One-piece cues.

Rubik's Cube

Rubik's Cube

Pool Ball Collector
Silver Member
Good afternoon, everyone.

Aside from the obvious problems associated with transporting them around, why have one-piece cues never proved popular in the USA? Many top snooker and English pool professionals believe any sort of joint compromises a cue's integrity of balance and feel, yet their American counterparts seem to harbour no such fears.

I have an old Joe Davis billiard cue with a twelve-millimetre tip which, to my mind at least, plays Nine Ball beautifully. I have no strong opinions on the matter really, but just thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.

Cheers,
RC.
 
You'll find almost nobody in the US that brings a one piece cue to a pool hall. I knew one person that used one as a break cue, but there's really no point as you can always play off the wall.

As far as balance is concerned, materials like G10, and phenolics can make a well constructed joint that doesn't forward balance the cue like older steel joints did. Also modern methods like coring, etc can make very strong cues that allow makers to tinker with the hit and balance as well. Snooker cue builders are kind of stuck in a very traditional way or building and it really hasn't evolved much. If it's works, it works, but I haven't played with a snooker cue that I felt was comfortable or had a really sweet hit yet. If I did, and it was a one piece, I'd probably leave it whole. :)
 
Rubik's Cube said:
Good afternoon, everyone.

Aside from the obvious problems associated with transporting them around, why have one-piece cues never proved popular in the USA? Many top snooker and English pool professionals believe any sort of joint compromises a cue's integrity of balance and feel, yet their American counterparts seem to harbour no such fears.

I have an old Joe Davis billiard cue with a twelve-millimetre tip which, to my mind at least, plays Nine Ball beautifully. I have no strong opinions on the matter really, but just thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.

Cheers,
RC.
Click to expand...

I have often thought that if a quality cue maker specialized in primarily custom one piece cues and travel cases, there might be a market for them. I also believe there would be a market for quality house cues, primarily for upscale homes.

I have some quality one piece cues that I believe feel and sound unique compared to jointed cues. You have to experience them to appreciate them.
 
Rubik's Cube said:
Good afternoon, everyone.

Aside from the obvious problems associated with transporting them around, why have one-piece cues never proved popular in the USA? Many top snooker and English pool professionals believe any sort of joint compromises a cue's integrity of balance and feel, yet their American counterparts seem to harbour no such fears.

I have an old Joe Davis billiard cue with a twelve-millimetre tip which, to my mind at least, plays Nine Ball beautifully. I have no strong opinions on the matter really, but just thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.

Cheers,
RC.
Click to expand...
Really? When I was playing in Europe they all had extensions and weights that screwed in . Some cues were like 4 pieces screwed together.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgur...voYu_sK_MAhWMsh4KHdjGCXIQxiAIAg&iact=c&ictx=1
 
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When I worked in a pool hall, my main player was a house cue that I doctored up to my liking and kept behind the bar.

I only used my two-piece when I had to travel to play.
 
I love a good one piece. Love a good two piece too.
Guess I just like about any good piece...
 
macguy said:
Really? When I was playing in Europe they all had extensions and weights that screwed in . Some cues were like 4 pieces screwed together.
Click to expand...

Good evening, sir. :)

It's certainly true that such cues (the one in your picture is a low-cost Chinese import) are quite popular over here in England, but mainly amongst recreational players in my experience. Many of the top professionals seem to favour one-piece models, citing a superior feel and balance as their reasoning.

Cheers,
RC.
 
Play-ability of a one-piece cue is certainly not in question. Many play exceptionally well. Portability, however, like Rubik said, is the key issue.
Making a one piece cue would be problematic for the cue maker in that he'd have to install machinery to accommodate the increase in length.
Barton, on the other hand, could make a fortune selling cases. :smile:
 
IMHO:

Can't change shafts on a one piece. There are many reasons to change shafts.

Sure, a new shaft can be "grafted on" but you can't do that between shots or between matches.

I believe that some cue makers can make a two piece that plays superior to a one piece.


But I do in fact own one good one piece cue. And I do enjoy it. But I don't think it can perform as well as my better two piece cues.

With that said, there are numerous rare one pieces I would love to own.

When I was playing at a Snooker club West of London (played there regularly for a year) many people had multiple piece cues. I had my Joss with me. A few guys kind of kidded me about Americans liking fancy cues that screwed together. But the reality is that they had FOUR or FIVE pieces to their cues! LOL!

Granted, at the championship level there has been a long time bias toward one piece snooker cues, but I believe that is changing.



.
 
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