New Cue Syndrome -- Real or Imagined

[lfigueroa]

I was talking to Gail tonight over dinner about playing with my newest cue and told her I was playing exceptionally well with it and with a high degree of overall consistency.

I tried to describe the hit, feel, and... confidence I got from playing with it. Then I told her about "New Cue Syndrome" and how all pool players were familiar with the experience of playing better (most often for just a short while) with a new cue and that it all might just be a case of Festinger's cognitive dissonance.

So what say you? All in yer head or sometimes maybe real?

Lou Figueroa

 

[Sheldon]

As a cuemaker, I have plenty of experience with this.
NCS is a thing, I've seen (and felt) it too many times!
That's not to say a new cue isn't a step up, and often is.
But I don't know anyone that is able to play substantially better consistently by switching cues.
They only get better by putting in time and effort on their game.
It's similar to switching from a snooker table to a bar box.
It seems super easy until the novelty wears off.

 

[Banger]

It's like getting a new tennis racket, or golf clubs. It's motivation, that makes you want to get out and play. And that is worth something....for a while. Then it wears off.

 

[Dan_B]

huh, without pictures hard to tell,
fellow named Earl has come to mind first.

 

[MTfish]

Good topic and for sure a thing with me. Usually when I pick up a new cue, I play really well with it. I've finally gotten to where I don't want to buy every new cue I try when that happens. That took a while, so I have a few around. One of the best slump busters for me is to just grab a different cue than what I've been playing with and put in a practice session with the different cue. About the time I start to feel kind of comfortable with it, I'll grab the cue I've been playing with and it will feel great, at least for a while. No promises I'm not buying anymore cues, though.

Edit: Pretty sure I got that trick from one of Jay Helfert's books. He has some good ones.

 

[couldnthinkof01]

I relate it more to the placebo effect.
New cue syndrome is real to me.

 

[Fore Rail]

I am having trouble associating Festinger’s Cognitive Dissonance with “New Cue Syndrome.”

Most new instruments of all sports play extremely well until you take them out of the shop.

I am only comfortable with a new cue if success comes while in some sort of competition.

 

[David in FL]

It's like getting a new tennis racket, or golf clubs. It's motivation, that makes you want to get out and play. And that is worth something....for a while. Then it wears off.

I've always said, there's nothing wrong with my golf game that can't be cured with my checkbook...

 

[straightline]

The new cue anchors your pool drive in the positive. You _want_ to use it and everything else just falls into place. This elite pooler state is a fragile one. It can slip away through boredom or opposition or or or...

Hint: applies to competition too...

 

[3kushn]

I was talking to Gail tonight over dinner about playing with my newest cue and told her I was playing exceptionally well with it and with a high degree of overall consistency.

I tried to describe the hit, feel, and... confidence I got from playing with it. Then I told her about "New Cue Syndrome" and how all pool players were familiar with the experience of playing better (most often for just a short while) with a new cue and that it all might just be a case of Festinger's cognitive dissonance.

So what say you? All in yer head or sometimes maybe real?

Lou Figueroa

I think much initially is in the head but time will tell.
I remember a cue I got to try for maybe 30 mins and loved it. So much that I commissioned a builder to make me one just like it.
Of course he couldn't make it perfectly the same, but he got close. But just not the same. That cue gave me chills.

TIME is the Judge.

Hope you found your Magic Wand. I have mine and stopped looking.

 

[jazznpool]

I’m playing with a new cue (Mike Bender) made to the specifications I had asked for. The cue plays somewhat more stiff than I’m used to but it’s not a squirty or high deflection cue. I’m pleasantly surprised this cue feels so agreeable with me. I don’t feel like I have a secret weapon but I do feel as though I have a great tool in my hands and I’m enjoying it enough that it’s going to be my player for now. I’m hoping it’s not the NCS mirage! Lol.

 

[Mensabum]

I was talking to Gail tonight over dinner about playing with my newest cue and told her I was playing exceptionally well with it and with a high degree of overall consistency.

I tried to describe the hit, feel, and... confidence I got from playing with it. Then I told her about "New Cue Syndrome" and how all pool players were familiar with the experience of playing better (most often for just a short while) with a new cue and that it all might just be a case of Festinger's cognitive dissonance.

So what say you? All in yer head or sometimes maybe real?

Lou Figueroa

Absolutely real. Applies to many things. Not just cues.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Real.

I think it’s a simple case of paying closer attention to the new toy. A testament to the importance of focus.

pj
chgo

 

[garczar]

I was talking to Gail tonight over dinner about playing with my newest cue and told her I was playing exceptionally well with it and with a high degree of overall consistency.

I tried to describe the hit, feel, and... confidence I got from playing with it. Then I told her about "New Cue Syndrome" and how all pool players were familiar with the experience of playing better (most often for just a short while) with a new cue and that it all might just be a case of Festinger's cognitive dissonance.

So what say you? All in yer head or sometimes maybe real?

Lou Figueroa

Oh its real. Same in golf, new putter syndrome. Its like being cinderella for while until the 'ol clock strikes twelve and you go back to playing like your real self.

 

[Kim Bye]

It's definently real, I see it all the time. I think the reason why can vary from beginners to experienced players, beginners are just exited over trying anything new and experienced players seems to get a boost in their playing, pool can be a grind sometimes and a new cue gets you exited to play again.

 

[garczar]

It's definently real, I see it all the time. I think the reason why can vary from beginners to experienced players, beginners are just exited over trying anything new and experienced players seems to get a boost in their playing, pool can be a grind sometimes and a new cue gets you exited to play again.

A few yrs ago they did a test with some women pro golfers and new putters. They all putted better to varying degrees but the effect soon wears off with most people. Its all psychological/confidence based.

 

[Sealegs50]

I tried to describe the hit, feel, and... confidence I got from playing with it.

I have owned one cue that I connected with in ways I cannot describe. I’ve owned it for 27 years and every time I play with it, it is like the “New Cue Syndrome”.

A few yrs ago they did a test with some women pro golfers and new putters. They all putted better to varying degrees but the effect soon wears off with most people. Its all psychological/confidence based.

I wasn’t looking for a cue 27 years ago. I was looking to buy a table. At the time, Mark Kulungian sold tables and cues. When I saw this cue he had for sale, I asked to try it and ended up buying both. I was pretty jazzed up about the cue. Mark tried to temper my enthusiasm and told me that it’s all psychological. I responded, “Yes, but when I’m playing with it, my psychology is really good.” He just laughed and walked away.

 

[garczar]

I have owned one cue that I connected with in ways I cannot describe. I’ve owned it for 27 years and every time I play with it, it is like the “New Cue Syndrome”.



I wasn’t looking for a cue 27 years ago. I was looking to buy a table. A the time, Mark Kalungian sold tables and cues. When I saw this cue he had for sale, I asked to try it and ended up buying both. I was pretty jazzed up about the cue. Mark tried to temper my enthusiasm and told me that it’s all psychological. I responded, “Yes, but when I’m playing with it, my psychology is really good.” He just laughed and walked away.

Longest i had one cue was about 5yrs. I just get bored and want new shit. Probably why i never never got hitched.

 

[George the Greek]

Longest i had one cue was about 5yrs. I just get bored and want new shit. Probably why i never never got hitched.

I've had the same playing and break cue for at least 35 years and both are straight as a die. They both work good enough for my talent and just had a new tip put on both and a ferrule on my break shaft. I got a new case for X-mas and retired the old one that was falling apart after 40+ years. The most important part for me is the right tip that does what I want it to do.

 

[kollegedave]

I was talking to Gail tonight over dinner about playing with my newest cue and told her I was playing exceptionally well with it and with a high degree of overall consistency.

I tried to describe the hit, feel, and... confidence I got from playing with it. Then I told her about "New Cue Syndrome" and how all pool players were familiar with the experience of playing better (most often for just a short while) with a new cue and that it all might just be a case of Festinger's cognitive dissonance.

So what say you? All in yer head or sometimes maybe real?

Lou Figueroa

I thought I saw an interview of Alex Pagulayan where he acknowledged this and explained that it's part of the reason he switches cues with some regularity.

Maybe set up a quarterly rotation and see what happens?

kollgedave