???snooker cues flat butts???
- Thread starter Hank
- Start date
some old antique brunswick pool cues had it too
i've asked the same question before and got these answers
if you turn the flat down on to the table and push it down,
it brings the tip up, to center of cueball
an alternative to using a bridge???
anyways, that's what i was told
2nd answer was, a lot of the old cues had a patch of leather on the butt end
again, i was told a player could turn the cue around, laying the wedge down on table , and push the cueball with the ass end of the cue, like a mace
i have no idea if those are the real reasons or not,
would love to see someone actually doing either of those in a real game
your welcome hank
it's brent
but i get called brad, bert, brett, bart, etc. and alot worse :smile:
brenster likes flat butts > on girls and cues
here's a couple cues with flats i used to own
Check out this thread at The Snooker Forum about the flattened bit:
http://www.thesnookerforum.com/board/showthread.php?t=22925
Mike Shamos's encyclopedia may cover this subject as well; it's been a while since I read the entry about the mace, the history of the modern cue design, etc.
Another thread from The Snooker Forum on playing with a snooker cue:
http://www.thesnookerforum.com/board/showthread.php?t=21676
Keep in mind the "new cue" effect: if you pick up an unfamiliar cue that feels right in your hands but varies slightly in balance from your regular playing cue, you may notice an improvement in making balls. You might notice the same if you play with a house cue that has a properly groomed tip. I think Bob Fancher may have discussed the reasons for this in his book; if you're interested I could dig it out.
If you like the balance, squirt, and other characteristics of a snooker cue, then why not play with it. If you play pool much more often than you play snooker, though, you might want to try out a pool cue custom made to specifications similar to those of a snooker cue.
Maybe you should look for a Bob Renis cue. You can read about the design of the cue on his website, which is still online:
http://www.westcoastcues.com/bobcues/.
Renis passed away recently, and I believe he stopped making cues at least five years ago, but you'll see them for sale once in a while. I've never held one or hit with one, but some people like them a lot.
Wity
Banned
When billiards was first played on a table there
were no cushions/rails and the balls were struck
with a mace. Obviously they soon got fed up
with balls running off the table and cushions
were soon introduced. Striking a ball that lay
close to the cushion with a mace was then
difficult and the mace was turned around and
the ball struck with the thin end. Women were
not allowed to though as it was thought they
would tear the cloth. As the cue replaced the
mace the flat was on the cue butt purely for
women who would strike the ball with the butt,
the flat letting it slide along the cloth without
damaging it.
It's stayed on snooker cues purely from tradition
and neither does any good or harm to ones stroke.
Good read on the subjext is here...
http://www.normanclare.co.uk/DOY_No9_MaceToCue.html
were no cushions/rails and the balls were struck
with a mace. Obviously they soon got fed up
with balls running off the table and cushions
were soon introduced. Striking a ball that lay
close to the cushion with a mace was then
difficult and the mace was turned around and
the ball struck with the thin end. Women were
not allowed to though as it was thought they
would tear the cloth. As the cue replaced the
mace the flat was on the cue butt purely for
women who would strike the ball with the butt,
the flat letting it slide along the cloth without
damaging it.
It's stayed on snooker cues purely from tradition
and neither does any good or harm to ones stroke.
Good read on the subjext is here...
http://www.normanclare.co.uk/DOY_No9_MaceToCue.html
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I once asked the same question, and got an interesting response. While chatting with a gent from London, I asked, "Seems like a stupid question, but what is the flat side of the butt for?"
His response was,"It's to hold the B O-A-D-G-E". I asked, "THE WHAT??" "You know, the BADGE-where the cue maker places his mark!" "You can't put a flat badge on a round cue". If one looks, the "BADGE" is a separate inlaid piece of wood or plastic or sometimes Ivory, with the makers emblem printed or embedded.
Later, I also found, that as previously mentioned, the flat side was also used in years gone by, to push as the old time "MACE".
When I got this man's response, I felt pretty foolish, however, I DID get my answer.
His response was,"It's to hold the B O-A-D-G-E". I asked, "THE WHAT??" "You know, the BADGE-where the cue maker places his mark!" "You can't put a flat badge on a round cue". If one looks, the "BADGE" is a separate inlaid piece of wood or plastic or sometimes Ivory, with the makers emblem printed or embedded.
Later, I also found, that as previously mentioned, the flat side was also used in years gone by, to push as the old time "MACE".
When I got this man's response, I felt pretty foolish, however, I DID get my answer.
It's apparent to me that generally snooker cues are lighter than their american made round butted pool counterparts, so the flat seems like an excellent way for the cuemaker to be able to achieve the overall weight, as well as balance point that he's trying to achieve, just by leaving more wood on, or taking more wood off at the flat.
Just my thoughts, and they mean nothing usually,,,,,,,,,
Renegade
Just my thoughts, and they mean nothing usually,,,,,,,,,
Renegade
Last years US open I believe
Wity
Banned
Nope weight has nothing to do with the flat. As a rule of thumb an ash and ebony
one piece cue without any weight added to it can be approx 15 to 17 ounces
depending on the length of the ebony splices. A 3/4 cue will add another 1/2 to 1
ounce to that and a butt joint another 1/2 oz. You'll find most cues have lead
inserted into the butt to get the required weight and balance point
Splice on fancy wood lighter than ebony and your into another weight realm.
For instance my latest cue with a butt joint weighed only 14 oz before Dan
added some lead to give the 17oz i asked for.
one piece cue without any weight added to it can be approx 15 to 17 ounces
depending on the length of the ebony splices. A 3/4 cue will add another 1/2 to 1
ounce to that and a butt joint another 1/2 oz. You'll find most cues have lead
inserted into the butt to get the required weight and balance point
Splice on fancy wood lighter than ebony and your into another weight realm.
For instance my latest cue with a butt joint weighed only 14 oz before Dan
added some lead to give the 17oz i asked for.
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Nope weight has nothing to do with the flat. As a rule of thumb an ash and ebony
one piece cue without any weight added to it can be approx 15 to 17 ounces
depending on the length of the ebony splices. A 3/4 cue will add another 1/2 to 1
ounce to that and a butt joint another 1/2 oz. You'll find most cues have lead
inserted into the butt to get the required weight and balance point
Splice on fancy wood lighter than ebony and your into another weight realm.
For instance my latest cue with a butt joint weighed only 14 oz before Dan
added some lead to give the 17oz i asked for.
Very good looking cue - what is the accent wood? Is it a burl?
Wity
Banned
Cheers PD As were going off topic i've replied here:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=168304
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=168304
The flat end of snooker cue is a chamfer because....
The point of the flat end on the butt of a snooker cue is modern take on the old chamfer butts of the early game.
Now the flat end is being designed to serve as a stabilizing point to keep the butt of the cue from rotating in your grip hand, and modern cue makers such as Gravity Cues also are designed a lower center of gravity core in the flatter butt end to offer a lower center of gravity on the cue instead of the traditional cues with a center weight plug.
They make trainer cues with the chamfer feature (the flatten end) and a jointed spring system that "breaks" the cue if you don't throw the cue straight and centered in your back hand. Pretty cool stuff. There is an english company selling them and they are promising to make a USA version of the Gravity Cue with a 13 mm tip in addition to the 9.75mm snooker tip they currently offer.
I am waiting for that one!
The point of the flat end on the butt of a snooker cue is modern take on the old chamfer butts of the early game.
Now the flat end is being designed to serve as a stabilizing point to keep the butt of the cue from rotating in your grip hand, and modern cue makers such as Gravity Cues also are designed a lower center of gravity core in the flatter butt end to offer a lower center of gravity on the cue instead of the traditional cues with a center weight plug.
They make trainer cues with the chamfer feature (the flatten end) and a jointed spring system that "breaks" the cue if you don't throw the cue straight and centered in your back hand. Pretty cool stuff. There is an english company selling them and they are promising to make a USA version of the Gravity Cue with a 13 mm tip in addition to the 9.75mm snooker tip they currently offer.
I am waiting for that one!
I also asked this question to a cue maker and great Canadian snooker player Bernie Mikkelsen. He used the flat butt to get his cue lower and more level for playing draw shots. He also said that his knuckles would sometimes be scuffed up from dragging on the cloth.