Snooker Cue Prices vs Pool cues

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
Why is it that players that make $100,000's a year, play with snooker cues that cost $150 or less. Because it's just about the tip and shaft. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
Why is it that players that make $100,000's a year, play with snooker cues that cost $150 or less. Because it's just about the tip and shaft. Johnnyt
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Part of it is there is often less ornamentation on their cues. A lot of the players are playing with cues that are almost indistinguishable from a house cue. Also many players are playing with one piece cues as well which I would expect would be cheaper, just guessing at that though.

I don't know how cheap the cues are though, a number players use John Parris cues and the base model is £282. A Peradon cue seems to be at least £183. Trevor White is a cue maker I've heard a lot about before, but I don't know how much is cues are. I'm assuming at least £200.
 
Hendry used a cheap cue under £50 for the best part of his career. Much like Shane uses a off the shelf cue. When you have talent it doesn't matter. The vast majority of professionals use cues that were built specifically for them and cost just as much as a custom pool cue. The difference is pool cues have a hell of a lot more detail in them making the construction process lengthier which obviously costs more money.

Most snooker cues are either ash or maple with an ebony butt with maybe 1 or 2 more exotic timbers spliced into the butt. Pool cues can have 10 timbers and materials used in them. That costs more money..

Once you get past a certain price point in either sport, the quality can not improve and you are then paying for the makers reputation. The same applies in pool. I've got several snooker cues over £500.the most expensive would sell today at about £1300. The quality of that cue is no better than an entry level Parris cue for 3-400 GBP. I am now playing with a Player's pool cue that costs £100. I've hit with $1000 predator cues and $1500 custom cues and can't tell the difference. The standard of production cues in pool is much higher than production cues in snooker IMO. I don't know why.
 
In the years between 1955 and 1970 I played at Mosconi's poolroom in Philly. He had a contract with Brunswick so all his house cues were perfect to shoot with too. He religiously retipped and dressed tips so most of us never thought about "custom-two piece cues" what was the point? Those cues became "conversions" in later years as we all know now from people like Gene Balner, etc. My first two piece came from Gene and I payed $125.00 for it I believe. It played no better than those house cues but it was MY OWN CUE. I guess that's the point here and strangely similar to this post. Pidge hit it on the head about Hendry and Shane....when you have talent it doesn't matter. Efren could surely beat any of us with a broomstick having a decent tip. Some people have natural ability, others improve through constant practice and competitive play......it's not the cue. One last observation, this makes me think about the genius of Apple convincing millions of people all over the world that paying much more for a product (like a custom made pool cue or a "better device") will make you somehow better. Brilliance in advertising, don't you think?
 
Most snooker cues, even the more expensive types, would be consider plain by pool cue standards. There doesn't seem to be much ring work or inlays. The wood types used are typically quite limited. Judging from the simplicity of the cues, the construction process or techniques may very well be much simpler.

Less costly materials. Less time spent to assemble. Cheaper.
 
I think snooker players just get it, that it's the tip and shaft, the rest is all you. I guess it's like cars. A Caddy is nice and most will think you have money, but a Ford will get you from point A to point B, just as quick. Johnnyt
 
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