looking for a cue, need advice

C

cfisher25

Registered
Hey guys, I am an avid pool player and am very interested in getting into the world of snooker. I was hoping for some advice on a good beginner cue that is of good quality. Im serious about wanting to get into snooker, not just as a side thing from pool.

and also what are the advantages/disadvantages of either a two piece or 3/4 cue. I could have no idea what im talking about but any help would be greatly appreciated haha.

Thanks,
Chris
 
Hey Chris glad to here you are getting into snooker. Years ago I had a shaft made for my pool cue, but it didn't really hit the balls well IMO.
I then purchased a Peradon cue 1/2 jointed........so it fit into my 3 x 6 pool case. Bought it from Pet Williams at Billiards Boutique, nice guy. http://billiardsboutique.blogspot.com/It played very well.

One thing I did was switch tips, I went from a blue diamond to a Mike Wooldridge Super Tip http://handmadecues.com/extras/20-cuetips.htm and liked it much better.

Currently I play with a Trevor White 3/4 and absolutely love the hit and feel of his cues. Depending on how much you want to spend, if you want a custom cue or not will depend on the brand. Trevor White or Mike Wooldridge would be great choices for a custom.

As for production type cues, I would suggest a Peradon just from my experience, but have also heard good things about Craftsman as well. One thing is for sure, get a tip you like..........I also purchased a Dufferin cue from Hot Shots in Canada for my son. Very inexpensive, I think it was $79, and it plays good.
http://www.hotshotscanada.com/cat5_1.htm

I am sure more knowledgeable snooker players will jump in and help you as well.
Good luck!!!!

Mike
 
Check Mastercrafrt cues, Omin cues, Craftsman cues - those are great cues for the money.
What is you budget mate?I know a few people who are selling their cues!
Cheers
 
Thanks for the input guys, i was definitely looking at the peradon cues. I saw a riley cue for around 70$ but I dont know about the quality on that one. Im looking to spend no more than 150$ or so. I figured with that budget i'd be able to get something that will do me really well.
 
Give the Wooldridge tips a try. A bit expensive, but
they play really well and don't mushroom!!
 
$150 is around £92 the problem is that amount will get you a decent cue but you'll have no case no extensions and have to find postage on top which aint cheap. All in you could find you need to double that amount.

2nd hand on ebay's an option even though theres many a brit who on there saying they wont post overseas (Stupid sods just dont understand exports are good for the economy)

In your shoes I'd be inclined to look at one of these to be honest which may come as a bit of a shock for those that know me.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LUXURY-A-S-ZE...rtingGoods_SnookerPool_RL?hash=item56380ddacf

Wait till after xmas and bid on one dont go for a buy it now and you should pick one up for around £65 /$100 inc postage.
You dont need to be an expert to realise the advert is written by a chinese bullshitter and that there's no such thing as grey ebony and mark amazon is really a 12 year old in a sweatshop earning two bowls of rice per day but I've had 5 or 6 from them and they aint as bad as many think. The ali cases are solid enough do the job as good as any and the tele extensions are fine too. The mini butts are usually just maple or some other wood and painted black. The cues themselves at least those i've had were all perfectly straight. Ok the splices are rarely even and the ash grain's not the prettiest to look at but invest about a tenner in a decent tip some wire wool 0000 grade and a bottle of raw linseed oil and playing wise you've as good a cue as any.
 
The £56 peradon one: Theres a bloke on a sunday market here that has them for sale for £10. He last sold one in 1982. The buyer was desperate his tomatoes plants in his greenhouse needed tying up.

The Riley and bce cues: Are all rubbish mass produced in china and worth less than the sandpaper you'd need to get the paint off.

Okay you can play with them, you can sand off the varnish and paint and oil the wood properly but all your left with would be a third rate piece of wood. You'd do better borrowing a plane and taking it to an old broom handle.

Dufferin cues: By the looks of them on that site it seems to me the last time they made a real snooker cue was Peter Ebdons cheap machine spliced one which cost his mum £15 when he was a kid. (Peter proves you dont need a quality cue to be a good player but even so, he's akin to the marathon runner wearing flip flops)


I'll have a look round see what it'd cost postage wise, I've 3 or 4 real cues here one of which you might like. Need you to give me a post / zip code to find the best prices as some of the couriers sites only quote if you enter one.
 
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Peradon are a just bit better than Riley and BCE, which are, for a lack of a better word, rubbish.
Craftsman, Welsh pool trading, Mastercraft, all make much better cues, and are very affordable, with decent quality.
Quality wise I would recommend a Thai cue such as Omin. They are very nicely balanced, with even points, nice shaft, and are usually under $300.
If you can carry it around, get a 3/4 or better yet a one piece cue.
 
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