Need Advice on Bridge & "Shortie" Cue

[nolimits]

As some of you might remember, I recently bought a used table and got it setup. I've been playing on it for about a week or so, and one of the things I noticed is the room I put it in is just a foot or so too short on 2 sides. Hopefully this will be a short term problem as the current house is for sale, and the new house will have an upstairs game room more than big enough (20' x 35').

This really hasn't bothered me too much, as only shots right up against the rail are a pain. Consequently I've been playing better ball position. However, this past weekend was the first big gathering of other people to play, and we all found ourselves in need of a short cue from time to time. Also, a couple of times a bridge would have been a real life saver.

I'll be honest, I'm not looking to spend a fortune on either item, but feel they are necessities to improve overall game quality. Can anyone make a good recommendation? Also, any online shops you recommend?

 

[Walt in VA]

Check out the "Trouble Shooter" cues at www.billiardsexpress.com These come in various lengths from 24" ($27.50) to 48" ($36.50) and are weighted to give a full-cue feel. They also have a variety of detachable bridge heads that will slip on a break or house cue. I've always gotten good service from them.
HTH,
Walt in VA

 

[nolimits]

Thanks for the info. I will give them a call tomorrow in regards to the short cues. I did find out that a local poolhall sells some short cues pretty cheap ($10), but I'm assuming they are just chopped off and then a new rubber placed on the end. Price is good, but anyone played with one to verify the quality? Also, from that website, here is a bridge head I had considered getting:

http://www.billiardsexpress.com/BRIDGESspinelli.html

A few of the poolhalls also sell those locally. Just unsure of the quality. I rarely use bridges cause I don't like them, but the few times I have they have been brass. Still the guys at the poolhalls really push these plastic ones. Again, any thoughts on quality?

 

[Walt in VA]

A couple of my friends carry these Spinelli bridge heads in their case pockets and like them because they are light and provide good stability and lots of different heights. They seem pretty durable, although I did see one guy pull the tip off a house cue trying to remove it. For home use, you could just put it on an old stick and leave it.

While more expensive. the "Troubleshooter" shorties are weighted and balanced so they feel like a full cue, instead of a too-light cut down one. Depends on how much you'll have to use it, I guess.

Walt in VA

 

[pocoloco12003]

A couple of my friends carry these Spinelli bridge heads in their case pockets and like them because they are light and provide good stability and lots of different heights. They seem pretty durable, although I did see one guy pull the tip off a house cue trying to remove it. For home use, you could just put it on an old stick and leave it.

While more expensive. the "Troubleshooter" shorties are weighted and balanced so they feel like a full cue, instead of a too-light cut down one. Depends on how much you'll have to use it, I guess.

Walt in VA

I bought a couple of the russo bridge heads, begged a couple of broken up house cues out of a bar, they just toss these any way and I was in business with two of them for under ten bucks.

 

[jacko]

I bought a couple of the russo bridge heads, begged a couple of broken up house cues out of a bar, they just toss these any way and I was in business with two of them for under ten bucks.

I always carry a plastic bridge head in my pool case. there are a lot of bridges that use these metal heads, you can run your fingers thru the slots and feel the rough edges, they ding up your cue. When I see that, I grab a house cue and stuff my bridge head over the ferrule and make the shot, then put it back in my case. Rarely do you need it more than a couple of times a night any way.

 

[elanobeone]

I always carry a plastic bridge head in my pool case. there are a lot of bridges that use these metal heads, you can run your fingers thru the slots and feel the rough edges, they ding up your cue. When I see that, I grab a house cue and stuff my bridge head over the ferrule and make the shot, then put it back in my case. Rarely do you need it more than a couple of times a night any way.

We have a table in our basement and on a couple of corners space is too short. Rather than use short cues which never feel right or work well, we have a deal, we just shove the cue ball forward keeping the same line on the shot and use our regular cues. This does work.

 

[nolimits]

I always carry a plastic bridge head in my pool case. there are a lot of bridges that use these metal heads, you can run your fingers thru the slots and feel the rough edges, they ding up your cue. When I see that, I grab a house cue and stuff my bridge head over the ferrule and make the shot, then put it back in my case. Rarely do you need it more than a couple of times a night any way.

Yeah I know the rough edge you are referring to. I went to a local billiard shop and tested some out. Even the nice $20 brass one had the ridge. I too thought they might take their toll on the cue. But unfortunately they didn't have any plastic ones there for me to compare, just aluminum and brass.

For that reason, I am really leaning towards the "moose head" plastic head that I referred to earlier in this thread. As far as the bridge cue, I saw some cheap 2 piece cues at Academy Sports for $6.99 each. They weren't the best or straightest, but I think it would be fine to mount a bridge head on, and inexpensive as well. Unless I'm missing something obvious I don't see a need to dump alot of money in a bridge cue.

That just leaves the decision of the shortie cue. I'd kind of like to get the Troubleshooter cue since it's well balanced, but honestly I think the need for this cue will be temporary as I am selling my current house and building a new one with a much bigger game room that will accomodate my pool table (not the only reason I'm moving...hehe). For that reason, I thought about cheesing and going for a cheaper cue that Sterling makes. I'm sure it's not as precise as the Troubleshooter, but it comes from the factory at 42", so I'm assuming more pre-throught went into the design vs. the one I was gonna buy from the poolhall that I know was simply cut off to that length. What do ya'll think? Here is a link to the shortie cue:

http://www.cuesight.com/st1p42.html

Thanks!!