Longer cue for big tables?

G

Ghost of OBC

Well-known member
I'm wondering if I'm alone in preferring a longer cue on nine foot tables. I used to play a lot of barbox pool and found a standard cue to be fine, but switching to mine foot tables, I had stroke problems with reachy shots. I started playing with a four inch extension all the time and I've found it very helpful. I find it helps me play more shots with my right arm working nearer to vertical. Anyone else use an extension full time? Are there any cue makers making longer than standard cues?
 
I play Bar Box with a 61" cue that has an extra 1.5" in the grip area than a shorter cue. I like the longer cue because it lets me maintain my normal stance and body position for weird middle table shots that I would normally be contorting to hit.

I also play 9ft'ers with the same cue.

So really my point is find the cue length that works for your playstyle and use it across all table sizes.
 
Earl Strickland did or does, not sure of the details but he had a significant extension that he employed full time. Being accustomed to the added weight is a good reason to extend full time.
My tools include a plastic drain extension intended for a sink. With a reducer ring in the closure of the 12 inch extension gives me a light weight extension. Intended for emergency use only. It does slip over the cue and tightened with the plastic wing nut. Well I cut the tabs off the wing nut as "Wing Nut" was a popular slur. 😉 🤷‍♂️
 
Benelli said:
I play Bar Box with a 61" cue that has an extra 1.5" in the grip area than a shorter cue. I like the longer cue because it lets me maintain my normal stance and body position for weird middle table shots that I would normally be contorting to hit.

I also play 9ft'ers with the same cue.

So really my point is find the cue length that works for your playstyle and use it across all table sizes.
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I have the same preference. I have very flat, low mechanics and cueing with my right hand on top of rather than next to the table changes them, not for the better. The long cue helps play more shots flatter vs slightly jacked up.
 
Length of the cue needs to fit you, your body, your grip, your stroke.
It has nothing to do with table size.
The bigger the tables, the harder it is to reach certain shots, that’s why you have mechanical bridge and extensions, you don’t need to use them on all shots.

Remember, pro snooker players use a 57 inch cues on 12 foot tables
 
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My homedepot solution . Inch and a half reduced to inch and a quarter. It's been so long that I forgot my final step of setting the reducer ring and eliminated Nut altogether. Of course some will slur with Nut Job. Butt I prefer thrifty. Better still an inexpensive experiment.
Edit: Ooops forgot the Butt Shot. 😉
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skor said:
Length of the cue needs to fit you, your body, your grip, your stroke.
It has nothing to do with table size.
The bigger the tables, the harder it is to reach certain shots, that’s why you have mechanical bridge and extensions, you don’t need to use them on all shots.

Remember, pro snooker players use a 57 inch cues on 12 foot tables
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Watching Ruslan win the 14.1 championship a few yrs. back, playing all shots with an extension attached, demonstrates that very tall players may well benefit. BUT, I just don’t get why anyone short would reach so far and shoot with a ridiculously long/unstable bridge, when a rake is handy. I seldom miss when using one. Looking down the entire length of the cue is like sighting a rifle, while reaching with an extension is more like shooting from the hip.
 
DynoDan said:
Watching Ruslan win the 14.1 championship a few yrs. back, playing all shots with an extension attached, demonstrates that very tall players may well benefit. BUT, I just don’t get why anyone short would reach so far and shoot with a ridiculously long/unstable bridge, when a rake is handy. I seldom miss when using one. Looking down the entire length of the cue is like sighting a rifle, while reaching with an extension is more like shooting from the hip.
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That's a fair point. I'm no fan of the rest. Id much prefer a long bridge to using the bridge, betraying my snooker roots.
 
Ghost of OBC said:
I'm wondering if I'm alone in preferring a longer cue on nine foot tables. I used to play a lot of barbox pool and found a standard cue to be fine, but switching to mine foot tables, I had stroke problems with reachy shots. I started playing with a four inch extension all the time and I've found it very helpful. I find it helps me play more shots with my right arm working nearer to vertical. Anyone else use an extension full time? Are there any cue makers making longer than standard cues?
Click to expand...
Been playing with a 4" balance-rite mid cue extension for about 5 years. Love it and will never go back to 58 " cue
 
A good friend of mine was converting Dufferin cues into 2 piece sneaky Pete cues back in the late 1980's he would add a 6" butt section to the cue and kept them rather thin , I used it on both bar tables as well as the 9' tables I also added 2 extra shafts for it .
I still miss visiting with Billy !
 
Benelli said:
I play Bar Box with a 61" cue that has an extra 1.5" in the grip area than a shorter cue. I like the longer cue because it lets me maintain my normal stance and body position for weird middle table shots that I would normally be contorting to hit.

I also play 9ft'ers with the same cue.

So really my point is find the cue length that works for your playstyle and use it across all table sizes.
Click to expand...
29" butt 2.75" extension that stays on all the time except for wall shots and a 30" shaft, I'm not super tall but this set up is really working for me.
 
Ghost of OBC said:
I'm wondering if I'm alone in preferring a longer cue on nine foot tables. I used to play a lot of barbox pool and found a standard cue to be fine, but switching to mine foot tables, I had stroke problems with reachy shots. I started playing with a four inch extension all the time and I've found it very helpful. I find it helps me play more shots with my right arm working nearer to vertical. Anyone else use an extension full time? Are there any cue makers making longer than standard cues?
Click to expand...
Cue length remains as is, "The one you're used to" - table size does not change that. The fact that snooker players play in 12ft tables and have their default 58 inch cues should be a hint.

I firmly believe that cue length is what you're most comfortable, and should be used at all times. Don't change what you're comfortable with, for any table or any shot. I mean if you can't reach then thats a different story but ofcourse for those you try not to focus more so that you don't miss it, due to the change in length.
 
Your cue should fit you and your style of play.

A cue's length and balance should be fitted to your stance and stroke while bending over the table and using your standard bridge length and grip hand placement.

I use about a 10" bridge and top of my grip hand is about 3" down from the top of the wrap. That is where most cues feel balanced to me.

Using a longer cue means I have to hold the cue further back for the same balance which makes my bridge longer.

I don't like having too long a bridge or having a lot of extra cue extended in the rear.

I only use extensions for a long shot I can't reach.
 
i can reach most all shots anyway, and im not tall, and also can shoot opposite handed on easy ones so not an issue. and also there is that thingy under the table that helps you reach any shot. i dont need to bastardize my equipment for imaginary situations that are easily dealt with.

i dont remember missing any shots because my cue wasnt long enough. maybe get some high heeled shoes or stilts to slip on to reach shots.
 
maha said:
i can reach most all shots anyway, and im not tall, and also can shoot opposite handed on easy ones so not an issue. and also there is that thingy under the table that helps you reach any shot. i dont need to bastardize my equipment for imaginary situations that are easily dealt with.

i dont remember missing any shots because my cue wasnt long enough. maybe get some high heeled shoes or stilts to slip on to reach shots.
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I hear this guy named Earl Strickland played pretty good with his bastardized extra long cue.....
 
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