Tips for picking out a cue

[Varney Cues]

The best way I can answer you is to think, "If I could go back to the beginning knowing what I know now, what cue would I pick?". I bought a lot of cues in the time I have been playing, and learned a little bit from each one.

If I were in your position again, I would buy a nice sneaky pete, like a dufferin conversion or something similar. It doesn't have to be fancy to play well. My friend had a Ned Morris sneaky that was nice. You can find them from a lot of different people.

If you don't know what weight you want, I would start with something between 19-19.5oz. Play with this cue for a while and use it to learn what you like and don't like. While you have this cue, try out as many cues as you can. Learn the parts of these cues you like and don't like. After a while, you will have a much better understanding of what is right for you.

This is excellent advice...perfect actually. With a custom sneaky/hustler/conversion you will get 100% of the performance that comes with the cuemakers more expensive options...at an affordable price that'll still leave you with money to purchase a case. One of the best playing cues I ever owned was a sneaky-pete from Wes Hunter. I bought it at a show for I believe $125 and he said his son actually made the cue. The performance was on such a higher level than any of the expensive production cues I started out buying. In fact that very cue is still in use today by one of our local shortstops.:smile:

 

[opie308]

1st Cue

My best advice would be to see if you can borrow a cue from someone that you know at the pool hall; Explain to them that you are interested in purchasing a cue but can't decide. There should be a few players with an extra sneaky pete that they own and no longer use. Play with it for awhile, like a month, and if you like it get one just like it.

Don't get caught up in number of points, exotic woods, number of veneers. try to stay simple. Start with a sneaky pete.

You will know when you find it...it's like a tuning fork echoing inside you when you hit the ball.

 

[mantis99]

I would buy a decent quality base level cue without spending more than needed. In reality, spending some of that $300 on high quality lessons will do a lot more for your game than any cue will ever do. When your game progresses and you begin to understand the feel of different joints, tips, and shafts, then a higher priced cue may make more sense. I have a few different cues at varying price levels, and the reality is that I can make the cue ball do the same thing with each cue, it just feels a little different when doing it. The money I spent on lessons improved my game far greater than money I have spent on any cue thus far.

 

[GoldCrown]

I would buy a decent quality base level cue without spending more than needed. In reality, spending some of that $300 on high quality lessons will do a lot more for your game than any cue will ever do.

Great advice.
I'm thinking about my first cue. It was a Rich cue. I bought it on looks and budget. Cost around $40-$50 in the 60's. I loved that cue. I had a blast with it. After a few years I sold it and had a Doc Frye custom fabricated(around 1965). I still have it. The cues did not help my game but I enjoyed the pride of ownership.
Pool is no different than golf or bowling or tennis or whatever...... Take lessons. Learn to play correctly. Start out with good habits. Find a qualified Pro. You'll really enjoy that new cue you just bought.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Aten: You should consider that your first cue is going to be a write-off. You will spend the first year winging it around and it will collect all sorts of bumps, dings, and other unsightly abuse. There is no way to actually inform you as to how a cue needs to be held and manipulated to avoid all these things, there are just too many of them. So, use the first cue as your learning experience, then consider it a write-off.

Since you kow almost nothing about cues, just buy something in your price range that you happen to like the looks of. Me, I like Sneaky Petes, you may or may not. it is up to you. Since it is going to be a write off, don't go overbudget.

During the year, try out several tips and see what hardness and what other tip properties you like and dislike. Do the same for chalk. Do the same for quarter versus nickle versus dime radius tip configurations.

When you are then ready for your long term cue, you won't need our advice and it can/will serve you for up to a lifetime.

 

[TheBook]

If the name of Schon wasn't well known by your peers, it's just because they didn't know. Schon is universally respected among serious players as a cue that straddles the line between "production" cues and "custom" cues. In other words, you got a GREAT deal, and the seller steered you right.

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Schon wasn't very well know back in 1984. At that time there was no internet and most cues were bought at a billiard supply or PH. Very few players used anything other than a Viking, Adams, Meucci, Duffrin, or McDermott. There was only one player that had something different. He was a former road player and used a Joss West that he picked up by meeting Billy Stroud on the road.


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[plainbutt]

I started back playing 5 yrs ago. I picked up a Players sneaky pete online for $40 and have done well with it against high priced and LD cues. It's the Indian and not the arrow.

I'm glad I started with a low priced cue as I put a lot of dings in it the first years. Got a lot of practice taking dings out, replacing tips, and sanding the shaft to my liking that I wouldn't of done if I had bought a high price cue. Now that I rarely get dings in my cue and I know what I like, I'm looking for a fancier cue. The only down side I had with a sneaky pete is others will use it thinking it's a house cue.