The Fury Break cue

[watchez]

Are you on crack? I can't stand it when someone wraps themselves in the FLAG with NO IDEA what they are talking about.

1. Some Sledgehammers were/are made overseas - everyone knows it, you know it. Sledgehammer II's are made by McDermott, mass-produced, overseas? Who knows, some McDermotts are. But they are not "hand-made" by Mike Gulyassy.

2. Ponderosa/Outback? These are your comparisons. One is just a more glitzy version of the other. Are you saying that people should pay more for the Sledgehammer because it's wrapped in a prettier package and they can feel better about that? Are you willing to BET REAL HIGH that the Sledgehammer does not outbreak or outjump the Fury JB? We are still talking PERFORMANCE here aren't we? Or are we talking glitz? Geez, if you want to equate price with quality then try Ruth Chris's steak vs. Outback. I would be willing to bet that for the money a steak costs at Outback I could get pretty much the same cut of meat at Ponderosa for less.

Mike Gulyassy is a world class cuemaker, a world class player and a really nice guy. You are doing him more harm than good with your misinformed enthusiasm.

John

Unless you have some robotic arm, I don't see how we can BET REAL HIGH. But we can BET REAL HIGH (as you are willing to do) that the cut of meat at even Outback is a better cut of meat than Pondersosa. I only mentioned Outback because it is a more widely known national chain. Nothing to do with glitz, get the steaks to go...but at least you understood that you can equate price with quality.

I see you also failed to mention that the Fury is made overseas.

Is the Sledgehammer II still being made?

And John, if you want to have an intelligent conversation, I would be more than happy to do so. But if you want to start a post with "Are you on crack?", I'll just wait to you grow up and stop using some 8th grade comeback. We can also BET REAL HIGH that a private school education is far better than some public school graduation house.

 

[Snapshot9]

Back to subject ...

There are 2 Fury Break/jump cues on Ebay right now
that you can buy for $117.95 plus shipping.

 

[NOSAJ03]

The sledge is a very good cue. I have one and I swore by it until I got my omen. Mike makes a good break cue, very solid. There a reason why Fury and other cue companies are copying his tip. Mike is a great player and knows from a players perspective what a good cue needs. Now everyone is different so its not going to suit everyone but it worked for him and many others so why not give it a try. I dont use mine anymore so its basically sitting in a spare case. Its seen its share of table time and still breaks like a champ. IMHO it breaks better than the copies and some of the best break cues out there. If it werent for my Omen, Id still be using the Sledge

 

[onepocketchump]

Unless you have some robotic arm, I don't see how we can BET REAL HIGH. But we can BET REAL HIGH (as you are willing to do) that the cut of meat at even Outback is a better cut of meat than Pondersosa. I only mentioned Outback because it is a more widely known national chain. Nothing to do with glitz, get the steaks to go...but at least you understood that you can equate price with quality.

I see you also failed to mention that the Fury is made overseas.

Is the Sledgehammer II still being made?

And John, if you want to have an intelligent conversation, I would be more than happy to do so. But if you want to start a post with "Are you on crack?", I'll just wait to you grow up and stop using some 8th grade comeback. We can also BET REAL HIGH that a private school education is far better than some public school graduation house.

I am sorry, did the crack comment hit home? Sorry, I thought it was the most obvious explantion for your bizarre lack of intelligent reasoning.

Yeah, I can find a robotic arm to do the testing - can you lose enough to make it worthwhile and do you really want to do that to your friend Mike?

Yes, the Fury cues are made overseas - SO WHAT? So are/were some of the Sledgehammers - funny I don't see you mentioning that. Your implication/putdown is that the Fury is inferior because it is made overseas. This is an ignorant statement, even without the fact that Sledgehammers were also made "overseas".

You asked if the SledgeII is still being made? I don't know - aren't you the expert on Sledgehammers? You are according to you.

Still on about the Ponderosa/Outback thing are you? Well, I have a $1000 that says we can go to any Outback and get the cut of meat they will sell you for $15 and go to a Ponderosa and get the cut of meat that they will sell you for $15 and take both to a qualified butcher and both cuts will be either the same or the one from Ponderosa will be better as long as both are the same cut, i.e. T-Bone. Ribeye and so on.

Private school vs. public school? Is this the best you have? Come on really? Is it? Did you go to private school? Did you have a private psychologist to deal with your insecurities as well? I went to public schools, which you intended as an insult I suppose. Well, since you are a gambling man and so knowledgable, how about we bet $2000 and take the SAT test together?Whoever scores higher wins the dough.

Then, after that, I will give you another shot to get even. We will take a test on hospitality and manners and if you beat me on that you can get even or lose another $2000.

We went down this road a few months ago when you tried to say that Fury was stealing from Sledgehammer along with killing pool, babies, animal testing on cues and various other heinous crimes. I shut you down then and will continue to do so every time you bring up some kind of ignorant diatribe about products that I am intimately involved with. Get your facts straight if YOU want to have an intelligent and civil discussion.

John

 

[onepocketchump]

The sledge is a very good cue. I have one and I swore by it until I got my omen. Mike makes a good break cue, very solid. There a reason why Fury and other cue companies are copying his tip. Mike is a great player and knows from a players perspective what a good cue needs. Now everyone is different so its not going to suit everyone but it worked for him and many others so why not give it a try. I dont use mine anymore so its basically sitting in a spare case. Its seen its share of table time and still breaks like a champ. IMHO it breaks better than the copies and some of the best break cues out there. If it werent for my Omen, Id still be using the Sledge

Fury and others are not copying anything from Omen cues. The use of phenolic tips and ferrules goes back over 20 years at least. Well before Pete Ohman ever built a cue as far as I know.

That said, the Omen BJs are very, very good. About the same as the other good ones I mentioned. I owned one and it was nice. Guy traded it in for a Bunjee X-Pro - go figure - there an ass for every seat - but not every seat fits every ass. (that one is on the SAT, Watchez)

John

 

[watchez]

Nothing wrong with a public education if you get anything out of it. Obviously you didn't as your arguments are sophmoric and childish. Your level of behavior is that of an 8th grader, as I already stated. Also, sounds like you have a gambling problem. Maybe you should see the psychiatrist about that. Gamblers win & lose and I hear thru the grapevine that you fall into the second category more often than not. Better yet, come to St. Louis with your pockets full. I'll be happy to take advantage of your problem & send you home with empty pockets. You are more than welcome to come over on a Sunday for some steaks & beer, watch football & pick your poison.

Yes Sledgehammers were made overseas. I believe that stopped, most likely do to poor quality. Ask Mike since you know him so well, he will tell you about it. I also know that Fury's are still made in the same factory that the Sledgehammers used to be made in.

I'll gladly take the SAT with you. Can we make the section on reading comprehension worth double? I compared the Fury-Sledgehammer to Pondersosa-Outback not only on quality but price. I told the original poster you get what you pay for & spend the extra $100 to get something better. Most of the time in life it is worth it. Now you want to gamble again on two steaks from Outback/Ponderosa that both cost $15. John, this is not what I said. Besides the fact that I don't eat at Pondersosa but I didn't think they had a $15 steak. Obviously, you know this as fact. An $8 steak is probably a factor of getting what you pay for & the customer being satisfied with price versus quality. That is why they are still in business. I suppose the same could be said about Fury.

Oh, and I went to www.emilypost.com to find a practice test on hospitality and manners but couldn't find one so I will have to pass on that offer.

 

[NOSAJ03]

Fury and others are not copying anything from Omen cues. The use of phenolic tips and ferrules goes back over 20 years at least. Well before Pete Ohman ever built a cue as far as I know.

That said, the Omen BJs are very, very good. About the same as the other good ones I mentioned. I owned one and it was nice. Guy traded it in for a Bunjee X-Pro - go figure - there an ass for every seat - but not every seat fits every ass. (that one is on the SAT, Watchez)

John

Actually I was referring to Mike's Sledgehammer being copied. Omen's are made by Pete Ohman but you already new that. Perhaps my original post should be read a little more carefully because I believe there is a clear distinction between the two

 

[shinobi]

Well, this whole thread is a waste of time, since we all know that all jump/break cues are inferior to the X-Breaker, right? *stir the pot*

Just kidding .

 

[rayjay]

I used a Sledgehammer for a while and liked it, but wanted to try a Stinger. I sold my Sledge here (on AZB) for $175 shipped. It was in great condition, almost like new. I used the Stinger for about three months and liked it, but, for me, I did not get the performance that I was used to with the Sledge. I sold the Stinger here (on AZB) for $250 shipped and bought a brand new Sledge on ebay for $206 plus $10 shipping = $216. Glad to have the performance back. I'm sticking with the Sledge until something better comes along. I haven't tried the X-Breaker yet, but won't buy one until I can try it for at least a few days, and it outperforms the Sledge. JMO.

 

[shinobi]

I used a Sledgehammer for a while and liked it, but wanted to try a Stinger. I sold my Sledge here (on AZB) for $175 shipped. It was in great condition, almost like new. I used the Stinger for about three months and liked it, but, for me, I did not get the performance that I was used to with the Sledge. I sold the Stinger here (on AZB) for $250 shipped and bought a brand new Sledge on ebay for $206 plus $10 shipping = $216. Glad to have the performance back. I'm sticking with the Sledge until something better comes along. I haven't tried the X-Breaker yet, but won't buy one until I can try it for at least a few days, and it outperforms the Sledge. JMO.

There are barely any brand new Sledgehammers on eBay now. It's mostly Sledgehammer II -- more expensive and plain (even ugly) looking.

For those that are looking for a sledgehammer, I think you're better off buying one from the older generation in great condition.

 

[BRKNRUN]

First off, no offense to any of the makers of break sticks, so please don't take this as a knock on anyones product.

To me, buying a break stick is alot like buying a driver for Golf. It needs to be fitted to your particular break stroke.....(If you don't know what type of break stick set up fits your stroke...you are probably not ready for a break stick until you have tried more set ups to see what fits you best)

That being said, I would not be inclined to spend $350+ on a break stick that may or may not be set up for my particular break...

I would be more inclined to spend $125 on a cheap J/B and tinker with the set up to find what fits me......or go to ANY local cue maker and tell him what you want in "your" break stick...I am pretty sure I can find a really good cue makers that will make me the exact break stick I am looking for for $350 or less....

 

[onepocketchump]

Nothing wrong with a public education if you get anything out of it. Obviously you didn't as your arguments are sophmoric and childish. Your level of behavior is that of an 8th grader, as I already stated. Also, sounds like you have a gambling problem. Maybe you should see the psychiatrist about that. Gamblers win & lose and I hear thru the grapevine that you fall into the second category more often than not. Better yet, come to St. Louis with your pockets full. I'll be happy to take advantage of your problem & send you home with empty pockets. You are more than welcome to come over on a Sunday for some steaks & beer, watch football & pick your poison.

Sophmoric? Childish? You mean like the whiny, ignorant, emotional, and false accusations you spew every time someone mentions the Fury Jump Break cue? You are right, I have a gambling problem, and it's that I don't have the time and lack of heart to hunt down all the easy marks like you. You can bet that when I win it's a good win. If you ever get the balls to come and play some pool just bring it on. I already KNOW that you won't even be close. But that's not what this is about is it? Like always, after I bust your ridiculous assertions you find a way to get completely off topic.

Yes Sledgehammers were made overseas. I believe that stopped, most likely do to poor quality.

I believe you meant to say "due" to poor quality, and not "do". You didn't go to one of those discount private schools with cheap, imported teachers did you?

Ask Mike since you know him so well, he will tell you about it. I also know that Fury's are still made in the same factory that the Sledgehammers used to be made in.

Oh, NOW you admit it. You believe, you speculate. I thought you were the expert on this subject. I am sure that the Sledgehammers that came in from overseas were NOT the same quality as the ones Mike was making himself and selling for $350 each. Yet, he was selling them for $350 as well, or trying to. Funny that you conveniently forget this aspect of it. But what's your point? Oh, that overseas quality is crap right? Well, I suppose that all of the customers who have bought all those Fury JBs over the last two years don't agree with you. The return rate is very low on these cues, the reviews have been very favorable across the board. I guess that speaks for itself. AND still there is the performance issue that you appear to be afraid of. For half the price you get the same performance. At least this is what most people say who have tried both in my presence. Maybe they are just scared of me since I am always holding a gun on them when they are asked what they think.

I'll gladly take the SAT with you. Can we make the section on reading comprehension worth double? I compared the Fury-Sledgehammer to Pondersosa-Outback not only on quality but price. I told the original poster you get what you pay for & spend the extra $100 to get something better. Most of the time in life it is worth it. Now you want to gamble again on two steaks from Outback/Ponderosa that both cost $15. John, this is not what I said. Besides the fact that I don't eat at Pondersosa but I didn't think they had a $15 steak. Obviously, you know this as fact. An $8 steak is probably a factor of getting what you pay for & the customer being satisfied with price versus quality. That is why they are still in business. I suppose the same could be said about Fury.

Oh, and I went to www.emilypost.com to find a practice test on hospitality and manners but couldn't find one so I will have to pass on that offer.

Bet! Let's make arrangements to go to a Sylvan Learning Center and take the SAT. Readiing comprehension counts double. Let's both PAYPAL the dough to Mike Howerton. We both go tommorrow and take the test. Are you up for it?

There must not have been internet access when you were growing up, me either but I managed to learn how to get around just fine without a private school education......

http://www.rudebusters.com/eti-quiz.htm from a simple 2-second google search.

I would expect nothing less than your need to cram for a test on etiquette and manners.

I am pretty sure I could spot you a month's preparation for the SAT.

John

 

[NOSAJ03]

First off, no offense to any of the makers of break sticks, so please don't take this as a knock on anyones product.

To me, buying a break stick is alot like buying a driver for Golf. It needs to be fitted to your particular break stroke.....(If you don't know what type of break stick set up fits your stroke...you are probably not ready for a break stick until you have tried more set ups to see what fits you best)

That being said, I would not be inclined to spend $350+ on a break stick that may or may not be set up for my particular break...

I would be more inclined to spend $125 on a cheap J/B and tinker with the set up to find what fits me......or go to ANY local cue maker and tell him what you want in "your" break stick...I am pretty sure I can find a really good cue makers that will make me the exact break stick I am looking for for $350 or less....

You make a very good point but like any good golfer they can use any club to get the job done. Now I know they wouldnt use a pitching wedge in place of a driver but under other conditions most good golf players can use didnt clubs for any situation. With that said any good pool player can adapt to any break cue. Some easier than others of course.

 

[X Breaker]

Fury has never advertised their cues as "made in USA" and they are being very honest about the place of production as far as I know.

In my opinion, the Fury is a very good product for the price, I have tried them and I was impressed with the quality for the money. Since some Sledgehammer and Fury were both made in the same place, I applaud Fury for making theirs so much more accessible to the players.

The Sledgehammer is no longer made by McDermott as far as I know. That venture did not last long. Please correct me if I am wrong.

With regard to copying, I think for the price one expects to pay for a Fury, it should not be an issue, should it? Besides, there are many custom cue makers out there who are using the tip/ferrule combo on their high end jump/break cues now. Since there is no patent, technically speaking, no one owns the exclusive right to use the tip/ferrule combo design, is it?

I do not think "made in China" should be the sole indication on the quality to begin with. After all, there are jump/break cues which are totally made in the US yet are inferior in workmanship and quality to the Sledgehammer. It depends on who were making the cues, too--if you ask a bunch of retired folks in the US to build cues for you in exchange for free lunch, you cannot really expect too much, can you?

Richard

 

[shinobi]

Richard, good points.

I don't actually care where a cue is made, only how it performs.

 

[X Breaker]

Well, Shinobi, how about whether a cue is custom or production?

Out of curiosity, do you think it is possible to compare the price of a custom cue made in North America to a bunch of production cues made oversea?

Thank you.

Richard

 

[onepocketchump]

Richard, I agree with everything you said, except the profit margin comparison. Profit margin has nothing to do with it. The transaction goes like this, a product is offered for sale at a certain price. The purchaser decides before purchasing that the price is affordable for them and fair for the product offered. After purchasing the consumer decides whether they received a good value or not. If most consumers decide that they did not receive a good value sales will either stop at the price asked OR the price will be lowered to where consumers feel a good value is, if it is feasible to sell at that price. If most consumers decide that the product is a good value or even a bargain at the original price then demand will increase which will likely result in an increase in price. Margin has little to do with it in this cycle. Margin plays a role when the cost of goods is far lower than the market price and the barrier to entry is low. When that happens competition brings the overall price down for very similar goods. Just because something is "made in the USA" does not guarantee that it is of good quality or is expensive to make. Too many people try and use that label as an emotional plea to sell their goods even though they may not be that good a value for the consumer. What is worse though is the people and companies here in the USA who import their goods and stick made in the USA labels on them or imply that their stuff is made in the USA in order to get higher prices and emotional support.

We ALL know that the Sledgehammers were made overseas. I am sure that Mike would like for it to be different now. Had it been me, I would have said to the world, here is the imported Sledgehammer for $199, all the knowledge that makes a Sledge great at a price everyone can afford..... but then again I am the one who decided to let the Instroke cases be "made in Taiwan" and they are now the best mass produced Instrokes ever built.

I am so tired of the BS misinformation and ignorance concerning imported goods and even more tired of the gross hypocrisy.

I like your style and the guts to take a genre of cues in a crowded market and try and improve on it. I respect the innovation. I don't know yet whether your cue is a signifigant improvement over existing ones but I respect the fact that you are willing to stand up and say so with your own experiences to back it up.

John

 

[shinobi]

Well, Shinobi, how about whether a cue is custom or production?

Out of curiosity, do you think it is possible to compare the price of a custom cue made in North America to a bunch of production cues made oversea?

Thank you.

Richard

Whether a cue is made in North America or overseas, whether or not it's considered "custom" or "production", isn't the performance still the most important thing?

Only if you are comparing products with equal performance would you then start looking at other factors.

Quite often, in many industries, the most expensive product is not necessarily the best product. Sometimes the differences in price are for artificial reasons and sometimes legitimate. It's up to consumers to do the research and make informed decisions. Buyer beware.

 

[X Breaker]

Whether a cue is made in North America or overseas, whether or not it's considered "custom" or "production", isn't the performance still the most important thing?

May be that is what you think you would do, but I know I and a lot of people do not look at a cue that way.

What about tangible qualities such as durability, workmanship, appearance, collectibility...etc

What about intangible qualities such as whether you can identify with the image of the product, whether it enhances your self image, whether it satisfies your needs of recognition; in other words, whether it helps you to fit into your peer group, whether it boosts your confidence, whether you can walk around feeling proud of your cue...etc

I am not saying these are the things you should consider before anything else because everyone is different, I am just telling you these things are sometimes more important than performance to a consumer.

Only if you are comparing products with equal performance would you then start looking at other factors.

So, for a collector who can barely shoot a ball straight, do you think he will compare a Schon to a Gina, or a Szamboti to a Falcon in terms of performance before anything else?

Thank you.

Richard

 

[deadstroke32]

What about tangible qualities such as durability, workmanship, appearance,


Look everyone have there 2 cents but how it is spent is up to the buyer ..Jhon u have your point ,U like the fury .Hell i like the fury after i used it for 2 days ..The hammer is a good cue but i'm not payin 300 for a b/j q..I know. I'll put that into a custom q > But we jus got way off the subject at hand..Lets jus all get along.

Hay jhon i still need a FURY b/J -Q..18oz..
holla back ...