Looking foward to a snooker cue

SlickRick_PCS

SlickRick_PCS

Pool, Snooker, Carom
Silver Member
I am going to start getting involved in the snooker scene (even though it is aprox. 150miles from where I am at) and I am looking foward into buying a snooker cue. But, I see that there is such a variety. For instance, American snooker cues have a centered joint while the UK style snooker cues have 3/4 joint either 12 or 16 inches from the butt of the cue. Does this factor make any difference in playing snooker?
Another question I also have in mind is: What diameter tip is usually best for beginning snooker players?


Give me some replies,
SlickRick_P(ool)C(arom)S(nooker)
 
snooker cue

hi rick, go for a 3/4 quarter or 1 piece ash cue, start with a 10mm tip, most are 9 1/2, 10 anyway.

where do you live, if your ever in toronto give me a call i coach here now,

and good luck with your cue and happy playing, try peradon or john parris for a good cue depending on how much you have to spend
 
SlickRick_PCS said:
I am going to start getting involved in the snooker scene (even though it is aprox. 150miles from where I am at) and I am looking foward into buying a snooker cue. But, I see that there is such a variety. For instance, American snooker cues have a centered joint while the UK style snooker cues have 3/4 joint either 12 or 16 inches from the butt of the cue. Does this factor make any difference in playing snooker?
Another question I also have in mind is: What diameter tip is usually best for beginning snooker players?


Give me some replies,
SlickRick_P(ool)C(arom)S(nooker)
Click to expand...

As far as I am aware the 3/4 joints affect has more to do with the feel of the cue than anything. I get excellent feedback from my parris cue, I can really feel when I am hitting the ball well, rather just being able to hear it.
 
Lee and Cameron

Thank you so much for your replies! Well, I would love to be assisted by your coaching, Lee, but I live on the southern most part of the US (deep south Texas... which wreaks :(). So its quite lengthy. As I already was about to ask on my other question on what cue companies were good, but you already asked this one and that was awesome. Cameron, great feedback from you as well. I need a snooker cue that relies just on feel. If there's anything else that I should know about (i.e. what's the best weight of a snooker cue... ect.) please let me know because I am really looking foward into purchasing THAT snooker cue for years to come.


Thanks guys,
---Rick
 
I highly recommend John Parris cues, since I have one. The only other snooker cue I have is a cheap BCE cue and it is crap, so I don't have much to compare it against.

Parris cues start at approximately $440 american. The only difference between all of them as far as I can tell is the level of customization and/or decoration on the cues.

When you have played before, what weight of house cue do you usually play with? Or did you use a pool cue? Mine is about 18oz. It's all about preference in the end. But I think 17-19 oz would be fine.

I would also recommend getting the extensions, or at least the telescopic extension so you don't have to use the long cue, or worse, be caught in a place that doesnt have one.

One last thing, 3/4 joint is going to feel a lot different than your pool or carom cues (I'm assuming carom, I've never played with one). So it will take some time getting used to it, but it's worth it in the end imo. The only draw back is the case is so bloody big!
 
Cameron Smith said:
I highly recommend John Parris cues, since I have one. The only other snooker cue I have is a cheap BCE cue and it is crap, so I don't have much to compare it against.

Parris cues start at approximately $440 american. The only difference between all of them as far as I can tell is the level of customization and/or decoration on the cues.

When you have played before, what weight of house cue do you usually play with? Or did you use a pool cue? Mine is about 18oz. It's all about preference in the end. But I think 17-19 oz would be fine.

I would also recommend getting the extensions, or at least the telescopic extension so you don't have to use the long cue, or worse, be caught in a place that doesnt have one.

One last thing, 3/4 joint is going to feel a lot different than your pool or carom cues (I'm assuming carom, I've never played with one). So it will take some time getting used to it, but it's worth it in the end imo. The only draw back is the case is so bloody big!
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I hear that John Parris are pretty much the Schon of snooker cues, very great in play and pricey. What is your criticism on Peradon cues? Are those any decent (even though I will still look on JP snooker cues)?
I play on an 18oz cue that I still own (my Viking cue), but I am basically looking for a standard weight that is meant to be comfortable for shotmaking. If I go to Corpus Christi (Texas, USA) in Paradise Billiards, it will be my first to play on a snooker table. But I will hopefully get accustomed to the table if all goes well. But for right now, I am aiming to seek that first (and great) snooker cue to hold so that I can get better at playing snooker. I find it very difficult and challenging from Pool. Along side snooker, I want to get into English Billiards as well. My purpose is to become better in my shotmaking, position play, and safety. If there's any imput (or more) to this, please instruct me with your knowlege.
 
As long as the cue joint is well made there really isn't any playing difference between a 1/2 or a 3/4 but a 3/4 joint is prefered because its position allows the cuemaker to alter the weight easier thus giving the customer a wider range of both weight and balance point.

1/2 jointed cues are virtually obsolete nowadays no one wants them as can be seen by there very poor resale values. One piece cues are probably the best sellers now as many players say they give a better feedback though I personally think a blindfold test would prove that most cant tell the difference.

The best known cuemaker is probably John Parris but they are not the best cues out there and most certainly are way overpriced. Not surprising really as he's built his reputation by working on and supplying the pros cues for free. Simply put he's a reasonable cuemaker whose bloody good at marketing.

Peradons cues unless you have one custom made and specify an oil finish are all lacqured (butt and shaft) and need to be sanded an oiled properly first unless your a whacko jackson fan and fart around with gloves and talc.(the latter of which will get you kicked out of any uk club for ruining the cloth and the former laughed out)

Having an expensive, top label, cue wont help your game one bit but it should stop you blaming your cue for your mistakes.

The basic snooker cue made of ash or maple with a handspliced ebony butt has a mateial cost of about £40-£50 and takes say 4 hours to make so expect to pay at least £120 for a new uk made one and because of the transportation costs and weak pound only a bit less for a cue from Thailand. Above that price and you paying for looks, be it fancy splicing a specific grain pattern or exotic wood and the lable/badge.

Tell me your spec and budget including a case or not and i'll point you in the right direction but without that basic info finding the right cue fo you is like finding a needle in a haystack.
 
Wity said:
As long as the cue joint is well made there really isn't any playing difference between a 1/2 or a 3/4 but a 3/4 joint is prefered because its position allows the cuemaker to alter the weight easier thus giving the customer a wider range of both weight and balance point.

1/2 jointed cues are virtually obsolete nowadays no one wants them as can be seen by there very poor resale values. One piece cues are probably the best sellers now as many players say they give a better feedback though I personally think a blindfold test would prove that most cant tell the difference.

The best known cuemaker is probably John Parris but they are not the best cues out there and most certainly are way overpriced. Not surprising really as he's built his reputation by working on and supplying the pros cues for free. Simply put he's a reasonable cuemaker whose bloody good at marketing.

Peradons cues unless you have one custom made and specify an oil finish are all lacqured (butt and shaft) and need to be sanded an oiled properly first unless your a whacko jackson fan and fart around with gloves and talc.(the latter of which will get you kicked out of any uk club for ruining the cloth and the former laughed out)

Having an expensive, top label, cue wont help your game one bit but it should stop you blaming your cue for your mistakes.

The basic snooker cue made of ash or maple with a handspliced ebony butt has a mateial cost of about £40-£50 and takes say 4 hours to make so expect to pay at least £120 for a new uk made one and because of the transportation costs and weak pound only a bit less for a cue from Thailand. Above that price and you paying for looks, be it fancy splicing a specific grain pattern or exotic wood and the lable/badge.

Tell me your spec and budget including a case or not and i'll point you in the right direction but without that basic info finding the right cue fo you is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Click to expand...

Great points you got there, Wity. I am not looking for anything fancy (except if it is perhaps a hand-made splice ebony on the butt section perhaps); but even so, I would just need a cue that I know will have a great feel and security in my snooker game when the time comes. As of right now, I am just scouting for THAT snooker cue. The specifications would be 59 inches (mind you, I am 6'3"... you can understand this), a suitable long extension for those tough to reach shots, Ash (obviously since I do respect UK tradition), but I would not like lacquer on 16 inches from the tip. Wheither this exists or not, I would not know.

When I first had my very own "professional" cue in 2002: A Viking DeCue "Wolf" series customized with a 30" shaft, 12mm with 16 inch pro taper, 18oz, my name engraved, and a soft case bag, I would think that this cue was going to be the best for the rest of my life-- big mistake. The whole reason was because I was playing on 3'x7' bar tables with those ABSURD heavy cue balls and I was figuring how to draw on the darn thing. One thing lead to another when I went to a 4.2' x 8.4' table with acutal 2 1/4 inch (offical size) balls and I was just in disapointment when I saw that my cue was not what I had expected to be. Friends in college told me that the shaft is too skinny and I saw this as well. All because I wanted to learn how to draw really good. It payed off, but I should have had guidance (which I never did... but the internet). So this is why I would need the right cue... and I ask guidance from all you guys on what your intake in which I am really thankful of. :)
 
I'm of the school that says ones height has nothing to do with the length of cue you need it's more a question of personal taste and comfort and we are all different in our requirements. Graham Miles was over 6ft and he played fine with a 55" cue, Steve Davis's is 57" and he's over 6ft too and at the other extreme theres an England international pool player I know who plays with a 40 something inch cue as if it were merlins magic wand. I think theres one snooke pro on the circuit today playing with a 55" cant remember his name though let alone his height.

US pool cues methinks are much the same length, perhaps a little longer as our snooker cues the majority of which are between 57" and 58" Carom cues i've read on the net are usually 55" and our uk pool cues are merely smalle tipped snooker cues around 55" to 57"

If as you say you play all cue games i'd say stick to the one length for all to give you a uniformed natural grip whichever you playing likewise with the weight dont mess around with extemes. Tip sizes are different though you need what the ball sizes dictate.

A snooker cue of 57" - 58" around 18 ounces with a tip between 9mm and 10mm should be fine. In other words pretty much a standard spec for all. Plus it makes financial sence, as you'll find theres a surcharge or at least a waiting time for a 59" with most makers.

I suggest you take a look at craftsmancues of Leeds and mastercraft cues from Shrewsbury . Them two offer the best value fo money cues i can think of unless you look to a 2nd hand cue.
 
Wity said:
I'm of the school that says ones height has nothing to do with the length of cue you need it's more a question of personal taste and comfort and we are all different in our requirements. Graham Miles was over 6ft and he played fine with a 55" cue, Steve Davis's is 57" and he's over 6ft too and at the other extreme theres an England international pool player I know who plays with a 40 something inch cue as if it were merlins magic wand. I think theres one snooke pro on the circuit today playing with a 55" cant remember his name though let alone his height.

US pool cues methinks are much the same length, perhaps a little longer as our snooker cues the majority of which are between 57" and 58" Carom cues i've read on the net are usually 55" and our uk pool cues are merely smalle tipped snooker cues around 55" to 57"

If as you say you play all cue games i'd say stick to the one length for all to give you a uniformed natural grip whichever you playing likewise with the weight dont mess around with extemes. Tip sizes are different though you need what the ball sizes dictate.

A snooker cue of 57" - 58" around 18 ounces with a tip between 9mm and 10mm should be fine. In other words pretty much a standard spec for all. Plus it makes financial sence, as you'll find theres a surcharge or at least a waiting time for a 59" with most makers.

I suggest you take a look at craftsmancues of Leeds and mastercraft cues from Shrewsbury . Them two offer the best value fo money cues i can think of unless you look to a 2nd hand cue.
Click to expand...

Thank you Wity and all of you into helping me with advice on cues. I am over at the Parris Cues webpage and I think I found my perfect fit: Parris Classic. It looks plain, it looks stable, it looks like the standard. If any of you snooker enthusiasts have any more advice to insert into my head, I insist if you please praise what you have to say. I think that wasting $400 for this kind of cue + accessories does not seem so bad. :)
 
You must be mad :mad:

Okay $400 isnt a great deal especially compared to an American cue with all the fancy inlays and such but befoe you buy a Parris cue google his name or moe specifically search for it at www.thesnookerforum.com and www.cueclubinternational.com/forum.php fomerly the uk8ball site and spend the next hour or two reading the complaints of owners then try doing the same for Trevor White cues or Mike Wooldridge cues and you can then spend the rest of your life trying to find one complaint.
 
Wity said:
You must be mad :mad:

Okay $400 isnt a great deal especially compared to an American cue with all the fancy inlays and such but befoe you buy a Parris cue google his name or moe specifically search for it at www.thesnookerforum.com and www.cueclubinternational.com/forum.php fomerly the uk8ball site and spend the next hour or two reading the complaints of owners then try doing the same for Trevor White cues or Mike Wooldridge cues and you can then spend the rest of your life trying to find one complaint.
Click to expand...

What exactly is wrong with them besides the price? I have done a search on them before, but the bashing seemed to be centred around the price not so much the quality.

I will admit they are pricey, you are paying for the name as much as anything. They are essentially a good production cue.
 
Yes they make on the whole a decent cue, some are better than others and a few are exceptionally good but the same can be said for any cuemaker. Thing is everyone of Parris's cues is priced as though it's an exceptional one and he has no problem selling them because of his marketing. Hell even the bbc have shown a 20 miniute advert fo him !

I'll pay top price for top quality but top price for an average quality, no chance.
 
Snooker tables in Texas

SlickRick_PCS said:
If I go to Corpus Christi (Texas, USA) in Paradise Billiards, it will be my first to play on a snooker table.
Click to expand...

Drop a line to "drsnooker" here on the AzBilliards forum. He's a helpful gent.

I'm just about done compiling my list of U.S. pools halls with snooker tables. It'll be online in the next few weeks. In the meantime here are unconfirmed listings for snooker tables in Texas; by "unconfirmed" I mean I haven't called them yet to check the size and number of tables.

Casper's Billiards (one 6 x 12) - [confirmed 5/24]
137 21st Street
San Leon TX 77539
281-559-1400
http://www.myspace.com/caspersbilliards

Bogie's Billiards & Games (one 6 x 12) - [confirmed 5/24]
3040 Fm 1960 Rd E
Houston TX 77073
(281) 821-4544

Paradise Pool & Billiards (one 6 x 12) - [confirmed 5/24]
5141 Oakhurst Dr
Corpus Christi TX 78411
(361) 852-9252

The Warehouse Saloon & Billiards (one 5 x 10) - [confirmed 4/19]
509 E Ben White
Austin TX 78704
(512) 443-8799
http://www.warehousesaloon.com/

Chup Chap (was Snooker Corner) (three 6 x 12)
9623 Bissonnet Street
Houston TX 77036
(713) 771-8888

Big Daddy's Billiards (one 5 x 10) - [confirmed 5/24]
1319 N Gordon St
Alvin TX 77511
(281) 585-0004

University of Houston, UC GAMES ROOM (one 5 x 10) - [confirmed 5/27]
Houston TX
(713) 743-5324
http://www.uh.edu/ucaf/services/gameroom.php

Red and White Snookers
12776 Veterans Memorial Dr
Houston TX 77014
**(281) 537-0283** (number not in service)

Greenroom Billiards
Wichita Falls TX
(405) 606-1517

Click's Biliards (one 5 x 10) - [confirmed 5/24]
1200 F Richland Dr.
Waco TX 76710
254.776.2261
http://www.clicks.com/waco/waco.htm

Cue Shack Gameroom, Texas A & M University-Kingsville (one 5 x 10)
700 University Blvd.
Kingsville TX 78363
361.593.2111
http://osa.tamuk.edu/cueshack/equipment.html

Bowling & Billiards, E.H. Hereford University Center, The University of Texas at Arlington
300 W First St
Arlington TX 76010
(817) 272-2929

Sticks and Stones
1227 Leander Road
Georgetown TX 78628
(512) 863-7665

Contact "drsnooker" about his private 6 x 12.

Again, one or more of these locations may have closed or sold their snooker table(s). Some references are from old web pages and blog posts. I suppose I could have waited to post the list, but if you're headed to Houston or parts north soon then you'll probably want the list now rather than later.

Finally, I strongly recommend spending quantity time at http://www.thesnookerforum.com/. There are many, many posts about cues. For instance, you might want to see if you can pick up a used Trevor White cue (usernamed "Trevs1", or something like that); his name is mentioned on the forum frequently.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the plug Rethunk!
But it might be a hike for SlickRick if Corpus is already 150miles, it's gonna be a long drive to get to Houston. I do have a couple of extra snooker cues for guests while the Billiard Factory store on I45 actually caries about a handful too. It might be a better choice to play with one before buying it.
 
hey rethunk, i found out that snookers billiards in springfield, ma has a 5x10. it's about a 1.5 hour drive from boston.
 
Rethunk said:
Drop a line to "drsnooker" here on the AzBilliards forum. He's a helpful gent.

I'm just about done compiling my list of U.S. pools halls with snooker tables. It'll be online in the next few weeks. In the meantime here are unconfirmed listings for snooker tables in Texas; by "unconfirmed" I mean I haven't called them yet to check the size and number of tables.

Casper's Billiards (one 6 x 12)
137 21st Street
San Leon TX 77539
281-559-1400
http://www.myspace.com/caspersbilliards

Bogie's Billiards & Games (one 6 x 12)
3040 Fm 1960 Rd E
Houston TX 77073
(281) 821-4544

Paradise Pool & Billiards (one 6 x 12)
5141 Oakhurst Dr
Corpus Christi TX 78411
(361) 852-9252

The Warehouse Saloon & Billiards (one 5 x 10 - CONFIRMED)
509 E Ben White
Austin TX 78704
(512) 443-8799
http://www.warehousesaloon.com/

Chup Chap (was Snooker Corner) (three 6 x 12)
9623 Bissonnet Street
Houston TX 77036
(713) 771-8888

Big Daddy's Billiards (one 5 x 10)
1319 N Gordon St
Alvin TX 77511
(281) 585-0004

University of Houston, UC GAMES ROOM
Houston TX
(713) 743-5324
http://www.uh.edu/ucaf/services/gameroom.php

Red and White Snookers
12776 Veterans Memorial Dr
Houston TX 77014
(281) 537-0283

Greenroom Billiards
Wichita Falls TX
(405) 606-1517

Click's Biliards (one 5 x 10)
1200 F Richland Dr.
Waco TX 76710
254.776.2261
http://www.clicks.com/waco/waco.htm

Cue Shack Gameroom, Texas A & M University-Kingsville (one 5 x 10)
700 University Blvd.
Kingsville TX 78363
361.593.2111
http://osa.tamuk.edu/cueshack/equipment.html

Bowling & Billiards, E.H. Hereford University Center, The University of Texas at Arlington
300 W First St
Arlington TX 76010
(817) 272-2929

Sticks and Stones
1227 Leander Road
Georgetown TX 78628
(512) 863-7665

Contact "drsnooker" about his private 6 x 12.

Again, one or more of these locations may have closed or sold their snooker table(s). Some references are from old web pages and blog posts. I suppose I could have waited to post the list, but if you're headed to Houston or parts north soon then you'll probably want the list now rather than later.

Finally, I strongly recommend spending quantity time at http://www.thesnookerforum.com/. There are many, many posts about cues. For instance, you might want to see if you can pick up a used Trevor White cue (usernamed "Trevs1", or something like that); his name is mentioned on the forum frequently.
Click to expand...

WOW! Thank you tons for this one, rethunk. Believe it or not, Kingsville is close enough to where I live at.

Alright guys, just to let you know, I currently reside in Mission, Texas. For those that do not know where that is, that is aprox 10-15 miles north of the Mexican territory... yea, sucks. I live awefully close to a great pool player named Sylver Ochoa (from McAllen, Texas; perhaps some know him or not). I have personally met him but we are not much of friends but only slight aquaintances. I do plan on moving out to San Antonio very soon to my benefit.

So all of you know on why this valley boy from deep south Texas is fascinated with playing snooker when pool (or carom - which is not SO popular except with the Mexican natives... and myself I'll admit - even though it is no Chevillote or Gabriells but old, heatless, brunswick) is so popular. Well, I'll say that I perfer uniqueness, challenge, and perfection over the leniency of pool. And when I look at clips of Walter Lindrum and the history of how the English Table became the backbone of how billiards was started, it seems that if I learn how to play English Billiards first, I could then progress into the rest of the other games. So that is why I would perfer to start with a 6'x12' table to hone my skils. :)
 
drsnooker said:
Thanks for the plug Rethunk!
But it might be a hike for SlickRick if Corpus is already 150miles, it's gonna be a long drive to get to Houston. I do have a couple of extra snooker cues for guests while the Billiard Factory store on I45 actually caries about a handful too. It might be a better choice to play with one before buying it.
Click to expand...

I could possibly give it a good drive there if I reside in San Antonio - of course if you can give me the good-to-go and if your schedule, drsnooker, doesn't conflict too much. But nevertheless, I am enthused into playing snooker at Corpus Christi, enjoying pool, and -much less- any form of billiards after alienating it for five long months.

Thanks for all the advice, yall!
 
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