I need it all, feedback appreciated!

J

jpstunna

Registered
Since this is my first post I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Jacob, I live in Chester, SC, and I've been playing in a league for two years now. I'm a lower level player (3 APA) just keep that in mind. It's the wonderful tax season and my wonderful wife has given me an allowance of $1000 to do with as I please. My team won the city tournament last month and we're headed to Vegas in August. My game needs alot of work, but I'm motivated to learn and get better. I want to upgrade my equipment to train with. I've been shooting with a Players since I started playing in league. There isn't a problem with it, I just want a higher quality cue. I don't have a break stick and my soft case has reached it's life expectancy.

That being said, I need everything, a new cue, break stick, case, accessories, etc. I have been researching, reading reviews and forums, browsing different websites, and I get a lot of mixed feedback. I orginally planned to purchase a Meucci Gambler from a friend of mine with two shafts and brand new Kamui black tips on both. He is asking $350 for it. I then came across a promotion if you purchase a select Lucasi Hybrid you get a Big Beulah 2 free. The cue that would fit my budget from the selection is 764.99. I have about another 250 dollars or so I can add with it if I want a higher quality cue.

However, since this is a really big purchase for me, I wanted to learn as much as possible. I've read in the AZ forums that it's hard to justify spending that much on a Lucasi Hybrid when there are better options in that price range. The free break cue however, which is 315 bucks alone seems like a great deal and I've read many positive reviews on it. I can't find a review on the LHF66 though.

Any thoughts? I'm open to other cues, but spending this amount of money I want to make an educated purchase. Sorry to be so long winded, but this forum seems to have a lot knowledgable people and I wanted to give all the information I could. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
 
At the risk of sounding like an ass I'll give you my opinion. Will a new higher quality cue help your game? I don't think so. If your a sl3 you don't know much about the game and no cue in the world will help that. If your goal is to buy a pretty cue then by all means go right ahead. There are cue makers all over the country that would love to sell you a cue. If your goal is to improve your game why not get a good tip installed and a shaft cleaning($40), spend a few hundred on lessons with a competent instructor and a few hundred more on table time practicing what you learned. I think your game will have a better chance of improving if you take the second approach. It's not the arrow, it's the Indian behind it. If you just must buy a knew cue I would suggest a bob Frey sneaky.
My girlfriend is a sl3 and I built her a new cue for Christmas. I would normally sell a cue like this for $600. She's still a sl3.
 
There are so many choices it will drive you nuts. And you will get so many recommendations it will drive you nuts.
Here is what I would do to end the coming madness if it were me in your shoes.
1-buy a Schon cue that you like the looks of-$700 max
2-buy a $100 break cue
3-buy a $150 case.
4-take the wife out to dinner $50 or so.
And buy it all brand new.
 
If there is nothing wrong with your Players cue, don't let the money burn a hole in your pocket. My best advice would be to take your wonderful wife with you to Vegas (I agree that she sounds great). Stay a couple of extra days, eat at some of the great restaurants, see some shows, etc.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I understand a higher quality cue isn't going to magically make me run out or fix all of the leaks in my game. And like I said earlier, there isn't anything wrong with my players, I just want something different. I found a Schon that I am going to look at on Wednesday. I'm meeting him at a pool hall to shoot around and see how it feels. Is anyone able to tell the model from the photos? From what I've seen his price of $400 seems reasonable and the case is included. If all goes as planned, I'll have $450 left over to treat the wife to a weeks worth of dinners. She's coming with me to vegas as well and I already allocated funds for that trip. I've also started lessons, the first was actually on Thursday and they are all free of charge. I was just looking for advice from folks who seem very knowledgable. Thanks again.
 

Attachments

  • 3Ef3G23N85L85K65M3d1re9a01b6b9f4f1448.jpg
    3Ef3G23N85L85K65M3d1re9a01b6b9f4f1448.jpg
    13 KB · Views: 398
  • 3Ee3Gb3N45N35E25J1d1reccce9de50311b37.jpg
    3Ee3Gb3N45N35E25J1d1reccce9de50311b37.jpg
    9.9 KB · Views: 406
  • 3G93Ie3J75Ne5E65J5d1r853133b2f7071c82.jpg
    3G93Ie3J75Ne5E65J5d1r853133b2f7071c82.jpg
    14.6 KB · Views: 471
I'd say get a Josey sneaky with an OB2. Should be around $650 or so for both. Leaves a lot of room for a break cue.

Or you could get a great cue (maybe even better than a Josey) from Keith Hanssen. Keithkues.com

Leon Sly would make a great cue in this range as well and he's a forum favorite. Bob Danielson also has great cues and apparently some of the best playing shafts out there.



Looking back at what I did with $1K when I was a 3/4 and now?

I would have got a Josey sneaky and spent the rest on lessons.


Skip the break cue for now. Get the lessons.
 
It's hard to go wrong with a schon. But if you don't already know, it will be much stiffer than what you are currently using.
 
It's a Schon STL1, and retails new at around $460 with one shaft. If it's not beat up much it's a pretty good deal at $400 with 2 shafts. It's the lowest priced Schon, but will shoot just as good as a $2000 dollar Schon,,,,,I've had both.
 
Are you getting the case also for the $400 ? If so it's a real good deal if the cue and the 2 shafts are in good shape.
Can't go wrong with a Schon. I had one.
 
If you like the Schon and start using it as your primary playing cue, no reason you can't use the Players cue as a breaker. Maybe put a harder leather, or Samsara, or phenolic tip on. Something to be said for breaking with a cue that already feels so familiar to you.
 
Break cue option

Slow Eddie said:
If you like the Schon and start using it as your primary playing cue, no reason you can't use the Players cue as a breaker. Maybe put a harder leather, or Samsara, or phenolic tip on. Something to be said for breaking with a cue that already feels so familiar to you.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea at all. Samsara or an Icebreaker tip would do nicely.
 
i would say get a new cue for sure. i have some cheap cues that i break with and some more expensive ones that i play with. i cannot shoot well at all with the "house" cues. there is a big difference in the cues. now i think the difference in cues levels out at a point. i dont think a 10000 cue will shoot that much better than a 1000 cue but that is a personal preference and pocket book thing. the shaft is where i have found the biggest difference. maybe buy a new shaft for your player cue.
 
Well, it's a hard act to find the best way to spend a 1000 bucks on pool equipment and still end with having beyond decent equipment. But well, here's my insight on it.
The players cue is definately good enough and indeed taking lessons might be a better investment. But you're here to hear about the best buy for you budget I think.
So a few weeks back, I helped a friend buy a full set. I contacted the great people of TNT Cues (custom) and they agreed to build him a set for a 1000 bucks. Now, he wanted both a regular shaft and a Predator shaft, that was his choice, so I'm not going into the facts about should you get an LD cue or not.
But what he got for a 1000 bucks was this:
- a custom cue with elephant ear wrap, 2 shafts (314 among) + cue extension
- purpleheart break cue, black stained
- 2-sided jump cue.
Of course they reduced the price because it's a whole set... But still, the best way to spend 1000 bucks to me, ;)
 
I own a sneakiest Pete cue by TNT cues. It plays as good as $600 cues I have owned. For 1000, I would buy a good case and Gilbert jump break and use it as a shooter, breaker and jumper. Don't go cheap on the case or your expensive cues will get beat up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top