Theoretical best playing cue design

Shooter08

Shooter08

Runde Aficianado
Silver Member
I'm curious what cue makers consider to be the best construction design for a playing cue. Totally removing aesthetics, only requirement is the cues is wrapless. What is the best design, one piece butt, merry widow, full splice, short splice or anything else I am missing. I ask because I am going to have a cue built but not sure if i want a 4 point short splice or something with no points or even a full splice. Also if I were to have a single veneer or recut which is better or is it better to not have any. I prefer a relatively firm hit with some feedback and normally play with a Runde Short Splice cue now. All opinions are appreciated. THx, Tom
 
It doesn't matter Tom.. Research and pick a maker. The key is research. Everybody has an opinion on what you ask and there are makers out there that can satisfy your needs regardless of technique. Some better than others. My advise is think of a budget and then do your research. Hopefully you'll find a maker that satisfies your needs.. A great maker builds great cues regardless of esthetics or style...
 
I'm Not Sure Design Is The Right Question???

Tom,

I think I get your point.....what's the best build? Reference to cue designs probably makes people think of the style & looks rather than the cue's anatomy, i.e., construction. For example, a combination of a light cue butt with heavy shafts that allows the cue to weigh less but have a pronounced forward balance. Cues can be made differently but appear to be similar when they actually aren't. How about a build where the cue butt weighs 14.4 ounces and uses shafts weighing 4.4 ozs. I imagine that cue would play and feel different than a cue that had a butt weighing 15.3 ozs and shafts weighing 3.5 ozs.

Both cues weigh 18.8 ozs but there's more to consider as well like whether any weight bolt was used and or the shafts (weights & sizes)......let's say the 1st cue had a flat ivory joint (3/8x10) & ivory ferules and the 2nd cue had a piloted steel 5/16x14 joint and phenolic ferrules........I predict these two cues would feel very different to your tactile senses and perform differently, despite that both cue s do the very same thing.

I recall that Bill Stroud previously remarked the 3/8x10 flat ivory joint was his favorite cue joint. Well, I think it would be very interesting to see a what's in your case column......like Golf Digest does in their magazine....."What's in the Pro's Bag?". Now I don't really care what you and I carry in our cases.....nor most Azers for that matter. However, I am interested in seeing and learning more about the cues and equipment seasoned pro players use. Brian Parks previously was playing an Ed Prewitt cue and sadly it was stolen so now he's switching to a gorgeous Eddie Cohen cue that he just had made......photos are in the Cue Gallery.....Congrats on your cue Brian....Cudos to you as well Eddie C.

I'd like to learn what the "cue-makers" play with more so than even the pros. They can build themselves any type of cue, any weight, type of wood, different composition materials, shaft weight and diameters, ferrule and tips, etc. If Dennis Searing, Barry Szamboti, Joel Hercek, etc, built themselves a cue to play with....how would they build it....what would be the cue's anatomy......what would they choose to have and how would they build the cue.....13mm shafts & ivory ferrules with soft tips vs. 12.6mm shafts, short LBM ferrules, and rock hard tips or how about steel joint vs. wood joint or ivory, etc.? Would they want their cue to be a spliced cue and what type?

I'm going to start a thread in the Cue-Maker section asking if the cue-makers would share their version of the ideal cue for their personal play....I think it would be interesting and informative to read.

Matt B.
 
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Full-splice brazilian rosewood with old growth maple front and shafts.
Staghorn collars, micarta ferrules and Kamui SS clear tip. :D
 
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I was most interested in knowing if one style of butt construction was superior to another. Full Splice vs Short/Half Splice vs Plain Jane (multiple pieces of wood) vs Merry Widow (one solid piece of wood or same piece cut) etc. I am debating between a Plain Jane, Merry Widow, or Short/Half splice. Right now I shoot with a Short/Half Splice, any advantages to the other options? THx, Tom
 
Shooter08 said:
I was most interested in knowing if one style of butt construction was superior to another. Full Splice vs Short/Half Splice vs Plain Jane (multiple pieces of wood) vs Merry Widow (one solid piece of wood or same piece cut) etc. I am debating between a Plain Jane, Merry Widow, or Short/Half splice. Right now I shoot with a Short/Half Splice, any advantages to the other options? THx, Tom
Click to expand...

No.

It is quite simple really - any aspect of quality and playability comes down to
what you like the best.

To paraphrase one of the Brit Snooker Cue makers - quality is the result of
good materials and good craftsmanship. Any capable cuemaker who follows
those considerations will produce a "good" cue. Which you may love... or hate.

Dale(who has made a few of each... and more)
 
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