A lot of players have had the problem of buying a new cue and then having to re-learn how to shoot with the new cue because it is different. I’m talking cue weight, shaft mass (weight of shaft near tip – cue ball deflection), size of shaft at tip, shaft taper, brand of tip, hardness of tip, and shape of tip (nickel, dime, etc.).
I have solved this problem for myself. I was able to buy a new cue and not need to re-learn how to shoot with it because it plays *exactly* like my old cue.
I was having a problem going into bars with my “cue suitcase”, unpacking my cues, then no one wanting to play me because I had my own fancy cues. So I decided to get a sneaky pete.
I’ve been using an exact specification of cue. That is 19.5 oz, pro taper, 12.75mm shaft size at tip, Predator 314 shaft, and a Moori Q hard dime shaped tip which I keep dime shaped.
So I ordered a 19.5 oz sneaky pete with a 314 shaft. When I got it I cut off the tip and installed my Moori Q hard dime shaped tip. Also the cue I received was 19 oz. which I weighed on my accurate scale. I had the weight adjusted to 19.5 oz.
I’ve been playing with it for a few days and it plays exactly like my other cue!
So anyway this is the way to be able to buy a new cue and have it play the same. Have an exact specification for the cue you play with and then get the same when buying a new cue.
The only thing which is lacking so far as most cue makers go, is some sort of deflection measurement/rating. Some way of measuring the mass of the shaft at the tip end. I can get the same deflection because I’m using a 314 shaft which is made to an exact specification at the tip end. But other shafts could have denser or lighter wood at the tip end and this would change the cue ball deflection and in-turn aiming for shots using English.
It would be nice to be able to order a certain mass of shaft (certain amount of cue ball deflection) and be able to accurately measure this on conventional shafts. Then players who use a conventional shaft could get a new cue which plays exactly the same as their old cue.
Anyway I’m having fun with my sneaky pete. I take it in the bar in a small case, take it out and hide the case. Then it looks like I am playing with a house stick. I just need to watch it like a hawk to be sure no one picks it up and uses it for breaking. (BTW - I take my regular cues and case to tournaments.)
I have solved this problem for myself. I was able to buy a new cue and not need to re-learn how to shoot with it because it plays *exactly* like my old cue.
I was having a problem going into bars with my “cue suitcase”, unpacking my cues, then no one wanting to play me because I had my own fancy cues. So I decided to get a sneaky pete.
I’ve been using an exact specification of cue. That is 19.5 oz, pro taper, 12.75mm shaft size at tip, Predator 314 shaft, and a Moori Q hard dime shaped tip which I keep dime shaped.
So I ordered a 19.5 oz sneaky pete with a 314 shaft. When I got it I cut off the tip and installed my Moori Q hard dime shaped tip. Also the cue I received was 19 oz. which I weighed on my accurate scale. I had the weight adjusted to 19.5 oz.
I’ve been playing with it for a few days and it plays exactly like my other cue!
So anyway this is the way to be able to buy a new cue and have it play the same. Have an exact specification for the cue you play with and then get the same when buying a new cue.
The only thing which is lacking so far as most cue makers go, is some sort of deflection measurement/rating. Some way of measuring the mass of the shaft at the tip end. I can get the same deflection because I’m using a 314 shaft which is made to an exact specification at the tip end. But other shafts could have denser or lighter wood at the tip end and this would change the cue ball deflection and in-turn aiming for shots using English.
It would be nice to be able to order a certain mass of shaft (certain amount of cue ball deflection) and be able to accurately measure this on conventional shafts. Then players who use a conventional shaft could get a new cue which plays exactly the same as their old cue.
Anyway I’m having fun with my sneaky pete. I take it in the bar in a small case, take it out and hide the case. Then it looks like I am playing with a house stick. I just need to watch it like a hawk to be sure no one picks it up and uses it for breaking. (BTW - I take my regular cues and case to tournaments.)