Well board does fall within my Master of categories. Growing up adjacent a saw mill to making fine custom furniture.
Cole's senses were so fine tuned that, uh well on a meeting 6 months after I bought my cue from his back up butt and my select from his 5 back up shafts. Cole sais, "I wouldn't be able to shoot with that cue now." So take it for what you want. Every cue has a personality. To be ignorant of; the variables that effect the hit ???? Bill Stroud made Stradivarious cues. His knowledge combined with craftsmanship made for some beautiful instruments.
I did have a friend that got an experimental McDermott with ivory joint and ferrule, FOR $250!!!!! Yikes I hit some balls with it and it definitely talked to me. It was to lust for. Lucky Son of a gun.

Bill Stroud cues started at 1500, Walmart cues start at 20. So if you can't tell the difference......