Pro's Cues And Their Influence

Jimmy M. said:
I'll tell you what -- I have nothing but good things to say about the Padgett that I play with. It's the best looking cue that I've ever owned, and it plays equally well. Even now, after having owned it for over a year, I still have a sense of enjoyment each time I pull it out of the case and screw it together for the first time of the day ... and I don't even get paid to say this crap! ;)
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Get an agent! :p
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
Allison told me, as did Janet Shimel, that she uses an "Off The Shelf" Cuetec Cue. if she didnt, they could be sued for false advertising.

however, i've been told by other reliable sources that the shafts are not completely stock on Earl's Cuetec, and possibly Allison's. but Allison's shaft did look like a Cuetec Shaft in Vegas at the BCA in '02.
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I hit with Allison's cue a few years ago. It was a stock Cuetec, but it was shorter than my cue by about an inch or two.

Earl sands his shafts. But, to my knowledge, they are Cuetec shafts. He also has wrapped grip tape around the handle and sawed off a few inches from the butt. He normally carries three or four of the same model.

Fred
 
Machines make perfect cues???

pete lafond said:
#1, no human can consistantly make perfect cues like machines can through automation
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I'm an Automation & Robotics Manufacturing Engineer I don't understand this statement. Machines in of themselves cannot make perfect cues. The study of the wood material has to be done by a human, as are many of the parts. It's a whole lot different than, say, CNC machining of steel parts.

Fred Agnir
 
I generally never a buy a cue from a cuemaker that I know nothing about. I get interest in a cue from word of mouth and then I ALMOST always have to hit with a cue to see if it works for me?
The only exception with this for me is the fact that I did order a Judd cue because Efren is shooting with one. I did not spend a fortune but am really stoked to get the cue nonetheless. I would have normally hit with one of his cues first but I did not know of anyone local that has one to hit with but my expectations for the playability of the cue are pretty strong. Mr. Judds wife, Trudy has been great to deal with and very professional.
Normally, I hit with any cue that I purchase, first. This is the only exception to my rule.
The professional endorsement worked on me this time.
So many cues, so little money:).....

Peace
 
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Fred Agnir said:
The study of the wood material has to be done by a human, as are many of the parts. It's a whole lot different than, say, CNC machining of steel parts.

Fred Agnir
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Didn't say a computer would pick out the wood. However it may become economical in automation to include selecting perfect wood. Generally speaking a machine could sense for an imperfection in the center of the wood that would be impossible for a human to catch. They always use to say that it would require a human to be in control of taking off, flying and landing airplanes - guess what?

My point is machines will always improve and always perform a job to a higher degree of perfection that a human could ever attain. Artistic, that belongs to us.

So if you want a perfect cue? Get one that is machine made. If you want an everlasting piece of beauty that grows in value? Get a custom made one. Doesn't mean beauty doesn't play well. They do.
 
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Jimmy M. said:
When non-pool players (people at work, for example) ask how much my cue is worth they are dumbfounded by my answer. It's funny that most people don't think much of spending a few thousand on golf clubs. While they might not all go out and spend that much on clubs, they know that clubs can get that expensive, and it doesn't surprise them. They can't imagine why someone would spend a few thousand on "a piece of wood".
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Yes, this is a familiar 'ignorance'. But consider the development cost of either a set of cast or forged irons. The cost of the molds is pretty significant. Once developed, the heads can be made inexpensively, but their cost-of-goods is still likely higher for golf clubs. More labour costs to pool cues, but that is in relation to the artistic content of the cue. You don't have the same artistic value in golf clubs (some putters aside). I suppose it comes down to 'why would you spend so much on the artwork on a piece of wood'. The cue isn't worth all that much, it's the embelishments that cost ... something that is a bit unique to pool cues. Those folks have a point Jimmy. JMO

Dave (who plays with a Falcon M-5, breaks with a Dufferin Phantom, golfs with a custom set of Dynacraft somethingorothers, and is generally a cheap Canadian of Scottish heritage having spent less than $1000 Canadian for all of the above)
 
pete lafond said:
My point is machines will always improve and always perform a job to a higher degree of perfection that a human could ever attain.
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Machines can be fast and repeatable, but consider that great machines very often have human-hand scraped ways to get the accuracy they (the machine tool) require. Humans CAN operate a good non-CNC machine to extremely tight tolerances. They just can't cycle through the parts as fast. And as noted above, hand work can also be very accurate. I hand built a step-block for cutting 12 golf club shafts at .500" increments. With a hack-saw and file I attained an accuracy of +- 0.001" across the entire block (step-to-step, and across the 12 steps). I am not a great machinist, but I did have the luxury of time and good measuing tools and an understanding of the elements of precision.

Of course I may have misunderstook what is meant by 'perfection'.

Dave
 
DaveK said:
Of course I may have misunderstook what is meant by 'perfection'.

Dave
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Yes. I am talking about automation, not machining tools. Once the process is perfected, an automated one will more likely repeat that perfection over and over again. I am in no way against custom. All I say is is you want perfection, automation is the key. Many people think automation is meant for high volume at lowest possible cost. Not true, quality must be present. Automation is for perfection at a higher production volume and at a lower production volume.
 
Fred Agnir said:
Earl sands his shafts. But, to my knowledge, they are Cuetec shafts.
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Fred, do you know if Earl sands the glass completely off or is it more a surface prep?
 
How Important Is A Valuable Cue?

Efren (the best player in the world) plays with a cue that has masking tape around the butt.

TY & GL
 
OldHasBeen said:
Efren (the best player in the world) plays with a cue that has masking tape around the butt.

TY & GL
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Well after his performance at Derby City, we'll likely be seeing more players using making tape.
 
OldHasBeen said:
Efren (the best player in the world) plays with a cue that has masking tape around the butt.

TY & GL
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That may be true but masking tape is not going to change the $2000 price tag on Reyes' Judd.

-Roger
 
buddha162 said:
That may be true but masking tape is not going to change the $2000 price tag on Reyes' Judd.

-Roger
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I think the price just went up. That cue won the World 8-ball and DCC 9-ball and 1-pocket already.
 
JoeyInCali said:
I think the price just went up. That cue won the World 8-ball and DCC 9-ball and 1-pocket already.
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Lol, of course. Along with Earl's personally-modified Cuetec (with a band-saw no less), I'm sure the original masking tape wrap-job will add to the value as well...

-Roger
 
vapoolplayer said:
no i don't. if you're endorsing a product........you would think they would use it. i just know at the fury amatuer tour this month, they listed his name on team fury.

as a consumer, imo, i would think twice before buying a product that the endorsing player doesn't even use.
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Rodney does use a Fury. He also uses his Szamboti from time to time. When Rodney starts getting into a slump he will often switch back to his Szamboti. This is understandable since the Szamboti is the only other cue he has played with. When Rodney played exclusively with the Fury he had a great year and I expect him to win a lot more when he settles his mind that he can play great with the cue.

Top players are like race car drivers. Everything has to be just right for them. They feel things that we don't feel. Most top players cue's are pretty far from "stock". Acceptable changes in my opinion are the ferrule, the tip, the wrap, the weight and the shaft taper. Rodney has won or placed high in several tournaments with brand new off-the-shelf Fury cues where the only change was a tip.

The Fury cue is a great base cue. It has all the characteristics of a good solid cue. Is it everyone's cup of tea? No, but in three years there have been plenty, and I mean thousands, of people who like the hit, the balance, the craftsmanship and the aesthics of the Fury cues. We do hands-on product testing at tournaments, shows and poolrooms to constantly check and re-check our quality. We also constantly survey dealers and customers after the sale to find out how the Fury cues are selling and doing.

We sponsor Rodney because he is not only a world class player but is a super nice guy. We respect his need to go back to his security blanket once in a while. It's not like he is switching to a Players cue. A Szamboti is one of the most solid cues made. If you want to make a comparison then the Szamboti would be a Bentley whereas the Fury would be an Audi.

So, if you are looking for a cue then do yourself a favor and try a Fury. For the money it's a jam up production cue and if the association with Rodney got you to recognize the name then it was money well spent.


John Barton
Fury Cues - In the last three weeks I have won $1500 with a $115 Fury DL Cue.
 
cueman said:
I think it depends on how much the pro himself really talks up the cue. I saw Earl Strickland when he was still with Meucci shooting an awesome shot over and over at a pro tournament and loudly proclaiming Meucci was the only cue in the world you can shoot that shot with. I counted Meucci cues among the people in that pro event and over 1/4 of the field was playing with Meucci cues. On the other hand I saw another top pro playing with a ------- brand cue who sponsored him and he told a small group sitting there that he believed brand -------- was better than the brand he was playing with, but if a man will pay you to play with his cues then you play with it. Jim Rempe really talks Meucci up every chance he gets. Those who just put their picture and name out there will help a brand some, but those who really act like their heart is in it will do alot more.
I once was talking to a man from Japan at a trade show who did not recognize my logo and spoke very poor English. But then when his interpeter told him my name was Hightower he said, "Oh Yes, so and so Japanese pro played with one of your cues." He knew I did not pay the guy to play with it. The pro had bought the cue from me a few years earlier at another show. Well the fact that he knew that guy chose to play with my cue must have helped because he bought my two highest end cues to resale. So yes the pros help, but it is not often that a pro will make or break a brand.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
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This reminds me of two things: 1. years ago there was a cuemaker in Florida named Wayne Gunn who ran an ad where the tagline was something like this, "we don't pay anyone to play with our cues. If you see someone playing with a Gunn, they paid us." and 2. I was talking with Thomas Wayne in front of his booth when a player interrupted us to pitch Thomas on sponsorship. The player asked Thomas how many cues he could sell if the player endorsed them. Thomas replied with, "could it be more than I can make, which what I am sellng now?"

Cues are such a fickle business and there is no shortage of good ones out there. It is almost impossible to buy a really bad cue these days. Even the shitty ones are decent compared to 15 years ago.

The same thing applies today as in the past. Pick it up, hit with it, see how it feels to you and then make your decision. If a pro-endorsement got you to give a cue a nod and that cue turned out to be the one that floats your boat then the job was well done.

John
 
JAM said:
I asked Rodney Morris last year at the Super Billiards Expo what kind of cue he shot with and how long he had been playing with it. He said he's played with the Szamboti since 1994.

JAM
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Last year at the Super Billiards Expo - Rodney played with a Fury in the Pro Events, he played with his Fury in the challenges matches and wowed the crowds for four days with his magical play. The year before he took second to Johnny Archer using a stock Fury with zero modifications.

Yes, he has had his Szamboti since 1994 but he does in fact, play with a Fury cue. In fact, Rodney often sells his Fury cue to players he meets on the road who hit with his personal one and want to buy it. Because of Rodney's use of FURY cues we have aquired many new customers and dealers who otherwise may not have been exposed to the cue.

John Barton
yes - I know - I owe you $50 - you can collect in Valley Forge. :-)
 
onepocketchump said:
Last year at the Super Billiards Expo - Rodney played with a Fury in the Pro Events, he played with his Fury in the challenges matches and wowed the crowds for four days with his magical play. The year before he took second to Johnny Archer using a stock Fury with zero modifications.

Yes, he has had his Szamboti since 1994 but he does in fact, play with a Fury cue. In fact, Rodney often sells his Fury cue to players he meets on the road who hit with his personal one and want to buy it. Because of Rodney's use of FURY cues we have aquired many new customers and dealers who otherwise may not have been exposed to the cue.

John Barton
yes - I know - I owe you $50 - you can collect in Valley Forge. :-)
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i can't say anything about the playablility of the cue, as i've never hit with one. they look like a great deal for the money.

i do know that when i hear fury i do think of rodney morris and vice versa, so you are right, the money is well spent just for the name recognition.

thanks

VAP
 
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