Shaft Taper...

[Banker Burt]

Thank you for viewing this post, and thank you to AZBILLIARDS.COM for offering this excellent venue to share information between ourselves.
There are numerous postings on this forum, invaluable to the pool player. With this said, I would like to hear opinions about shaft taper, tip diameter, ferrules and tips (parts of the shaft only).

The question is, "Beyond the cue, isn't it the shaft that makes the cue?"
There are endless numbers of excellent cuemakers, but I think it is a player's responsibility to know their own game in relation to the equipment that they use, and then to rely on a professional cuemaker to develop a cue that fits their personal style.

My suggestion is to talk with playing experts -

Mike Sigel and Bob Hunter come to mind. Two cuemakers that I am confident in answering this question. Two World Champions.
They both make (beyond) excellent cues.

Wouldn't it be great to hear what they have to say about shaft taper?

http://sigelscues.com/
http://www.huntercues.com/hunter.htm

Banker Burt

 

[kokopuffs]

IMHO the butt determines weight and balance; the shaft playability.

 

[Buddha Jones]

I've always felt that the joint was very important because that transfered the hit informaion to your hands, and for me feel is everything.

 

[Purdman]

Weight, Balance, Joint, Taper, Ferrule, Pins, and Tip. All these factors are what make up the playability of any cue. Add type of wood, number of inlays, and points and you got the whole ball of wax. You change any of the factors and you change the hit and feel. Stainless steel, ivory, wood to wood, these all make a difference. To some people, the cuemaker makes the difference. With all these factors contributing to the playability, they play different. If you took three top cuemakers, gave them the same wood, joint, tip, ferrule, pins, and weight, the cues would all play different due to the different densitys of the woods. JMHO
Don P.

 

[pooltablemech]

Where's the all of the above...lol. At least I am sticking to the post.

 

[Banker Burt]

thanks Don. You just said it all about a cue. My point was about a player understanding their personal style, and then detemining what type of cue (equipment) that they need specifically.
The poll was to see if any of you put preferences on your particular equipment - taper, diameter, ferrule & tip. Each of these parts can make a huge diffeence in a cue's playability, but in my opnion one of these is the most important. my suggestion was to speak with an expert player/cuemaker about equipment when making adjusments; like Mike or Bob.
It is our time and game that is at stake...

 

[pooltablemech]

Of those 4, taper would have to be at the top.

 

[Buddha Jones]

I'd say taper, then tip, then the other two in any order. For the taper, I like a nice consistant feel throughout the stroke, and I have a long sroke so I play with a shaft tapered to that part of my game. The tip is next, harder the better. I can tell by the 'hit' on the cue ball if I gave it what I needed to. But I feel that I only get that feeling with the proper joint sending that information correctly to my arm, that is why I would put the joint as the third most important part in my own list. I suppose that the ferrule is important in relaying that information from the tip to the shaft, but how im portant I don't know....yet.

 

[pooltablemech]

I had forgotten how much taper is a factor, until I switched from a Southwest I had been playing with for almost 10 years. And switched to a Schon. Taper wasn't the only difference..........but it did stand out. It is all what ya like........everybody is different.........that's why their are so many different cues to choose from. Myself I like the smaller butt diameter that Schons have. Not to mention the way they play.

 

[qguy]

I voted tip...why...I remember everytime I go to a pool hall and during those rare occasions that I am w/o my own cue I always check for the quality of the tip of the house cue, it does not matter if its light or heavy, crooked or straight, pro taper or billiard taper.... as long as the tip is right I can pretty much play my game....

 

[locki]

from the choices given, i chose the tip since i can only pick one...

no matter what cue is given to me, i would always look for a master tip, shaped like a dime, i dunno, but im shooting/pocketing like a pro with that tip...

secondly, the taper plays a very important role in positioning play, im talking here for myself only.

i wouldnt care for its diameter, no matter the diameter is, i would want a taper flat-out from the tip down to around 25-30 inches from the tip.

but i would recommend a 12.5 or 13 diameter.

 

[bruin70]

if i had to, i'd prefer asking a cuemaker who's been in the business longer than the two you mentioned.

a great violin player doesn't necessarilly know how to make a good violin.

of the choices above i would go with the tip. mushy tip, mushy hit. it's the first thing i "feel". from a "performance" viewpoint, i'd go with "taper"

 

[Purdman]

PTM, you never miss a chance, do ya. Hope you feel real good about yourself. Your the man buddy.
God Bless, Don P.

 

[pooltablemech]

What Don? What did I do to bring you out from under that rock? I can't respond without having to hear shit from you? You don't respond to the post....you just have to say something smart. Explain what I said to offend the great DIAPER DON now?

 

[Banker Burt]

Now we are getting somehere. A little contraversy always helps. My consensus from your responses (thanks to each of you) is that the Tip is the most important, as refering to what a player looks for when selecting a house cue. The ferrule may be the least of importance, but then you have to ask yourself about the diameter and taper to know what fits your playing style the best.
I play with a high-end Viking, made by Gordy himself. But before I bought this cue back in 96', I asked a number of pro players what taper and diameter they used, and then because I only knew of Mike and Bob being both Champions and cuemakers, there information matched and was relatively consistent with the other pros for whom I had spoken. Thus, I passed these specifications along to Gordy (straight taper, 13 mm, 19 0z.) and without dispute he sent me a cue that helped me develop my playing style into the best I could get from a cue. Even though I am not a pro, I at least know that my equipment is very close to what the pros use, and it will give me the best opportunity to maximize my abilities.

 

[pooltablemech]

The contoversy is the old man has problems..........I guess he thinks I am plugging Schons. That is the cue I like, and that's what I play with. And yes I sell them. I guess it would be ok if I put................Dealer of Schon Cues...........at the bottom of my posts. Becareful burt he might accuse you of plugging Vikings....lol! Instead of actually responding to the original post.

 

[Banker Burt]

Thanks for the advise, but contraversy builds knowledge so it really doesn't bother me. As far as plugging cues it was not my intention in this post, but I really don't see anything wrong with that whether you are a dealer or not.
My whole point was to bring attention to (the importance) of the type of shaft a player uses, in relation to their style. Then, regardless of the type of cue, which of course must fit the feel of your hand, the shaft is the working part of what you get from your stroke.
What's the old saying, "Different strokes for different folks?" Might be better said (to add), "But use a shaft designed like the pros use." Your game should benefit.

 

[Joseph Cues]

I'm with PTM on this one.
I don't care if the cue is worth a million dollars.
If I don't like the shaft's taper, I can't play with it.
I can't stand the Meucci taper but I've seen good players play lights out with them.
To some Schon's taper is too soft or have too much "deflection" (very overrated factor imo), yet a ton of players love them.
I've seen a pro or two play with Schon even though they were not getting paid for it.
Jimmy Wetch for example was shooting with Schon before he signed with Meucci (yipes!).
A good tip is a good tip. There are a ton of good tips out there.
But, your shaft has to be made for you imo.

 

[Purdman]

PTM, why don't you grow up. I am not plgging anybodys cue. I am giving my opinion. Everything affects the playability of a cue. Some factors are more to some people than others. You have a nasty disposition son. You say things on here that you would never say to my face. That makes you a chicken shit boy. You are going to have the oportunity to prove me wrong very soon.
Don P.
Maybe I will send my youngest son down to visit you. He don't like anybody badmouthing his father. Really pisses him off. You might be better off with me.

 

[pooltablemech]

It is just that old man Don.........something about the old cenial guys here.......they wanna fight. LMAO! Don said in a PM that I started all this and he is gonna finish it......lmao! That new bill that was passed about seniors perscription drugs hopefully will help. I guess one day I will learn not to post on a thread until I get an OK from DON!