Soft hitting custom cue maker cues?

[Jimmy_Betmore]

For what it's worth, if someone asked me what I'd do to soften the hit of their cue these are the things I would do and in this order. It's a lot. But the idea is to get you where you want to go without going too far. And, yes. It's overkill. But you're basically tuning your cue. And if you take the game seriously it'll be worth it if you're looking for a very specific hit/sound. If you're feeling adventurous and want to take a shotgun to the problem, go ahead do all of these at once. It's anybody's guess how the cue will play. But at least you'll know pretty quickly.

1. Change to a quality soft tip
2. Change the tip (same tip but new) but add a pad
3. Change the ferrule to a softer material than what's currently on the cue. Another new tip just like the one that was on it but no pad.
4. Change the tip yet again (same tip but new) and add a pad.
5. Have the taper lengthened.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Any competent cue maker can build you a cue that meets your requirements but remember none are mind readers.

Smaller diameter tips have less deflection.
Hole drilled in tip/ferule have less deflection.
Lighter ferrule results in less deflection.
Longer (from tip) straight before starting taper to joint results in softer hits.
Taper beginning at Ferrule results in harder hits (more power).

If you know what you want, any competent cue maker can satisfy.
But YOU need to have that discussion with HIM.