How much does your cue help your game?
- Thread starter Kevin
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I have a theory on this topic, i would like some opinions on my theory, i was born with very little talent to be a great pool player and i'm not, i play decent now after many years and have room to improve, but if I dont have the right equipment, table,cloth, cue i play horrible, my theotry is that the more natural talent a player has the less important the cue is, whaqts your thoughts?
An Important Small Edge
I have over 40 cues (37 different brands) but only three that I choose to play with when it's not just for fun. This has been a process of elimintaion over many years. When reading the various posts on AZ over the years about different brands of cues and their playing characteristics I have to conclude that its all very subjective. Just so you know, my three favorite playing cues are: a 1975 plain jane Tad, a 1982 custom Scruggs, and a custom 1995 Jacoby. Based on comentary I've read over the years, these cues should have distinctly different playing characteristics. I think these particular cues all play very much the same, different manufacturers notwithstanding. When I play with these cues I feel more comfortable - more at ease. I know what they're going to do in every situation. I'd say it's a 95% player 5% cue situation, but sometimes that can be a very important 5%. Thanks, I think this was a very good question.
I have over 40 cues (37 different brands) but only three that I choose to play with when it's not just for fun. This has been a process of elimintaion over many years. When reading the various posts on AZ over the years about different brands of cues and their playing characteristics I have to conclude that its all very subjective. Just so you know, my three favorite playing cues are: a 1975 plain jane Tad, a 1982 custom Scruggs, and a custom 1995 Jacoby. Based on comentary I've read over the years, these cues should have distinctly different playing characteristics. I think these particular cues all play very much the same, different manufacturers notwithstanding. When I play with these cues I feel more comfortable - more at ease. I know what they're going to do in every situation. I'd say it's a 95% player 5% cue situation, but sometimes that can be a very important 5%. Thanks, I think this was a very good question.
Fatboy said:
I disagree. I think it's all the way around. A terrible player will play just as well with a broomstick as he will with anything else. Hell, give him hammer and he'll make just as many balls. A great player couldn't make a ball with a hammer (unless he practices of course). Didn't we just recently hear Earl complaining about the cue he was using? Was he just looking for an excuse or did he really feel the cuetec held him back?
Paul Mon said:
I found myself in a similar situation just the other night. I lost my tip on a break in the middle of set. I was up 3-2 in a race to 7. I grabbed a house cue and miscued 3 times before putting it back on the wall. Those 3 miscues cost me 2 games. So the score is 3-4 when I go to our lost and found closet and grab the best thing I can find. It's a slightly warped Players with the stock lepro. For some reason I couldn't make a ball after that. I lost that set 4-7 and the next set 1-7. Towards the end of the 3rd set I was playing with nothing but center ball and focusing all my attention on just making the ball. I started to catch up, but it was too late. I had already given my opponent all the time in the world to get into a rhythm and he was just playing too well with all the rolls in his favor. I lost 5-7 Honestly, I think losing my tip cost me 150. From now on, I'm carrying a spare shaft.
Edit: Changing cues mid-set or mid-tourney affects me a lot. Some people don't feel those effects. The guy I was playing changes cues every time I step outside for a cigarette. In fact, I have never seen him finish a race over 5 with the same butt/shaft combination. Every time he switches it up, his game improves.
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Handsumm
Banned
Drew said:
I disagree with you disagreeing with previous poster. A terrible player, will benefit greatly from having better equipment, you just might not be able to tell the difference. A great player, if he has too, can use a shoddy cue and make it look like a Balabushka in his hands. He would, however, perform better with his own equipment.
How about a break cue?Drew said:
belmicah said:
I've tried break cues before but I really like my break with my cue. I guess I could get a different playing cue. I had one once with a phenolic tip and everything. I couldn't keep the damn cb on the table with that thing. I think giving my opponent ball in hand after every break makes it easier to beat me than playing with a house cue.
Edit: That cue was too stiff anyway. I ended up snapping the shaft.
That's like
asking how much the right woman improved your sex life! ..... LOL
But, then after about 7 years, you start wondering about newer models .... ROFL .....
No, really, if your playing cue only helps you on 1 or 2 shots to be consistent instead of messing up, then it is worth it, because messing up any can cause you to lose the match or the money. And as far as shooting with a cheap cue, how many times do you see that for a $1,000 set? .... (I rest my case).
Consistency is the name of the game, and anything you can do to improve it is well worth it in the long run.
Besides, if you are a gambler, a good cue will pay for itself many times over.
asking how much the right woman improved your sex life! ..... LOL
But, then after about 7 years, you start wondering about newer models .... ROFL .....
No, really, if your playing cue only helps you on 1 or 2 shots to be consistent instead of messing up, then it is worth it, because messing up any can cause you to lose the match or the money. And as far as shooting with a cheap cue, how many times do you see that for a $1,000 set? .... (I rest my case).
Consistency is the name of the game, and anything you can do to improve it is well worth it in the long run.
Besides, if you are a gambler, a good cue will pay for itself many times over.