So I got a stick..

Yokel

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I broke down yesterday and bought a cheap cue to play with until my Dominiak gets built. So I drove to Lakeland, TN to Billiard Pro Shop (best damned service I've ever had), and looked around for a while.

I was initially going to buy a good $200-$300 cue that would suppress my appetite til the Dom gets shipped, until after inquiring about a table purchase I am planning on making in the near future, I was told that after purchasing a table you get a 50% discount on up to 4 cues.

So I walked around and started feeling out some of the Player cues that he had, just to find something straight to shoot with for a while, and I finally found one I liked and took it home. The gentleman even gave me a 20% discount and a free case to hold my cue :)

So anyways, playing with it the past two days, I really like the feel of the cue. It hits well, and the length/weight feel very comfortable to me. My only concern is the tip. It's relatively flat :( it has a slight octave shape to it, but I'm wondering if it will damage the tip if I take some say 1800 sand paper and shape it up a little?

I've already sanded the shaft down a little with some 3000 grit sand paper to smooth it up a little more :p
 
nope

shape away, you can use a much heavier grit on the tip
try to get a nickel or dime radius on it.
I prefer a dime. :cool:

smoothing the shaft with 2000 or more is fine also.

try a piece of natural leather after the sandpaper on the shaft also.

check out the "ask the cuemaker" forums for more info
on cue care.
 
I recommend getting a tip tool (Universal tip tool, or a Willard shaper) for the tip. Don't bother with the sandpaper as you may create an odd shape instead of the nickel or dime curvature you should be looking for.

Don't get too used to the Players, I've heard nothing but good things about Dominiak, but I am sure they will play very different based on the wood quality, ferrule type, and especially the joint (compared to the Palyers)! Most players have a stainless steel, whereas the Dom will have the 3/8x10 pin most likely.

Enjoy the Dom!
 
Yokel, how long until you get your Dominiak? I'm thinking I should trade you my patience for your cash!!!!:D

Just kidding my friend, I have no patience at all. I was lucky enough to get my Dom' in 8 days, but it still felt like ages to me!
 
Yokel, Folklore has it that when Willie Mosconi was a kid, he would play with a broomstick and a stack of potatoes. :eek: We all know how good that little prodigy turned out to be. :) :p
 
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I am surprised they did not shape it up for you before you left.
I use one of these with whatever grit sandpaper comes with it.
Then I burnish the side of the tip with leather.
 

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Well I thought I posted this earlier, but I guess I didn't...

I'm ordering a lacewood DC with a Dominator shaft. Sad part is he only has an ebony in stock and I have to wait for the next set of lacewoods to be completed before I can stick my name on one for order :(

I tried e-mailing him back yesterday but I haven't heard anything back as-of-yet. So I just broke down and went and bought a cheap-yet-effective cue. Just something to practice with while I pass the time...

BTW Allen, folklore also has it that Mosconi was actually the last surviving member of his alien race and that he was found by a farmer and taught to play pool with his alien abilities :p
 
Yokel said:
The gentleman even gave me a 20% discount and a free case to hold my cue :)

They offer the 20% discount and free case to everyone because they're markup is so high. Could've gotten the same cue from Joe Nielsen (or if not him, somebody) for cheaper, shipped, with a case and tools. But, you pay for the "touch it before you buy it" at a place like that.

-yow! <---bitter b/c he's never gotten the respect he deserves in that store
 
Yokel said:
I broke down yesterday and bought a cheap cue to play with until my Dominiak gets built. So I drove to Lakeland, TN to Billiard Pro Shop (best damned service I've ever had), and looked around for a while.

I was initially going to buy a good $200-$300 cue that would suppress my appetite til the Dom gets shipped, until after inquiring about a table purchase I am planning on making in the near future, I was told that after purchasing a table you get a 50% discount on up to 4 cues.

So I walked around and started feeling out some of the Player cues that he had, just to find something straight to shoot with for a while, and I finally found one I liked and took it home. The gentleman even gave me a 20% discount and a free case to hold my cue :)

So anyways, playing with it the past two days, I really like the feel of the cue. It hits well, and the length/weight feel very comfortable to me. My only concern is the tip. It's relatively flat :( it has a slight octave shape to it, but I'm wondering if it will damage the tip if I take some say 1800 sand paper and shape it up a little?

I've already sanded the shaft down a little with some 3000 grit sand paper to smooth it up a little more :p

I have a Players cue as well, and just as you do, I do not like the tip one little bit. I use sandpaper on it, but its flat as a pancake after like 10 min. So just be patient untill you other cue arrives, just use the players cue as your break cue.
 
1800 sandpaper is way way way to fine to do any shaping. You need something in the 200's to get anywhere. 1800 is fine enough to burnish the tip sides. but you can work it all day and not remove any leather. Better yet, if you have 10-15$ get a Willards tip shaper. It even has a built in measureing edge to make sure its the right shape. Then use the 200 sandpaper to work the edge of the tip a little.

Vic
 
I use this --> http://www.gameroomsusa.com/bsc.html
And keep it on my keyring. It makes house cues tolerable, for sure. And it works well when you need to shape or scuff. I don't particularly like Willards, at all. It grinds away too much and that's not what you want to do. An even better buy would be an "It's George" that does it all.

-yow!
 
ericyow said:
They offer the 20% discount and free case to everyone because they're markup is so high. Could've gotten the same cue from Joe Nielsen (or if not him, somebody) for cheaper, shipped, with a case and tools. But, you pay for the "touch it before you buy it" at a place like that.

-yow! <---bitter b/c he's never gotten the respect he deserves in that store

Are you sure their mark-up is that high? Some of their lower-quality cues might be marked up a little, but I know they sell McDermotts for the lowest cost McD's will allow.

As for not getting the respect you deserve in there... I walked in with $1200 cash in my pocket and had the guy following me around the store like a lost puppy :rolleyes:

BTW, I'm heading to buy a box of Triangle tips to practice installing on my Players cue. I figure the tip can't get much worse than what is on there, and I'd like to get some experience before I get my Dom and have to start re-tipping it :)
 
Yokel,

You can save that Players cue and use it for your break cue. Of course your next purchase would have to be a 2X4 hard case if you do that :rolleyes: ! If you put a Triangle tip on the Players cue and decide to use it for a break cue, you will want to take about 2/3 of the tip down for a firmer hit/break.
Good luck with your Dominiak!!!

Maniac
 
Maniac said:
Yokel,

You can save that Players cue and use it for your break cue. Of course your next purchase would have to be a 2X4 hard case if you do that :rolleyes: ! If you put a Triangle tip on the Players cue and decide to use it for a break cue, you will want to take about 2/3 of the tip down for a firmer hit/break.
Good luck with your Dominiak!!!

Maniac

Thank you :D I am positive I will enjoy it very much when I finally get my paws on it... as I've heard nothing but good things about his cues :)

As for the Players cue, thanks for the info on cutting the tip short for a break cue. I will be using it as my playing cue for now, so I would like a decent tip on it... but after I get the Dom and convert it to a break cue, I will deffinitely take your advice on the tip :)
 
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