Question: Your Preferred Feel
- Thread starter The Piper
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The best hit for me is achieved when I can feel the hit clearly without overwhelming vibrations. I have found that a 314-2 shaft with a medium to medium hard tip makes the desired feel for me. I play with mezz butt, 314-2 shaft, united joint with a juma collar, leather wrap and weight in the 19-19.5oz region.
I find shafts that allow a player to feel all of the vibrations harder to play with as I seem to be dogging out of some certain shots because of the feeling that something is going to fail on me. Predator mutes this feeling enough that I dont have to think about any of that.
That is probably the reason why so many players here absolutely hate predator shafts as they dont provide as much feedback to the stroking hand as many other shafts do. Its just a personal preference thing, they work for some but doesnt work for us all though :smile:
I find shafts that allow a player to feel all of the vibrations harder to play with as I seem to be dogging out of some certain shots because of the feeling that something is going to fail on me. Predator mutes this feeling enough that I dont have to think about any of that.
That is probably the reason why so many players here absolutely hate predator shafts as they dont provide as much feedback to the stroking hand as many other shafts do. Its just a personal preference thing, they work for some but doesnt work for us all though :smile:
1 - Sharp.
2 - The single most important element is the shaftwood, and it's not even close.
Old champion tip, ivory or the old micarta ferrule depending on my mood. Wood to wood joint with an ivory collar. Pin doesn't matter, taper doesn't matter if we're talking "feel/feedback". 18.25oz. Light cues have always made a difference to me. I feel the combination of woods required to deliver a sharp hit yet still be a light enough for 18oz always gave me the right feel.
jmho
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My preference has always been steel jointed, firm but not too hard hitting cues, and I usually mess with tip hardness to get the sound of hit I like. My tip preference ends up being in the medium range, but depends on the tip maker. Kamui tips I can play a soft, because their ratings seem to be about a notch off from everybody else.
Im looking for feedback and a ping mainly. The ping lets me know whether or not Im gripping the cue or not.
Im looking for feedback and a ping mainly. The ping lets me know whether or not Im gripping the cue or not.
I prefer what I'd call a "soft" hit. It's what I learned on, so it just feels more natural. I've tried stiff hit cues/tips but they've never been comfortable (I'll occasionally run out a rack with my break cue just for fun, but I wouldn't want to do it in a match).
I like to feel the hit. I don't like to feel an aftershock.
OB2 shaft with UltraSkin Pro Soft tip.
I like to feel the hit. I don't like to feel an aftershock.
OB2 shaft with UltraSkin Pro Soft tip.
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I have an OB2 and an OB pro shaft and a standard Canadian maple shaft. Think I like the pro a bit more because it has a little bit more crisp feel to it. Honestly, I've been only playing 2 years and don't feel that big a difference in "feel" between my three cues or a wallbushka. I mean I can tell there is a slight difference between my OB2, pro, and maple shaft (I have kamui brown medium, triangle, kamui black soft tip respectively) and I can tell the difference between my playing cues and my break cue so at least I do have a little feel I guess. Not sure if I just don't have enough experience to really have a preference. As long as the cue hits where I am aiming, that's what I like.
Preferred Feel
Phenolic Joint, 3/8 x 10 pin, 12.80 mm stiff maple shaft, Juma Ferrule, 15 in Pro Taper. The only thing I would change is shorter ferrule but the weight reduction is minimal at best.
This cue hits medium soft and gives me enough feedback that I can remember my stroke pressure. Too soft is hard for me to deal with consistently.
Phenolic Joint, 3/8 x 10 pin, 12.80 mm stiff maple shaft, Juma Ferrule, 15 in Pro Taper. The only thing I would change is shorter ferrule but the weight reduction is minimal at best.
This cue hits medium soft and gives me enough feedback that I can remember my stroke pressure. Too soft is hard for me to deal with consistently.
Firm hitting, pleasantly resonant, and lively.
I like steel jointed cues lately but a big pin wood to wood joint can provide the feel I like as well. Need to have a good feeling firm tip, that is important to me. Really been liking Wizards and Onyx lately, both of which are firm medium tips I think. Tip has a big effect, I've played some tips I really didn't like the feel of.
I like steel jointed cues lately but a big pin wood to wood joint can provide the feel I like as well. Need to have a good feeling firm tip, that is important to me. Really been liking Wizards and Onyx lately, both of which are firm medium tips I think. Tip has a big effect, I've played some tips I really didn't like the feel of.
If you take 10 or so one piece house cues and hit a few balls with each one, there will be one or two, maybe three that will stand out as good hitters. THAT is the feel I am looking for.
To get that feel, I think its possible to find a cue from most cue makers with the combination of materials and construction that results in a great feel to the hit.
With most cue makers, this can be a hit or miss proposition. Even the best makers produce a clunker once in a while, IMHO. On the other hand, cue makers that don't have the knowledge, skill, materials (re; shaft wood) only hit the sweet spot once in a while.
This is why top tier makers are sought out by collectors and especially players, not necessarily for fancy inlays and intricate designs, but their knowledge and experience tell them what construction methods result in consistently great hitting cues. Its hard to find a Scruggs sneaky that doesn't feel phenomenal.
It is also why I seek out makers that make an effort to focus on feel, hit and performance of their cues as opposed to decoration. Lambros, Starkey, Joey, Mason, BD, Tucker, Bluegrass are at the top of my list.
Personally, I will take a full splice purple heart or bacote, big pin ivory or phenolic joint, ferruless shaft, ultraskin medium tip.
To get that feel, I think its possible to find a cue from most cue makers with the combination of materials and construction that results in a great feel to the hit.
With most cue makers, this can be a hit or miss proposition. Even the best makers produce a clunker once in a while, IMHO. On the other hand, cue makers that don't have the knowledge, skill, materials (re; shaft wood) only hit the sweet spot once in a while.
This is why top tier makers are sought out by collectors and especially players, not necessarily for fancy inlays and intricate designs, but their knowledge and experience tell them what construction methods result in consistently great hitting cues. Its hard to find a Scruggs sneaky that doesn't feel phenomenal.
It is also why I seek out makers that make an effort to focus on feel, hit and performance of their cues as opposed to decoration. Lambros, Starkey, Joey, Mason, BD, Tucker, Bluegrass are at the top of my list.
Personally, I will take a full splice purple heart or bacote, big pin ivory or phenolic joint, ferruless shaft, ultraskin medium tip.
I find it curious people still talk about joint material when they talk about the hit/feedback of their cue. My limited experience has taught me that joint material makes very little difference. I have 2 different butts that I can put 3 different shafts on. One is a steel joint the other is a synthetic joint, whatever is white that is not ivory that was used on the D series McDermotts. My favorite hitting cue is an old original Hoppe Titlist with a newer Predator shaft and soft tip. This one has a real pronounced almost kind of a ping to it when striking QB, almost like the sound of a driver hitting a golf ball.The 2 other shafts, both Maple that fit this cue do not feel the same. My next favorite combo is my restored D19 McDermott which is my player, that has a new G-core and Everest Tiger tip, very similar to the Titlist/Predator combo but a little subdued. The original D19 Maple shaft and the Maple shaft from my D11 both feel different. Also, the G-core that I use on the D19 feels completely different when I put it on my D11. I asked a local cue maker about this, his response was that anyone that can build a cue to hit a particular way consistently will become rich. If any of you cue makers can build a cue to my feedback preference I will order a cue from you. I would like to get a new custom but I do not want to end up with a cue that I do not care for the hit. I can send you my Titlist/Predator combo so that you will know what I am looking for in a cue.
I like good feedback and a distinct sound that announces when the ball it hit right. My Stonier cue makes a beautiful "tink" sound when you hit it good. My Hagan is a little softer, but still solid. Not too stiff, not too soft. Joint doesn't tend to matter as much. I've had SS jointed cues that play completely differently, same with wood to wood joints. Having a comfortable taper is key. I lean toward the stiff/crisp hit preference. Not into LD as much because they tend to be dead.
I like a stiff hit with plenty of feedback. I like SS joints and med hard tips.