Practice Cue

Many times when I only have a 1/2 hour in the Day to Play POOL, or Just want to Work on Shots, I just Use a HOUSE Q. Because I do not want to mess with Throwing my Case in the SUV.
 
why would you do that? I can see owning more than one or two or twenty cues, but imho you should pick one as your player if your at all serious about the game.

Every cue hits different, draws, follows, deflects differently. It just makes good sense to practice and play with the same cue so you know each and every time what the white ball is going to do.
 
I have always been of the mind that you should be able to play with any cue put in your hand. If you start putting mental faith in the cue, you are short changing yourself and setting yourself up for disaster. Ok maybe thats extreme, but alot of people are willing to blame misses, or bad position on this or that. My tip wasnt hitting right, my shaft didnt feel right, I had to play with a house cue..... etc etc.
Some of the best players I have ever seen can run racks left and right with any cue they pick up, house cues, other players cues.
I liken it to darts, I have always been able to throw pretty much anything because of good fundamentals, and practice. I have a friend who taught me alot, and he does the same thing. I have seen him throw 20 penny nails and hits tons with them.
Im not knocking anyone, but if you open your mind up, and learn to overcome and adapt to new cues, tables etc.... your game can only get better.
I retipped a cue for a buddy of mine (a pretty good player) and after he played with it for a little while, he started complaining about it. I asked to shoot with it, threw 1-9 on the table and ran them. I handed the cue back to him and told him there was nothing wrong with it (there wasnt). But he was convinced it was causing him to miss that day. If you eliminate the ability to make excuses, you are one step closer to fixing the core problem that caused that miss, or bad position play.
Chuck
 
It's About Reducing Variables

I shoot and practice with the same cues (1 for break, 1 for play). The point is taken about being able to shoot with anything, but it's about reducing the variables that effect your play. I don't have any control over table quaility or ball quality. I do have control over the cue. I know it's straight, has a good tip and is the right weight for me. A house cue can be anywhere from a broomstick to a conductors baton.
I know what I like to shoot with the same as I know I like my darts with short shafts and vortex flights @ 22g.

McCue Banger McCue
 
Rob220 said:
Anyone use a cue for practice and a cue for playing?

I know a guy who does something like this. Whenever we go out to the poolhall for fun he brings a shitty Nick Varner cue that he got for free from the APA league office. However he owns 2 Joss cues that are much nicer and only shoots with them occasionally.

He uses the mentality that his Nick Varner cue must be as good as my X Breaker because he can make balls on the break with it.

You cant really reason with him so I just let him go with it.
 
Willie's quote...

I think Willie Mosconi said " If you can play, you can play with any cue, if you can't play, you can't play with any cue"
I have frequently been known to go in to an unknown place, not know the tables, and grab a house cue and still be able to run racks. It is just a matter of how quickly you can adjust to the table and cue. I still prefer to use my own cue, but some places it's just not a good idea to walk in with a $3000, one of a kind, custom cue.
 
gregoryg said:
I think Willie Mosconi said " If you can play, you can play with any cue, if you can't play, you can't play with any cue"
I have frequently been known to go in to an unknown place, not know the tables, and grab a house cue and still be able to run racks. It is just a matter of how quickly you can adjust to the table and cue. I still prefer to use my own cue, but some places it's just not a good idea to walk in with a $3000, one of a kind, custom cue.

but why add variables if you don't have to? Some people have a world of natural talent and can pick up any cue and play lights out, adjust easily to whatever the conditions are. Others have a harder time making the adjustments, so why add another variable to the mix?
 
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cubswin said:
by why add variables if you don't have to?

It makes you place 110% of you effort on your shooting IMO. Also it could come in handy some time when you are in a BIG GAME, and you have to Replace a Cue because of a Tip Falling off etc...

I think Willie Mosconi said " If you can play, you can play with any cue, if you can't play, you can't play with any cue"

Willie was 110% Correct in that Statement :) IMO
 
PoolSleuth said:
It makes you place 110% of you effort on your shooting IMO. Also it could come in handy some time when you are in a BIG GAME, and you have to Replace a Cue because of a Tip Falling off etc...

I think Willie Mosconi said " If you can play, you can play with any cue, if you can't play, you can't play with any cue"

Willie was 110% Correct in that Statement :) IMO

have no issues with being comfortable with more than one cue. But I don't think changing cues constantly makes you think about the shooting 110% at all. Maybe makes you think about how you have to soften or strengthen your shots with this cue over that cue.

Just my opinion. And since I'm not Mosconi I guess I can't play.
 
cubswin said:
have no issues with being comfortable with more than one cue. But I don't think changing cues constantly makes you think about the shooting 110% at all. Maybe makes you think about how you have to soften or strengthen your shots with this cue over that cue.

Just my opinion. And since I'm not Mosconi I guess I can't play.

Mosconi was a Better than GREAT PLAYER will records that still STAND, and Played with Old Technology CUES........:eek:
 
I'm totally with Cubswin on this one. Why on earth would you want to practice with a different cue:confused: I'm not saying that I can't pick up any cue and play my speed with it but when I play I like to stack as many odds in my favor as possible. If you was going to play a 100 set with a guy and you had only 100 for the rest of the week would you want to play with your cue or someone elses? I practice like I play so thats why its imperitive that I play with my playing cue when I practice. I think old Willie said that a time or two as well. "Practice how you would play".;) And if you don't agree with that when why even have a cue to begin with? Just shoot with your finger.:p
 
I know I made a smartazz comment but I play mostly with the same cue. I have played with MANY over the years, play the same with any of them as long as the tip is good. What I can notice right off is if the shaft taper, and deflection characteristics. Some q's squirt....some don't as much. The shot I notice most when adjusting to my cues is a medium hard inside spin shot. It's a dead give away on how the cue plays for me.

Gerry
 
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