I don't think my new cue is for me

Sire380

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I purchased a Joss JX-02 about 3 or 4 months ago, I've been playing ok with it but I really don't think this is the cue for me. Before that I played with a little cheap sneaky pete and I could get way more draw and controlled it better as well. I've heard many people say that Joss hits very stiff. Is that why it's hard for me to hit long draw shots and control it?Would I be better off with a different cue? If I changed the tip would that help? What other kind of cue would I should I try? If I wanted to sell this cue, where would I go about doing it?
 
Sire380 said:
I purchased a Joss JX-02 about 3 or 4 months ago, I've been playing ok with it but I really don't think this is the cue for me. Before that I played with a little cheap sneaky pete and I could get way more draw and controlled it better as well. I've heard many people say that Joss hits very stiff. Is that why it's hard for me to hit long draw shots and control it?Would I be better off with a different cue? If I changed the tip would that help? What other kind of cue would I should I try? If I wanted to sell this cue, where would I go about doing it?

What are the differences in the cues? Weight? Tip?

Im sure its mostly something in your mind, because I let this happen to me before too....Only for me I was retarded about it and even though I knew better I tried to trick myself into believing the new cue would make me play better magically....and when it didnt I started playing worse and blamed the cue for it...
 
I know what you mean and I'm well aware of the mental aspects of this game, however I don't think that that is the case. I simply don't like the feel of the cue and it's hard for me to control the cue ball.
 
Try a better (more forgiving) shaft and tip combination. Don't get rid of your whole cue. Try an ob-1 with a layered tip (Moori or Sniper or Talisman, etc.)

This will allow you to perform all those things you are having trouble with.
 
Sire380 said:
I know what you mean and I'm well aware of the mental aspects of this game, however I don't think that that is the case. I simply don't like the feel of the cue and it's hard for me to control the cue ball.

The weight and tip are two things that can be changed with little invested. What tip is on both cues? What is the weight of both? The tip alone changes the feel big time. When you say feel what does that mean?

Rod
 
I first played with a beautiful Joss that had a massive 13.5mm tip. It was balanced nicely but the thick shaft gave it an odd hit and the big tip made drawing far very difficult. I switched to a 12.75mm Mcdermott and getting spin was much easier. I only use it now for straight pool which requires much less spin.
 
You could try a different cue man. i've heard of some joss cues having slightly larger than 13mm tips. which means it could be harder to move the cueball around. you could sell that and try a mcdermot they're good
 
edited.... crap... responded to the wrong person thinking he was the thread starter. -_-
 
Last edited:
Rod said:
The weight and tip are two things that can be changed with little invested. What tip is on both cues? What is the weight of both? The tip alone changes the feel big time. When you say feel what does that mean?

Rod

actually the sneaky pete is lighter (18oz.) compared to my joss which is 19oz, I recently had the tip changed on the joss which was a triangle to a lepro. What I mean is I can draw it back, but it takes much more effort and I can't draw it back as precisely as my old cue. Plus sometimes I end up hitting too low to compensate and I end up jumping the ball.
 
henho said:
I first played with a beautiful Joss that had a massive 13.5mm tip. It was balanced nicely but the thick shaft gave it an odd hit and the big tip made drawing far very difficult. I switched to a 12.75mm Mcdermott and getting spin was much easier. I only use it now for straight pool which requires much less spin.

That sounds about right, it's funny you say that because when I play straight I play just fine with my joss, just in 9ball you need more spin. I was thinking Mcdermott or Predator, how do predator cues hit?
 
Sire380 said:
actually the sneaky pete is lighter (18oz.) compared to my joss which is 19oz, I recently had the tip changed on the joss which was a triangle to a lepro. What I mean is I can draw it back, but it takes much more effort and I can't draw it back as precisely as my old cue. Plus sometimes I end up hitting too low to compensate and I end up jumping the ball.
You're not changing much by going from a Triangle to a Le Pro. Why don't you jump up a couple threads and re-read my previous post.
 
I will give my two cents..you have to remember that you are comfortable with you old cue..you trust yourself to do everything that is right to get that cue ball to draw back..Your gona have to learn to trust your new cue now..practice a bit with it...you cant just exspect the new cue to pick up where the old one left off.. changing tips may help..but if you have already decided in your head that the cue isnt for you...then it wont ever feel right.but that just my 2cents
 
Sell the cue on ebay...and don't settle for anything less than a custom cue on your next purchase. Scott Sherbine makes a hell of a cue for the money as do many others.

Production cue = Burger King
Custom Cue = Mom's home cooking.
 
using the scale of joss's hitting too stiff and meucci's being to whippy, what are some other kinds of cues that are right down the middle and hit perfect in everyone's opinion?
 
oceanweb said:
Sell the cue on ebay...and don't settle for anything less than a custom cue on your next purchase. Scott Sherbine makes a hell of a cue for the money as do many others.

Production cue = Burger King
Custom Cue = Mom's home cooking.

I'll take that into consideration, thanks for the suggestion Oceanweb
 
Every cue is gonna play different. I've shot with McD's that make me ashamed to say I own one. On the other hand- my McD is a solid player, but its not my main cue. Right now I'm shooting with a Joss I just got or a Viking I've had. I love the viking, but the Joss plays my game better. For a production cue, I'd say go and shoot with the exact cue before you buy it. I wouldn't buy it before I shot with it. Some dealers won't allow you to do this, or only allow you to play with it very restrictedly (ie no chalking or breaking with it). Gotta respect it if its a brand new cue and you aren't guaranteed sold on it.

Hope this helps, and good luck with whatever you choose to do!
 
Sire380 said:
actually the sneaky pete is lighter (18oz.) compared to my joss which is 19oz, I recently had the tip changed on the joss which was a triangle to a lepro. What I mean is I can draw it back, but it takes much more effort and I can't draw it back as precisely as my old cue. Plus sometimes I end up hitting too low to compensate and I end up jumping the ball.

1 ounce is a fair amount of weight difference. It sounds like you're trying to force the weight instead of just swinging the weight. That alone is a good reason why you don't hit the c/b where intended, as in a miscue. If your stroke is true that is not an issue.

I assure you you can draw the ball easily even with the larger Joss shaft. Do not run out and buy a new shaft or cut yours down as yet. It is a stroke problem which needs attention.

Less weight very well may help you swing the cue with less effort but good fundamentals offers the most help. In the end you should play with what feel best to you. At this point though you know what that is.

The tips in general are close to the same. I never know exactly until I hit a few shots. The shaft diameter may be throwing you off especially if it is a lot bigger. That is just visual, with a larger shaft you will be aiming with what appears more offset. Although you will be hitting the same place on the c/b as you do with a smaller shaft.

Try some controlled draw drills. Start out a foot from the o/b. Draw the c/b a foot farther each time. Build up your confidence with easy strokes. If your stroke is good you can easily draw the length of the table with little effort.

Next move the c/b two feet away doing the same drill. Continue on until your several feet away. At some point you're stroke fundamentals will go south and you'll know your limitations.

I'd say don't give up or modify the cue just yet. I honestly believe you need more confidence in your new cue. You should be able to do anything with that cue as you did with your s/pete. Granted feel is important though, tips and shaft size is feel and weight is feel as are several other factors. Just don't start replacing or cutting until you have a better idea of what you like. The weight bolt can be replaced easily in many cases to an ounce lighter. That may help. Perhaps who sold you the cue would do that for you.

Rod
 
Rod said:
1 ounce is a fair amount of weight difference. It sounds like you're trying to force the weight instead of just swinging the weight. That alone is a good reason why you don't hit the c/b where intended, as in a miscue. If your stroke is true that is not an issue.

I assure you you can draw the ball easily even with the larger Joss shaft. Do not run out and buy a new shaft or cut yours down as yet. It is a stroke problem which needs attention.

Less weight very well may help you swing the cue with less effort but good fundamentals offers the most help. In the end you should play with what feel best to you. At this point though you know what that is.

The tips in general are close to the same. I never know exactly until I hit a few shots. The shaft diameter may be throwing you off especially if it is a lot bigger. That is just visual, with a larger shaft you will be aiming with what appears more offset. Although you will be hitting the same place on the c/b as you do with a smaller shaft.

Try some controlled draw drills. Start out a foot from the o/b. Draw the c/b a foot farther each time. Build up your confidence with easy strokes. If your stroke is good you can easily draw the length of the table with little effort.

Next move the c/b two feet away doing the same drill. Continue on until your several feet away. At some point you're stroke fundamentals will go south and you'll know your limitations.

I'd say don't give up or modify the cue just yet. I honestly believe you need more confidence in your new cue. You should be able to do anything with that cue as you did with your s/pete. Granted feel is important though, tips and shaft size is feel and weight is feel as are several other factors. Just don't start replacing or cutting until you have a better idea of what you like. The weight bolt can be replaced easily in many cases to an ounce lighter. That may help. Perhaps who sold you the cue would do that for you.

Rod

Great advice Rod! I had the same problem going from my Mcdermott shaft/w triangle tip to a Universal Smart Shaft LS with a moori tip. The Universal was fatter and it took a couple weeks of drills before I got my control back. If every shaft/tip hit the same they would only sell one kind. IMO the tip is more responsible for the feel of a hit than the joint, keep practicing!!:)
Good Luck,
Mike
 
I have two Joss's now and shot with 4 additional ones belonging to friends. My current two are a mid 80's custom which is not stiff at all, balanced towards the rear with lepro tip and plays ohh so sweet. My other is a old Joss sneaky and it plays stiff but expect it to as it is a sneaky. It has a lepro tip and I get good action with it.

My first Joss was a mid 80's custom with a lepro and I could not adjust to it to save my life. I thought I would love the cue but couldnt get no action off it. I changed the tip, no help. I literally would shot the same shot with my friends Joss and get great action, shot the same with my then new Joss and nothing. I think the diameter around the wrap area was smaller, the weight was lighter then my friends and the balance point was more forward towards the joint. I think this is why it threw me off. I sold that cue, bought my friends Joss which is my mid 80's Joss now and never looked back.

Maybe the newer Joss's do hit stiff. My suggestion as others mentioned is see if you can get the weight adjusted to be similiar to that of your previous cue. I know I can feel the difference of an ounce up or down in weight.

Plus, some lepro tips(what I think Joss considers their default tip) are bad tips. Changing the tip one more time to another lepro or layered might do the trick. I have had this happen as well when I received my 80's Joss back from getting redone.



ez
 
Rod said:
1 ounce is a fair amount of weight difference. It sounds like you're trying to force the weight instead of just swinging the weight. That alone is a good reason why you don't hit the c/b where intended, as in a miscue. If your stroke is true that is not an issue.

I assure you you can draw the ball easily even with the larger Joss shaft. Do not run out and buy a new shaft or cut yours down as yet. It is a stroke problem which needs attention.

Less weight very well may help you swing the cue with less effort but good fundamentals offers the most help. In the end you should play with what feel best to you. At this point though you know what that is.

The tips in general are close to the same. I never know exactly until I hit a few shots. The shaft diameter may be throwing you off especially if it is a lot bigger. That is just visual, with a larger shaft you will be aiming with what appears more offset. Although you will be hitting the same place on the c/b as you do with a smaller shaft.

Try some controlled draw drills. Start out a foot from the o/b. Draw the c/b a foot farther each time. Build up your confidence with easy strokes. If your stroke is good you can easily draw the length of the table with little effort.

Next move the c/b two feet away doing the same drill. Continue on until your several feet away. At some point you're stroke fundamentals will go south and you'll know your limitations.

I'd say don't give up or modify the cue just yet. I honestly believe you need more confidence in your new cue. You should be able to do anything with that cue as you did with your s/pete. Granted feel is important though, tips and shaft size is feel and weight is feel as are several other factors. Just don't start replacing or cutting until you have a better idea of what you like. The weight bolt can be replaced easily in many cases to an ounce lighter. That may help. Perhaps who sold you the cue would do that for you.

Rod

Thanks for the advice Rod, to tell the truth I just went to the pool hall right now and tried some draw shots with my old cue and I was still having trouble, so I think you're right in your assessment somewhat, however as far as the feel of the cue, I still am uncomfortable with it, also I took as much weight out as possible and it is still about 19 ounces. Perhaps I will try a different tip and give it a little more time.
 
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