Can anyone come up with a "billiards" question that already hasn't been beat to death?
I'll try...
What shape/color/thickness rubber bumper is best for the butt end of a cue?
A Snooker Player doesn't even use a rubber bumper on the cue.... Right? It's easy to screw in an extension...Take care of your tools. Don't need a bumper.
That's only one reason why Snooker is a "Gentleman's" game, and pool isn't.
Actually, if you'd know the history of the tools of the trade, and not try to opportunistically take a jab at pool, you'd know the reason for the invention of the rubber bumper on the butt end of the pool cue had NOTHING to do with preventing abuse/damage, or anything of the sort. The early pool cues didn't have rubber bumpers on them, and that's where the "tap tap tap" thing -- where appreciation of a nice shot was acknowledged through the practice of gently tapping the butt end of the cue on the [then] wooden floors of pool rooms -- originated.
Rather, since pool requires a more powerful stroke, the rubber bumper was invented as a sort of vibration dampener. Unfortunately, through the passage of time, the intent and function of the rubber bumper was lost, and it's mistakenly thought of as you're implying.
So, Pangit, before you opportunistically take jabs at something, it'd be helpful if you actually knew what you were talking about.
-Sean
P.S.: oh, and for the coup de gras, it appears you haven't noticed that some really high-end pool cues do not have rubber bumpers, as the technology and craftsmanship that went into the cue already has the vibration dampening built-in. Additionally, the screw-in extensions are en-vogue with some pool cues (e.g. Mezz).
