes to low deflection...it still hits reasonably well and has a nice taper and tip. On top of that...the cue in ScottK's link is wrapless...which is what you're accustomed to playing with.

Just one man's opinion.

Maniac
 
Chuck Fields said:
Get the players cue, it is a good cue for the money, then spend the rest of the budget on playing. If at some point later you take the game more serious and decide to change cues for whatever reason, you'll have a nice cue to break with. Expensive cues don't pocket balls any better than cheaper cues.
Don't know about the eBay link.
Chuck
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What he said, Players on Ebay
 
My first cue was a McDermott. I had intended to buy a cheaper one, but wound up with this one because it was so purrrrdy and I couldn't help myself. http://www.seyberts.com/products/McDermott_G407_Pool_Cue-101193-10197.html

I test hit some other, less fancy looking ones and they all hit about the same. They make very nice cue for not much $$ with a semi-LD shaft (G-core). I bought this one for about $220 new. Same hit as my current player. http://www.seyberts.com/products/McDermott_G206_Pool_Cue-101232-10197.html

I bought a couple of cues after that one, but always end up coming back to the original McD. It just suits me. Now that I have my two OB Classics, I'm in heaven.
 
I always felt I would only get a better cue when my game was good enough to warrant it. Started out with a $40 dollar Dufferin, improved and moved to a used Meucci in the late 80s, bought a Joss Sneaky @ 96, then had my Mike Webb built @ 15 years ago.

Kind of like buying golf clubs if you can barely hit the ball what difference does it make whether you have a 1970s yard sale set or a $3000 dollar pings
 
It depends on what type of player you are.

Cues are not as expensive as they used to be.

A good Cuetec or players HXT both with LD shaft will set you for $100

Most Predator SPs are getting sold for around $280 online and a new one is only $380


I play with a Cuetec since 4 years now and I can't say anything bad about them.
 
As others have stated...start with a low dollar cue.

Since beers may be flowing...set a dollar limit that won't hurt too bad if/when it walks away. It happens. Might as well learn the lesson about watching your equipment like a hawk...as cheaply as possible.

Just sayin

ps: above all...have fun as you improve:thumbup:
 
I bought a two piece cue from China that cost $12.50. I thought it was going to be junk but I wanted to see how good it was. I was amazed when I got the cue. The quality was top notch; finish, joint, everything. I sold it for $25.00 which was a steal. Everyone that used it liked it. I sell them now and get 100% profit at a fair price.

I had ordered cues from a company in America because I wanted American made house cues. When I learned that the cues I was buying came from China I canceled the order. I can buy cues made in China much cheaper in the Philippines than I can in America.

I know this is not a Sneaky Pete but the above mentioned cue is the best cue for a very low price that I have ever seen. Shoot well my friends.
 
The Kiss said:
I always felt I would only get a better cue when my game was good enough to warrant it. Started out with a $40 dollar Dufferin, improved and moved to a used Meucci in the late 80s, bought a Joss Sneaky @ 96, then had my Mike Webb built @ 15 years ago.

Kind of like buying golf clubs if you can barely hit the ball what difference does it make whether you have a 1970s yard sale set or a $3000 dollar pings
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actually, it does not make much difference.... most players can play with just about anything...... price has no bearing on whether you shoot good or not, just how it feels to you personally..... which means he can buy a players and play with that forever.... only reason he would need to spend more is because he want to, not cause he had to.
 
AZB pool players search perpetually for the magic cue.
Unfortunately, none has the price: a bag of gold. :D

You can get a perfectly good cue for $100.
That kind would have a joint.
One piece cues are cheaper.

Find a cue you like in the rack at your local pool room.
Buy it.
Have a joint installed if you need it.
You can't try out new cues in a store. :D
 
Cornerman said:
I'll go with $100 or less.
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I'll go with $40 or less. A year or so ago, I was in a Sports Authority or some such store and wandered over to the small billiard section. There was a "Steve Mizerak" cue for about $20+tax. The joint was solid, the butt was well-painted (as opposed to finished) and the shaft wood was reasonable. The lousy ferrule was fixed in about a minute of sawing. Add a tip and I was good to go. That cue hits the ball better than some $4000 cues I've shot with. A high price doesn't guarantee a good or even an acceptable hit.

If you don't mind spending a little time learning about cue maintenance, this would give you a reasonable cheap alternative at least until you can run a rack from time to time.
 
1st cues are like 1st set of golf clubs. Buy a quality used or well under your budget cue there's always time later to buy the cue of your dreams.

When I bought my first cue I thought production cues were all the same length and balance I found out their not, which can affect your play.

I would go to a billiard supply store or local cue maker vice a general sporting goods store because you can generally try several cues to see what you like. The other reason I would go to a billiard supply store is because they know more about care and repair of your cue than Walmart.

The intangible benefit you get from a billiard supply store is you can build a relationship that may last many years.
 
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