Selecting my first cue

B

bulldogpool

Registered
I'm looking to buy my first cue. After a ton of research I have come to the conclusion that an OB-126 with OB-1 shaft for $420 might be a good choice.

With the same budget ($400-500), would you buy this one or is there better available? I considered the Predator Sport as well, but to be honest I find the huge puma logo on the butt to be a bit too kitsch. Maybe I shouldn't give too much weight to this aspect, but I've heard it can affect one confidence.

Either way, I'd like to opt for a LD shaft. Also, I'd like a Kamui Black tip, but I'm not sure about soft, medium, or hard when used in combination with a 12.75mm LD shaft. Weight wise I was thinking 19oz would probably be good.

Thanks in advance for your advice. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: TSW
I recently switched to an OB-1 and love it. In the great wide world of low deflection shafts, I think you're making an excellent choice.

Kamui tips never did it for me - I find them all too hard. But a lot of people swear by them.
 
TSW said:
I recently switched to an OB-1 and love it. In the great wide world of low deflection shafts, I think you're making an excellent choice.
Click to expand...

Good to hear. :smile:

Kamui tips never did it for me - I find them all too hard. But a lot of people swear by them.
Click to expand...

Seyberts gives me a few choices, including Everest, Predator, Moori, LePro, etc. I just thought the standard tip is probably not that great, so I might as well go for the best option (I assumed by the price that Kamui Black was one of the best options).
 
bulldogpool said:
Seyberts gives me a few choices, including Everest, Predator, Moori, LePro, etc. I just thought the standard tip is probably not that great, so I might as well go for the best option (I assumed by the price that Kamui Black was one of the best options).
Click to expand...

Once you get into the well-made layered tips, there's no "best." There's just different.

Personally I like the Tiger Sniper and Moori. I had a Kamui soft on my cue for a couple of weeks. It played very hard. I couldn't get it to hold chalk consistently, and I miscued more than usual. Switched back to Sniper and haven't looked back. Then again, many people love Kamui. Try whatever tip strikes your fancy - if you don't like it, it's inexpensive to change.
 
DoubleD said:
I always advise against LD. Start down the 'the equipment makes me better' path and it is hard to get away from. This means that you will always be able to blame your equipment, it will never be your fault, you simply didn't get the best LD shaft, the greatest chalk, the bestest tip and ferrule.
Click to expand...

[REMOVED]

Edit: I'm not going to give Measureman and the popcorn munchers the satisfaction. I've said my piece and won't turn this into the one millionth thread about LD vs non LD.

If the OP has any specific questions, I'll answer them. But otherwise I'm staying out of it.
 
Last edited:
DoubleD said:
Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Expensive is ALWAYS better.
Click to expand...

You broke my sarcasm meter. :wink: What I meant may have come across the wrong way. Not having tried all these tips myself, I used price as an indication of quality. It's not a fool-proof system, but it generally leads to filtering out really crappy products (but not overpriced ones).
 
TSW said:
Once you get into the well-made layered tips, there's no "best." There's just different.

Personally I like the Tiger Sniper and Moori. I had a Kamui soft on my cue for a couple of weeks. It played very hard. I couldn't get it to hold chalk consistently, and I miscued more than usual. Switched back to Sniper and haven't looked back. Then again, many people love Kamui. Try whatever tip strikes your fancy - if you don't like it, it's inexpensive to change.
Click to expand...

Makes sense. In terms of hardness, granted it varies from brand to brand, would you go for soft, medium, or hard?
 
bulldogpool said:
Makes sense. In terms of hardness, granted it varies from brand to brand, would you go for soft, medium, or hard?
Click to expand...

It's totally personal preference. If you don't yet have a preference developed, the safe bet is to stay in the middle of the standard range; i.e., medium tip. That also makes sense for your weight. 19 oz is a good standard number if you don't have a preference.
 
I said this in a post about two weeks ago and will repeat it because I think it's important. Your in a large price range (500 & under) and have endless options. With that being said, whatever you decide to purchase stick with it, even if your game suffers in the beginning. Whether its an LD shaft or a maple shaft your mind and memory need to learn how that particular cue deflects. Once it does playing with something else will make your game suffer. This is what you want to avoid. I've known countless players that switch cues up for something prettier, or the newest thing out and lose consistency. This game is about doing everything the same way every time. Meaning, stance, stroke, bridge, etc. If you can put all that together and know how your cue will deflect when applying different amounts of spin your going to play the game well. The more advanced you are the easier it becomes to switch equipment and stay consistent.

Lastly, and this is just my opinion. For 500 you can get a very nice used custom cue in the wanted/FS section. If you shop around you can most likely pick up a nice cue for a great price. Also, if you go this route if you do decide to upgrade to a fancier cue down the road you will have a better shot at getting you money beck out of it. Whatever you do good luck!
 
Love my ob 108. Its 350 if you want to spend a little less. I say go for it you wont be dissapointed.
 
bulldogpool said:
I'm looking to buy my first cue. After a ton of research I have come to the conclusion that an OB-126 with OB-1 shaft for $420 might be a good choice.

With the same budget ($400-500), would you buy this one or is there better available? I considered the Predator Sport as well, but to be honest I find the huge puma logo on the butt to be a bit too kitsch. Maybe I shouldn't give too much weight to this aspect, but I've heard it can affect one confidence.

Either way, I'd like to opt for a LD shaft. Also, I'd like a Kamui Black tip, but I'm not sure about soft, medium, or hard when used in combination with a 12.75mm LD shaft. Weight wise I was thinking 19oz would probably be good.

Thanks in advance for your advice. :)
Click to expand...

Is it safe to assume you have a fair bit of playing experience and this is just your first personal cue? Or are you fairly new to pool all together?
 
ScottK said:
Is it safe to assume you have a fair bit of playing experience and this is just your first personal cue? Or are you fairly new to pool all together?
Click to expand...

Brand new to the game. Played a handful of times. But I'm pretty serious about practicing and improving (I've been taking lessons, reading books, watching videos, reading online, etc).
 
deadnutz said:
Lastly, and this is just my opinion. For 500 you can get a very nice used custom cue in the wanted/FS section. If you shop around you can most likely pick up a nice cue for a great price. Also, if you go this route if you do decide to upgrade to a fancier cue down the road you will have a better shot at getting you money beck out of it. Whatever you do good luck!
Click to expand...

I thought about this. The problem is that I don't know if I'm getting a good deal or not when it comes to custom cues.
 
bulldogpool said:
Brand new to the game. Played a handful of times. But I'm pretty serious about practicing and improving (I've been taking lessons, reading books, watching videos, reading online, etc).
Click to expand...

In that case, go with a LD shaft. Seyberts and some of the other big online stores offer a full refund on cues, so you can send back whichever you choose if you don't like it.

Alternatively, you could look on ebay for a used one - getting a decent make with a 314 shaft is pretty easy on there, I should think.
 
go play with one if you like it
buy it

that is when the cleanliness of theory takes a backseat to the mess of reality

either that or buy a schon
 
bulldogpool said:
Brand new to the game. Played a handful of times. But I'm pretty serious about practicing and improving (I've been taking lessons, reading books, watching videos, reading online, etc).
Click to expand...

First, let me say I think you'd like the OB. I have an OB-2 shaft and regularly hit a buddy's cue with an OB-1. I think they play really well.

However, when it arrives you'll have a $400 cue that you really haven't compared to anything else. If spending $400-$500 on a cue you might not like sits OK with you and you like the design then go for it. If you're just looking to get an LD shaft and Kamui tip there are cheaper options... even entry level options.

Players, for example, builds an HXT line of cues and shafts. They are low deflection, come with a Kamui tip, and start just over $100. Now, they aren't for everyone... no one thing is. But I suspect you'd have a pretty decent playing cue for your level and it would have the features you seem to desire. If you don't like it, you're only into it $100 dollars or so. As you have the opportunity to test hit other cues you may find other things you like better.

On the other hand, as mentioned, you can probably pick up the OB from someplace with a return policy of some sort, so you may not be stuck with a cue you don't like.

I just thought I'd let you know there are options. Hope the info helps.
 
I have an OB classic pro on all of my custom cues... I also have an OB sneaky pete,,,, and in reality, after having numerous custom cues, and playing for decades, I know the bottom line is that the OB Sneaky Pete is all the cue anyone really needs, and the one I play with quite often.....and if folks are NOT into LD shafts, then a Schmelke sneaky pete is all the cue you ever really need.

Everything else is "art"... and some pretty nice art at that....And I like looking at them and buying them.... I just prefer my own shaft, and most cuemakers gladly build cues with OB, Tiger or "Prediator shaft options due to their popularity.... there will always be two camps, maple and LD, which is great... more choices for folks.....

.. Forget about "magical" qualities, and hit, sound, feel.... BS... if the ball goes in the hole, I don't care if it sounds like a Mack truck running over a dozen nuns....I'm gonna shoot with it....

Aluminum bats don't sound any where near as good as a wood bat... but guess what.... that is what I used for decades because they worked.....I could give two craps it didn't sound good..... The only thng I want to sound good is my car when I stomp on the pedal, I just gotta get me some LD tires :)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top