Tall players and long cues

[manwon]

Anyone in here have any advice on long cues? I am 6'5" and have been playing a predator p2 with a 314 shaft for a few years. I have thought about making my next cue a 60" cue, but have also emailed a custom cuemaker only to find out he doesn't make extended cues and that the cue is 58" for a reason and being a little taller didn't mean a 60" would be a good idea. Then again I've heard it the other way. I have been thinking about a 30" LD shaft (I'd consider OB in addition to predator) as a way of saving the money but still gaining half the difference.

2 questions:

- Anybody have any experience playing a longer cue?

- Anybody recommend a cue maker that could build an affordable custom that played tits perfect? I would want a cocobolo cue, with a few rings and maybe a butt sleeve band of a contrasting wood, but no points or inlays needed. I emailed these spec's to Jackson a few years ago, and they replied that it would be $550, but I'm not sure if they are the best bet (I know a few people who play Jacksons here on the Oregon Coast). I would imagine that $500-600 range is probably what I need to plan on, but I'm just guessing. Whoever I had build one I'd want to get a general feel for their cues first.

Griff some cue makers will not build cues longer than 58" and others do it all the time if requested. I personally have buit a number of 60" cues and one that was 61 1/4" long for people in your situation and for others who just like a longer cue.

The cues I have made have been equal between the length of the Butt 30 inches and the length of the cues shaft which is also 30 inches. I think the trick to making a 60" cue is the same as making a 58" cue and that is placement of the cues weight along with it's balance point.

Good luck with your search.

 

[JonnyB]

I am 6' 3" and usually play with a 30" shaft. Well I did until I left my cue case in the car trunk one night and all through a 105+ degree Sacramento day. :frown:

I have a 60" Robby Timms break/jump cue I bought on here that I really like. I regularly browse the for sale section here and ebay with a keen eye for 59" to 60" cues - so there is some resale market for them.

I play fine with a 58" cue, but I find a slightly longer cue feels more comfortable since my back hand slides close to the butt cap on many shots at 58".

I keep kicking around the idea of replacing a beat up and butt cracked 58" purple heart sneaky that I keep at work/school with a 60" Schmelke R-100. It appears customizable Schmelke's can be ordered up to 65" through the billiardwarehouse.com site!

JonnyB

 

[Sysko1]

Well Action cues now have a 62" cue, you can buy one of these cues for around $130. That would be a inexpensive way to try out a longer cue. If you like cues with a Southwest taper, Mike Kompton who makes Mystick Cues offers 60" as his standard length to his cues.

 

[Island Drive]

When I ordered my Zamboti in 1976 I made it 60'', because if I didn't like the length I was still able to keep both shafts if I cut em back to 58'' which I did. I think dbarbr would of had a more difficult time with me had I of used the shorter cue :wink:

 

[jersey jer]

im just over 6'3" and play with cues from 57 1/2 to 60'
i play equally bad with all of em.
anyway i have a 60 inch purple heart espiritu that i love, plays fantastic.
if your in the ny nj philly area msg me if you wanna try it out.
its not currently for sale but if your in the area and wanna give it a swing.

 

[mr_griff]

Thanks everybody

Great feedback (I thought I posted this last night, but had some user error). I have tried a Schmelke and didn't care for the taper (it wasn't a pro taper, and it was still a large tip - bad combination if you ask me). It felt like a dufferin one piece.

Anybody have predator or OB shafts put on a custom length cue? I know its usually about a $150 add. I have grown up on a 314 and changing from a LD shaft might be a real leap, but the only other shaft Ive played came on a players cue so maybe I should get a second shaft thats a cue maker original.

 

[manwon]

Great feedback (I thought I posted this last night, but had some user error). I have tried a Schmelke and didn't care for the taper (it wasn't a pro taper, and it was still a large tip - bad combination if you ask me). It felt like a dufferin one piece.

Anybody have predator or OB shafts put on a custom length cue? I know its usually about a $150 add. I have grown up on a 314 and changing from a LD shaft might be a real leap, but the only other shaft Ive played came on a players cue so maybe I should get a second shaft thats a cue maker original.

Having a cue maker make a cue with a 30" Predator shaft is not a problem. Predator sells blanks that are unfinished on the cues joint end and anyone building cues can buy them and put matching rings so that the shaft matches the custom cue they built for you.

Good Luck

 

[adibon]

Salam ,

Making cues the same lenght is like making shoes the one&only one size .

Take this logic to the stupid cue makers and they make the cues the same lenght just like before .

The lenght and the weigh should be spesified some day if we want the game to become Olympic . Why not now ?

 

[manwon]

Salam ,

Making cues the same lenght is like making shoes the one&only one size .

Take this logic to the stupid cue makers and they make the cues the same lenght just like before .

The lenght and the weigh should be spesified some day if we want the game to become Olympic . Why not now ?

A cues maximum and Minimum length and weight are specified and have been for many years, look it up start with the BCA.

Take care

 

[Celtic]

Johnny Archer is pretty tall; what maybe 6' 4" or better. I wonder if he uses standard 58" cues.

I am pretty sure Johnny Archer is nowhere near that tall. A 6 foot 4 guy stands out in a crowd, Johnny in all the times I have seen him seems more 5'10" to maybe 6'.

<edit> from what I could assess on the net people guess him at 6'2", he never seemed that tall to me, maybe because he is so thin.

 

[dr9ball]

A cues maximum and Minimum length and weight are specified and have been for many years, look it up start with the BCA.

Take care

From the BCA website. http://www.wpa-pool.com/index.asp?content=rules_spec

17. Cue Sticks
Cue Sticks used at WPA competitions should comply with the following
during play at table:

Length of Cue: 40 inches [1.016 m] minimum / No Maximum
Weight of Cue: No minimum / 25 oz. [708.75 gm] maximum
Width of Tip: No minimum / 14mm maximum

The cue tip may not be of a material that can scratch or damage the addressed ball. The cue tip on any stick must be composed of a piece of specially processed leather or other fibrous or pliable material that extends the natural line of the shaft end of the cue and contacts the cue ball when the shot is executed..

The ferrule of the cue stick, if of a metal material, may not be more than 1 inch [2.54 cm] in length.

Hope that helps.

 

[JesPiddlin]

From the BCA website. http://www.wpa-pool.com/index.asp?content=rules_spec

17. Cue Sticks
Cue Sticks used at WPA competitions should comply with the following
during play at table:

Length of Cue: 40 inches [1.016 m] minimum / No Maximum
Weight of Cue: No minimum / 25 oz. [708.75 gm] maximum
Width of Tip: No minimum / 14mm maximum

The cue tip may not be of a material that can scratch or damage the addressed ball. The cue tip on any stick must be composed of a piece of specially processed leather or other fibrous or pliable material that extends the natural line of the shaft end of the cue and contacts the cue ball when the shot is executed..

The ferrule of the cue stick, if of a metal material, may not be more than 1 inch [2.54 cm] in length.

Hope that helps.

Thank you for posting this, Rufus. When folks ask us for a 26 or 27 ounce masse' cue, we usually ask if they will be using the cue in league play, because of these limitations. It would not be wise for us to sell them a cue they can't use.

Because Gene builds a lot of specialty cues, these are some of the factors we have to keep in mind, as we determine what our customers want and need and what is allowable in each version of pool games.

As for a 60" cue or more, there are many people who need one. There are very few available. But, there are a cuemakers who will build them. We do and Gene welcomes the orders. He tries to keep the same "natural" balance in his longer cues that he has in the shorter ones, so the taller customer feels just as comfortable with his cue as the shorter person with the shorter cue.

 

[mamono]

You could always have a cuemaker build you a cue with an extension, either something that you have to pull out of the bag and attach it or something that has a built in rod extension similar to what Jeanette Lee uses.

Here is a nice cue by Dave Sutton, modified by another cuemaker to make it wrapless. It was originally made with an extension.

Cue Pictures:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=170423

For Sale here:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=173755

This would allow you to keep your shafts the same length and taper that you're used to, but just extending the butt of the cue whenever you need it to be longer. I'm sure that Dave Sutton could do something to the extension to make it look nicer, maybe even add a removable bumper that could go on either section.

I personally am 5'11" and I shoot with a 57" cue. Just what I'm used to. My break cue is longer than my playing cue!!! I do find myself holding onto the butt cap once in a while. Looks weird, but I still execute the shot just fine.

 

[9baller]

I am 6'7" and i use a 65" cue. There is a 5" extension between the shaft and the butt. At present I am having James Hanshew make me a butt with an extension in the bottom of the butt instead of between the shaft.

 

[will8834]

I have a friend who is 6'5 and I made him a cue 63 inches long. The shaft is 30 and butt is 33, he really likes it but is limited on casses he can use.

 

[adibon]

A cues maximum and Minimum length and weight are specified and have been for many years, look it up start with the BCA.

Take care

Salam ,
BCA might be a good source to you but not to me& the Olympic's .

 

[adibon]

From the BCA website. http://www.wpa-pool.com/index.asp?content=rules_spec

17. Cue Sticks
Cue Sticks used at WPA competitions should comply with the following
during play at table:

Length of Cue: 40 inches [1.016 m] minimum / No Maximum
Weight of Cue: No minimum / 25 oz. [708.75 gm] maximum
Width of Tip: No minimum / 14mm maximum

The cue tip may not be of a material that can scratch or damage the addressed ball. The cue tip on any stick must be composed of a piece of specially processed leather or other fibrous or pliable material that extends the natural line of the shaft end of the cue and contacts the cue ball when the shot is executed..

The ferrule of the cue stick, if of a metal material, may not be more than 1 inch [2.54 cm] in length.

Hope that helps.

Salam ,
wpa might be a good source to you but not to me&Olympic's .

 

[adibon]

As for a 60" cue or more, there are many people who need one. There are very few available. But, there are a cuemakers who will build them. We do and Gene welcomes the orders.

Salam ,
If " there are many people who need the right cue " , why cue makers do not meet the player's needs without them ordering . It is like a shoe store not having an average size asking most of thier customers to be on a long waiting list . Would you like to be One ?

 

[mamono]

I am 6'7" and i use a 65" cue. There is a 5" extension between the shaft and the butt. At present I am having James Hanshew make me a butt with an extension in the bottom of the butt instead of between the shaft.

A friend of mine gave me a custom plain jane cue many years ago for Christmas and it came with an extension that goes into between the butt and the shaft. I believe the extension is about 10" ... I figured that previous owner that my friend go it from used the cue to play golf on snooker tables.

 

[DJ Valon]

Hello I am 192 cm tall player and playing mcdermott cue which has normal butt and 31" I2 saft. How ever the butter has problems because I need 3" longer butter and that butter should have wrap to bottom. Also current butter is designed to somewhat 175 cm long player who can handle normal length cue from the handle area. How ever I need about 6-9 inch longer cue in able to get to normal snooker style position with my long arms and have decent reach and stroke and ofcource the essential balance on striking hand movement. I have noticed using 6" extender behing the stick I need to hold my hand at 3" area for normal shot and the bottom when needed over the table shot.

Why there is no Pool Cues available for tall players? McDermott responded that their cues are standartized manufacture prosess so making tall player cue costs like 1500 $

So to be exatch I need like 12" total extension to normal cue where the handle would move 9" back where my handle holds the cue.

Why none manufacturer have manufactured long player cue line?