question for cuemakers

R

radge69

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Do any of you guys have someone that you use to test out your new ideas? Say a family member or a close friend that shoots pool that you give/borrow stuff to that you want tried out by someone other than yourself?

For example, all of my family members on my mom's side of the family shoot pool (leagues, tournaments, ect.). From my grandparents down to all my cousins, everyone shoots. Now that I've started making some stuff, I've found that I need someone to "test drive" these things. Guys that I shoot with and against see me with something new and they want to try it, and a lot of the time want to buy it. But I'm not ready to start selling all this stuff before I get some honest opinions on if it's an improvement or not. I find myself biased since I put a lot of time and effort into something, I want to believe it's good.

So I have my two cousins, who both love to try the newest stuff out (mine or others), try my new stuff and let me know what they think. They also know that if something doesn't work (sucks), they give it back and I tweak it. I think this lets me try new ideas without my rep taking a hit for putting something out that doesn't get the job done.

So, after all this rambling, do you have someone that you have "test drive" new ideas and give you honest feedback? Or, do you test drive it yourself and let your customers give the feedback?
 
I test drive it myself. If I like it then someone else in the world will most likely find it fits them also. I am not foolish enough to think everyone will like the way my cues play. Some want a real hard feeling hit. Others want a real soft spongey feeling hit. Mine are neither. They fall in the middle. Stiffer than some, but not too stiff for my style of play yet producing plenty of cue ball action. Thomas Wayne gave some advice back when I had only been building cues for about 7 years. He said something like, "Find something that you like and do it well and you will find others that like it also." That was 14 years ago and I am still following that advice. If I listen to all the other players they will send me in so many different directions that I will never develop a hit that defines my cue. In other words you can't please everyone, and I refuse to try. I have refused to build a cue that I thought would be ugly or play bad. And every time I have given in, and built something way out of my normal specs range, those cues have come back to haunt me. They get traded around and seen more than any other cue you built and no one really likes it so it keeps going down the line and then people think that is your normal way of doing things.
 
Last edited:
radge69 said:
Do any of you guys have someone that you use to test out your new ideas? Say a family member or a close friend that shoots pool that you give/borrow stuff to that you want tried out by someone other than yourself?

For example, all of my family members on my mom's side of the family shoot pool (leagues, tournaments, ect.). From my grandparents down to all my cousins, everyone shoots. Now that I've started making some stuff, I've found that I need someone to "test drive" these things. Guys that I shoot with and against see me with something new and they want to try it, and a lot of the time want to buy it. But I'm not ready to start selling all this stuff before I get some honest opinions on if it's an improvement or not. I find myself biased since I put a lot of time and effort into something, I want to believe it's good.

So I have my two cousins, who both love to try the newest stuff out (mine or others), try my new stuff and let me know what they think. They also know that if something doesn't work (sucks), they give it back and I tweak it. I think this lets me try new ideas without my rep taking a hit for putting something out that doesn't get the job done.

So, after all this rambling, do you have someone that you have "test drive" new ideas and give you honest feedback? Or, do you test drive it yourself and let your customers give the feedback?
Click to expand...


"I have elected not to contribute to this question until I know who I am speaking to. If you met me personally, called me on the phone or knocked on my door you would identify yourself. Give me the same courtesy I have shown you and I will continue this discussion."
 
I'm always the first one to hit one of my cues

I always do the first "test drive" myself. In the (hopefully) rare occasion that something is not right:eek: , I want to know before someone else hits with it.

Once I'm satisfied, then I'll let others try it. Otherwise, it hits the scrap heap:(
 
I too try out my own ideas first. I have a group of friends at my local poolhall I will let try out my new tapers and the like to get some feed back. I am with Chris in that if I like it there will be others who do as well, and you cant make everyone happy. So I build cues the way I like and if you hit with one of my cues and liked it, chances are you will like most any I have built. Chris
 
Arnot

Roger Sward, Southern MN, repair guy starting to branch out into building some stuff (shafts, jump cues, extensions). I have enough requests to keep me busy for the next 3 months considering I don't have a lot of free time to build things. The time I do have is used for any repair work I may have, then onto building things. I'm trying to perfect my finishing work before I branch into anything more complex than that listed above.

I've learned a ton from this section of the site, thanks to all the cuemakers like yourself. I appreciate the willingness of everyone to share their experiences to help out others, especially a new guy like myself.

I tend not to get personal because truely I'm nothing in the world of cue repair/building. I'm just a guy that loves to work on this stuff and learn more. I hope that some time down the road I have the ability and skill it takes to make a cue that I feel is worthy of selling to someone and displaying pictures of that cue on this site. I feel the things I currently build are worthy of being sold and displayed, but I don't think you guys are interested in seeing pictures of shafts, jump cues, and extensions.
 
Bill the Cat said:
I always do the first "test drive" myself. In the (hopefully) rare occasion that something is not right:eek: , I want to know before someone else hits with it.

Once I'm satisfied, then I'll let others try it. Otherwise, it hits the scrap heap:(
Click to expand...

I agree, I try everything myself first.

Here is a situation that I think would describe what I mean better. I've used jump cues for quite a few years now. I can pick up a jump cue and jump with it, no doubt about it. Some are better than others, but I can make any of them work. Now, lets say I build a shaft with a different taper than normal. I put it on a jump cue. I think it jumps pretty good. Now I put it in the hands of one of my cousins, and let them give it a test drive to get a second opinion. It helps that we all really like the same things in a cue. Bottom line, they give me a honest opinion on what they think. If we all agree it's good, then it passes the test, and can be produced for customers.
 
radge69 said:
Arnot

Roger Sward, Southern MN, repair guy starting to branch out into building some stuff (shafts, jump cues, extensions). I have enough requests to keep me busy for the next 3 months considering I don't have a lot of free time to build things. The time I do have is used for any repair work I may have, then onto building things. I'm trying to perfect my finishing work before I branch into anything more complex than that listed above.

I've learned a ton from this section of the site, thanks to all the cuemakers like yourself. I appreciate the willingness of everyone to share their experiences to help out others, especially a new guy like myself.

I tend not to get personal because truely I'm nothing in the world of cue repair/building. I'm just a guy that loves to work on this stuff and learn more. I hope that some time down the road I have the ability and skill it takes to make a cue that I feel is worthy of selling to someone and displaying pictures of that cue on this site. I feel the things I currently build are worthy of being sold and displayed, but I don't think you guys are interested in seeing pictures of shafts, jump cues, and extensions.
Click to expand...

Thank you Sir for sharing with us. I for one would like to see pictures of your work.

With your attitude I am sure you will go far. Feel free to call me. If I can help you just let me know.

Hope you have a prosperous New Year,
 
I test hit every cue that I build! I also have a couple close friends of mine test hit them also. This way I get more than 1 opinion on how the cue hits. When I am out of town I try to get a pro to hits some balls with my cues. I always ask for a honest opinion and not just some BS. I also don't get discouraged if someone doesn't like my cues, because I know that everyone is going to like them. So I take it with a grain of salt!

PS: Thanks for sharing your name. You would have received the same answere even if you would not have given it.

A lot of us on here like to know whom we are talking to on here.
 
When I am making something new, I take it to a local bar.
Now with a jump cue I would not want anyone using it on a bar table. But the bar owner is quite good at jumping. That aside, the locals will often give you brutal honest opinions.
Even if they can not afford what you are making, they have no reason not to be honest about the feel and playability of what you offer to let them try. Of course I try to see who drops every cue or hits them on the table , so I can cross them off the list of possible testers.
Hope this helps you.
Neil Lickfold
 
Arnot Wadsworth said:
"I have elected not to contribute to this question until I know who I am speaking to. If you met me personally, called me on the phone or knocked on my door you would identify yourself. Give me the same courtesy I have shown you and I will continue this discussion."
Click to expand...

Hello,

What courtesy did you show him? Did you properly introduce yourself in your reply? Seriously, I've seen this same response in other threads and I just don't get it. I agree that each thread should start off with some salutation, however this is a place where one can learn and discuss. I didn't find his question non-courteous...he was simply asking a question. I'm sure you are a fine cue maker with lots of information to share and I enjoy reading your threads, however this reply was in my opinion arrogant and egotistical.

-Phillip
 
radge69 said:
Do any of you guys have someone that you use to test out your new ideas? Say a family member or a close friend that shoots pool that you give/borrow stuff to that you want tried out by someone other than yourself?

For example, all of my family members on my mom's side of the family shoot pool (leagues, tournaments, ect.). From my grandparents down to all my cousins, everyone shoots. Now that I've started making some stuff, I've found that I need someone to "test drive" these things. Guys that I shoot with and against see me with something new and they want to try it, and a lot of the time want to buy it. But I'm not ready to start selling all this stuff before I get some honest opinions on if it's an improvement or not. I find myself biased since I put a lot of time and effort into something, I want to believe it's good.

So I have my two cousins, who both love to try the newest stuff out (mine or others), try my new stuff and let me know what they think. They also know that if something doesn't work (sucks), they give it back and I tweak it. I think this lets me try new ideas without my rep taking a hit for putting something out that doesn't get the job done.

So, after all this rambling, do you have someone that you have "test drive" new ideas and give you honest feedback? Or, do you test drive it yourself and let your customers give the feedback?
Click to expand...

I test drive it myself and always want feedback about my cues. But you need to temper that with the knowledge that players have different thoughts on "hit" (you need to know what they are looking for) and looks on a cue (some like lots of inlay some don't want any). And lets see some pics of your jump cues.
 
pip9ball said:
Hello,

What courtesy did you show him? Did you properly introduce yourself in your reply? Seriously, I've seen this same response in other threads and I just don't get it. I agree that each thread should start off with some salutation, however this is a place where one can learn and discuss. I didn't find his question non-courteous...he was simply asking a question. I'm sure you are a fine cue maker with lots of information to share and I enjoy reading your threads, however this reply was in my opinion arrogant and egotistical.

-Phillip
Click to expand...

Tap, tap, tap. My sentiments exactly. Sometimes I wonder if it's even adults posting on here. My father would have beat the hell out of me if I whined & acted like that. I thank him for forcing me to be a man.

To answer the question, yes, I have a guy who tests my stuff. The cues I build are test hit by only me in most occurances, as I know how they are supposed to feel & play & have hundreds of other experiences to base it on. But for new ideas, I try & I have a friend try. He's a cue nut that is 100% unbiased & looks at things very thoroughly through scientific eyes. He's actually very nice to have around. As such, he gets new shafts for his cue when I experiment with tapers, or gets new tips, etc. He is a solid & knowledgeable player, not just a bar banger who wants to try stuff or get freebies. I actually have to ask him to try things for me. I think it's an incredible asset, but not neccesarily critical to have somebody like that. When in Alaska, I had one of these guys. So in essence, I have had one ever since I have been building cues. Of course, it's only guys I know & trust & that know the game as well as have remarkable knowledge of cues.
 
Arnot Wadsworth said:
"I have elected not to contribute to this question until I know who I am speaking to. If you met me personally, called me on the phone or knocked on my door you would identify yourself. Give me the same courtesy I have shown you and I will continue this discussion."
Click to expand...

Yep, nothing like answering that you're not going to answer. Stuff like this and a lack of time is the reason I don't post much on this forum.
 
My wife is out of town with the camera until Sunday. I'll take some pics then. Thanks to all that answered.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top