Minimal price for the best cue possible?

Push&Pool

Push&Pool

Professional Banger
Silver Member
How much do you have to pay for the most sophisticated cue of highest quality, and with all available production tech, best materials etc., but without extra accessories, artwork and stuff which would greatily increase the price but wouldn't affect the stroke. I'm talking about the best cue in existence, but only by actual playing characteristics, not by beauty or artwork.
 
Call Schmelke, and get a no frills full splice sneaky with a G10 3/8x10 pin. Should cost less than $100. Add a low deflection shaft of your choice ($150 used/$250 new). So you'd be in at around $250 to $350.

For the higher price, you might as well buy an OB sneaky.
For the lesser price (with a used shaft) you would have a player. It won't be a "monster," by some AzB members' standards, but a player for sure.
 
Push&Pool said:
How much do you have to pay for the most sophisticated cue of highest quality, and with all available production tech, best materials etc., but without extra accessories, artwork and stuff which would greatily increase the price but wouldn't affect the stroke. I'm talking about the best cue in existence, but only by actual playing characteristics, not by beauty or artwork.
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Very subjective question, opinions will differ depending on cue playing style.

I'm always impressed with Schon's whenever I shoot with one that a friend owns. The Kikel Purple Heart on the for sell forums would be my first choice however, it's cheap for a Kikel and my Kikel hits better than anything I've shot with.

Some Schon's
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=375960&highlight=Schon

Kikel
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=370850&highlight=Kikel
 
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Push&Pool said:
How much do you have to pay for the most sophisticated cue of highest quality, and with all available production tech, best materials etc., but without extra accessories, artwork and stuff which would greatily increase the price but wouldn't affect the stroke. I'm talking about the best cue in existence, but only by actual playing characteristics, not by beauty or artwork.
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1st i want to make a disclaimer that i am a believer in the saying...its the indian , not the arrow.

having said that ....i have purchased about 3 dozen cues over the last 10 years . they have ranged in price from 40.00 to 3,000.00.

the cue that i have played my best with happens to be a premier sneaky pete that i paid 40.00 for brand new.

having never been to the apa nationals and never shipped cues on a plane i was reluctant to take any of my better cues. i took that 40.00 cue and played the best i have ever played in my life.

i recently sold my 3,000.00 cue to buy a truck.
 
Push&Pool said:
How much do you have to pay for the most sophisticated cue of highest quality, and with all available production tech, best materials etc., but without extra accessories, artwork and stuff which would greatily increase the price but wouldn't affect the stroke. I'm talking about the best cue in existence, but only by actual playing characteristics, not by beauty or artwork.
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RFisher here on AZ has some nice butterfly sneaky cues at a good price. As well as some plain Jane cues. I just recieved my cues from him today but will not be able to shoot with them till tomorrow or Wednesday.
 
Last two posters seem to be answering what's the cheapest cue they would want or play well with but are missing this:

" most sophisticated cue of highest quality, and with all available production tech"

To me that means we're talking a cue with some tech built in, such as the best LD shafts in the business. At that point I'm looking at Jacoby Hybrid Edge, OB Plus, and Predators (I believe all are great, comes down to preference) and I think the OB sneaky gets you a useable cue with one of those shafts for the cheapest overall package.

If I misunderstood the OP and we're not necessarily talking LD, then yeah...you can find a great playing simple sneaky cue for tons cheaper, but I don't think that fits the requirements laid out in the original question, at least as I understood them.
 
Best Cue

Push&Pool said:
How much do you have to pay for the most sophisticated cue of highest quality, and with all available production tech, best materials etc., but without extra accessories, artwork and stuff which would greatily increase the price but wouldn't affect the stroke. I'm talking about the best cue in existence, but only by actual playing characteristics, not by beauty or artwork.
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go see http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=367548&highlight=ceebee Estimated cost $1200

Guido Orlandi makes the the finest hitting cue, that money can buy, his new joint is for a player's cue. Ask, Scott Frost, Harry Platis, Glenn Atwell or Dick Abbott & many others.

I have 3 or 4 very nice cues that cost 1200 to $2000.... they stay at home. Guido's cue goes with me to the Pool Room.
 
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slide13 said:
Last two posters seem to be answering what's the cheapest cue they would want or play well with but are missing this:

" most sophisticated cue of highest quality, and with all available production tech"

To me that means we're talking a cue with some tech built in, such as the best LD shafts in the business. At that point I'm looking at Jacoby Hybrid Edge, OB Plus, and Predators (I believe all are great, comes down to preference) and I think the OB sneaky gets you a useable cue with one of those shafts for the cheapest overall package.

If I misunderstood the OP and we're not necessarily talking LD, then yeah...you can find a great playing simple sneaky cue for tons cheaper, but I don't think that fits the requirements laid out in the original question, at least as I understood them.
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I've shot with several LD shafts, Jacoby's, predators, lucasi, and while I didn't hate them, I didn't shoot my best either. I prefer a softer hit with fine spin control. I agree with you, his question seems to imply technology quality so you have a good list.
 
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slide13 said:
Last two posters seem to be answering what's the cheapest cue they would want or play well with but are missing this:

" most sophisticated cue of highest quality, and with all available production tech"

To me that means we're talking a cue with some tech built in, such as the best LD shafts in the business. At that point I'm looking at Jacoby Hybrid Edge, OB Plus, and Predators (I believe all are great, comes down to preference) and I think the OB sneaky gets you a useable cue with one of those shafts for the cheapest overall package.

If I misunderstood the OP and we're not necessarily talking LD, then yeah...you can find a great playing simple sneaky cue for tons cheaper, but I don't think that fits the requirements laid out in the original question, at least as I understood them.
Click to expand...

I like all the answers I received so far, bit I was indeed referring to best possible performance and technology currently in existence. I didn't ask which cues are good but cheap, I asked which cue is absolutely the best, performance-wise, and how much it would cost.

But I'm still talking about cues where you pay entirely for quality, without spending additional thousands on looks and expensive but otherwise useless materials, like those 6000-7000$ cues, or the Intimidator for example.
 
push&pool said:
how much do you have to pay for the most sophisticated cue of highest quality, and with all available production tech, best materials etc., but without extra accessories, artwork and stuff which would greatily increase the price but wouldn't affect the stroke. I'm talking about the best cue in existence, but only by actual playing characteristics, not by beauty or artwork.
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check walmart

slim
 
Push&Pool said:
I like all the answers I received so far, bit I was indeed referring to best possible performance and technology currently in existence. I didn't ask which cues are good but cheap, I asked which cue is absolutely the best, performance-wise, and how much it would cost.

But I'm still talking about cues where you pay entirely for quality, without spending additional thousands on looks and expensive but otherwise useless materials, like those 6000-7000$ cues, or the Intimidator for example.
Click to expand...

You have to be specific when you say best technology. There just is not a lot of cutting edge technology in a pool cue. The first thing to do is test hit as many cues as you can to find out what you like and what you do not like. As far as LD technology that kinda depends on what you are used to. If you have been playing with a regular maple shaft you will have a pretty big adjustment period to go through if you plan to use an LD shaft. LD is not necessarily better than Maple, just different. If you are used to a non LD Maple shaft there may be no reason to change to an LD. I have been a big fan of one cue builder, when I finally bought one of his cues I was rather disappointed with the hit. I picked an old D series McDermott because I liked the way it looked, the cue hits so nice that it is now my favorite cue and main player. I have another D series McDermott that I like just fine but these 2 cues hit night a day different than each other, sometimes different species of wood will affect the way a cue hits and feels. Best thing for you to do is establish what you like and do not like about certain cues before you start shopping. If you are looking for a hi-tech cue to help you play better, let me know if you find it, as it does not exist as of yet.
 
I get that the OP is trying to eliminate the subjective nature of hit quality in this discussion and to focus on the technology aspect of cue building. I think that this question comes down to four major players:

1) The unique design of OB's laminated shafts definitely deserve mention, simplest new models can be had in the $340 range.

2) The pie-shaped lamination Predator shaft technology is loved by some.... Predator brand cues seem to start around $400-ish.

3) The cored out McDermott shafts (G-Core, i2 or i3) which can be put on a plain cue butt. G-core McD can be had for around $200 new, which I think is a bargain.

4) Most "technology" in the entire cue? That would probably have to go to Meucci, pairing up a laminated LD shaft + power piston butt. Lowest priced ones I see are around $300. But, do those play worth a damn? And I hear their QC has been questionable the last decade or so, so it's hard to say whether they meet the "quality" requirement of this question.

IMHO, the real question that is lurking in a dark cloud above this is.... "Do these technologies really make a difference?"

I live by the mantra that the "best" cue is the one you have with you. ;)
 
Push&Pool said:
I like all the answers I received so far, bit I was indeed referring to best possible performance and technology currently in existence. I didn't ask which cues are good but cheap, I asked which cue is absolutely the best, performance-wise, and how much it would cost.

But I'm still talking about cues where you pay entirely for quality, without spending additional thousands on looks and expensive but otherwise useless materials, like those 6000-7000$ cues, or the Intimidator for example.
Click to expand...

I just told you where to buy the latest technology & greatest performance for $1200.00. You won't find a better playing cue, but you might find one that is a bit more embellished.

Dick Abbott is a connoisseur of cues & he is very impressed with Guido's new cues , give him a call at 540-772-7827, 540-772-7827 or email him at dick@billiardcue.com

You won't be disappointed. His cues are guaranteed to please & play better...
 
Seems to be the case that as mentioned above, there are two answers: one for if you want LD technology and one if you don't. For the LD folks, I'd agree with everyone above saying just get an OB sneaky or well-made plain cue from Pechauer or Joss for less than 300 and add an LD shaft to it.

For non-LD, as I prefer, you could get a custom sneaky to your exact specs for probably 300-500 from any number of very skilled builders (Diviney, Sly, Frey, etc.) with some kind of hard wood (rosewood, cocobolo, bocote, purpleheart, etc.) into maple and a hard rock solid maple shaft. That's about as good as it gets and as much as anyone needs in my opinion.

With all that said, I play with a much more expensive cue for no other reason than being a vain jackass.
 
Thank you all. I'm not actually planning to buy a cue like that, but I wanted to know which models would currently be considered "the best" regarding overall performance, and how much would they cost. I wouldn't change my own cue for anything, at least for now. However, I guess other people who stumble upon this thread will find at least some of the information useful.
 
But the cues from walmart are made of titanium.
You can't get any more techniclogicaly advanced than that.

$29.95

slim
 
You have to be specific when you say best technology. There just is not a lot of cutting edge technology in a pool cue. The first thing to do is test hit as many cues as you can to find out what you like and what you do not like. As far as LD technology that kinda depends on what you are used to. If you have been playing with a regular maple shaft you will have a pretty big adjustment period to go through if you plan to use an LD shaft. LD is not necessarily better than Maple, just different. If you are used to a non LD Maple shaft there may be no reason to change to an LD. I have been a big fan of one cue builder, when I finally bought one of his cues I was rather disappointed with the hit. I picked an old D series McDermott because I liked the way it looked, the cue hits so nice that it is now my favorite cue and main player. I have another D series McDermott that I like just fine but these 2 cues hit night a day different than each other, sometimes different species of wood will affect the way a cue hits and feels. Best thing for you to do is establish what you like and do not like about certain cues before you start shopping. If you are looking for a hi-tech cue to help you pocket balls more effectively, let me know if you find it, as it does not exist as of yet.
 
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