New player, cue advice needed

D

ddawg

New member
Started with my first league with a friend and I’m now hooked but I was borrowing his Dufferin 19oz and I need something of my own now. I like the weight, tried a Lucasi 19oz Rival series LHRV and I liked the rubberized grip but it has a more slender low deflection tip which I’m unsure about. Wondering if there are other starter cue recommendations and if the rubber grip will hold up over time compared to no grip or linen wrap etc. budget limit around 1K but would like to leave some room to get a break cue as well.

Thanks,
D
 
1K is quite a budget so u have a lot of room to play with. Check out used stuff on Ebay or Kijiji (trusted sellers only obv). You can get some nice cues fairly cheap. I got a basically new Lucasi Cocobolo with leather wrap for like 220. Weightbolts for weight/balance adjustments included. Plenty of deals out there. And there is no chance any Dufferin plays as nice as that Lucasi.

Until you are a serious player and really know what you want, you're fine breaking with a cue off the wall. It's not like you really need all that extra edge on the break if you aren't running out a whole lot anyway. Time for that will come. Just get yourself a quality cue. Go more tech than style. Don't shy away from the lower deflection stuff like that Lucasi you mentioned...most stuff is heading that direction and these types of cues give you less to adjust for when you start regularly playing with spin.

I have no complaints about my Lucasi (even tho it just sits unused mostly now). It's a real nice hitting cue. I just happen to have other options I prefer. Players are decent starter cues, but if you really are hooked and have a 1k budget, just get something a tier up like a Lucasi, or used top level cue. That would be my route.
 
For a great cue that you may not ever upgrade from,
Pechauer P04-M plus upgraded low deflection shaft, pro joint P+ 12.75mm
Cue $414, shaft upgrade $110
$514 all in, about half your budget, for a fantastic cue. Prices are from Seyberts.
Personally I would stay away from a rubber grip as if you were to go that route, you would soon be looking for another cue once your skill improved and had more time to try others cues.
 
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Forget the break cue -- just a luxury you can get later. Beg, borrow and steal $200 to $400 more and buy a "real" cue like a Cognoscenti Plain Jane. Other possibilities would be a Schon or a mid level Joss. (Others will surely add their preferences.) $1000 is a lot of money to spend on a first cue, and it would be a shame if you did not get real value for your money. Do not get in a hurry, and, while you wait, try out every cue you can.

The thing that I look for in a cue is that it "feels right" in my hands or "fits" me -- many intangibles enter into it, but I know it when its in my hands -- unmistakable recognition. Such a cue instills confidence, and confidence is an essential element in this game.

Good luck. And have fun.
 
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ddawg, Howdy;

The Grass will ALWAYS appear a more vibrant color then the one you will end up with.
Try out as many as you can wait a year, things change (I hate change), so will your thoughts
about what you want/need/require. This applies to most things in life;

hank
 
One other thing I forgot to mention. If given a weight option when buying, more than likely it's the same cue, just with a different weight bolt.
While in your limited time you have tried a 19 oz cue and like it, you might actually be better off when buying one to get it at 19 1/4 oz, or 19 1/2 oz, and try it slightly heavier first. You can always cut the weight bolt back an 1/8 to 1/4 oz at a time to fine tune what is best for you.
You can't add weight later without buying a new bolt.
 
Your first cue::

a) will get banged around and dented, scraped, chipped, and such. There is no way to explain to anyone how to respect the cue so that these thing don't happen before they themselves see it happen in front of their own eyes watching the 1st cue suffer. Thus, don't spend a lot on your first cue.

b) Buy a cue your eye likes and your shooting hand likes. Don't worry about the shaft, ferule, tip, joint, or but--all of these can be changed. buy what you like.

c) play with chosen cue for several years.

d) when it comes time to buy your second cue, you will not need advice from anyone.
 
Schmelke sneaky pete, Players sneaky, Elite and action also makes a good sneaky. Even the new Cuetec Avid is a great choice. I had the opportunity to shoot with one yesterday (Avid). Guy in poolroom had one. Very well balanced, excellent hit and the shaft was silky smooth. I was impressed.
 
Personally I dislike weight bolts as they screw up the balance of the cue, played with a 19 oz cue for several years, tried a new cue that is 19oz too, the balance was screwed up, I removed the 1 oz weight bolt and it felt better.

You can get a low deflection shaft from say Predator and get a Schmelke butt. This would save you $$$ for a nice case or even a cheap break cue if you wish
 
I'd go with a Mezz or Schon. The Koda heavy break cue breaks well also for the cost.
 
Biloxi Boy said:
Forget the break cue -- just a luxury you can get later. Beg, borrow and steal $200 to $400 more and buy a "real" cue like a Cognoscenti Plain Jane. Other possibilities would be a Schon or a mid level Joss. (Others will surely add their preferences.) $1000 is a lot of money to spend on a first cue, and it would be a shame if you did not get real value for your money. Do not get in a hurry, and, while you wait, try out every cue you can.

The thing that I look for in a cue is that it "feels right" in my hands or "fits" me -- many intangibles enter into it, but I know it when its in my hands -- unmistakable recognition. Such a cue instills confidence, and confidence is an essential element in this game.

Good luck. And have fun.
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I see the temptation here, but I don’t think it is the right approach. He may end up at the point where he wants an expensive cue. But if he likes playing leagues and ends up playing tournaments I believe he should start thinking of a system. Playing cue, break cue, jump cue, extension, and a case to haul it around in. So that may be the cost, not the cost of the cue to start. I personally would not feel great about a cognoscenti in some bars. And given a choice a Players sneaky and lessons and practice is a better idea. But to play leagues or tournaments down the line, you are at a disadvantage without a break cue and jump cue. Maybe not the first thing you should buy, but I’d rather have a player with two shafts, a breakcue, and a jump cue that I could afford to replace than one custom I don’t want to take to a bar. Some of that is just personal preference. But I think the cuetec Avid plays better than some much more expensive stuff I have had.
 
Every player should get to own and enjoy one custom cue during their lifetime.
Well, my vote is the sooner the better. My 2nd choice is….Better late than never.

Don’t knock it until you’ve done it but make sure the cue maker is very talented.
It doesn’t have to be a fancy design and instead, just built the way you want it.
 
ddawg said:
Started with my first league with a friend and I’m now hooked but I was borrowing his Dufferin 19oz and I need something of my own now. I like the weight, tried a Lucasi 19oz Rival series LHRV and I liked the rubberized grip but it has a more slender low deflection tip which I’m unsure about. Wondering if there are other starter cue recommendations and if the rubber grip will hold up over time compared to no grip or linen wrap etc. budget limit around 1K but would like to leave some room to get a break cue as well.

Thanks,
D
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PM sent.
 
To OP, my advice is take your time and select the cue you're 100% satisfied. If not you're gonna go thru 2 or 3 cues in the next year or so until you settle on the one you really love and want to keep.

Now, thats a fun journey in itself as long as youre buying stuff that has decent resale value, and your second favorite cue in that selection process can become your break cue.

I would suggest any wrap other than rubber, or no wrap. Rubber feels nice but ages terribly, no wraps are pretty grippy and look great and last forever, leather is a little less grippy but feels amazing once you get used to it and lasts a long time, linen offers the least amount of grip and looks ok but eventually over time will get dirty, fuzzy, or loose and need to be replaced.

Enjoy the cue selection journey, dont stress it, its like dating different women. Lots of fun and youll know when you find the right one.
 
Never purchase a Mercedes Benz for your first car.
Get a Honda/Toyota and go from there.
Same with a cue.
My first cue was called a Rocket.
Got it new in 65 for $20 and as I kept on, I learned more and evolved my needs.
 
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