My pool cue just disappeared!

[DRW]

Back in 1980 I had an article published in Billiards Digest about pool cues. We had interviewed players at the 1980 Rocky Mountain 9-Ball Open about their cues, how they maintained them, and their preferences regarding weight and shaft size. At the end of that article I offered the opinion that the “best” cue, for any given player, was a cue that “disappeared” during play. What I meant by that was that if a cue drew attention to itself in some way during play, it was interfering with the player’s focus on the shot and the game at hand. A good cue for you is a cue that does NOT draw attention to itself and just disappears from your mind during play.

Now, 30 years later, I am even more convinced of the validity of that opinion and offer it up, here on the AZ forum, as possibly helpful to some player out there who is considering purchasing a new cue or changing cues.

Consider cue weight for a moment. If a cue is feeling heavy to you, especially if you find that you notice its heaviness during play, the cue is simply too heavy for you and your game. Obviously the same logic can be applied if the cue feels too light. If your linen wrap has a frayed strand that you notice now and then during play, bothering you, you’ve got to get it fixed, right?

I like thicker shafts, but some of my pool playing friends, when they try a shot with one of my cues, tell me that they could never shoot with a shaft that thick. Sometimes it’s because their fingers are short or stubby, but sometimes it’s just that they are used to a thin shaft. For sure, if your shaft feels too thick, it’s too thick for you. Same for too thin.

Some players are really conscious of the balance point of a cue and some aren’t. I myself am pretty much indifference to balance point unless the cue is super butt-heavy. If you find yourself noticing that a cue is butt-heavy, you simply need a more forward balanced stick.

There have been a ton of posts about tips and it’s clearly very subjective when it comes to tip preference. But it is clear to me that if you keep thinking to yourself, “Man, this is really a HARD tip,” (feel free to substitute “SOFT” here) then you need a tip change.

I could go on a bit and talk about ferrules, joints, etc., but you get the idea. I believe the best cue for you is a cue that you can play with for several hours without ever thinking about the cue. In other words, the best cue, for you, is a cue that just disappears from your conscious mind during play.

Of course, you understand that all this is just In My Humble Opinion.

Don't know how I missed this the first time around, but I agree completely. Just becomes part of your body.:thumbup:

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

The Black Dot shaft gets in my way of focusing. I know the dot is supposed to be facing up, so I get down on my shot and I have to flip the cue before I shoot. And ya know, I doubt it matters which way the dot is facing in reality but I have to do it. Its become so common place now that most of the time it doesn't bother me but sometimes its a pain. When I'm shooting with another cue, I sometimes spin the cue until I remember that it doesn't have a dot on it. So, for that alone, the cue does get in my way at times.

 

[JoeyA]

I've never once thought about the looks of my cue, once I've started playing and just have never considered looks as something to be pre-occupied with after the game begins.

I understand your perspective, but while my cue is exceptional looking, the looks or design have never entered my mind while playing.

If your cue's looks are entering your mind while you are competing, you need to focus more on what you should be doing.

 

[JimS]

Great post Bill. I have felt the same for many years. I decided to retire my old cue years ago, its a classic. It fit me well then. I quit playing for years and when I started again I made changes based on what I know works for me.

My current cue (almost 20 years old) fit well, shaft size, taper, weight etc. The wrap was to slick so I changed it to leather. The texture is right or not. The weight was a tad heavy. I made it lighter and played with it for a couple of weeks. Each time I played I evaluated the weight. Some days it felt ok but most times it still felt heavy. I lightened it again and played another two weeks. Then some days it felt a little light, some days a little heavy but most days just right. I knew I had the weight correct.

After some trial and error on tips I went back to my old fave. Now I compress those tips the same height. When I change tips it is a minor change so they feel the same.

I think your post is right on. Every player (especially the ones looking for the magic arrow) should evaluate their cue and know what they like and don't like. It sure beats randomly searching for the golden egg. Then when they buy a new cue, custom made they can order the disappearing cue. Nothing wrong with changing your current cue either, save some money.

I wrote a post about this same thing a short while back but I never used you concept. My concept was know the specs you like. The other thread disappeared and this one has few views. I suspect their over in the for sale section looking at pretty veneers. You can lead a horse to water but ---:grin:

Rod

It does take time at the table to determine what you like. I started playing seriously in 1999 and have tried lots of different combinations of weight, length, butt and shaft thickness, tip hardness and so forth.

I've finally come to find that I prefer a cue with a thin wrapless butt, 59" to 60" long, that weighs between 16 & 16.5 oz with the heaviest acceptable being right at 17.5 oz, with phenolic joint, a thin shaft.. 12 mm or slightly less, with a hard to very hard tip.

When I'm equipped thusly I don't think about the cue.

Thanks Bill for this thread. I really like the idea that the cue disappears.

I have a Starkey purpleheart butt no ferrule cue that is perfect... except that the butt is a bit thick. We gotta work on that... we almost got it right. :groucho:

 

[cuesmith]

Back in 1980 I had an article published in Billiards Digest about pool cues. We had interviewed players at the 1980 Rocky Mountain 9-Ball Open about their cues, how they maintained them, and their preferences regarding weight and shaft size. At the end of that article I offered the opinion that the “best” cue, for any given player, was a cue that “disappeared” during play. What I meant by that was that if a cue drew attention to itself in some way during play, it was interfering with the player’s focus on the shot and the game at hand. A good cue for you is a cue that does NOT draw attention to itself and just disappears from your mind during play.

Now, 30 years later, I am even more convinced of the validity of that opinion and offer it up, here on the AZ forum, as possibly helpful to some player out there who is considering purchasing a new cue or changing cues.

Consider cue weight for a moment. If a cue is feeling heavy to you, especially if you find that you notice its heaviness during play, the cue is simply too heavy for you and your game. Obviously the same logic can be applied if the cue feels too light. If your linen wrap has a frayed strand that you notice now and then during play, bothering you, you’ve got to get it fixed, right?

I like thicker shafts, but some of my pool playing friends, when they try a shot with one of my cues, tell me that they could never shoot with a shaft that thick. Sometimes it’s because their fingers are short or stubby, but sometimes it’s just that they are used to a thin shaft. For sure, if your shaft feels too thick, it’s too thick for you. Same for too thin.

Some players are really conscious of the balance point of a cue and some aren’t. I myself am pretty much indifference to balance point unless the cue is super butt-heavy. If you find yourself noticing that a cue is butt-heavy, you simply need a more forward balanced stick.

There have been a ton of posts about tips and it’s clearly very subjective when it comes to tip preference. But it is clear to me that if you keep thinking to yourself, “Man, this is really a HARD tip,” (feel free to substitute “SOFT” here) then you need a tip change.

I could go on a bit and talk about ferrules, joints, etc., but you get the idea. I believe the best cue for you is a cue that you can play with for several hours without ever thinking about the cue. In other words, the best cue, for you, is a cue that just disappears from your conscious mind during play.

Of course, you understand that all this is just In My Humble Opinion.

You nailed it right on the head Bill! Good post! And I'm glad your cue wasn't stolen like I first thought from the thread title!