Minimal price for the best cue possible?

I have yet to see anybody here that can out play SVB. He seems to do OK with a Cuetec & R360 shaft. Since Seyberts will sell you a base model R360 for $176. I would think that's the answer.

Now the custom cue snobs will say, "yeah, but they pay him". And I would say, yeah, so? Do you feel chumped because you paid $5,000 for a (insert custom name) and still can't run five?
 
Buzzard II said:
I have yet to see anybody here that can out play SVB. He seems to do OK with a Cuetec & R360 shaft. Since Seyberts will sell you a base model R360 for $176. I would think that's the answer.

Now the custom cue snobs will say, "yeah, but they pay him". And I would say, yeah, so? Do you feel chumped because you paid $5,000 for a (insert custom name) and still can't run five?
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that's funny. and true.
 
buzzard ii said:
i have yet to see anybody here that can out play svb. He seems to do ok with a cuetec & r360 shaft. Since seyberts will sell you a base model r360 for $176. I would think that's the answer.

Now the custom cue snobs will say, "yeah, but they pay him". And i would say, yeah, so? Do you feel chumped because you paid $5,000 for a (insert custom name) and still can't run five?
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it's a secret, but i'll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone else.

There is super classified technology in svb's cue.
 
Buzzard II said:
Now the custom cue snobs will say, "yeah, but they pay him". And I would say, yeah, so? Do you feel chumped because you paid $5,000 for a (insert custom name) and still can't run five?
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Custom queue snobs? Do I detect resentment and hostility in your language? People buy what they want, and whether they run 1 or 5 or more has nothing to do with svb or cuetec. Guess we should all just sell our cues or burn them and only play with whomever's brand of cue that is currently winning the most?
 
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$300 including case!

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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This cue seems to meet all of your specifications for $300

http://www.skymall.com/linear-q-pool-cue-with-case/28436GRP.html


I haven't seen all cue joints but the best joint design I have seen was on a cue for under twenty dollars. As others have pointed out and the above link illustrates, most sophisticated, highest quality, all available production tech, are likely to be mutually exclusive. The best custom cues don't use all available production tech. Most sophisticated is certainly open to debate from almost all sides. Spun aluminum cues are mighty sophisticated and the best materials probably aren't wood.

A solidly constructed butt, a well designed and constructed joint, and either a solid maple or spliced shaft will not be any impediment to anyone's game as long as weight and balance suit the player. I gambled with a cue at least a half dozen times with at least six inches of warp in the shaft. Few suspected it was one of the best playing cues in the house!

A perfectly playable factory cue can be had for under $100. Many excellent custom cues are out there for under $500 I believe, have to sort through the up and comers. $850 to $1500 will buy all that the best can put in a cue to aid playability. Some only sell higher priced cues simply because often eighty percent of the work goes into basic cue and playability. It doesn't make much sense to not embellish adding maybe 20% more time and doubling or tripling the price if a builder has a market for their high end cues.

Hu
 
The best cues are usually made by guys with tracphones in a shed behind their house, because Nike, Callaway and Ping aren't in the business. It's pretty hilarious that guys spend thousands on cues when golfers can buy pretty much the best high tech driver in the world for a few hundred bucks at most.
 
Lucasi Hybrid

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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http://www.ozonebilliards.com/lucas...&CAGPSPN=pla&gclid=CLiZpo34_cICFVIV7AodoRQAiQ

Here is a great option for $340...LD Shaft with dampening and Kamui Tip...comes in white or black..Hohmann uses this cue and shaft. Uni-Lock Joint and very solid hit. Don't think you can find a better brand new cue and shaft for under $350. The shaft is very tapered. Here is an accurate description below:



The Lucasi Hybrid Cues - LHT88 was designed specially for Lucasi Hybrid Professional and Two-time World Champion Thorsten Hohmann. This cue was engineered to deliver game changing power, performance, and accuracy. Included with this cue is a revolutionary

Zero Flexpoint shaft designed with Total Sweet Spot Construction. This combination naturally increasing the sweet spot of the shaft allowing players to get a better, more solid feeling hit with more control no matter how bad the angle on the cue ball may be. Pair this with a state of the art Lucasi G5 Sport Wrap and you have a cue that will make a big difference in your game.

The Lucasi Hybrid Cues - LHT88 also features:

Mystic Black Forearm and Etched Stainless Steel Joint and Butt Cap

11.75mm 29" Hard Rock Maple Shaft with Total Sweet Spot Construction and Pro Taper

Kamui Brown Tip


Black Fusion G5 Sport Wrap

Uni-Loc Joint

Zero Flexpoint Ferrule

X-Shox Dampening System
 
I would venture to say that the cue best suited to your needs must be firm enough for the RAM shot.
 
I dont think SVBs cue is anything all that special maybe hes just a BEAST. He and Darren Appleton had an interview with TAR. SVB said right in the interview that reason he plays with that cuetec is because his life long best friend gave it to him when he was shooting like shiit in 2013 9 ball us open. After he started using it he went off and eventually won the whole thing!! Heres the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4y196iqUUs

If you watch the whole podcast he tells you what tip he uses. You can actually see how beat up the cue is!!!
 
the cue business is a racket. The benefits of a >300 buck cue will do no good for a D or C player. A 2 piece retail cue <100 with a medium hard tip will do just fine. Or even a 1 piece. My first cue was $25 out of Amazon 20oz. Which I cut the bolt in butt in half to make 18oz. If one can get to a B player then ya may want an expensive cue. Only a B and up player would recognize any difference and there is some. Spend the extra money filming your playing habits. I'm not knocking Companies just presenting some sober facts. If ya can afford $800 by all means do it. Like the old saying a Ford Pinto will get ya to the same place a Caddy will.
 
You don't really need all the newest tech to have a top playing cue, just like you don't need 4 wheel steering and a rain sensor windshield or a 4 foot long sunroof to have a great driving car.

Also the answer will vary greatly but probably the most common denominator would be a cue with the shaft you like without inlays or rings. Plain Jane, Sneaky Pete cues. You may get a great cue for $200 without a wrap but if you just can't play without one you may pay $50 more for a wrap which is technically more than what you could pay, but it's not more than what you WOULD pay.

Probably the least cost for a playable cue that a "player" would call playable, with a usable tip and shaft made out of reasonable wood and straightness would be about $50 for a McDermott Star line or something similar from Action and such makers. That would get you something that you could use without having it feel like you are playing with a 2x4 or with a steel rod and have a good enough tip for spin and some feedback.

However for what I like in a cue and shaft for it to be playable for ME, I'd likely need to spend $170 or so for a Players HXT cue with a linen wrap.
 
It is no wonder pool halls are empty. Folks would spent more than $500 for set of Golf Clubs but a cue stick? P.T. Barnum said it best.
 
I don't think you can really go wrong with a McDermott.

I haven't bought a new McDermott in a long time, but I own two of them. A C-14 from the 1980 catalog that I bought new and THE RS-11 that won the Million Dollar Challenge tournament in 1996. Both of them play damn good and I don't ever remember picking up a McDermott that really hit bad, but I have never tried the cheaper ones made in China.

Also, I've had my C-14 totally refinished by McDermott and it looks brand new and their customer service is better than most from what I've seen or heard about.
 
PoolBoy1 said:
the cue business is a racket. The benefits of a >300 buck cue will do no good for a D or C player. A 2 piece retail cue <100 with a medium hard tip will do just fine. Or even a 1 piece. My first cue was $25 out of Amazon 20oz. Which I cut the bolt in butt in half to make 18oz. If one can get to a B player then ya may want an expensive cue. Only a B and up player would recognize any difference and there is some. Spend the extra money filming your playing habits. I'm not knocking Companies just presenting some sober facts. If ya can afford $800 by all means do it. Like the old saying a Ford Pinto will get ya to the same place a Caddy will.
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I live by a different saying, "you only live once, try not to get old and have regrets". A Pinto would bring me nothing but regrets.
 
Thomas McKane said:
I live by a different saying, "you only live once, try not to get old and have regrets". A Pinto would bring me nothing but regrets.
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My "Pinto" has won enough money to buy several Corvettes. I wouldn't jump into a Corvette and try to go full speed before I learned how to drive the Pinto. I could trade the Pinto in a few years later if my speed came up a bit.
 
Baron said:
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.
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I was going to respond but would have said basically what Baron said ... some pretty spot on advice IMHO. Then he cracked me up with what is some refreshing candor. I would also say to Baron ... you are far from alone in the vanity department.
 
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.
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Look, what you're looking for is a custom cue. There's plenty of quality builders that can meet your needs.

What I'd look for first of all is someone whose been in the business for over 20 years or has wood of that age or close.

Then you need to know exactly what you want. Length, diameters, tapers, joint, ferrule, ................. Even then there's a gamble.

To minimize the gamble is select cues already made and try them out.

A bare bones cue, meaning no nonsense stuff, exceptional playing cue is minimum $1K and that's if you have a relationship with the builder. If not a relationship then expect double or more.

My cue is all BH full splice butterfly and sharp points (also kind of a personal joke) none of which can be seen from 5 feet away. All wood is over 20 yrs old. The builder couldn't help himself and put some inlays in it. That was on him and he's a good friend. $1K for that one, which I gladly paid. He'd probably try to get 2-4 for that one. He's retired since then. No more cues from this guy. There's plenty more in the business though.
 
I own several basic cues from well known respected cuemakers that were significantly below $1,000.

These are cuemakers who regularly produce custom cues in the thousands of dollars.
 
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I support custom cue makers as much as possible, they are artisans and the world would be a much worse off place if they all quit and we had to buy corporate produced cues only. Just like I support local pool halls wherever I go, I want them to survive and that's getting tougher every year.
 
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