Right cue length & weight ?

David Brown

David Brown

Plastic Pool Player
Hi Everybody

I have often wondered what the right cue length & weight would be for me ?

I am 6' tall

I have all ways been told the tip of the cue should reach the bottom of your nose ?

When I was a kid I used to use 21 oz cues because I hit the balls really hard, when I was around 19 or 20 years old a older pool hall veteran taught me "you can miss just as well hitting the balls easy" meaning a lot of times it takes a soft touch to make the balls, & taught me to hit easier (it helped a bunch). He also said to find the lightest stick I can, like an 18 or 19 oz.

I am looking to get a nice new cue, so any advise would be helpful

I have a Cuetec "Earl Strickland" Maximizer 19 oz. 58" cue that seams short ?

I like it but I wanted a more traditional looks?

I measured from the floor to the bottom of my nose :rolleyes: & it is 61"
 
Normal cue length is 58". As far as weight, what ever feels right to you. Most people like somewhere between 19-20 ounces.

Jim
 
Don't get the idea that 58" is too short for your height. Where did you get the idea that the cue should reach bottom of your nose?? The only people who I've seen with longer than 58" cues are much taller than you. Dave Bollman comes to mind, I think his cues are over 60", but he's around 6' 6", IIRC. I think a longer cue might throw the balance and therefore, your stroke, off.
 
I'm 6'2" tall and use a 60" cue. I switched after taking lessons with Mark Wilson and he suggested going to a longer than standard cue. If I use good form with a 58" cue my hand is always at the very end of the cue and sometimes haning off with just the index finger and thumb around the butt. It depends on your playing style, if you like to drop your elbow then length doesn't much matter but if you like to keep it pretty still then you may have someone evaluate your stroke and see where your hand is positioned. You'll also want to take a look at how long your bridge is. If your hand is at the end of the cue with a 15" bridge then you can shorten your bridge instead of getting a longer cue!
 
You may also want to know that shorter cues play better...less deflection. Many pros play with a less than 58" cue. Call Joe Gold and try an order a 59" Cog...:D :D :D
I'm 6'0" and play with 57" and love it.;)
 
The most important thing is fine a cue that you like, and don't get a cue over 20 oz., from there make sure its straight and appealing to you. You may also consider or not resale value, but I would stick to an inexpensive cue or a schon (expensive) for my first cue, the schon you can usually retrieve most all you money back if you keep it for a couple years, the inexpensive cues half back at best, normally.
 
I agree with the above posters that it's whatever feels comfortable to you. I've gone from 15-19 oz cues of all different varieties, and for me it's less about weight and more about the balance point and feel. I do however, shoot with a ~19oz Meucci that's standard length. What are you looking to spend on a cue? Perhaps you got the nose rule by the way Efren measures his cues?

My recommendations would be the following by price range :

Under $100 :
Players Sneaky Pete at around $40
Excalibur at around $60 (fiberglass woven)

Between $200-$500 :
Viking
McDermott
Joss
Or, opt to have an up and coming custom cue maker make you a very *basic* looking cue, but one that is a good shooting cue.

Upwards of $500 :
Whatever you feel like wasting it on ;)

Also, always remember. It is the sticker, not the stick. While an expensive or flashy cue can make you feel more confident, it will not change fundamentals and experience.
 
David Brown said:
I have all ways been told the tip of the cue should reach the bottom of your nose ?... I measured from the floor to the bottom of my nose :rolleyes: & it is 61"
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You may be in luck. But unscrew the cue and measure its longer half. Few non-custom cases will accommodate cue halves more than 30-31 inches long, counting the joint pin. Any longer and you're looking at significantly more more for a custom case, or just a bit more for a cue extension.

Cuetec makes extensions for its cues. You might want to try one before deciding what length to seek in a new cue.

"you can miss just as well hitting the balls easy"
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Yep. Billiards Digest columnist Bob Jewett once calculated that a hard break would send the cue ball about 1/4 mile if its path was unimpeded. It's a pool table, not a golf course.

Find a weight that feels comfortable to you at this particular stage in your game's development. Generally speaking, the finer your control of shot speed, the lighter the cue you will find compatible, down to some minimum "too light" weight.

Many experienced players I know gravitated to a weight of around 18 oz., but not all. A lot of players "prefer" heavier cues of 19-20 oz. because that's what all the fancy inlays and dense exotic woods they like make a cue weigh; it has nothing to do with performance.

I have a Cuetec "Earl Strickland" Maximizer 19 oz. 58" cue that seams short ?
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I'll bet it does on someone your height. Try this little test:

Address the cue ball with your customary bridge length, bringing the tip to within 1/2" of the cue ball. Make sure your rear forearm is hanging perfectly perpendicular to the table's surface. How does it feel when you're holding the 58" Cuetec this way?

If your rear hand is partially off the end of the cue, you need a longer one. If the cue feels unbalanced and unsteady, you may need a heavier one or adjustments of butt weights to change the cue's balance point.

I like it but I wanted a more traditional looks?
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What does "tradition" look like - linen wrap, wood grain instead of characterless manmade materials, etc.? These factors won't limit your search for a cue of the right length and weight.

I recommend a no-wrap cue. Fill the handle space with beautiful, richly grained natural wood. Others here have said that no-wrap cues provide a better grip than linen or leather. I wouldn't know because I've not played with a wrap in 43 years. If I ordered a cue with a wrap, it would be stingray hide.
 
I know a few people that are your height and shoot with a 58" cue. You could go with a 30" shaft also. You could also shorten your bridge a bit and that will bring you stroke hand up the cue a bit. I like a 58" cue and a 19" balance point. I'm 5' 10".
 
I agree totally!!!

xidica said:
I agree with the above posters that it's whatever feels comfortable to you. I've gone from 15-19 oz cues of all different varieties, and for me it's less about weight and more about the balance point and feel. I do however, shoot with a ~19oz Meucci that's standard length. What are you looking to spend on a cue? Perhaps you got the nose rule by the way Efren measures his cues?

My recommendations would be the following by price range :

Under $100 :
Players Sneaky Pete at around $40
Excalibur at around $60 (fiberglass woven)

Between $200-$500 :
Viking
McDermott
Joss
Or, opt to have an up and coming custom cue maker make you a very *basic* looking cue, but one that is a good shooting cue.

Upwards of $500 :
Whatever you feel like wasting it on ;)

Also, always remember. It is the sticker, not the stick. While an expensive or flashy cue can make you feel more confident, it will not change fundamentals and experience.
Click to expand...

:D I played with McDermotts soley for years and now that I can afford the best and own several Cues I still have 2 McDermotts and use them every day!;)
 
I think McDermott really makes a fantastic cue, especially for the price. A very good choice in my honest opinion for a players first cue, or a Joss. My first cue was a Joss 03-18, and was a great cue. I ended up trading it for a Meucci Gambler-3 with 2 brand new black dot shafts.

I couldn't be happier with the Meucci and pray that I don't have one that has any defects so I'm as nice as I can be to the cue ;)
 
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