Titleist Conversions...What's the Big Deal???

JAMSGOLF

JAMSGOLF

Golf & Pool-I'm addicted!
Silver Member
I searched the forum for any information as to why Titleist conversions were "sought after" and priced upwards of $1k for most (the "simple" conversions...I know there's some higher priced and more intricate cues...). The only posts I ran across were "for sale" threads with no real information...

I was wondering if any of the Titleist conversion owners/users could chime in as to why they are sought after and what is it about them that makes them a "good cue"?

Thanks for any information...as I'm always looking for the "best hitting cue ever"!!!

Jason
 
While I'm not 100% on this, but I would imagine it's the age of the wood. I'm kinda curious as well.
 
From a quick search, these 1-pc house cues date as far back as 1939 and as such are becoming harder to find - eventually there won't be any left. Here's some good info: http://cuezilla.com/archives/676. The construction and nostalgia of the blanks for conversion make it collectable IMO. I have one converted by Lee Peppers and yes, hits great.
 
From a buyers perspective, it's like owning a piece of history. If it plays well, even better, but this is where custom pool cues started. To the best of my knowledge, Balabushka and Szamboti started by doing exactly this.

As far as the aesthetics, I think the look of a linen wrapped conversion, with some inlays and whatnot, is classic elegance. It's like an old suit styled after one Sinatra would often wear. It's just time-tested and time-approved. These cues will always get attention, even if it's some old Mali made to look like one of these more prestigious and expensive cues.
 
I imagine a dwindling supply of decent titlist cues are part of the allure. They have a nice old school look to them. I wouldn't mind having one myself but I am unwilling to part with $1000.oo to get one!

Maybe $400.00 or so ;)
 
There used to be a ton of these and you still see the house cues coming up for sale here and there for around 200-300 depending on shape. I personally sold a pair about 5-6 years ago for 250 or so just to move them and they were gone fast, I paid $20 for the pair. Eventually they will become scarce and you wont be able to get them as cheap as 200 a pop, the conversions when done well are really nice and will hold value fairly well. I see them for sale and they seem to move okay, it is on my list to own, a proper conversion. :smile:
 
Pyro described how I feel. A piece of history and classic elegance. I think that sums it up just fine for a start.
Even the simplest of conversions can be described as classic elegance.
Its on my bucket list to own one too.
I have 2 PH Tru Balance conversions and if the converted Titlist plays any where close to these then its a monster, of which I have no doubt.

I have 6 Tru Balance in my shop that will be converted this winter.
Still looking for that elusive Titlist tho.
 
I may be all wet on this but I asked the same question of a very well known cue maker. His answer was the veneers. "You can't get veneers like that any more." Thats from a cue makers perspective. The other thing is I believe some of the butts depending on the year made are Rambow butts. If true that alone would be a plus and $$.
 
We can go back and forth forever on the quality of the Titlist product, after all they truly were production cues. However, the historical value of the Titlist product is undeniable, almost all of the great cue builders used Titlist blanks at one time or another. I'll name a few and I expect others will add:

Rambow
Paradise
Balabushka
Gina
Palmer
Tad
Schrager
Szamboti (both)
Showman
Scruggs
Tascarella
Searing

I'm thinking Stroud did not as I think he told me the only splices he ever used that were not his were a few Wicos
Spain maybe not
Hercek I don't know

Who did I leave out ?

Thanks

Kevin
 
Last edited:
I have a steal of a titlist conversion here for sale: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=236608

Old school Titlists have an old wood hit that's just hard to describe. The best way I can explain it is you know that nice, solid, crisp hit you get from an old, darker honey colored shaft? It's like that, but that crispness of the hit is extended even more because the butt is also old, extremely well aged wood as well. On top of that, the full splice lends itself to a great hit.
 
Last edited:
I didn't know they converted golf balls

it is all a matter of preferance.
Have you ever hit with one?
I know i love mine.

SLIM
 
Literally millions were made. All full splice. And you don't have to pay a grand or more to get one. Find one and have a local guy put a joint in it and you got one. Just keep an eye on it cause somebody will think its a house cue. True sneaky pete.
 
It's gotta be the history, I would guess. The veneer colors are attractive and the splice is long enough to show good symmetry. They look nice. Honestly, that's about all. Most of them are not suitable for conversion because of sloppy work, too thin, or warped wood. Finding a good one is tough. But once you have a nice one, it's pretty easy to create an attractive looking cue without a lot of work. Not so good ones require a lot more work. They're cool. I have always been drawn to them, but don't really know why. The ones I convert don't play any better or even any different than any of my other cues, so it's not really that. I guess it's like building a sneaky except it has veneers & is worth significantly more than a sneaky. To be honest, i'd like to know why they're so sought after, too. I have a few of my own that'll never be converted because I appreciate them for what they are in an historical sense. And I have some that are being converted for buyers. If I had the choice, i'd rather be converting a Davis blank with Titleist veneer colors.
 
SLIM said:
it is all a matter of preferance.
Have you ever hit with one?
I know i love mine.

SLIM
Click to expand...

No, I've never hit one. That was one of the reasons I started the thread. When I first started seeing the conversions...don't throw any tomatos...I couldn't believe the price being asked for what looked to me like some old house cue that was cut in half and put back together...

I searched the forum to see why I must be "missing" something with regards to these cues and couldn't find anything of merit to answer the question...with all the excellent replies so far in this thread, I see EXACTLY what I was missing...

I definitely want to thank everyone for their contribution to the thread thus far...it's a bit of a history lesson that a lot of us didn't know!!!

Jason
 
JAMSGOLF said:
No, I've never hit one. That was one of the reasons I started the thread. When I first started seeing the conversions...don't throw any tomatos...I couldn't believe the price being asked for what looked to me like some old house cue that was cut in half and put back together...

I searched the forum to see why I must be "missing" something with regards to these cues and couldn't find anything of merit to answer the question...with all the excellent replies so far in this thread, I see EXACTLY what I was missing...

I definitely want to thank everyone for their contribution to the thread thus far...it's a bit of a history lesson that a lot of us didn't know!!!

Jason
Click to expand...

It's the nostalgia I think.
And, probably, because they hit better than most of the cues out there.
I made one for myself. It's admired everytime I let someone hit with it .
But, I can make a cue hit better .
The old wood theory is overrated imo. Most of these Titlists are crooked. A lot are very crooked. I have seen some that are flat in some spots.
I think Brunswick used green woods in a lot of them.
They are a headache to make for makers . How would you like to baby one while making it and see the veneers lift off on the last cut ?
Many times, you also have to chop the bottom 3 inches or so off to extend it b/c the middle is too thin or has become too thin after getting it straightened out .
One famous maker made his own Titlist blanks. The points aren't even spliced. They're just inlayed ( flat bottom ). Yet, it commands big dollar .
 
pulzcul said:
Literally millions were made. All full splice. And you don't have to pay a grand or more to get one. Find one and have a local guy put a joint in it and you got one. Just keep an eye on it cause somebody will think its a house cue. True sneaky pete.
Click to expand...

You're right that millions were made, but there's not even close to that many available today that are worthy of conversion. Most are beat up, warped, too thin in the joint area, veneers faded or peeled out, etc. If you get a good one that's worth converting, you could likely have a player.
 
A Couple More............

kvinbrwr said:
We can go back and forth forever on the quality of the Titlist product, after all they truly were production cues. However, the historical value of the Titlist product is undeniable, almost all of the great cue builders used Titlist blanks at one time or another. I'll name a few and I expect others will add:

Rambow
Paradise
Balabushka
Gina
Palmer
Tad
Schrager
Szamboti (both)
Showman
Scruggs
Tascarella
Searing

I'm thinking Stroud did not as I think he told me the only splices he ever used that were not his were a few Wicos
Spain maybe not
Hercek I don't know

Who did I leave out ?

Thanks

Kevin
Click to expand...


A Couple More................

Schick
Black


WP
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top