Realistic advice?? I don't think so..

[Kung Fu Master]

I have read a few threads in here, but I don't think people understand the core essence of buying a new cue for novice and advance players alike. For example, I have read many, many threads telling people on here who are looking to buy a new cue "you just have to try it" or "try all the cues that you are interested in." These are the very common advice I hear all the time in a forum. But how many people actually go out and look for these cues and try them, let alone it's hard to have a stranger to let you borrow a 5 thousand dollar cue. Even at pool halls and stores, they do not let you chalk a new cue. Unless, you are in the profession or in the business, it's merely impossible to try ever cue your interest in buying. My advice I have given is to give a list of top 10 custom cue maker's that are affordable and most known, tell them the stiffness of the hit and let them choose. They are all great cues and custom cue makers. You can't go wrong with anyone one of them in my opinion.

 

[bruin70]

well, that's ok advice for a beginner who doesn't even know what he likes. in fact, for him, any cue that feels good in his hands is fine, and he shouldn't be looking beyond that.

the better players get around more and have more info to digest.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Actually my advice for beginners is to not bother buying a cue until you can pot the long shots with some consistency. I have always been a believer in learning under more difficult circumstances, ie. playing with a house cue. I did this for a year before buying a cue, I was probably a C player when I bought my Falcon. By that point I knew which cues felt good to me and which ones didn't feel right.

 

[pooltchr]

I usually encourage beginners to find a nice production cue in the $100 price range. Good enough quality to learn with, and the fact that they are using the same cue all the time helps bring some consistancy to their learning process. Imagine if you were trying to learn the game, and never shot with the same cue!!! I'm not a beginner, and I would find it frustrating to be changing equipment all the time.
Once someone has shot with a good entry level cue for a year or two, they are going to have a much better idea what they do and don't like about it. Then they can start thinking about upgrading and hopefully making a more intelligent buying decision.
Steve

 

[Cameron Smith]

and the fact that they are using the same cue all the time helps bring some consistancy to their learning process. Imagine if you were trying to learn the game, and never shot with the same cue!!! I'm not a beginner, and I would find it frustrating to be changing equipment all the time.
Steve

I see your point, and you are probably right, but because I played with house cues for so long I'm not nearly as picky about my equipment, furthermore I still play snooker with a house cue (i need a snooker cue). I am almost as comfortable with a house cue as I am my own. I know guys who bought cues right away and the are lost without them.

But maybe I would have learned a lot faster if I had bought a cue earlier. That's just my opinion based on my limited experience.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

I have read a few threads in here, but I don't think people understand the core essence of buying a new cue for novice and advance players alike. For example, I have read many, many threads telling people on here who are looking to buy a new cue "you just have to try it" or "try all the cues that you are interested in." These are the very common advice I hear all the time in a forum. But how many people actually go out and look for these cues and try them, let alone it's hard to have a stranger to let you borrow a 5 thousand dollar cue. Even at pool halls and stores, they do not let you chalk a new cue. Unless, you are in the profession or in the business, it's merely impossible to try ever cue your interest in buying. My advice I have given is to give a list of top 7 custom cue maker's that are affordable and most known, tell them the stiffness of the hit and let them choose. They are all great cues and custom cue makers. You can't go wrong with anyone one of them in my opinion.

I think I know what you mean by stiffness but what does "hit" really mean?
I think the best thing for a new cue buyer to understand is squirt/deflection and how to test for it. Many players played for years ( myself included) and did not understand deflection on both soft and hard hit shots. This I think is the most critical aspect of selecting a cue.

 

[BrooklynJay]

Would people suggest predator cues/predator shafts for beginners? This takes some of the squirt/deflection learning curve out of the equation. Would it help beginners or hurt them in the long run? Would you only suggest getting a predator shaft after reaching a certain level in pool?

 

[UWPoolGod1]

I am very glad that I made the full progression from house cue to custom cue. House Cue, McDermott (low-end production), Schon Ltd (higher-end production), Tim Scruggs sneaky pete (low-end custom), Local Maker Custom. And through that full progression I figured out what I liked and didn't like about the cues I played with, or my friends cues that I tried for a few shots.

Doesn't really give an answer, but just a thought.

 

[Andrew Manning]

Would people suggest predator cues/predator shafts for beginners? This takes some of the squirt/deflection learning curve out of the equation. Would it help beginners or hurt them in the long run? Would you only suggest getting a predator shaft after reaching a certain level in pool?

I think that depends whether you believe that predator cues put more action on the ball than conventional shafts. Here's my reasoning: a lower-deflection cue will help a beginner experiment with side-spin with more predictable effects, and this can be quite a learning tool. However, if they advance to the point where they're attempting to "juice" the ball in certain circumstances, especially power draw shots, in my opinion they should be learning that on a cue without much "action". Then they'll be forced to really learn how to put a good stroke on the ball to make it dance, as opposed to learning how to apply a lot of spin with poor technique and a good cue.

So for beginners, low deflection is good, but a lot of "action" is bad, in my opinion.

-Andrew

 

[Cornerman]

My advice I have given is to give a list of top 10 custom cue maker's that are affordable and most known, tell them the stiffness of the hit and let them choose.

Will a beginner be able to understand your description of "stiffness"? I don't even know if I ever understand three different people's view of "stiffness."

Fred

 

[Tokyo-dave]

Would people suggest predator cues/predator shafts for beginners? This takes some of the squirt/deflection learning curve out of the equation. Would it help beginners or hurt them in the long run? Would you only suggest getting a predator shaft after reaching a certain level in pool?

In my opinion, learning with a Predator would be like learning how to drive with an automatic transmission. You can most certanly drive, but there will be some cars that you won't know how to drive. If you learn with a manual transmission, you'll be able to drive anything.
dave

 

[Cardinal2B]

I usually encourage beginners to find a nice production cue in the $100 price range. Good enough quality to learn with, and the fact that they are using the same cue all the time helps bring some consistancy to their learning process. Imagine if you were trying to learn the game, and never shot with the same cue!!! I'm not a beginner, and I would find it frustrating to be changing equipment all the time.
Once someone has shot with a good entry level cue for a year or two, they are going to have a much better idea what they do and don't like about it. Then they can start thinking about upgrading and hopefully making a more intelligent buying decision.
Steve

tap-tap-tap

The other thing about a decent production cue (like a McDermott, say) is that you can sell it should you a) become addicted and graduate to a better cue, or b) give up the game in favor of something easier, like golf.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Would people suggest predator cues/predator shafts for beginners? This takes some of the squirt/deflection learning curve out of the equation. Would it help beginners or hurt them in the long run? Would you only suggest getting a predator shaft after reaching a certain level in pool?

The difference between a low-squirt shaft and many production shafts is huge in the learning process of putting side spin into your game. A student of mine was having a lot of trouble playing side spin shots with his new cue. I tried an experiment:

Freeze an object ball to the center of the foot spot. Put the cue ball on the head spot. Cut the ojbect ball in by hitting the cushion first with maximum english. Have an observer (in this case the student) notice where the stick is pointing for the shot.
​

With his stick, I had to aim a half ball on the wrong side of the object ball. With my low-squirt stick, I had to aim about half-ball to make the shot.

In my opinion, someone who tries to learn to spin the ball without a low-squirt shaft is crippling his game. There will be spin shots he is unlikely to ever learn, and if he learns them, they will be too inconsistent to use.

As has been pointed out, the downside is that most pool cues and most house cues are high-squirt, so if you are without your low-squirt shaft, life will be hard.

Someone mentioned that you might seek a low-squirt shaft for increased action on the cue ball. I think there is very little if any effect there.

 

[Mystick Cue Fan]

I have read a few threads in here, but I don't think people understand the core essence of buying a new cue for novice and advance players alike. For example, I have read many, many threads telling people on here who are looking to buy a new cue "you just have to try it" or "try all the cues that you are interested in." These are the very common advice I hear all the time in a forum. But how many people actually go out and look for these cues and try them, let alone it's hard to have a stranger to let you borrow a 5 thousand dollar cue. Even at pool halls and stores, they do not let you chalk a new cue. Unless, you are in the profession or in the business, it's merely impossible to try ever cue your interest in buying. My advice I have given is to give a list of top 10 custom cue maker's that are affordable and most known, tell them the stiffness of the hit and let them choose. They are all great cues and custom cue makers. You can't go wrong with anyone one of them in my opinion.

Ummm....what part of the country are you in where everyone plays with 5,000 dollar cues, and no one will let you hit some balls with their personal cue. I have yet to walk into a pool hall here locally and get denied the opportunity to hit balls with a cue. If I ask, hey buddy can I hit some balls with you cue. I never get the cold shoulder. Maybe you're just as guy no one likes. That's why you can't ever try out cues. But who am I to judge.....hmmm, just another disgruntled customer.