Pros custom cue choice?

[skip100]

In golf, it's the case for pros that 1) they are very finicky about their equipment, and 2) they tend to be willing to go wherever the money leads them. It's also the case that they are so talented they can do well with anything. Interesting combination of factors that seems like it's true for pool as well.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Skip....it's funny that the pros that do switch brand clubs never seem to play as well afterwards and some do not win again for awhile. I can't come up with any pro golfer that switched brand clubs during the off season and even though they have their golf clubs custom tweaked, all of the pros seem to struggle for awhile. The TV golf announcers always make it a point of discussing equipment and swing changes and point out how the player hasn't quite mastered the change quite yet, It's never the wedges or short irons but the mid-long irons and woods & driver changes can become extremely vexing. Eventually the changeover gets worked out and as I previously alluded to, endorsements make up for a while bunch of tournament winnings.

Matt B.

 

[skip100]

Skip....it's funny that the pros that do switch brand clubs never seem to play as well afterwards and some do not win again for awhile. I can't come up with any pro golfer that switched brand clubs during the off season and even though they have their golf clubs custom tweaked, all of the pros seem to struggle for awhile. The TV golf announcers always make it a point of discussing equipment and swing changes and point out how the player hasn't quite mastered the change quite yet, It's never the wedges or short irons but the mid-long irons and woods & driver changes can become extremely vexing. Eventually the changeover gets worked out and as I previously alluded to, endorsements make up for a while bunch of tournament winnings.

Matt B.

Tiger Woods switching to Nike turned out all right

Phil Mickelson has used dozens of different putters (and putting grips) over the course of his career. Sergio to TaylorMade worked well. There is also a lot always changing beneath the surface with players switching out clubs within brand, faking clubs as being on-brand, etc. Most equipment changes aren't newsworthy and no one really notices. Sam Saunders recently qualified for the US Open with his caddie's clubs.

You are right that there have been some disastrous switches over the years though. Rory McIlroy clearly struggled with Nike clubs at first before turning it around.

 

[LAlouie]

If this is the case you would think that the CUSTOM cue maker would
be getting something out of the deal. Sense the are giving away a bag
full of cues and untold fortunes. The pros should be wearing a neon
sign advertising the product. But its always a guessing game which
cue they using. Oh by the way Meucci is not a custom cue.
jack
Free SJD

Yeah,,,so? When I say they play with whatever, it's WHATEVER.

What the cuemaker(often times an unknown builder just starting out) gets in return is the advertisement of his cue. It's no guessing game, just go up to a player and ask him. What's so hard about that?? Neon sign? THE PLAYER is the neon sign. Players travel, they get around. A good player(like a pro) has followers. That's the cuemakers' business model.

 

[LAlouie]

I guess CUSTOM repeat CUSTOM cue makers are making so much money
that they can afford to pay pros and give then sacks full of cues.
What CUSTOM cue was this that Mika was using. These CUSTOM cue
makers have be rich or dumb or something to give away their cues
money and what not to a pro that will not play with the cue for more than a day or two. Just wondering which CUSTOM cue makers these are, because
if they're that dumb I'm going to call one up and try to convince them that
I'm a pro and get some of that free stuff, and cash. Please supply their names
and phone numbers.
jack
free SJD

Might have been a Jacoby or somesuch. In any case, they were hilariously ugly LOL.
Are you trolling or are you just new to pool?? The technology of cuebuilding in the last 20+yrs has seen cuemakers coming out of the woodwork. Getting a pro to play with his cue for free and tossing in some cues to sell is a huge one-up for the neophyte builder over his competitors.

Cuemakers have their cues lined up on a rack - they have no problem turning over cues. Have you even seen a shop? The late great Tad Kohara - http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg118/poohkiller-adidas/Tad/Tad-workshop-buttsleeves.jpg A builder's assets are his cues - that's his "money"

 

[Tommy-D]

During the mid-late 90's,9 out of the top 16 in the world were using Schons.

I was told by one of them that they get a great discount on their own cues,are given other cues to sell,and occasionally get a little something to cover expenses,but according to him Schon never just flat-out "paid" anyone to play with their cues,like Meucci did at one time where guys were getting a monthly check. Tommy D.