Production or custom cue for a tall guy

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DanForce

New member
I am 6'11" and I have never played with a cue that feels like it is long enough for me (always grab the cue with two fingers on the bumper and two on the very end of the butt). I am thinking about buying a cue (currently use my wife's old 58" Dufferin) and have done some research on this site and elswhere and it seems my only options are to get a custom cue made or to have a production cue extended. I would really appreciate some answers to the following questions from all the cue experts out there.

1. What is the appropriate length of cue (if it is based on height or armspan then why are all cue essentially the same length)?

2. Will I notice a big difference with a longer cue or should I forget this endevour, save myself some money, and get used to playing with a short cue?

3. Are there issues with making cues longer that effect the quality of the cue (more prone to warpage, balance, weight etc.)?

4. I can get a McDermott tournament series cue extended by four inches (2 on the butt and 2 on the shaft) for about US$400 delivered. To all the custom cue makers out there: Is this good value for my money? If not, could any of you make a better long custom cue for around that kind of money (send me PM with rough quote if you can)

In the end I would like to have a good quality cue that I can get used to playing with in my weekly league games that will feel comfortable and last a long time.

Thanks for your help.
 
i second getting a 60" cue made. however, im a short guy (5'7") and i prefer a longer cue. i generaly have a longer bridge than most. to each his own, also i dont recomend going longer than 60". if your not looking for a facny cue contact Ken on here, krbsailing. he made me a 60" hustler for a damn good price (pic in my signature). he is a little busy at the moment but if your not wanting one ASAP it is worth the wait....just my 2cents :)
Jay
 
Long Cues....

Someone in your area must have a 60" cue they would be willing to let you try...ask around before making a final decision on length.
If 60" is acceptable, there are a number of cuemakers here that will oblige you. (Personally) I'd look into a Brunswick, or house-cue conversion. You will save a bit of waiting, assembly time, and if the butt/forearm hasn't warped by now, it never will. Some makers can add inlays, wrap type, etc... to what your preferences and budget allow.
I might lean towards a standard shaft length, and pin size/type though... you rarely bridge near the joint... so it would be nice to have some "interchangeabilty" with other shafts until you settle on what you like.

Ray
 
I've made several 62" and 64" cues for tall people, and they play great. At 6'11", an extra 2" is not going to change much. If I were you, I would commission a 64" "sneaky pete". Finding longer materials to work with is something many cuemakers won't bother with, which may be why they won't recommend longer cues.
 
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Where do you live? Are you near a custom maker that you can go visit? I have customers come, play a little pool, than we talk about what works or doesn't work for them. In my opinion it gives both the player and the maker a chance to get it right the first time, especially with a cue that may have some very specific specs (ie forward balance --- how forward, etc).
 
balance, length

In the 1970's the standard was 57 inches, Then came 58 inches. Dallas West was one of the only players that still played with 57 in the early 1990's . One of the local poolhall owners had about 10 pro players come for exibition 1990's. Eddie Taylor, Earl the pearl, cowboy jimmy Moore, Grady mathews, all 58 inches none of the really cared they played with whatever they were given. I remember earl didn,t know for sure or dallas, I just payed attention. I do remember that Steve (the miz) had 3 Richard Blacks and he believed it was easier to shoot with longer cues. If only for reach. Balabuska's were 571/2, Cogni were 571/2, I was told it is harder to balance the longer cues. My phillippi is 59, My martinez was made 58 with 1 shaft, and had an extended shaft installed 31inches 2 inches longer. Iwill also say the cue makers have extended shafts and that wood is older better wood but you pay alittle more for it. How long is efrens cue if I remember correctly 60. Edwin Reyes makes longer cues 60, 62. My vote is for longer if just for the reach advantage just because the miz said so. custom cue is my advice unless you want someone saying hey nice cue from china.
 
I don't understand why some feel like 60" is, or should be, the max length. Not arguing.. I just don't know squat and it SEEMS like it just makes sense for a really tall guy to play with a really tall cue.

6'11" is a foot taller than I am, and the wing span is probably about a foot longer than mine also, so why not a foot longer cue?

Can anybody help me understand the problems with a really long cue (other than needing a really long cue case :D )
 
JimS is getting to the heart of my original question. For those of you who do not reccomend going longer than 60", why not? Is it because the equipment or length of the shaft blanks makes it difficult/impossible or are there other reasons?
 
I've seen this debate a few times over they years on the forums. The people that claim 60"+ is bad seem to claim that once you stretch the cue out longer, it becomes whippier. I'd think that if you keep the shaft around the "standard" 29", you can extend the butt a few inches to get a total cue length of 60"+. On the butt, have the cuemaker use a different taper than used on a "standard" 29" butt. Keep the joint collar and buttcap dimensions the same, just adjust the taper. I'm just guessing here....any thoughts?
 
ragbug74 said:
I've seen this debate a few times over they years on the forums. The people that claim 60"+ is bad seem to claim that once you stretch the cue out longer, it becomes whippier. I'd think that if you keep the shaft around the "standard" 29", you can extend the butt a few inches to get a total cue length of 60"+. On the butt, have the cuemaker use a different taper than used on a "standard" 29" butt. Keep the joint collar and buttcap dimensions the same, just adjust the taper. I'm just guessing here....any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Chris Bartrum uses my cues and the last three I have built for him have had 31 inch butts and 29 inch shafts. Denver Barger, from Ind. uses that combination and that is what gave Chris the idea.

I have made a couple cues for people 62 inch and if I remember correctly, one 64 inch.

Dick
 
My suggestion is to order a custom sneaky pete or plain jane cue with average dimensions, and ask the maker to make you a removable extension for the butt, making the cue the exact length you need. This way you can put the extension in the jump handle compartment of a cue case, eliminating the need for some crazy expensive extra long custom case.

Explain to the cuemaker that you will always be using the extension, so he can balance and weight the cue accordingly. I recommend asking for quick release the extension, as it will be tedious to have to screw and unscrew two joints together every time you want to play.

Good luck,
Ian
 
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