grygrx
Vainglory
I'd been searching for a butterfly style, but I had trouble finding much in-between the $250 and $3000 range. Wandered into AZbillards over the summer on the advice of a friend while I was looking and stumbled upon some cues for sale here by a builder in Il. named Steve Klapp. We had a couple of conversations and I decided to make a purchase from his stock. Fast shipping, excellent customer service, and the cue looks amazing when I get it. He follows up with me to make sure I like it, and I promise to write a review when I can and promptly fall off the earth.
Well, I found a ride back to the planet and now that I've had a good 3 or 4 months with the cue I figured it was time to make good on that promise.
Background
I've been playing very regularly for the past 12 years. I own a table, and have been through 3 cues since I started to 'get serious'. I've played with a few hundred cues over this time, in 'fun time' with friends or at the hall.
My history of cues: played a viking when I first got going, replaced it with an small builders special for awhile, and then a Heubler sneaky pete (with a hit I just love) and has been my main player for about 6 years. I've had some problems with the joint, and the finish is starting the wear pretty badly and I thought maybe it was time to retire it to homestead only use. I shoot as an 8 currently in a local BCA league
FIT & FINISH
The cue is staggeringly well made and only those nit-picking at less than five inches will find anything to gripe about. The finish seems just the right thickness and is perfectly even. It doesn't have the gummy or tacky feel that some cues always seem to have. The 'look' of it is the perfect balance of not too flashy, but clearly worth taking a second glance at. I had some problems with my sneaky pete wandering off in the pool hall sometimes (not a house cue?), but I'll never have that issue again.
In my head I had wanted to try one of the fancy looking quick-release joints and was a little disappointed when wood-on-wood with giant-screw-pin was already installed.
I get asked all the time about the cue, and it's fun to show off a little (after 6 years of sneaky pete... it's my turn for some love!)
Notes
I received the cue with two shafts, one traditional and one spliced. I had never tried a spliced shaft on a cue of my own, and I have to say it doesn't really suit me and I find myself using the regular style shaft almost exclusively. Comments below reflect this usage.
Hit and Play
I'm not up the terms and jargon that probably go here, but I'll try to describe what I can.
The hit is firm and solid, I feel that the feedback from the cue tip is right in the sweet spot for me. Despite my fear of the joint, I wouldn't change it now if it ment risking the 'feel' of this cue. I loved the hit of my Heubler, and this is... nicer. I'd have to say it feels more... solid flow... like I hit through the ball better, not sure that made any sense, but I'll leave it in.
Conclusion
I was a bit afraid that after the honeymoon wore off, I'd find myself playing with the old cue and wondering how it got in my hands. That hasn't happened though and the transition has been extremely easy. I've owned the cue since August, and I've seldom been happier with a choice that felt a tad 'risky' when I made it.
Glad I wandered in here, and glad I stumbled on to Mr. Klapp's work. I'm not sure I will ever be a regular in the pool forums, but it felt like the right thing to do to come back and make this post.
If you get him on the phone make sure to turn down the earpiece a little, Steve is excited about the work that he is doing and gets going! Jokes aside, he has good reason to be exited. This is an excellent cue and I have no doubt that it will serve me well for many years to come. When I come into the means again, I hope to see if Steve can hit me up with a matching jump cue!
Photos
Well, I found a ride back to the planet and now that I've had a good 3 or 4 months with the cue I figured it was time to make good on that promise.
Background
I've been playing very regularly for the past 12 years. I own a table, and have been through 3 cues since I started to 'get serious'. I've played with a few hundred cues over this time, in 'fun time' with friends or at the hall.
My history of cues: played a viking when I first got going, replaced it with an small builders special for awhile, and then a Heubler sneaky pete (with a hit I just love) and has been my main player for about 6 years. I've had some problems with the joint, and the finish is starting the wear pretty badly and I thought maybe it was time to retire it to homestead only use. I shoot as an 8 currently in a local BCA league
FIT & FINISH
The cue is staggeringly well made and only those nit-picking at less than five inches will find anything to gripe about. The finish seems just the right thickness and is perfectly even. It doesn't have the gummy or tacky feel that some cues always seem to have. The 'look' of it is the perfect balance of not too flashy, but clearly worth taking a second glance at. I had some problems with my sneaky pete wandering off in the pool hall sometimes (not a house cue?), but I'll never have that issue again.
In my head I had wanted to try one of the fancy looking quick-release joints and was a little disappointed when wood-on-wood with giant-screw-pin was already installed.
I get asked all the time about the cue, and it's fun to show off a little (after 6 years of sneaky pete... it's my turn for some love!)
Notes
I received the cue with two shafts, one traditional and one spliced. I had never tried a spliced shaft on a cue of my own, and I have to say it doesn't really suit me and I find myself using the regular style shaft almost exclusively. Comments below reflect this usage.
Hit and Play
I'm not up the terms and jargon that probably go here, but I'll try to describe what I can.
The hit is firm and solid, I feel that the feedback from the cue tip is right in the sweet spot for me. Despite my fear of the joint, I wouldn't change it now if it ment risking the 'feel' of this cue. I loved the hit of my Heubler, and this is... nicer. I'd have to say it feels more... solid flow... like I hit through the ball better, not sure that made any sense, but I'll leave it in.
Conclusion
I was a bit afraid that after the honeymoon wore off, I'd find myself playing with the old cue and wondering how it got in my hands. That hasn't happened though and the transition has been extremely easy. I've owned the cue since August, and I've seldom been happier with a choice that felt a tad 'risky' when I made it.
Glad I wandered in here, and glad I stumbled on to Mr. Klapp's work. I'm not sure I will ever be a regular in the pool forums, but it felt like the right thing to do to come back and make this post.
If you get him on the phone make sure to turn down the earpiece a little, Steve is excited about the work that he is doing and gets going! Jokes aside, he has good reason to be exited. This is an excellent cue and I have no doubt that it will serve me well for many years to come. When I come into the means again, I hope to see if Steve can hit me up with a matching jump cue!
Photos
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