Player or Equipment?

[RBLilly]

Ok, because of another post in here I am curious what everyone in here thinks now.

How many of you think if you have the best pool cue, the best tip, etc. That you will play a lot better?

How many of you think if you have a good pool cue, and a good tip, that the only thing that matters is the person running the cue?

The reason I ask this is because I am one of the people that feel that a good cue, and good tip in the hands of a great player can be more deadly than someone with all the best gear.

I think the person running the cue is the reason that the shots are accurate and true.

Each and everyone shoots different, so to me that is why there are so many different cue, and tip combinations.

After all, most of the cue makers out there are making some really high quality stuff. So to me it all comes down to what feels right for you.

I don't like the way Schons hit, but I know several people that do, and I have beaten people with Schons, and people with Schons have beaten me.

So I just think it comes down to what feels natural for you.

Anyone else have a good opinion about this?

 

[Gregg]

A nice cue in the hands of a banger is still a banger.

 

[pooltchr]

If you were to trade cues...you shoot with Archer's cue and he shoots with yours....Archer still wins!
Steve

 

[Cornerman]

After all, most of the cue makers out there are making some really high quality stuff. So to me it all comes down to what feels right for you.

This is mostly what I feel, but I don't see it as a choice.

I also feel that there are certain parameters in a cue that many players don't think about that may help their game, but they are parameters that any cuemaker can put do.

Fred

 

[RBLilly]

Agree

Cool, I am glad to see that I am not the only one in here that thinks like this.

I will give you an example of what I have recently done to my cue that has improved my game.

It has only helped my game because I am aware of my style, and therefore I am able to set a cue up to match my style.

First and formost I went from using a 21 ounce to an 18 1/2 ounce cue. This allowed me to have better cue ball control. Most of the time the cue ball would roll a little farther than I wanted. Therefore dropping the weight helped me compinsate a little for that.

Then I notice I used a lot more english than a lot of players on my league, so I figured a shaft with less deflection would help me out. So I bought all three of the I shafts from McDermott.

Yes it did help me put more spin on the cue ball. Thus making cue ball control a little more fine tuned for me. It does not however help me pocket balls. I have to be the one to line the shot up right and deliver the right stroke for that to happen.

Anyway, I think it comes down to feel. I analyzed the aspects of my game, and set up my cue to compliment my natural style.

Anyone that goes about it that way will have a better chance of improving their game as compaired to someone that just buys the best equipment and hopes to adjust to it.

 

[Blackjack]

If you were to trade cues...you shoot with Archer's cue and he shoots with yours....Archer still wins!
Steve

I totally agree! I was told a long time ago - It's not the arrows, its the Indian.

 

[Black Cat 5791]

Well you asked so here goes, I feel that in any sport that quality equipment will make a person somewhat better in some aspect of the game.

Baseball - Corked bat will hit further than non corked bat provided you can hit the ball.

Football - Ball with Helium & Air Mixture will go further than All Air.

Golf - Today's Hi-Tech Balls and Drivers hit further than years past.

Hockey - Today's skates perform better than skate's from 1920.

Pool is no different if you have a cue that deflects less and is more accurate then on a whole, any person that uses it will shoot straighter with it. That's not to say that the person using it won't sabotage themselves by trying to over compensate because that's what their used to doing. The cue still shoots straighter right out of the box, so if the user gets out of their own way they will play better within their knowledge of the game. That's why a novice can generally do better with a Predator in the beginning than a seasoned player. But, the truth of the matter is that it will still make a player better, and shorten the learning curve.

Black Cat

 

[ShootingArts]

impossible poll to answer

Both A and B are equally true. A person with the best cue and tip for them will play better. Also the cue and tip are no better than the person using them.

Good equipment makes anything easier to learn and easier to play well. However no amount of equipment will allow an average player to beat a great one using average equipment.

Hu

 

[Snapshot9]

Expressing yourself ...

An artist can paint with a $5 brush or a $50 brush, what is important is if he can express himself in the way he wants. Maybe all he has known is the $5 brush, and does the best he can, but at some point in time, he wonders if the $50 brush might allow him to express himself in a better way, as he could do things with the better brush that he couldn't do with the $5 brush, especially when it came to the most detailed expressions.

And, in turn, a $50 brush will not MAKE you an artist if you are not already one.

 

[RBLilly]

Exactly

A person with the best cue and tip for them will play better.

Exactly what I have been saying and trying to get at. You have to find the best combination for you and your style of play. Once you do that, then your good.

For each person this is going to be different.

 

[PoolSleuth]

“bangers”

A nice cue in the hands of a banger is still a banger.

In defense of the “bangers”, (assume you are talking about non top level players) think everyone was a banger the first day they started playing the game of pool.

Some want to become better, others will never improve, but the bottom line is they are having fun.

I say let the bangers have their fun. The bangers buy Cues, Cases, Accessories, Table Time, Pay Tournament Entree Fee, and in general support the Pool & Billiards Industry just like the real player do.

What ever real players are. Assume you are talking about those playing in the IPT, or on TV.

 

[RBLilly]

Pool is no different if you have a cue that deflects less and is more accurate then on a whole, any person that uses it will shoot straighter with it.

Not true, if they couldn't shoot straight to begin with, then they won't shoot any straighter with a preditor. Besides, if you hit center cue ball with any shaft deflection doesn't matter. So if someone can't shoot straight with a McDermott, then they can't shoot straight with a Predator. Predator is for applying english, and that is what less deflection takes into account for.

That's not to say that the person using it won't sabotage themselves by trying to over compensate because that's what their used to doing.

MMMM seems like you agree with me then.

The cue still shoots straighter right out of the box, so if the user gets out of their own way they will play better within their knowledge of the game.

If your shooting center cue ball then, all cues should shoot straight. If they don't it is because they are most likely warped, or the person shooting can't shoot straight. Now if you are refering to a Predator shooting straighter then other shafts, then your refering to applying english again, and yes it doesn't drive it off as much, but it still drives it off line so you have to be able to line up the shot correctly for the shaft your using.

That's why a novice can generally do better with a Predator in the beginning than a seasoned player. But, the truth of the matter is that it will still make a player better, and shorten the learning curve.

A novice can generally shoot better with a Predator in the begining simply because they don't know any better. Just like if I were to jump in your car and drive it, I am not going to feel as comfortable as I am in my own car. A seasoned player is going to feel more comfortable with his or her own cue. A predator does not make anyone a better player (It however will make someone a better player if it fits their style of play.) That would be like saying give my kid sister a predator and she will automatically be a better player than she already is. That isn't going to happen cause she doesn't play, so she will still play as awefull as if she were using a house cue. No predator doesn't shorten the learning curve. What shortens the learning curve is how you practice.

 

[BrooklynJay]

Pool is 90% mental -- the other half is physical.

SO if putting a new cue in your hands gives you confidence, makes you 'think' you'll be better, shoot straighter, etc. - then it will.

And it's not that they'll suddenly become an A+ level player - it's that they will shoot better than they did before getting the 'best new cue with the best new tip'.

 

[Cuedog]

3 Taps

Well you asked so here goes, I feel that in any sport that quality equipment will make a person somewhat better in some aspect of the game.

Baseball - Corked bat will hit further than non corked bat provided you can hit the ball.

Football - Ball with Helium & Air Mixture will go further than All Air.

Golf - Today's Hi-Tech Balls and Drivers hit further than years past.

Hockey - Today's skates perform better than skate's from 1920.

Pool is no different if you have a cue that deflects less and is more accurate then on a whole, any person that uses it will shoot straighter with it. That's not to say that the person using it won't sabotage themselves by trying to over compensate because that's what their used to doing. The cue still shoots straighter right out of the box, so if the user gets out of their own way they will play better within their knowledge of the game. That's why a novice can generally do better with a Predator in the beginning than a seasoned player. But, the truth of the matter is that it will still make a player better, and shorten the learning curve.

Black Cat

TAP, TAP, TAP

Gene

 

[Cuedog]

3 Taps

Both A and B are equally true. A person with the best cue and tip for them will play better. Also the cue and tip are no better than the person using them.

Good equipment makes anything easier to learn and easier to play well. However no amount of equipment will allow an average player to beat a great one using average equipment.

Hu

TAP, TAP, TAP

Gene

 

[Scott Lee]

Pool is 90% mental -- the other half is physical.

Hey Jay...Is this NEW math? I always thought that the remainder after 90%, was only 10%! J/K!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[RickBrazil]

Hey Jay...Is this NEW math? I always thought that the remainder after 90%, was only 10%! J/K!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Thanks Scott !!!, That was really itching me , I'm terrible in math also
About the main subject : I would play "Reyes" for mony, if he would only use a broomstick, but I'd still be shakin in my bases......-(Here you go, take the wallet too , can I have at least my drivers licence back please, ahhh c'mon "Ed" ...).

 

[Cornerman]

Football - Ball with Helium & Air Mixture will go further than All Air.:

This isn't true. The ball weight to gas weight ratio is too high for any buoyancy affect. All that it is true is that the whole football/gas combo will weigh less by a few grams if filled with Helium instead of air. And a ball that weighs less will travel less far, not more far because of inertia.

Source: Myth Busters

Fred

 

[NineBallNut]

better equipment in the hands of the right person will make a difference, but if you don't have the teqnique to draw a ball with a fifty dollar cue, you won't be able to do it with a thousand dollar cue either....lol

Bottom line is that better equipment just makes the things a player tries to do easier than sub standard equipment.

 

[I rack balls]

Well I am Native American and I have played with some arrows no person on the earth could run a table with. There is a certain point where a cue is unusable. But once past that point then it........still matters, I chose A.

Eric