is it really the indian and not the arrow?

[Scott Lee]

Chris...Well yes, if price is no object. FB2 can afford to play with $20,000 cues and "see how they hit". That's unavailable to the beginning player. Perhaps LD shafts might help, but I'm more in the "keep it simple" club. Buy an inexpensive cue (>$200), put a good tip on it, and play with it for a good while. Certainly investing in lessons will pay longterm dividends as well. As Bob Jewett said, learning to play on the vertical axis first is primary, and most any cue will suffice for that. What will really help a beginner "feel more successful in their attempts", is to develop an accurate and repeatable stroke!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I tend to agree with some of you as a matter of principle, however, technologically speaking there has to be some combination of features that can help the beginner feel more succesful in their attempts.

As much as I hate to say I found something insightful in FB2's post, i think he has highlighted the fact that technology should have a place in the bag so to say. The question remains - what is the appropriate technology for the beginner? Is is just LD shafts?

Chris

 

[Scott Lee]

Dave...Don'tcha need some POCKETS too? Good post!:thumbup:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

The appropriate technology for a beginner is a good instructor, a wooden shaft, a leather tip, a flat table and round balls.

dld

 

[genomachino]

Laminated shaft...........

Is there such a thing as a beginners cue? Ggolfers know that cavity backs are easier to hit than blades. Is their any given shaft taper one could identify as easier to hit than another?
Chris

I think that any player that is starting should be playing with a low deflection shaft. Some are better than others.

It's much easier to learn if your not trying to adjust for the different deflections from many different shots. Harder and softer.

Low deflection is the way to go for anyone. Period!

 

[evanlockhart]

Earl also stated that Cuetech wrecked his game for that whole period.

Go look up his world titles during his sponsorship.

You have got to be kidding to believe that quote

 

[TheThaiger]

Why do beginners need a LD shaft?

 

[bearsafety]

No. Actually it doesn't. In fact I would have expected something a bit more insightful from you. All your pointing out is that pros can play with anything. Nothing insightful there. I am asking if there are certain tapers/technologies better suited to the beginner.

Chris

He was stating the obvious.. Besides low deflection which will not improve your game or make it easier to learn it, there is no buying your way to skill and wisdom you have to earn. <--- thats a BIG period

 

[softshot]

Why do beginners need a LD shaft?

because they offer the manufacturer the best profit margin.. and just ask Geno the only purpose for AZB is to SELL SELL SELL

bottom grade maple that is sliced up and glued together is far cheaper then high quality solid maple shafts that have been properly seasoned..

it's a no brainer .. cheap materials .. assembly line production.. no need to season and turn wood

the real trick was to charge even MORE than they charge for quality shafts

"Boutique" prices for pool hustlers LOL

you can get a high quality cue that will last a lifetime for half what a predator shaft costs..

I haven't seen a piece of wood yet that can turn a bad line into a good one

 

[rayjay]

Really, all he needs is a piece of Kamui chalk and he's good to go!

 

[ShootingArts]

they don't

Why do beginners need a LD shaft?

They don't. Beginning drivers don't need automatic transmissions, ABS brakes, variable ratio power steering, cameras or proximity sensors, or high performance tires on a vehicle that offer superior stopping ability. All drivers could learn to drive using a 1950 model car. that way they would appreciate a vehicle with more capabilities once they had learned to drive one without all of the capabilities modern cars have. Of course it is simpler to learn to drive a modern car.

While I fully agree that some of the spliced low deflection shafts are of debatable quality and/or have quality control issues, the low deflection shafts offer a smoother simpler learning curve than a standard shaft when starting from scratch. There is little or no reason for a seasoned player that has been using the same shaft for years to switch to a low deflection shaft in my opinion but if someone were starting from scratch I wouldn't teach them to drive the 1950 model car and I wouldn't start them with a shaft that increased variables.

I will cheerfully market a high deflection shaft with three inches of tungsten in the tip end as soon as I get 25 prepaid orders. Guaranteed to give a "solider" hit than anything on the market today! The shaft will be made with quality wood and compatible in price with the OB shafts, perhaps the best of the low deflection shafts in my opinion. Any takers?


Hu

 

[Maniac]

"solider"

Hu

Had to look this one up. Didn't think I would find it. Didn't.

Maniac (glad I'm not the only person butchering-up the English language :thumbup

 

[duckie]

The use of any type of equipment is nothing more than personal prefernce.

You still have to learn to use or adapt to the current equipment.

You still need to abjust to varying playing conditions.

You still need to be calm under pressure.

You still need to make the proper shot selection.

You always come first.

 

[Danktrees]

it's both. im really tired of people always saying that it's solely the player and use the fact that they can run a rack with anything as proof. if shane played against mika or someone else with a broomstick or a random crappy cue he just picked up and mika was using his mezz, would u guys bet on shane?

obviously, pros can do crazy things with any cue, but there's also a reason why they all use one specific cue most of the time. some don't, like efren for example, but thats probably cuz he keeps selling them.

 

[Mitchxout]

it's both. im really tired of people always saying that it's solely the player and use the fact that they can run a rack with anything as proof.

It is both, but not equally. Almost any halfway decent cue with a good tip will suffice. Once a player becomes more accomplished, he or she will naturally have personal preferences for weight, flex, hit, etc. However, there's no magic built into any cue. Mostly it's the Indian.

 

[evanlockhart]

if shane played against mika or someone else with a broomstick or a random crappy cue he just picked up and mika was using his mezz, would u guys bet on shane?

Lol, I remember reading a post from this past DCC (I believe), where Shane was giving Scooter the 4 or 6 and out. I think one of the rules was that Shane had to use this break cue with a phenolic tip on every shot. And every shot you heard a, "TINK!" (not his Cuetec, lol) and people were loving it. He ended up getting used to the cue after a couple of racks and won. Funny picture came to mind when I read your post, lol

 

[alstl]

One reason the Huns were such effective warriors was because their bows were superior to the bows of their enemies which allowed them more distance and accuracy. Great, ruthless, merciless warriors with great weapons.

I would say you need both to be the best. You need the "Indian" and he needs a good "arrow".

 

[pt109]

One reason the Huns were such effective warriors was because their bows were superior to the bows of their enemies which allowed them more distance and accuracy. Great, ruthless, merciless warriors with great weapons.

I would say you need both to be the best. You need the "Indian" and he needs a good "arrow".

Excellent post.
Wyatt Earp didn't go to the OK corral with a Saturday night special.

If two great EQUAL players play, I'll bet on the one with the best cue.

 

[Maniac]

If two great EQUAL players play, I'll bet on the one with the best cue.

Depends on how big a difference in quality the cues are.

Me, I'd be willing to say that the one who gets the best ROLLS is the one that wins .

Maniac

 

[pt109]

Depends on how big a difference in quality the cues are.

Me, I'd be willing to say that the one who gets the best ROLLS is the one that wins .

Maniac

Pool is like chess.
The better you play, the less luck there is.

..and yes, there is luck at chess....I made a move once for a certain
reason....20 moves later it showed to be something a grand master
would have made..I'm not that good

 

[phread59]

I am not a very good player. I shoot with an 800$ custom. I've been playing about 1 1/2 years. The arrow will not make the Indian. But it sure will help.

For a new shooter I agree with many of the above posters. Pick a decent production cue for less than 200$. Get a case and the essentials, shaper, pick, chalk (Kamuie of course). And go hit some balls. I got that advice and it was oh so true. I didn't know what I wanted or needed. I learned by doing. I eventually found the right weight, tip, shaft size and so on. I went through about a dozen cues before settling on my Josie. I feel a decent, solid production cue is the way to go to start.

The real advantage of you're own cue is that every time you play you have a common reference point. You never know what you'll pull off the wall. One hall keeps immaculate care of thier house cues. Another will not. It is the single most important thing you can do when you first start out. Buy a good inexpensive cue and go play.

Mark Shuman

 

[jason]

The real advantage of you're own cue is that every time you play you have a common reference point.

That is a very good point. As with anything, the more variables you can take out of the equation, the easier it is to pinpoint what you are doing right or wrong.

The most important thing to me is the tip. Make sure it is holding chalk and is chalked up every time. One of the best investments I made in pool was a $5 wooden nickel tip scuffer. I always had it on my key chain and would use it on every bar cue I used if I was without my stick.