if you could only spend $250... for all your gear

nineballsafety8

nineballsafety8

6ft 5" 285, hits 'em hard
Silver Member
So... I had a buddy ask me today how much it really costs to "get into pool" and my response was multifaceted... as we all know there are many low budget options that get the job done, and you can pick and choose how you were to decide.

My question is this... as the more experienced crowd... if you had to sell ALL of your gear, and you were left with ONLY $250 to get yourself playing again, how would you spend it.

This includes player, break, break/jump, jump, and case (or any combination of the above).

BUYING ONLY NEW. no used gear
 
I would buy a players cue; hard or med tip and break with it also. case - cheap, some chalk; a shaper/scuffer, q wiz, and still have money left for beer !
 
I would probably look for a used schlemke sneaky and get a used fury jump break. get a cheap case. done!
 
Cheap vinyl 1x1 case for $15. The rest of the money on the cheapest cue I could find with a predator shaft (just my preference). No need for a break cue, can use a house cue. Same with jump cues, no need.
 
Players HXT cue, (wood to wood joint) $130-150 J&J Break/Jump (the one with the sharp points) $60-70, Aska cue case $50-70. Pretty much what I have now LOL Only thing I don't have is the full Players cue, but I do have a Player's HXT shaft on my Ned Morris cue.

You can easily get away without a break/jump cue to start and either use the playing cue or a house cue to break. Jump cues should not be allowed anyway IMHO. Save you some money or you can put it towards a fancier case, maybe a real leather one so you can hang out with the cool kids at the pool hall.
 
Houstoer said:
I would buy a players cue; hard or med tip and break with it also. case - cheap, some chalk; a shaper/scuffer, q wiz, and still have money left for beer !
Click to expand...

This sounds about right, though if you keep an eye out at Ozone and some of the other retailers, you can get a little bit nicer cue if that's what you're looking to spend and they regularly offer a 'free' case with the cue. Upgrade the factory tip which can be done with the initial order, for X amount of dollars. You can still get it done for less than your budget of $250.
 
Houstoer said:
I would buy a players cue; hard or med tip and break with it also. case - cheap, some chalk; a shaper/scuffer, q wiz, and still have money left for beer !
Click to expand...

Yep, that was pretty much going to be my post. In fact, that is pretty much what I did. :thumbup:
 
Same gear I started out with:

Player's HXTE10 - $153
Player JB5 Jump/break $90 -- I cheated and upgraded to a Samarsa tip for $25
Pool Gods 2x2 case - Okay, at $39 we're over budget...but life is short.

BTW, I've got all the above for sale plus moosehead bridge for $200-ish.
 
prewarhero said:
I would probably look for a used schlemke sneaky and get a used fury jump break. get a cheap case. done!
Click to expand...

nineballsafety8 said:
Can't buy used lol
Click to expand...

What I would/did do:

Call David Schmelke and order a model R010 (Purple Heart Full Splice).
Add phenolic collars to the butt and shaft.
Order with 3/8x10 SS Pin.
Order shaft with pro taper.
Standard ferrule and Schmelke tip.
I'd estimate the cue to come out around $120 with shipping
Mueller's has Joe Porper value cases for $20-30, use free shipping code.

I'd be well under $200, let alone $250.

I played with that exact cue for 2 years and played the best league matches of my life.
I even bought some Jim Baxter Purple Heart/Phenolic Joint Protectors for $20.

1390528_10151737797320963_990521657_n.jpg
 
Last edited:
Hmmm; only $250...

1. Mcdermott Stinger NG05 package...stinger break shaft & G-core shaft (i'll carrying my stuffs in a paper grocery bag).

2. Players JB cue w/skinny hxt shaft (around $200) and the other $50 towards 1x2 case.

3. Dope & beer, use a house cue.
 
snowmon34 said:
The 250.00 would be well spent on Beer, and I'd pull a cue off the wall..:wink:
Click to expand...

Yup, pull a (good) house cue off the wall, $15 for a good tip tapper and $2 for a hand cloth.
With the $233 left I would enter a few tourneys and hopefully win me a few duckets.
 
Assuming that stealing something would be against the rules of this exercise and that I have the knowledge that have now, first thing I'd do is get one of those cheap 1X1 Harvard cases from Walmart or something similar for about $15 or $20, Then I'd look for the best deal I could get for a Tiger Onyx or a Kamui (or a Moori), Soft or Medium. I'd purchase a couple of cubes of Brunswick chalk and a sheet of 60 grit samd paper. This would probably leave me just over $200. (since we have to buy new) I'd probably look for a Katana shaft and the best McDermott Lucky cue I could find for what I had left.
If I'm allowed to make my own (and I still have my lathe) I offer a bar $20 for a couple of house cues, get a ferrule and a really good tip, cut the bar cues in half and make a sneaky, I drink the rest
 
I think I too would probably go with a custom ordered Schmelke sneaky. Looks like base price is $105 for the bocote version, I'd also want a 3/8x10 joint with phenollic collars so guessing it'd be just slightly more. I'd add a JJ jump/break and a cheap 2x2 case. That would make for a pretty great and playable setup for the price range.
 
250 dollars? Hmm...

First, I'd buy a Player's brand 99 dollar sneaky and put a Triangle brand tip on it.

Second, I'd use a house cue to break racks. Also use free house chalk.

Third, I'd put the other money in my savings account.

Yes, boring.
 
Because $250 is going to be around my budget to invest in my own gear - I've been thinking about this for a while, and I'll actually go specific on this one.

Playing cue: Players G21T1 from the Graphic Series with upgraded Kamui Hard-tip for $134.74
Jump Break cue: Action Zebra Sneak Pete for $75.65
Soft case holding 2 shafts, and 2 butts for $38.00

Brings me to $248.39 =P with 1.61 left over to bet on my first game haha
 
iusedtoberich said:
Cheap vinyl 1x1 case for $15. The rest of the money on the cheapest cue I could find with a predator shaft (just my preference). No need for a break cue, can use a house cue. Same with jump cues, no need.
Click to expand...

Agree ! I just bought a $55 cue sold the shaft for $30 put my Z2 on it and it plays great .
Jump cues were made for people who don't know how to kick LOL !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top