Want better performance on the table...start by investing in your cue!

Cuemaster98

Cuemaster98

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I am a strong believer that investing, finding and/or building a "better playing cue" will improve your performance on the table. That may be as easier as trying out a different tip, changing tip curvature, trying different tip size, changing the taper, maintaining your shaft, new ferrule or finding a new cue completely.

Over the years, I've played with hundreds of difference cues to test my performance in tournaments and what I found is that equipment plays a large part in your confidence and it's always reflected in your game. Better cues doesn't not mean more expensive or fancy cue...it may mean just fine tuning your existing cue or trying out different cues that may play better (cheaper or more expensive) or a cue from a builder that build cue with a taper that is more suited to your playing style.

Curious to see how often players maintain or change their cue. Maybe you already found your holy grail..how long did it take you to tune your cue(s) to your liking? How often do you maintain your cues?

I know an older player that has his cue for over 20 years and he's still playing with the same tip. Finally got him to change his tip and now he love his cue even more.

Duc.
 
I agree that some pool equipment 'feels right' and that when your shizz feels right, you are more likely to play your best pool.
 
Cuemaster98 said:
I am a strong believer that investing, finding and/or building a "better playing cue" will improve your performance on the table. That may be as easier as trying out a different tip, changing tip curvature, trying different tip size, changing the taper, maintaining your shaft, new ferrule or finding a new cue completely.

Over the years, I've played with hundreds of difference cues to test my performance in tournaments and what I found is that equipment plays a large part in your confidence and it's always reflected in your game. Better cues doesn't not mean more expensive or fancy cue...it may mean just fine tuning your existing cue or trying out different cues that may play better (cheaper or more expensive) or a cue from a builder that build cue with a taper that is more suited to your playing style.

Curious to see how often players maintain or change their cue. Maybe you already found your holy grail..how long did it take you to tune your cue(s) to your liking? How often do you maintain your cues?

I know an older player that has his cue for over 20 years and he's still playing with the same tip. Finally got him to change his tip and now he love his cue even more.

Duc.
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I agree. A cue won't fix your game, but it willl improve what you have already. When you have that cue in your hands, that you love to play with. You will play more, and play better. Pool is a mind game, make the mind happy by playing with what it likes, and in turn it will allow you to play better.
 
Cuemaster98 said:
I am a strong believer that investing, finding and/or building a "better playing cue" will improve your performance on the table. That may be as easier as trying out a different tip, changing tip curvature, trying different tip size, changing the taper, maintaining your shaft, new ferrule or finding a new cue completely.

Over the years, I've played with hundreds of difference cues to test my performance in tournaments and what I found is that equipment plays a large part in your confidence and it's always reflected in your game. Better cues doesn't not mean more expensive or fancy cue...it may mean just fine tuning your existing cue or trying out different cues that may play better (cheaper or more expensive) or a cue from a builder that build cue with a taper that is more suited to your playing style.

Curious to see how often players maintain or change their cue. Maybe you already found your holy grail..how long did it take you to tune your cue(s) to your liking? How often do you maintain your cues?

I know an older player that has his cue for over 20 years and he's still playing with the same tip. Finally got him to change his tip and now he love his cue even more.

Duc.
Click to expand...

I agree with trying to get the best fit for you when it comes to a cue but don't you find it hard to get used to anything if your changing equipment so often? Please don't take that the wrong way, I'm not knocking your argument to supply yourself with the best gear. Maybe I just got lucky and found mine, so I don't see a need to stray.
 
shoe

I think getting a cue that just feels right, definitely helps. I mean you won't wear a shoe that doesn't fit you right, correct ? You can still walk with it may be win a short sprint, but it will start hurting your foot.
 
I do maint. on my cue weekly. It's not the most expensive, prettiest, or even a custom. I put it away for 15 yrs and pretty much quit playing. I decided I was going to play again so I bought several new cues. Some production cues and a few customs. Thought my game was done.. game over. Even posted on here to get advice on why I played better w/ a bar cue...On the day decided to find where I stashed it.... my game did a total turn around. It's like an extension of my arm. Even my friends that I play friendly games with hate seeing me bring it. It's the first cue I ever owned. Have had it for 29 yrs
 
Cuemaster98 said:
Curious to see how often players maintain or change their cue. Maybe you already found your holy grail..how long did it take you to tune your cue(s) to your liking? How often do you maintain your cues?
Click to expand...

I started with a Schmelke and had that for about 2 years, I think. Changed the tip twice on it, maybe 3 times. Picked up a Joss, changed the tip and had it tapered down a bit. Got a Z2 shaft, changed the tip a couple of times. Played with that for about 5 1/2 years, I think. About 6 months(?) ago I figured I'd eventually buy a nice stick that "hits a ton"(read:costs a ton) or something.

In advance of that, I took a chance at cutting in two a bar cue that I really liked. I mean, why not take a chance with $50 before I blow hundreds on something that I don't know? It worked out really well and I haven't been happier. I took out my Joss the other day to play a set with a friend. Didn't like it. Played with the bar cue for league last night and shot just fine. Need a new ferrule and tip soon, so I'm getting a little worried about changing the feel. :(

I've got a tip pick, a few dome shapers, a cube shaper and also the fancy diamond tip tool. I may use one of those every few months.. at most. The cheap flip-open case is also the one that gets used the most. If I could start over, my pool equipment budget would've never passed $100.
 
DoubleD said:
Disagree wholeheartedly. I think I made my biggest strides when using lots of different cues.

dld
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I could see that, but I think your yardstick is probably different.

Predictability re: how the balls will react trumps the ability to adjust to different cues.

And if you refer to being forced to stay toward the center of the CB...well I never play well enough to do that.
 
I am a stickler for a quality product when it comes to billiards, and in most aspects of my life when it can be afforded. Not saying it makes me play better by any means, but I feel more confident in my equipment, and confident that it will last me a long long time. That being said, my "quality" equipment is in my eyes on the low end of a lot of folks when it comes to cues and cases. But thats what has proven to work for me, and has lasted me over the years. I prefer older sturdier built cues and refinish them, and my main carry case is a 16 year old Buffalo Instroke. I have only recently purchased my first custom cue which I am very fond of. But that being said, I have had my arse handed to me by guys who carry wal mart stick into that hall bare handed, and they wiped the floor with me. In the end, it comes down to feel and comfort for me as an individual.
 
again i see misdirection

Yes a cue that you like and feels good to you will often make you "mentally" comfortable which is half the battle in pool (the cloth makes the man) but the reason why amateurs stay amateurs is because they keep searching for the holy grail, the fix it all in one try and never will to really put in the proper time to finding out the dynamics of the game.

If your perception of center ball, fundaments, pre shot, deflection and all that other good stuff is way off (let's not forget cue ball reaction) you will have no idea on the change that comes from the different equipment. You won't know an ivory tip, how deflection actually works, how cue length actually affects timing or cue weight for that matter.

In closing if you're happy with cleaning and waxing your car and feeling like GOD when you're in it without every actually knowing how tire pressure and proper oil or gas makes it run then............enjoy.

P.S.
take this however you want it's my opinion "just like your comments"
 
Cuemaster98 said:
I am a strong believer that investing, finding and/or building a "better playing cue" will improve your performance on the table. That may be as easier as trying out a different tip, changing tip curvature, trying different tip size, changing the taper, maintaining your shaft, new ferrule or finding a new cue completely.

Over the years, I've played with hundreds of difference cues to test my performance in tournaments and what I found is that equipment plays a large part in your confidence and it's always reflected in your game. Better cues doesn't not mean more expensive or fancy cue...it may mean just fine tuning your existing cue or trying out different cues that may play better (cheaper or more expensive) or a cue from a builder that build cue with a taper that is more suited to your playing style.

Curious to see how often players maintain or change their cue. Maybe you already found your holy grail..how long did it take you to tune your cue(s) to your liking? How often do you maintain your cues?

I know an older player that has his cue for over 20 years and he's still playing with the same tip. Finally got him to change his tip and now he love his cue even more.

Duc.
Click to expand...

If that be the case then you should be a champion
 
Lets see. Invest $1000 in practice time or $1000 in a cue? Invest $1000 in lessons from a great instructor (Scott, Stan, Randy, etc) or $1000 in a cue? $1000 in entry fees into challenging tournaments or .... You see what my experience has taught me. When 14.1 was the most important game to me, I once ran 100 plus with a house cue. The cue is an extension of my hand, wrist and arm. Give me a few racks and I'll play with any straight cue with a decent tip. JMHO.

Duc, as a cue salesperson I would expect you to say an expensive cue hits better. My experience doesn't show that to be true. Some players just hate the thought of walking into a pool room and seeing three or four cues just like theirs. Personally, it just doesn't matter!

Lyn
 
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Sounds like a cue maker or salesman trying to talk people into dumping a bunch of money into a cue. If you can't make a shot with a decent production cue (a McDermott or Lucasi for example) that has a good tip and rolls straight, you won't make that shot with a $10k custom cue either.

Does a decent production cue play better than a house cue? Absolutely. If you put the same shaft on both, would a $1,500 Mcdermott play better than a $150 Mcdermott? Absolutely not.
 
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Cues

As you can tell by my screen name I am biased on this subject. I have had seven custom cues by top tier maker and several production cues along the way. The cue that performed best for me was a $200 Joss plane Jane. It has outlasted all of the $1500 plus custom cues in my case. Alas, my wife ordered me an Andy Gilbert custom cue for Christmas this year. I got in contact with Andy and told him my specs- handle diameter, weight, balance point, etc. I can honestly say it has elevated my game to the next level. It is solid and stiff but the shafts are very lively and don't seem to deflect as much as other cues I've owned. It is also very consistent. I don't think price is directly correlated to playability and you should just play with what feels right and
Helps you perform better.
 
I can make a shot with my now dust-collecting Meucci just as easily as I can with my custom BHQ.

I can miss them too. Not the equipment, it's the players' skill or lack there of IMO
 
I disagree. Most people would be far better served spending their money on lessons than equipment.
 
I agree with the OP

Equipment does make a difference in my opinion. When I read the original post, I took it to mean not only could a new cue help you play better, but maybe just changing the tip on the cue you already have would be an improvement. I don't believe there is such a thing as a holy grail of a cue out there that will turn you into SVB, but I do believe that if you look hard enough, and long enough you might find one that you play better with than other cues you've played with in the past. I have owned a lot of different cues from the $50. to $4000. price range. It took me a long time to figure out what I like best in a cue. It was a lot of trial and error. I've also tried a lot of different tips, and there's still another one I might try the next time I need a new one. I am really happy with the cue I have now, and consider myself lucky to have it. I know I couldn't play as good as I do with another.
 
I tend to agree with the OP to a certain point. I think above $1000 you are just paying for looks and a name.

I recently won a Joss that retails for about $600 and it is the best hitting cue I have ever played with. To me the tactile feedback you get from a hit on a cue has a lot to do with how it will play.

I have played with many cues before from Black Boar to many customs and the Joss is the best hitting cue I have ever experienced.

I think it has a lot to do with how much feel you get from a cue and many people don't even notice that type of thing.

Now dont get me wrong there are many different types of material that can change the hit and it really just comes down mainly to the type of joint and tip for the hit. Shaft diameter can be adapted to but in the end probably doesnt change all that much in a players game.
 
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