I think your 100% right.A cue has to match the players style
to play good for him.A cue won't just get up and play by itself so to me
its not even a debate,its actually pretty dumb.
I'd like to know your thoughts on Viking Cues
- Thread starter Webbs Billiards
- Start date
to play good for him.A cue won't just get up and play by itself so to me
its not even a debate,its actually pretty dumb.
Dumb? If you say a cue has to match a player's style then you are agreeing with me. In other words cues have varying degrees of playability and players can feel that.
No,actually its the players that have the different degree in playability
which because of the different variance of styles of pool players
can make a cue ineffective to some players but effective to others.
It sounds like were doing word tango,but both are important to some
degree.I don't believe in the ''its the indian not the arrow''analogy
cause having a crooked and dull arrow isn't worth a damn.
All cues will hit different of course,but the playability obviously goes
to how it adapts to the players game instead of a player adjusting his
game to fit how the cue plays.
True. But also there are some cues which fulfill all the requirements to be called a pool cue which 99% of decent players would consider to be unusable for any match that was worth anything.
The cue doesn't adapt, the player does.
This is akin to saying that all shoes are equal. So let's take two world class runners and give one of them gets specially designed running shoes and the other one gets off the shelf tennis shoes. Think that won't make a difference?
Which is your favorite of the Viking cues at Vikingcue.com?
I don't think Mr.Bolt would adjust how he runs cause his shoes feel different.
I think he would run barefoot before that happens.
I look at it like this,guys who have been using maple shafts for years
know how they play.Most of them will say they don't want to take
the time to tweak there game and try to get use to a LD shaft.
Granted all shafts play different to players but most won't change
there game to match there shaft.
You could also debate that most players that do switch shafts or cues
are in hopes that this will improve there game and some swear it has
where others might say there focusing better at the table with there
New cue which is giving them better results,not actually the cue.
So much of this game is mental and the rest of it just drives you mental:wink:
Ok then let me ask you the same question I asked Pat. If cues don't have "playability" then would you play a big set for something really important with a $19 Kmart cue?
If not why not?
What if you had 24 hours to get used to it?
What if you had a week?
Not a cue maker, but to me it looks like wood that's been glued up before it's resawn and turned.
Samsara achieves amazing designs using similar techniques. I'd like to see a pic of it "in progress".
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There is obviously playability
in any cue if there being played with,if not there just hunks of wood.
All i'm saying is that a player should never have to change his
game around to suit the cue.If the K-Mart cue had the attributes that
suit my style of play,then of course I would use it.
If the K-Mart cue did not have the attributes,I wouldn't change my game,
I would change the cue.Any cue could be bad to one and great for another.Its more based on the person and less on the cue.
Is this really necessary?
All this arguing over one comment that was actually thread related?
I would appreciate it if you guys would go create a thread that deals with your argument.
Webb's Billiards Supply
sales@webbsbilliardssupply.com
Facebook.com/webbsbilliardssupply
TheThaiger
Banned
One of the advertising threads. Top Viking shilling at the moment...
not sure if you were asking anyone in specific, but the V138K has a pretty unique look. I do like some of the pearlescent designs but I wonder about their long term look (scratching or cracking).
Everyone has their own opinion.. thats why I started the thread, to get opinions on Viking cues. If you want to sell cues, or cases, or your barn find, thats great for you, and I won't be on your thread slamming you about how much your asking, or telling people I have a better deal. This is not an advertising thread, this was a question about Azer's opinions on one of the many cues I sell because they have been around since 1965, and make awesome cue sticks. I value the opinions of my customers, and potential customers. I don't operate like big box online retailers, where you get only what they have listed, at the price they list, and if you do call them, you get text book answers. I prefer to run things the way I would like if I were the customer.
Thank you for your opinion.
Lucasi Hybrid & Viking Cues
"Thorsten Hohmann plays with a Lucasi Hybrid. Sure proves it's more of the player than the cue."
There's really nothing wrong with a Lucasi Hybrid. A lot of technology went into the cue. The feel of the hit is elegantly smooth. Not as stiff as a Schon or Joss, perhaps, but offering NO VIBRATION, a sweet hit, and good feedback from the shaft. More than the one pro mentioned here plays one. Shaun Wilkie is an established pro, endorsed by Lucasi Hybrid since 2009, and he's placed in a number of tournaments.
http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?id=6991 I own one of these cues, and the pro taper is very long and smooth. In fact, I find my Viking to have one of the best tapers of any of the cues I own.
Here are some more players who have recently won or placed in tournaments, using a Lucasi Hybrid cue:
https://www.facebook.com/LucasiHybrid?v=app_10531514314
Now, getting back to the core of this thread, Viking Cues have been one of the most storied cuemaking companies in American history. Having been in business now for more nearly six decades, though with ownership changes.
The Viking Cues from the 60's and 70's were solid offerings for their time. and have their place in collector's arsenals. Before I owned my first cue, I borrowed my APA Captain's 1996 G-62 and used it with great results, for my first session in the league. I had a 9-3 record and my team made it to the City Championships and stayed undefeated until the final round, losing a good match to another team in the finals, for a trip to Las Vegas. I was inspired by the Viking, in purchase my own first cue, a limited edition Lucasi with radial pin joint, and I had the shaft custom tapered by one of the best cue repairmen in the country, having met at a Super Billiards Expo.
That Viking G-62 has one of the nicest tapers of any cue I've ever played, and with a Moori medium tip, the hit is stiff and the cue offers great action on the cue ball. The stick weighs a little under 19 oz.
I tried a Viking F-81 from 2007, however, and it didn't play anywhere as nice, with the hit feeling somewhat hollow. I didn't take any chances ordering another one, and promptly returned the one I purchased for a refund, as per the seller's return policy. Viking is now operating once again, with new proprietors, and I can't attest to how their newest cues perform. I'd welcome, however, the opportunity to try one of the newest Vikings. Perhaps some current owners' can chime in this thread to discuss their current generation Viking cue?
Regards,
Glen (strum4u)
If you can't find a nice 60's to 70's model Viking, the cues the company made from early to late 90's seem like good bets for performance and quality.
"Thorsten Hohmann plays with a Lucasi Hybrid. Sure proves it's more of the player than the cue."
There's really nothing wrong with a Lucasi Hybrid. A lot of technology went into the cue. The feel of the hit is elegantly smooth. Not as stiff as a Schon or Joss, perhaps, but offering NO VIBRATION, a sweet hit, and good feedback from the shaft. More than the one pro mentioned here plays one. Shaun Wilkie is an established pro, endorsed by Lucasi Hybrid since 2009, and he's placed in a number of tournaments.
http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?id=6991 I own one of these cues, and the pro taper is very long and smooth. In fact, I find my Viking to have one of the best tapers of any of the cues I own.
Here are some more players who have recently won or placed in tournaments, using a Lucasi Hybrid cue:
https://www.facebook.com/LucasiHybrid?v=app_10531514314
Now, getting back to the core of this thread, Viking Cues have been one of the most storied cuemaking companies in American history. Having been in business now for more nearly six decades, though with ownership changes.
The Viking Cues from the 60's and 70's were solid offerings for their time. and have their place in collector's arsenals. Before I owned my first cue, I borrowed my APA Captain's 1996 G-62 and used it with great results, for my first session in the league. I had a 9-3 record and my team made it to the City Championships and stayed undefeated until the final round, losing a good match to another team in the finals, for a trip to Las Vegas. I was inspired by the Viking, in purchase my own first cue, a limited edition Lucasi with radial pin joint, and I had the shaft custom tapered by one of the best cue repairmen in the country, having met at a Super Billiards Expo.
That Viking G-62 has one of the nicest tapers of any cue I've ever played, and with a Moori medium tip, the hit is stiff and the cue offers great action on the cue ball. The stick weighs a little under 19 oz.
I tried a Viking F-81 from 2007, however, and it didn't play anywhere as nice, with the hit feeling somewhat hollow. I didn't take any chances ordering another one, and promptly returned the one I purchased for a refund, as per the seller's return policy. Viking is now operating once again, with new proprietors, and I can't attest to how their newest cues perform. I'd welcome, however, the opportunity to try one of the newest Vikings. Perhaps some current owners' can chime in this thread to discuss their current generation Viking cue?
Regards,
Glen (strum4u)
If you can't find a nice 60's to 70's model Viking, the cues the company made from early to late 90's seem like good bets for performance and quality.
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I have one Viking and never use it. Not my favorite cue. However it is well made. Weight can be adjusted.
prelude_paul
Registered
And.....getting back to opinions on Viking cues
Full disclosure: I recently bought a V123K Viking cue from Mr Webb, in part because of this thread. So with that in mind.....
I now own 4 Viking cues, and 9 total cues (yes, I have a problem....) I'm something of a try-it-myself kind of guy, and I have to spend some quality time with a cue before i judge. Therefore, I buy, and ditch cheap what I have no reason to keep. The good side of having 9 cues is that I have 5 good quality cues available to friends and family (amateurs) who can play on my table and experience pool with better than house cues. Meanwhile my 4 precious cues (2 Vikings, a Lucasi, and a McD) remain untouched, unsullied, and undamaged by said amateurs.
I agree wholeheartedly with those upthread who say that a cue fitting the player is a very personal, often subjective thing. Most people will have an opinion about what cue fits them, they'll even have an opinion on WHY it fits them, but not all that many will understand objectively why one cue fits them and another does not.
So now my opinions of 3 generations of Viking cues:
-- my cue from early-mid 90's -- long and slender pro taper. Looks kind of old-school, but I find I love it for that reason. Elegant and clean-lines. It has some whip to it, less than the mid 00's F-series though, but it feels solid. Also very nicely balanced from front to back, i.e., not butt-heavy. Wonderful, wonderful cue.
-- my F-74 from mid-late 00's -- it's 21 oz, on the heavy side. I love this cue, but I also realize it does not suit me so well - the very slender pro taper is actually a bit slender for me. The tip is 13mm or maybe 12.75, the standard size, but I find that I can clamp down better on a fatter shaft. So... personal choice here. Also, the stock shaft is whippy and IMHO loses some accuracy on side english. Balance - feels a tad butt-heavy, but I'm going to guess that's because it's 21 oz.
-- my new V123K - it's 19oz, and has the new Vikore shaft (somewhat LD). In my opinion, this one corrects whatever mistakes Viking might have made with the F-series. Wonderfully balanced, and while the shaft is still a pro taper, it's not so slender, and fits my hands and fingers better because of it.
Overall, I'm just a Viking bigot. I love the linen thread grip, and I love the slender look and balance. I love my Lucasi 509 in a different way. Feels totally different in a way I can't quantify. Can't make it my everyday cue. Couldn't tell you why. It's very stiff by comparison, balance and feel are different. Right now I have a hard tip, use it as my break/jump/masse cue.
My 2-cents.
Full disclosure: I recently bought a V123K Viking cue from Mr Webb, in part because of this thread. So with that in mind.....
I now own 4 Viking cues, and 9 total cues (yes, I have a problem....) I'm something of a try-it-myself kind of guy, and I have to spend some quality time with a cue before i judge. Therefore, I buy, and ditch cheap what I have no reason to keep. The good side of having 9 cues is that I have 5 good quality cues available to friends and family (amateurs) who can play on my table and experience pool with better than house cues. Meanwhile my 4 precious cues (2 Vikings, a Lucasi, and a McD) remain untouched, unsullied, and undamaged by said amateurs.
I agree wholeheartedly with those upthread who say that a cue fitting the player is a very personal, often subjective thing. Most people will have an opinion about what cue fits them, they'll even have an opinion on WHY it fits them, but not all that many will understand objectively why one cue fits them and another does not.
So now my opinions of 3 generations of Viking cues:
-- my cue from early-mid 90's -- long and slender pro taper. Looks kind of old-school, but I find I love it for that reason. Elegant and clean-lines. It has some whip to it, less than the mid 00's F-series though, but it feels solid. Also very nicely balanced from front to back, i.e., not butt-heavy. Wonderful, wonderful cue.
-- my F-74 from mid-late 00's -- it's 21 oz, on the heavy side. I love this cue, but I also realize it does not suit me so well - the very slender pro taper is actually a bit slender for me. The tip is 13mm or maybe 12.75, the standard size, but I find that I can clamp down better on a fatter shaft. So... personal choice here. Also, the stock shaft is whippy and IMHO loses some accuracy on side english. Balance - feels a tad butt-heavy, but I'm going to guess that's because it's 21 oz.
-- my new V123K - it's 19oz, and has the new Vikore shaft (somewhat LD). In my opinion, this one corrects whatever mistakes Viking might have made with the F-series. Wonderfully balanced, and while the shaft is still a pro taper, it's not so slender, and fits my hands and fingers better because of it.
Overall, I'm just a Viking bigot. I love the linen thread grip, and I love the slender look and balance. I love my Lucasi 509 in a different way. Feels totally different in a way I can't quantify. Can't make it my everyday cue. Couldn't tell you why. It's very stiff by comparison, balance and feel are different. Right now I have a hard tip, use it as my break/jump/masse cue.
My 2-cents.