How much is tooooo much?

smokeandapancak

smokeandapancak

what?
Silver Member
Being bitten by the cue bug has happened to most everyone of us here, myself included..but sometimes I wonder "Why is this cue so damn expensive?"...How much of a cue's price is "razzel dazzel".. dont get me wrong I like looking at all the prutty inlays and fancy woods..but come on ..that dosent really affect the way the stick hits the ball..does it?...
 
About 4 feet too much

This quote is attributed to noted pool author George Fels:

"Only the first 10 inches or so of a cue have any real effect on how the cue ball is struck, yet virtually all of the money we pay is for the other four feet."

I'm still looking for a cue that works as well as the house cue I learned to play with. :D :D :D
 
smokeandapancak said:
Being bitten by the cue bug has happened to most everyone of us here, myself included..but sometimes I wonder "Why is this cue so damn expensive?"...How much of a cue's price is "razzel dazzel".. dont get me wrong I like looking at all the prutty inlays and fancy woods..but come on ..that dosent really affect the way the stick hits the ball..does it?...
Click to expand...

Expensive, because "labor intensive" and materials have a huge say. Once you have good wood, a four point butt, wrap, good straight shafts, everything else is extra. Kinda like a stripped car that always gets you there or a pretty one that gets you there in the same amount of time. What you actually feed your need with, reflects your cash flow, OUT/IN??
 
Easy.

Less than $500 = Cheap cue, might find a bargain player.

500 to 1000 = fairly good playing cue, pleasant looking, good player cues in this bunch.

1,000 to 1,600 = My normal idea of a good cue that is sharp looking.

1,600 to 2,000 = Extra sharp looking, plays fantastic.

> 2,000 = Better be good, damn good, and great looking as well.


AND, do I have to go into debt to buy it???? :cool:
 
Too much for me is when I'm paying for either a name, brand, or things like inlays which aren't going to help me play better pool.

I'm a little bit of a purist, but I can see why collectors would want the expensive cues. They are in fact beautiful. I'm just not one of 'em.
 
the point

i guess what I am getting at is this ...
Do you have to spend 2k to get a cue that "hits a ton".. and better yet ..does hitting a ton justify 2k.....
just to compare..consider this......

I KNOW that if i spend 350-400 bucks on a softball bat that I WILL hit the ball harder and and it WILL travel further... to me that equals money well spent.
However, I dont know that spending the extra payolla on cue will return the same dollar for dollar value...dont get me wrong, i LOVE cues and I understand the labor factor..and the craftsmanship... but i am not sure that money converts into better results on the table... Ya know what i mean?

HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL
Shane
 
smokeandapancak said:
Being bitten by the cue bug has happened to most everyone of us here, myself included..but sometimes I wonder "Why is this cue so damn expensive?"...How much of a cue's price is "razzel dazzel".. dont get me wrong I like looking at all the prutty inlays and fancy woods..but come on ..that dosent really affect the way the stick hits the ball..does it?...
Click to expand...


No.

I think a good cue for playing is either a meucci with a nicely cut shaft or a predator if thats what you like.
 
acedotcom said:
This quote is attributed to noted pool author George Fels:

"Only the first 10 inches or so of a cue have any real effect on how the cue ball is struck, yet virtually all of the money we pay is for the other four feet."

I'm still looking for a cue that works as well as the house cue I learned to play with. :D :D :D
Click to expand...

That is so true, the more decorative it is the more it costs.
I think expensive cues are about collecting, a fancy expensive cue isn't going to make anyone a worldbeater. A pro can play just as good with a $100 cue as he can with a $2500 cue. There may be a difference in feel but any cue is only as good as the operator. I think those of us who have expensive or custom cues buy them because we can or because we like the beauty and artistry of it--for me I won't be giving up my day job! LOL
 
Snapshot9 said:
Less than $500 = Cheap cue, might find a bargain player.

500 to 1000 = fairly good playing cue, pleasant looking, good player cues in this bunch.

1,000 to 1,600 = My normal idea of a good cue that is sharp looking.

1,600 to 2,000 = Extra sharp looking, plays fantastic.

> 2,000 = Better be good, damn good, and great looking as well.


AND, do I have to go into debt to buy it???? :cool:
Click to expand...

Inflation must have went up recently. :) I have always used a similiar "doubling" scale.

$125 +/-$50 = Basic entry level beginners cue.
250 +/-100 = Good solid hitting cue with minimal design, details or materials. Range I suggest to beginners wanting a cue for awhile.
500 +/-250 = Good solid hitting cue, with more design, details, better materials.
1000 +/-500 = Very nice cue, could be custom designed to the buyers specs.
2000+ = Custom cue, probably one off with excellent materials and craftsmenship.
4000 and up = Most likely a collectors cue.

Most people can play well with a house cue. I look at the 250-500 range for the best bang for the buck. You may not get a unique design or high end materials, but the cue should play and feel good enough to justify this amount paid. Once you get over 500, you are getting more into the materials, design and quality aspects.

Just my approach
ez
 
fancy

smokeandapancak said:
Being bitten by the cue bug has happened to most everyone of us here, myself included..but sometimes I wonder "Why is this cue so damn expensive?"...How much of a cue's price is "razzel dazzel".. dont get me wrong I like looking at all the prutty inlays and fancy woods..but come on ..that dosent really affect the way the stick hits the ball..does it?...
Click to expand...
if 2 sticks were made by the same cuemaker the same way they will hit the same. but if one is totaly unique and you really like it, you may hit better with it.
M.C.
 
Good hitting cues start around $300. I recommend a Falcon, it's manufactured so it's not too pricy and they hit well.- it's a good balance between a good hit and affordability.

More points, more inlays = more money, but same hit...

Shaft, joint, and weight/balance point make all of the difference to me. You have to find the right hit for your stroke. I can play with cues from a Schon to a Josey... Joss' are too stiff for me, and Mucci's are too flexible.

Black dot shafts are too stiff, and when you use a soft tip to try and make up for that, the result is the worst hitting cue I have ever tried.

Remember, these are all my own opinions. Ask around the local hall, many players will let you hit a ball with their cue if you would like to see how it feels. Ask them the same thing you are asking here...
 
Here's some more information:

I've been playing pool for 38 years (started when I was five in my dad's pool hall). I am by no means an expert nor do I claim that I know alot about pool or pool sticks. Hell, I don't even know how to install a tip. However, I have played with a lot of different cues. I still don't understand exactly what "feel" means. I mean I know what the term means, but I can make any of my cues "feel" good or different by changing the tip, ferrule, tapering the shaft, adjusting the weight, or just buying a whole shaft.

For me, it's all about being in a zone and having a high confidence level. It doesn't matter what stick I'm using. I usually play better grabbing a stick off the wall, throwing back about a six pack, and start running my mouth. I would be a nervous wreck playing with a $1000 cue. I'd have to take the thing to the bathroom with me in between beers. I have numerous cues and each has a slightly different feel, which may not have anything to do with whether I sink the ball or not. However, a good feeling cue will build your confidence and make you believe you can do things with it that you couldn't do with a bar stick and, therefore, probably play better pool.

My suggestion is to buy custom cues without all the fancy work.

JED
 
smokeandapancak said:
Just want a little more input from you all ..
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Shane
Click to expand...


Is there any specific info that you are looking for?

You do not need to spend alot of money to get a solid hittin cue, period.

In fact you can find a cue for several hundred that will feel just as comfortable to you as one that costs several thousand.

If I were you I would get a 19 oz cue thats 58 inches long with a shaft size of 12.75 or 13 mm.I then would put a lepro tip on it. Maybe even look into a steel joint. Spend anywhere from 3 to 600.
 
ez2h8 said:
Inflation must have went up recently. :) I have always used a similiar "doubling" scale.

$125 +/-$50 = Basic entry level beginners cue.
250 +/-100 = Good solid hitting cue with minimal design, details or materials. Range I suggest to beginners wanting a cue for awhile.
500 +/-250 = Good solid hitting cue, with more design, details, better materials.
1000 +/-500 = Very nice cue, could be custom designed to the buyers specs.
2000+ = Custom cue, probably one off with excellent materials and craftsmenship.
4000 and up = Most likely a collectors cue.

Most people can play well with a house cue. I look at the 250-500 range for the best bang for the buck. You may not get a unique design or high end materials, but the cue should play and feel good enough to justify this amount paid. Once you get over 500, you are getting more into the materials, design and quality aspects.

Just my approach
ez
Click to expand...

ez...Your assessment is MUCH closer to the current truth, imo.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
I don't know much about cues, but I do know that you don't need to spend much to get a cue that plays well. Jeff White used (I'm not sure what he plays with now) to play with cues that cost between $400 and $500, and he is sponsored by Falcon.
 
375$ gets you a Gilbert JB cue which play just as good as his regular playing cues. And alot of people will tell you his cues are the best cues around.

Money doesnt make a cue hit or play any better. The reason a cue cost X amount of money is the work put into the cue or cue makers name, the woods used, and how many inlays or veneers or points are used.
 
More money nationwide has been won by players using a good hitting "sneaky pete" than any other cue in the nation...I guarantee it:D

Fancy inlaid cues are bullseyes for "sneaky pete" players, to them these fancy cues are even more beautiful than ever-- they look like an unlocked bank safe;)

Spend a few hundred dollars and get a cue that feels good to you:D

Rick P.
 
It's funny that you should mention this, it's something that I have been thinking about a lot lately. I agree with everything that these guys have said here. I have also been bitten by the cue bug and love cues as well. But I have to admit it, the greatest cue in the world is not going to make you a better player. That happens slowly, and over time. They are nice to have, and beautiful to look at if you can afford them, but it is definitely the player and not the stick as someone has said. Think of it like this, can a great basketball player in a pair of old converse all stars play great? Yes. Can he play slightly better in a newer pair of newer air jordans? Maybe, probably. I think it is also a mental thing. It's like when you play one of these old masters of pool, they can grab a house cue off the wall and kick your ass all over the place. I actually had a couple b&r's the other day using a $12 one piece cue from Mueller's. Which got me to thinking, it's definitely not the cue man. But one guy was right on here, and I think that's what really contributed to those b&r's was a great break.
 
jed1894 said:
Here's some more information:

I've been playing pool for 38 years (started when I was five in my dad's pool hall). I am by no means an expert nor do I claim that I know alot about pool or pool sticks. Hell, I don't even know how to install a tip. However, I have played with a lot of different cues. I still don't understand exactly what "feel" means. I mean I know what the term means, but I can make any of my cues "feel" good or different by changing the tip, ferrule, tapering the shaft, adjusting the weight, or just buying a whole shaft.

For me, it's all about being in a zone and having a high confidence level. It doesn't matter what stick I'm using. I usually play better grabbing a stick off the wall, throwing back about a six pack, and start running my mouth. I would be a nervous wreck playing with a $1000 cue. I'd have to take the thing to the bathroom with me in between beers. I have numerous cues and each has a slightly different feel, which may not have anything to do with whether I sink the ball or not. However, a good feeling cue will build your confidence and make you believe you can do things with it that you couldn't do with a bar stick and, therefore, probably play better pool.

My suggestion is to buy custom cues without all the fancy work.

JED
Click to expand...
Lol, good point about the bathroom break, and having to worry about leaving an expensive cue behind! This is something that I have thought about as well. With an expensive cue, where would you ever feel really comfortable using it except at home or out with buddies who could watch it for ya? And then you know they're going to want to use it too!
 
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