Pro/Cons of a lighter cue
- Thread starter joyren
- Start date
I don't think there are any. I think what feels most comfortable and natural to you is the right weight of a cue.
If it feels and the balance is right for you then it is all good.
I use to shoot with and break with very light cues. 15.25 oz player and 14.9oz breaker. (personal best with the break was 31mph)
The major pros is that if you get use to it, you can really stroke through the ball. Great for full cue jumps and breaking. The down side, is that because of the lack of weight you need to stroke some shot more firmly. If you stroke is not true you will struggle. More weight allows for a softer stroke. I notice that the extra weight I play with now, allows me alot easier play, especially on the big table. I don't have to stroke so hard to get what I want out of the cue ball.
The only reason why I moved up in weight was because I got my Roman cue from Keith and it was already weighted. 18.8oz cue. I played with it for 2+ years, and am now playing my best pool to date. I think I would still be here with the other cues, but I think the consistency of one cue over two years has helped immensely. The hardest thing to adjust to, is jumping full cue with the extra weight.
I think if you like the cue enough, you can learn to play with it. You might struggle to get there though.
best,
Justin
The major pros is that if you get use to it, you can really stroke through the ball. Great for full cue jumps and breaking. The down side, is that because of the lack of weight you need to stroke some shot more firmly. If you stroke is not true you will struggle. More weight allows for a softer stroke. I notice that the extra weight I play with now, allows me alot easier play, especially on the big table. I don't have to stroke so hard to get what I want out of the cue ball.
The only reason why I moved up in weight was because I got my Roman cue from Keith and it was already weighted. 18.8oz cue. I played with it for 2+ years, and am now playing my best pool to date. I think I would still be here with the other cues, but I think the consistency of one cue over two years has helped immensely. The hardest thing to adjust to, is jumping full cue with the extra weight.
I think if you like the cue enough, you can learn to play with it. You might struggle to get there though.
best,
Justin
Lighter Cue
Most pros play with heavier cues..most I know around 19 plus or minus ..25
You can really drive a ball with the heavier cue if you use a lot of spin....with the faster cloth these days.....might not be such an issue. So it probably has more to do with where youre game is. When I started back I crushed the ball so a light cue helped me not run the ball so far until I picked up some control. As I did the heavier cue was better for me.
Most pros play with heavier cues..most I know around 19 plus or minus ..25
You can really drive a ball with the heavier cue if you use a lot of spin....with the faster cloth these days.....might not be such an issue. So it probably has more to do with where youre game is. When I started back I crushed the ball so a light cue helped me not run the ball so far until I picked up some control. As I did the heavier cue was better for me.
It's the stroke, if you have a good stroke then you can play with a lighter cue. I weight 235 and play with a 17.8oz cue. Size and weight comes in a little, but it's what feels best to you and your stroke and ability. Also if you use a lot of touch shots a lighter cue will soften your stroke.
I used a 15.10 oz cue for years with 30% balance point. I still love the feel and now play with a 17.8 oz cue 34% balance. I play pretty much identical with both cues. Use the 15 now for breaker but always have playing shaft near just in case I need a spare.
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thanks for all your respond, yes i totally agree will all of your comment
honestly i used to play with heavier cues 19-19.5oz because most of my cues are either gaboon or African blackwood forearm, mostly wrapless ones,
but Tony Bautista built this butt for me a red palm wood, it was to light that when i tried it out, i just cant explain the feel and specially with a good stroke, it produce the same shot as my other cue, thou with heavier cue, you dont need to exert too much effort
also i used to play for most 4 hours a day and using a light cue make it not to tiring.
yesterday, got the chance to used Efren "Bata" Reyes pool cue, he was practising some pool at Hermes sports Bar, i was happy watching him shoot, learning a few things too, when all of a sudden, he gave me his cue and told me, shoot some balls with it, wow, the excitement of using his pool cue really excites me, i took some long shots at first to get the feel, but hey i am not missing any ball wow, is his magic in me now, hahaha
the taper at the end of the shaft has small diameter, but OMG after 3 racks, i am done, the over all weight is too damm heavy for me, he play with a 20oz cue, 60" long
after which we all pack up together with Efren and got to a Karaoke bar to sing, eat and have fun. what a day.
honestly i used to play with heavier cues 19-19.5oz because most of my cues are either gaboon or African blackwood forearm, mostly wrapless ones,
but Tony Bautista built this butt for me a red palm wood, it was to light that when i tried it out, i just cant explain the feel and specially with a good stroke, it produce the same shot as my other cue, thou with heavier cue, you dont need to exert too much effort
also i used to play for most 4 hours a day and using a light cue make it not to tiring.
yesterday, got the chance to used Efren "Bata" Reyes pool cue, he was practising some pool at Hermes sports Bar, i was happy watching him shoot, learning a few things too, when all of a sudden, he gave me his cue and told me, shoot some balls with it, wow, the excitement of using his pool cue really excites me, i took some long shots at first to get the feel, but hey i am not missing any ball wow, is his magic in me now, hahaha
the taper at the end of the shaft has small diameter, but OMG after 3 racks, i am done, the over all weight is too damm heavy for me, he play with a 20oz cue, 60" long
after which we all pack up together with Efren and got to a Karaoke bar to sing, eat and have fun. what a day.
thanks for all your respond, yes i totally agree will all of your comment
honestly i used to play with heavier cues 19-19.5oz because most of my cues are either gaboon or African blackwood forearm, mostly wrapless ones,
but Tony Bautista built this butt for me a red palm wood, it was to light that when i tried it out, i just cant explain the feel and specially with a good stroke, it produce the same shot as my other cue, thou with heavier cue, you dont need to exert too much effort
also i used to play for most 4 hours a day and using a light cue make it not to tiring.
yesterday, got the chance to used Efren "Bata" Reyes pool cue, he was practising some pool at Hermes sports Bar, i was happy watching him shoot, learning a few things too, when all of a sudden, he gave me his cue and told me, shoot some balls with it, wow, the excitement of using his pool cue really excites me, i took some long shots at first to get the feel, but hey i am not missing any ball wow, is his magic in me now, hahaha
the taper at the end of the shaft has small diameter, but OMG after 3 racks, i am done, the over all weight is too damm heavy for me, he play with a 20oz cue, 60" long
after which we all pack up together with Efren and got to a Karaoke bar to sing, eat and have fun. what a day.
Man, it really is more fun in the Philippines!!!!!
Joyjoy kumusta na? i agree with you on the length of time playing. an 18oz would not really make a lot of difference against a 20oz, but when you put 4-5 hours of playing, you will really feel the difference.
by the way, how's that piece of blackwood i gave you? i'd like to see how that cue turned out.
by the way, how's that piece of blackwood i gave you? i'd like to see how that cue turned out.
Joyjoy kumusta na? i agree with you on the length of time playing. an 18oz would not really make a lot of difference against a 20oz, but when you put 4-5 hours of playing, you will really feel the difference.
by the way, how's that piece of blackwood i gave you? i'd like to see how that cue turned out.
Hi
Can i get your name sir? I dont recall someone giving me a Blackwood, but i do recall me buying african Blackwoodfrom a guy somewhere in Eastwood
, just a point of clarificationThanks
Joyren
I used to go in the bars back in the day and always looked for the ones stamped "16" to play with. Loved the feel of those light cues.
Nowadays I seem to be comfortable in the just-under 19 range and like Tony said, whatever is comfortable for you should do fine....
BUT
Consider this (and I have)
I remember Rodney Morris at Turning Stone a year or two ago saying something to the effect that he feels a cue needs to be a minimum of 19.5 oz in order to be stable in his hands while shooting over balls, jacked-up shots, and shots off the rail.
I would have thought that the balance point could address this but when you think about it, a little more weight really could help keep everything steady through your shot.
All that said, it is just one man's opinion, albeit a man with a couple of US Open victories, 9b & now 10b. :thumbup: I think it makes logical sense but maybe determining what the exact weight would be where you can lose some steadiness remains subjective (or just unknown).
I remember Pat Flemming invented a little gadget that you could attach to your shaft to add weight for jacked up shots in order to keep steady through the shot.
And I think it's becoming widely accepted that for a jump cue to be consistently more effective it must weigh at least as much as a cue ball.
So, I suppose, weight can matter.
Glad I could clear all this up for you. :grin-square:
best,
brian kc
Nowadays I seem to be comfortable in the just-under 19 range and like Tony said, whatever is comfortable for you should do fine....
BUT
Consider this (and I have)
I remember Rodney Morris at Turning Stone a year or two ago saying something to the effect that he feels a cue needs to be a minimum of 19.5 oz in order to be stable in his hands while shooting over balls, jacked-up shots, and shots off the rail.
I would have thought that the balance point could address this but when you think about it, a little more weight really could help keep everything steady through your shot.
All that said, it is just one man's opinion, albeit a man with a couple of US Open victories, 9b & now 10b. :thumbup: I think it makes logical sense but maybe determining what the exact weight would be where you can lose some steadiness remains subjective (or just unknown).
I remember Pat Flemming invented a little gadget that you could attach to your shaft to add weight for jacked up shots in order to keep steady through the shot.
And I think it's becoming widely accepted that for a jump cue to be consistently more effective it must weigh at least as much as a cue ball.
So, I suppose, weight can matter.
Glad I could clear all this up for you. :grin-square:
best,
brian kc
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Pluses/Minuses
I used a 17 oz.cue for several months. I play a lot of 14.1 and I found that I had really good control of the shots that required a light touch - mostly safeties. I switched (back) to a ~ 19 oz. cue only because I had trouble driving the CB into the rack on breakout shots.
I used a 17 oz.cue for several months. I play a lot of 14.1 and I found that I had really good control of the shots that required a light touch - mostly safeties. I switched (back) to a ~ 19 oz. cue only because I had trouble driving the CB into the rack on breakout shots.
Banks
Banned
Pros: 1/4 lb less to carry around, I like the weight, nobody likes to use it
Cons: nobody likes to use it, hard to find lightweight cues
I don't use a 15 because that's what I want, it's what I use because that's what I play better with on average. No science to it really. I can play ok with anything else, but I tend to shoot a little better with what that.
Cons: nobody likes to use it, hard to find lightweight cues
I don't use a 15 because that's what I want, it's what I use because that's what I play better with on average. No science to it really. I can play ok with anything else, but I tend to shoot a little better with what that.
With the type of cloth of today, going lighter than 19 may be the new normal, makes some sense.
I think the pros have mostly settled into the 19 oz +-. When you get much heavier with a playing cue, you can easily overpower the cue ball.
19oz gives ya the ability to hit Great draw as well as follow shots. If the balls were different diameters, then preferred cue weights would change.
I think the pros have mostly settled into the 19 oz +-. When you get much heavier with a playing cue, you can easily overpower the cue ball.
19oz gives ya the ability to hit Great draw as well as follow shots. If the balls were different diameters, then preferred cue weights would change.
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Hi
Can i get your name sir? I dont recall someone giving me a Blackwood, but i do recall me buying african Blackwoodfrom a guy somewhere in Eastwood
Thanks
Joyren
yes yes. that was me. it was african blackwood (i stand corrected). did tony make a cue out of it? i'd like to see. perhaps, visit his shop sometime.
thanks for giving your opinion
I appreciate it a lot, specially coming out from experts here
as they always say, the Indian always adjust to whatever arrow he shoots right?
i remember back then when Rodney was here, he saw me jacking for a shot, after i miss it, he came to me and gave me an advice which i have been using up to this date, shifting the way i grip my cue a bit forward so i can have a good swing
I appreciate it a lot, specially coming out from experts here
as they always say, the Indian always adjust to whatever arrow he shoots right?
i remember back then when Rodney was here, he saw me jacking for a shot, after i miss it, he came to me and gave me an advice which i have been using up to this date, shifting the way i grip my cue a bit forward so i can have a good swing