I picked up this cue from AliExpress, I've seen this cue at different times with different prices. I got it for under $100.
I don't need it as I have a Jump/Break cue and also a dedicated break and jump cues.
But at this price point I decided to get it.
The main reason to get it is that some idiot knocked my case and cues during league night and I wanted something cheap and durable (CF) that I would not care too much about during league.
I've got the one in the image bellow, I know that there are other cues, I don't know the differences other than decals.
Link to the cue:
So my first impression:
It's pretty ugly but not as bad as in the pictures.... I'm not a fan of these type of decals but most of the top brands have them on their break cues so can't really do much about it. the colors are not as bright in reality so it's not that bad.
It's wrapless, just how I like break cues BUT the finish is matte and a bit slippery, at first I thought it would be a deal breaker but I had no issues with it.
The cue is nicely constructed, a fit and finish is top notch, not something that you would expect from a $100 cue.
Both joints are Like Uni-Loc QR joint, I say like because on the pin there are more threads than on the original Uni-Loc QR but I like it, it take more turns to put together and break apart but it feels tighter, I've tested putting a different Uni-Loc shaft on its butt and its shaft on a different Uni-Loc butt and they all interchange and perfectly fit, so no issues there.
The advertise weight is 19oz, mine came at 18.9oz. A bit heavy for my taste in break cue (My other break cues are about 17.5 with I prefer). I took the bumper off to see it there are weight bolts and maybe I can make it lighter, but there were none. There are threads for the bumper but passed it it's hollow for 15cm (about 6 inches) without threads so can't add weight if 19oz is not enough... my guess is that it's hollow back there to reduce weight.
The balance point is 20 inches from the end of the bumper, I find it to be perfect for a break cue and makes the 19oz cue a lot more tolerable for me.
Although advertised as a Carbon cue, when taking off the bumper, I realized that it's cored with wood. I cant tell if it's all the way or just the back piece or maybe just a part of it, can't see past the hollow wooden core in the back, all the joint pieces look like solid carbon but it could just plugs at the joints.
The jump section (front part of the butt and shaft) weigh 293 grams - 10.3oz, a bit on the heavy side but I like heavy jump cues, I find them easier to jump. The length is 109cm - 42.9 inches.
Compared to my Rhino jump cue without the back end part, it weigh 273 grams - 9.6oz and same length, maybe a tip height shorter.
The shaft quality feels the same as the Rhino jump shaft but it's shorter (Rhino is 30 inches) and although not as wide at the tip as the Rhino (12.9 vs 13.9) because it's shorter, it gets fatter closer to the tip than the Rhino.
The taper is like a hybrid, it's straight for about 8 inches and then starts to get wider in a conical manner.
There is a short black ferrule (looks like phenolic resin of a sort) and a tip that looks phenolic resin as well which looks different than the one in the pictures of the product.
Performance:
With it being made of CF for the most parts of it, the 19oz weight and the phenolic tip, it delivers a big break without putting too much effort into it.
I practiced breaking hand racked 8 ball racks and found out that I get better results by breaking softer than what I'm used to.
It works well, can't complain, not something out of this world... I can get the same results with any break cue. But remember that the purpose of this cue is not getting something better, just getting something to get the job done, during league night. I could have just use my playing cue or a house cue but then I would loose the jumping ability.
Jumping - this is where is cue excel over most cheap wooden Jump/Break cues. it jumps easy and very comfortable for me. jumps better than my Players Jump/Break and as good if not better than the Rhino without the back end. Of course that the longer 3pc Rhino is better in most cases and more comfortable for me as I'm 6ft tall but the compromise for taking just one cue is really not that big, especially for league night as we play 8ball and I don't use jump cues that much in 8ball.
Bottom line,
If you find a good deal on it (around $100), it's probably the best J/B cue for the money, as long you can look pass the decals and matte finish.
I don't need it as I have a Jump/Break cue and also a dedicated break and jump cues.
But at this price point I decided to get it.
The main reason to get it is that some idiot knocked my case and cues during league night and I wanted something cheap and durable (CF) that I would not care too much about during league.
I've got the one in the image bellow, I know that there are other cues, I don't know the differences other than decals.
Link to the cue:
So my first impression:
It's pretty ugly but not as bad as in the pictures.... I'm not a fan of these type of decals but most of the top brands have them on their break cues so can't really do much about it. the colors are not as bright in reality so it's not that bad.
It's wrapless, just how I like break cues BUT the finish is matte and a bit slippery, at first I thought it would be a deal breaker but I had no issues with it.
The cue is nicely constructed, a fit and finish is top notch, not something that you would expect from a $100 cue.
Both joints are Like Uni-Loc QR joint, I say like because on the pin there are more threads than on the original Uni-Loc QR but I like it, it take more turns to put together and break apart but it feels tighter, I've tested putting a different Uni-Loc shaft on its butt and its shaft on a different Uni-Loc butt and they all interchange and perfectly fit, so no issues there.
The advertise weight is 19oz, mine came at 18.9oz. A bit heavy for my taste in break cue (My other break cues are about 17.5 with I prefer). I took the bumper off to see it there are weight bolts and maybe I can make it lighter, but there were none. There are threads for the bumper but passed it it's hollow for 15cm (about 6 inches) without threads so can't add weight if 19oz is not enough... my guess is that it's hollow back there to reduce weight.
The balance point is 20 inches from the end of the bumper, I find it to be perfect for a break cue and makes the 19oz cue a lot more tolerable for me.
Although advertised as a Carbon cue, when taking off the bumper, I realized that it's cored with wood. I cant tell if it's all the way or just the back piece or maybe just a part of it, can't see past the hollow wooden core in the back, all the joint pieces look like solid carbon but it could just plugs at the joints.
The jump section (front part of the butt and shaft) weigh 293 grams - 10.3oz, a bit on the heavy side but I like heavy jump cues, I find them easier to jump. The length is 109cm - 42.9 inches.
Compared to my Rhino jump cue without the back end part, it weigh 273 grams - 9.6oz and same length, maybe a tip height shorter.
The shaft quality feels the same as the Rhino jump shaft but it's shorter (Rhino is 30 inches) and although not as wide at the tip as the Rhino (12.9 vs 13.9) because it's shorter, it gets fatter closer to the tip than the Rhino.
The taper is like a hybrid, it's straight for about 8 inches and then starts to get wider in a conical manner.
There is a short black ferrule (looks like phenolic resin of a sort) and a tip that looks phenolic resin as well which looks different than the one in the pictures of the product.
Performance:
With it being made of CF for the most parts of it, the 19oz weight and the phenolic tip, it delivers a big break without putting too much effort into it.
I practiced breaking hand racked 8 ball racks and found out that I get better results by breaking softer than what I'm used to.
It works well, can't complain, not something out of this world... I can get the same results with any break cue. But remember that the purpose of this cue is not getting something better, just getting something to get the job done, during league night. I could have just use my playing cue or a house cue but then I would loose the jumping ability.
Jumping - this is where is cue excel over most cheap wooden Jump/Break cues. it jumps easy and very comfortable for me. jumps better than my Players Jump/Break and as good if not better than the Rhino without the back end. Of course that the longer 3pc Rhino is better in most cases and more comfortable for me as I'm 6ft tall but the compromise for taking just one cue is really not that big, especially for league night as we play 8ball and I don't use jump cues that much in 8ball.
Bottom line,
If you find a good deal on it (around $100), it's probably the best J/B cue for the money, as long you can look pass the decals and matte finish.
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