How much does butt construction affect playability?

C

cscott67

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I recently had a full-splice cue butt made from rosewood and tulipwoood. (forearm was the tulipwood half) The cue feels so much different than the previous butt which was constructed of a maple pie-cut piece. I had to completely adjust my aiming because the cue hits a lot stiffer and puts waaay more english on the ball. (I am using the same shafts on both butts and both of them have the same stainless steel schon-style joints.)

Is this normal, and why? I understand the woods on the newer butt are probably more dense, but they weigh very close to the same with the same tapers. I have always been under the impression that the shaft/tip/ferrule combo is the only section of the cue that would cause so much change....

Please give your opinions and knowledge if you like, Scott
 
You have already answered your own question, The only people that seem to think the shaft is the only contributing factor are on this forum. Sorry but it's the truth, Everything makes a difference from coring, versus uncored where the wood choice can make all the difference based on density, to what kind of joint screw is used.
 
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It's 50% the cue and around 80% of the weight. In my opinion, I think it makes more of a difference than the shaft taper or the shaft weight. I don't care if the shaft weighs 3 oz or 4.5 oz. If the butt is built like crap, the cue will hit like crap.
 
Thanks Mr. Webb And Mr. Zinzola......

I have been playing pool off and on for the last 35 years. Mostly I have played with Schons, but have tried other cues as well. With the schon cues I could just switch shafts and the cues pretty much played the same even though some were fancy and others plain. I only noticed a difference when I used a shaft with a different taper or tip.

Thanks again for sharing, Scott
 
cscott67 said:
I have been playing pool off and on for the last 35 years. Mostly I have played with Schons, but have tried other cues as well. With the schon cues I could just switch shafts and the cues pretty much played the same even though some were fancy and others plain. I only noticed a difference when I used a shaft with a different taper or tip.

Thanks again for sharing, Scott
Click to expand...

Even though Schon does stainless joints, There design of the joint itself is a little different because the stainless only weighs 9/10's of an ounce,
Tap, Tap to Schon.
 
The handle/butt of a cue is the conduit by which the 'hit' vibrations travel to your grip hand. Different construction methods and/or different mtrls. used will definitely have an effect on the 'hit' of the cue and very likely, it's playability.
You mentioned Schon cues. Schon cues are all constructed in the same manner, except the 'Black Widow' cue, ergo, they will all hit to a similar degree. They all utilize a SS joint, the vast majority use a BEM forearm and they all use a maple handle under wrap. There was a time when Schon used a flat-lamination handle under wrap but today, they are 1 pc. Maple.
Both Tony & Mike know what they're talking about. You should feel as fortunate in having their responses to your question as I am privileged in reading everything they write. Happy Holidays guys.
 
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