looking to purchase my first cue..

O

obr

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
hi,
i've been looking for a good starting cue and i see lots of options.
lower-end mcdermott
schmelke sneaky pete
something along these lines http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=74177

i'm having a hard time deciding and i was wondering where i could go to "test hit" some cues. my budget is around $150

also, i've read that mcdermott cues have a "soft hit." could someone elaborate on this?

thanks
 
snowmon34 said:
This is the best value in cues...jmo....give William a call, he is very knowledgable and friendly. You won't be dissapointed...

http://dominiakcues.com/wd1020.html
Click to expand...

good choice among many....

some cue retailers have an assortment of brands that can be test hit with. I still remember when I went shopping for my first cue. I must have picked-up, screwed together over 300 cues until I found one that felt "just right".

I don't know where you are located. if you give the folks on this board the info, they maybe can direct you to a retailer who stocks an assortment. other than that, I'd suggest your local pool room; maybe some of the players will let you try their sticks.

beware of the cue snobs who will soon tell you to save your $ and buy a custom cue for big bucks. there's plenty of time to test some cues and practice until you discover what features you (& not what somebody else tells you to like) like in a cue.

happy cue hunting..............j
 
Jack Flanagan said:
good choice among many....

some cue retailers have an assortment of brands that can be test hit with. I still remember when I went shopping for my first cue. I must have picked-up, screwed together over 300 cues until I found one that felt "just right".

I don't know where you are located. if you give the folks on this board the info, they maybe can direct you to a retailer who stocks an assortment. other than that, I'd suggest your local pool room; maybe some of the players will let you try their sticks.

beware of the cue snobs who will soon tell you to save your $ and buy a custom cue for big bucks. there's plenty of time to test some cues and practice until you discover what features you (& not what somebody else tells you to like) like in a cue.

happy cue hunting..............j
Click to expand...

thanks,
i'm located on long island, ny. i tried searching online for local retailers, but had no luck. as for the local pool room (college), the only cues i've seen are lucasi's, a fury cue, and a predator sneaky pete. i will ask to try them though.
i agree with waiting to purchase a cue, i'll probably end up getting one around april/may (my birthday)
 
there's a huebler sneaky (w/jps, and a case) in the for sale section right now....exactly your asking price. A year or two from now, it will probably still be worth that. JAT :)

oops, clicked on your link, and see you've already seen the Huebler. Looks pretty nice, and should be a really good shooter (from my experience with converted one piece cues).
 
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trustyrusty said:
there's a huebler sneaky (w/jps, and a case) in the for sale section right now....exactly your asking price. A year or two from now, it will probably still be worth that. JAT :)
Click to expand...

...and who knows, it may be worth more since Huebler has closed his doors :mad: .

...I was lucky enough to buy a large quantity of Dufferin cues when they sold out to Lucasi. I wasn't thinking: bought 'em low, sold 'em low, turned some quick bucks. hindsight says I should have kept one of each style.

money talks too quickly sometimes....lol. :eek:
 
ok thx for the replies. would huebler be considered a custom cue?
any opinions on mcdermott or schmelke? originally, i was attracted to mcdermott because of the lifetime warranty
 
obr said:
ok thx for the replies. would huebler be considered a custom cue?
any opinions on mcdermott or schmelke? originally, i was attracted to mcdermott because of the lifetime warranty
Click to expand...

Huebler was more of a production cue...not as big as Mcdermott or Joss, but along the same lines. I happen to play a McDermott, so of course I have nothing but good things to say about them. I've never tried a Schmelke. The only other cues I have had recently are Joss, and Jacoby. Both the Joss and Jacoby have stiffer hits than my McDermott - due to the joint setup mostly (from what I'm told), but they are very nice playing cues as well. You might wanna try different ones (either test hit somewhere, or try friends') to see what hit (joint type/taper/??mm) you prefer - what feels good to one, may not to you. :confused: :D
 
obr said:
ok thx for the replies. would huebler be considered a custom cue?
any opinions on mcdermott or schmelke? originally, i was attracted to mcdermott because of the lifetime warranty
Click to expand...

You can't go wrong with a Mcdermott if you find one you like due to the warranty. Nice cues for the $$$ IMO. I played with Mcdermott cues for many years before buying a custom.
 
A year ago I was in the same situation and I posted for helps. Maybe my threads at that time can give you some ideas.

Newb Questions: McDermott & Viking
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=50329&highlight=seyberts

Buying new cue for $120-200. Need advice.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=61961

Choose low-end Falcon or Joss or Pechauer?
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=62786

First, I purchased that McDermott. I was happy. Later I wanted to try something new and I bought that Joss. I was more happy with the weight of the McD so later when I decided to get a low-deflection shaft I put it on the McD.

obr said:
...
also, i've read that mcdermott cues have a "soft hit." could someone elaborate on this?

thanks
Click to expand...

It is hard to describe what stiff, solid, firm, soft, whippy, etc mean if you haven't tried enough cues. The McD original shaft gives an okay solid and firm hit. It's not as stiff as a Predator 314-2 or Z shaft, and not as soft as an OB-1.

By all means, all those descriptions are meaningless without you actually feel it. It's more important to get the weight right at this time. Shoot with some house cues. Find out what weight you want. If you are just starting to get serious about the game, picking a good quality basic cue like a McD can carry you a long way before you are allowed to whine about getting a better cue.


Edit: included reply to obr
 
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McDermott has a great warranty, and hit for the $$




drinkbeer.gif
 
According to the catalog I just got from ozonebilliards.com Viking now has a lifetime warrenty.

Just an FYI, I did a review in the cue review forum of one of the Players Specialty Series cues. It's way below your stated price range, $55, but a great cue none the less. It's my player for now until I decide what I want in a custom, then it's gonna be my break cue.

Just a thought.
 
McDermott and Free case

obr said:
hi,
i've been looking for a good starting cue and i see lots of options.
lower-end mcdermott
schmelke sneaky pete
something along these lines http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=74177

i'm having a hard time deciding and i was wondering where i could go to "test hit" some cues. my budget is around $150

also, i've read that mcdermott cues have a "soft hit." could someone elaborate on this?

thanks
Click to expand...

I will sell you my McDermott EF-19 Heritage retail $299 for $150, plus shipping, and seeing its your first cue I will throw in a FREE used Grey Action 2x2 case.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=85788 cue is here

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=85793 case here

Thanks Sean
 
I don`t know whats so important about he mcd warranty.I don`t buy a cue expecting there would be something wrong with it.About ferrule and tip issues i rather pay and have my cue done in a day or two.If you send it there you are cueless for at least a month probably.About the warpage warranty you don`t want to know how wapred it must be to have the shaft replaced...i`d rather burn it if got so warped
p.s. I play with mcd and it`s a great cue but don`t buy it because of a warranty.Good wood-wood joints--> great feeling.but...I had problems with ferrule, tip and the shaft is slightly wapred (it`s not annoying yet)
 
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