Over the years, I have struggled with the proper combination of equipement to have and carry for all situations of Pool.
A) What is needed for daily playing, or leagues, local tournaments?
B) What is needed for important money games or big tournaments?
C) What do I need in Vegas?
Finding what is workable for you for these situations can be rather tedious at times. I have liked to have an 'informal' bag to carry and a 'formal' bag to carry in the past. In the past in Vegas, I would carry my largest case, a Porper 4 x 8, stocked up with a break cue (1 shaft), 2 playing cues, one with 2 shafts and one with 1 shaft, and at least 1 jump cue, plus all accessories that might be needed for the tournament.
But my thinking has changed somewhat, in that, if I have a problem with a cue, it will probably be the break cue, and not a playing cue, so now I feel it is more important to either have a break cue (or break/jump cue) with 2 shafts to it or 2 break cues with 1 shaft each, and just 1 playing cue with 2 shafts to it to maintain your performance in a consistent manner.
As you know, something usually happens at the worst possible time to a cue, and if you have a problem with your break shaft (ferrule, tip, etc.), it could change the whole match you might be involved in. Say, you are breaking good, and running tables in a $500 SET, and then yiour break shaft breaks and you only have 1 shaft. Then you either have to break with your playing cue (putting it more in danger of something happening to it as well) or to break with one off the wall. Say you do this, and you start breaking the balls up, but nothing goes now, and you opponent starts running the table, and you end up losing the $500 match. Are you starting to see my point ... lol, having a 2nd shaft for your NORMAL break cue would end up being cheaper, and keep your game where it should be.
Now, I don't care what a Break Cue maker tells you about their shaft, ferrule, and tip, something can always happen to it, and then what do you do? What if it is a Break/Jump cue and your opponent leaves you a jump shot after your break/jump shaft breaks down? Not having the proper equipment, for even 1 single shot, can make the difference in winning or losing the match.
I also feel it is imperative to have 2 shafts for your playinhg cue for many of the same reasons. And some people like to carry more than 1 kind of jump cue combination. Whatever you carry has to fit into your case, which isn't always easy ... lol
So, I guess my emphasis has changed somewhat from 1 break/jump cue with 1 shaft, and 2 playing cues to a break cue with 2 shafts, and 1 playing cue with 2 shafts. I used to carry 2 jump cues also, because I originally thought that the jump portion of a break/jump cue was not as good as just a dedicated jump cue (usually lighter), but, to be honest, that opinion has changed since I got the J&J Break/Jump cue and got used to it.
Have your opinions changed over the years about what is right to carry in your bag?, and is it keeping your game consistent even when a problem occurs?
One other thing, since I sold my other jump cue, and just use the jump portion of the J&J now, I have an empty jump butt pocket on my case.
It sure would be nice if their was an extendable bridge handle that could just fit into the jump butt pocket, or even a cue extender that could.
I do carry a Spinali slipon bridgehead, and I just carry a 3 x 5 case now, which seems to work for me in all situations.
A) What is needed for daily playing, or leagues, local tournaments?
B) What is needed for important money games or big tournaments?
C) What do I need in Vegas?
Finding what is workable for you for these situations can be rather tedious at times. I have liked to have an 'informal' bag to carry and a 'formal' bag to carry in the past. In the past in Vegas, I would carry my largest case, a Porper 4 x 8, stocked up with a break cue (1 shaft), 2 playing cues, one with 2 shafts and one with 1 shaft, and at least 1 jump cue, plus all accessories that might be needed for the tournament.
But my thinking has changed somewhat, in that, if I have a problem with a cue, it will probably be the break cue, and not a playing cue, so now I feel it is more important to either have a break cue (or break/jump cue) with 2 shafts to it or 2 break cues with 1 shaft each, and just 1 playing cue with 2 shafts to it to maintain your performance in a consistent manner.
As you know, something usually happens at the worst possible time to a cue, and if you have a problem with your break shaft (ferrule, tip, etc.), it could change the whole match you might be involved in. Say, you are breaking good, and running tables in a $500 SET, and then yiour break shaft breaks and you only have 1 shaft. Then you either have to break with your playing cue (putting it more in danger of something happening to it as well) or to break with one off the wall. Say you do this, and you start breaking the balls up, but nothing goes now, and you opponent starts running the table, and you end up losing the $500 match. Are you starting to see my point ... lol, having a 2nd shaft for your NORMAL break cue would end up being cheaper, and keep your game where it should be.
Now, I don't care what a Break Cue maker tells you about their shaft, ferrule, and tip, something can always happen to it, and then what do you do? What if it is a Break/Jump cue and your opponent leaves you a jump shot after your break/jump shaft breaks down? Not having the proper equipment, for even 1 single shot, can make the difference in winning or losing the match.
I also feel it is imperative to have 2 shafts for your playinhg cue for many of the same reasons. And some people like to carry more than 1 kind of jump cue combination. Whatever you carry has to fit into your case, which isn't always easy ... lol
So, I guess my emphasis has changed somewhat from 1 break/jump cue with 1 shaft, and 2 playing cues to a break cue with 2 shafts, and 1 playing cue with 2 shafts. I used to carry 2 jump cues also, because I originally thought that the jump portion of a break/jump cue was not as good as just a dedicated jump cue (usually lighter), but, to be honest, that opinion has changed since I got the J&J Break/Jump cue and got used to it.
Have your opinions changed over the years about what is right to carry in your bag?, and is it keeping your game consistent even when a problem occurs?
One other thing, since I sold my other jump cue, and just use the jump portion of the J&J now, I have an empty jump butt pocket on my case.
It sure would be nice if their was an extendable bridge handle that could just fit into the jump butt pocket, or even a cue extender that could.
I do carry a Spinali slipon bridgehead, and I just carry a 3 x 5 case now, which seems to work for me in all situations.
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