Thoughts on cuemaker's transition from 57 inch, 58 inch and over 60 inch cue.
- Thread starter Cezar Morales
- Start date
I think the transition to 58" cues began with Jan Janes and Joss Cues.
For the first few years we were in business together Dan and I made all custom cues. Most were 57" but Dan played with a 58" cue and so did Buddy Dennis and a few other players on the East Coast.
When we split up Dan started to make limited production runs of the same model cue. He settled on a length of 58".
This was before Viking or McDermott.
I continued to make whatever the customer wanted but eventually started playing with a 58" cue.
Bill S.
For the first few years we were in business together Dan and I made all custom cues. Most were 57" but Dan played with a 58" cue and so did Buddy Dennis and a few other players on the East Coast.
When we split up Dan started to make limited production runs of the same model cue. He settled on a length of 58".
This was before Viking or McDermott.
I continued to make whatever the customer wanted but eventually started playing with a 58" cue.
Bill S.
Hey glad to hear business for you.
The kid ordering 12 more cues is hilarious,
He must have a different cue for every situation,
Break, break jump, draw , follow , middle, centre ball, left english, right english, jump, masse , kick etc lol
But behind what u say, why does people feel better with longer cue when logically speaking, hits softer n deflects more than a standard 58 cue? And thoughts or feedback from your customers ?
You are a top cuemaker sir,
which do u still prefer for playability with the modern level of professional pool ? 57' or 58 ' ?
Do you know if a 57 hits stiffer with lower deflection and better feedback compared to a 58' cue ?
Thanks
Do you remember building a cue for Ronnie Sypher with a long butt and short shaft for playing on bar tables? It was over all I think 57".
Regarding your other post, when the change happened it seemed like everyone did it about the same time. Some production cues like Palmer and Viking didn't make the change right away but it was not long.
I had a Ginacue around 1969 and it came 58" from Ginacue, I didn't specify it.
No good for stroke slippers.
I think it just depends on your bridge length and type of stroke.
Taller people do not necessarily need longer cues imo.
Archer is tall. He doesn't shoot with a long cue.
When Efren came over, he had a 61" cue . It favored his long bridge and stroke slip.
The best hitting cue I ever tried was a snooker cue at 57 inces, full splice ash, 1 piece. It had a rather unconventional taper as well. That cue sang when you hit the ball right and it felt like an extension of my arm. I've tried some pool cues that were good, but the hit and overall feel of that cue is so far unmatched. I've been toying with the idea of making a cue like that myself (actually I'd have to make two, one for pool as well), but I don't have the space at the moment. I might go buy a couple of ash blanks and let them cure for a bit as I might get more space in the future. I'm fascinated with the idea of building a cue entirely with hand tools, and I'm pretty handy with those, so maybe I'll try.
I believe the length of the cue is very important to the hit. What most people that want longer cues do, is to buy a cue that is 60 inches and then slapping on a 31 inch Predator or other ld shaft. That's a surefire way of getting a cue that hits like a dead fish. I've never tried a cue with an extended ld shaft that even approached an acceptable hit. If you want the cue to hit well, it must be built differently, not just by the numbers and extended Performance wise of course most cues are up to the task of propelling the cue ball in whatever direction you want, but when it comes to feel, length is important..
I believe the length of the cue is very important to the hit. What most people that want longer cues do, is to buy a cue that is 60 inches and then slapping on a 31 inch Predator or other ld shaft. That's a surefire way of getting a cue that hits like a dead fish. I've never tried a cue with an extended ld shaft that even approached an acceptable hit. If you want the cue to hit well, it must be built differently, not just by the numbers and extended Performance wise of course most cues are up to the task of propelling the cue ball in whatever direction you want, but when it comes to feel, length is important..
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My Schick is 57.5". Even though longer lengths seem to better suit my height, I understand the attraction of cues that are less than 58".
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I'm 6' 4" and have played with cues over 58" for a long time. Usually 59 to 59.5" ..A short bit ago Joe Gold made me an ebony player at 57 inches and every time I play with that cue I play well. I don't really notice the cue being shorter but that could be that I'm not leaving myself in a position where that would matter..On the flip side the cue Captain Bob just made for me is 58.5" and I really don't notice the length difference either. NOW with the 4" extension Joe made for me, the Ebony player at 61" is a "poll" for sure but still feels good...
I find it interesting that u feel like the forward balanced cues feel like a heavier cue to you. The first time I encountered Nova cues that had a strong forward balance built into them, I felt like that the forward balance seemed to make the cue feel lighter, just the opposite of your sense of feel.
I have looked for forward balance in all new cues I have acquired since then even as my weight preference continued to go to actual lighter weights.
I agree with u that many things can effect the way a cue feels. To me the total combination of construction elements totally effect the kind of feel that each cue will produce. Unfortunately I have yet to find any way of measuring someone's own sense of feel, and have yet to discover any means of measuring the type of hit that a cue produces. If those 2 things could be measured it would make things easier to match up someone with a specific type of cue.
I think what you feel is a more balanced feel. In other words you don't feel like you are supporting the weight of the cue in you grip hand it is distributed.
I feel the same thing but when I am down on the ball when I stroke the cue, maybe because I am pushing more of the weight, feels like a heavier cue.
If I pick up a lighter cue with a back balance it feels like I can't make it go straight like it has a mind of it's own. Move the balance forward and it is like a gyro the way it straightens out.
I experimented with wire solder. I would take a piece and wrap it around the shaft in different places with some tape. It was amazing how these little changes completely changed the cue. You can really drive yourself crazy with this stuff.