I am going to be getting a few 60" cues here before long and thought I'd get peoples opinions of longer than standard cues. I've heard and read that shorter cues are more accurate and that longer cues tend to be whippier. If you currently play or have played with a 60", or longer, cue I would love to hear your opinions on the pro's and con's of them. Thanks in advance for all of your responses.
What are the Pro's and Con's of 60", or Longer, Cues?
- Thread starter Rackin_Zack
- Start date
I used to play with a standard length Pechauer and loved it but my hand was constantly at the end of the butt. I had Dave Jacoby make me a 60" cue and wow, was it hard to get used to! It took me a couple of weeks or so to get to the point where I felt like I could control where the cb would end up. I've been playing with it now for about a year and I still love it. Interestingly, when I do pick up the shorter Pechauer, I don't seem to have any problem adjusting to it.
i borred a friends 60" once and it was extremely whippy. Seems like you could actually see the tip vibrating after a shot. Talking to makers since then iv ebeen told its all in the taper, one maker said i needed a "cannon" taper for a longer shaft to stop the whippiness. Im interested in this thread because i will be ordering a custom soon and a 60 to 62 inch stick interests me.
Rackin_Zack said:
In my personal opinion, 58" is optimal regardless of the person's height (arm-span). A cue's dimensions relate more to the game than it does to the individual. That is to say, once you step outside the bounds of standard, you are taking a risk. With that said, it can be argued that adding two inches will only serve as comfort to the player. If that's the case, so be it but in my personal experiences, I would recommend a player to stay within the confines of common cue dimensions before experimenting with items that will always need to be custom-made and might not serve as great a purpose as they would hope.
The same can be said for heavier cues that seem to be the calling-card of the beginner however, there are some professional players out there that swear by the 21 oz. cue. In sum, you'll never see me using a 60" but I'm 5'9" and perfectly happy with my 19 oz. 58" Predator 2. A buyer should always be reminded what is actually occuring when striking the cue-ball. No matter what cue you use, you must hit it in a specific place at a specific speed. Failure to do so does not automatically suggest the player is in need of an equipment change. Adding 2 inches to the butt will not be the magical answer.
I've been playing with a longer cue for about 12 years now.
I've never had a problem with the length/wippiness ratio.
The only problem i've ever experienced, is when i end up in a situation, where the table i'm playing on, happens to be in a corner or near a wall.
I've had this come up several times. Where the edge of the table, and the wall surrounding it are too close. So the cue ends up banging into the wall on backswings.
i've had this happen to me in Joss events numerous times, as they are all in pool halls. One time where i had a ball on the rail..and had only enough room for about an inch between cue ball and tip with the cue against the wall.
i ended up having to bunt the ball like HOPKINS, and played all those shots extremely poorly.
Other than that, i guess the problems encountered depend on the cuemaker.
some cue makers make longer shafts...some add length to the butt, and some do both.
I believe Mike Davis' cue is an example of a cue that has a longer butt, but a standard predator shaft fitted to it. I'm not quite positive, but i'm pretty sure.
SUPERSTAR
I've never had a problem with the length/wippiness ratio.
The only problem i've ever experienced, is when i end up in a situation, where the table i'm playing on, happens to be in a corner or near a wall.
I've had this come up several times. Where the edge of the table, and the wall surrounding it are too close. So the cue ends up banging into the wall on backswings.
i've had this happen to me in Joss events numerous times, as they are all in pool halls. One time where i had a ball on the rail..and had only enough room for about an inch between cue ball and tip with the cue against the wall.
i ended up having to bunt the ball like HOPKINS, and played all those shots extremely poorly.
Other than that, i guess the problems encountered depend on the cuemaker.
some cue makers make longer shafts...some add length to the butt, and some do both.
I believe Mike Davis' cue is an example of a cue that has a longer butt, but a standard predator shaft fitted to it. I'm not quite positive, but i'm pretty sure.
SUPERSTAR
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SUPERSTAR said:
That's correct, SUPERSTAR. Mike Davis shoots with an Eddie Anderson cue, a cue-maker out of Southern Pennsylvania. He uses a standard Predator shaft, with the tip shaved down to the nubbins!
Two years ago at the DCC, Mike Davis' long Eddie Anderson cue stick came up missing, and he was sick about it. The next day, some kind soul found it and turned it in to the tournament desk. It was thereafter returned to a very appreciative and relieved Mike Davis.
JAM
Jude Rosenstock said:
Jude,
I am under no delusion that having a cue that's two inches longer will suddenly make me play better...lol. The reason I am going to 60" cues is that I have the desire to be able to use the same stroke fundamentals on all of my shots. When I am down in my stance and my hand is all the way back on my cue, but not hanging off, I have about six to seven inches of stroking room with my hand being perpendicular when then tip is nearly touching the cue ball. This means that on a speed shot my hand is mostly off of the cue!
I concur with you completely that the key is to be able to hit a specific place on the cue ball at a specific speed and I "think" that a longer cue will allow me to have better fundamentals on every shot! Only time will tell I suppose. I will certainly let everyone know if the extra two inches propells me from a C+ to an A player...lol.
imho,,,i have been playing with a 59" 'Audrick' (filipino) cue for two years now and wish all my cues were 59",,,when i go back to a 58' cue, i constantly find my right hand on the very tip of the cue butt,,,imho,,,it all boils down to your stroke and the balance and 'feel' of the cue,,,,,,,,
FWIW a while back I was finding myself gripping my 58" cue on the end past the wrap on a lot of shots. (I'm 6' and shoot with my chin down on the shaft)
Instead of getting a longer cue I started working on my stance and stroke, in particular on adjusting my bridge length, follow through and rear hand position relative to the requirements of the shot, rather than keeping everything exactly the same no matter what the shot was.
Personally I have found this works much better for me. Now anytime I feel my hand working down to the end of the stick I get up and adjust my stance, bridge length and grip position until it all feels balanced again.
Instead of getting a longer cue I started working on my stance and stroke, in particular on adjusting my bridge length, follow through and rear hand position relative to the requirements of the shot, rather than keeping everything exactly the same no matter what the shot was.
Personally I have found this works much better for me. Now anytime I feel my hand working down to the end of the stick I get up and adjust my stance, bridge length and grip position until it all feels balanced again.
AuntyDan said:
When I say I want to keep everything the same, I'm talking about the core stroke fundamentals. I'm talking about the arm being perpendicular at tip contact with the cue ball. I'm talking about a smooth fluid acceleration that is essentially the same on every shot. In order to do this you have to be able to vary your bridge length. When you vary your bridge length you have to vary your grip placement, and for the longer bridge lengths you have to go farther back on the cue. I have several friends that are my height and taller that I see playing and their arms are way forward on contact with the cue ball. I have a friend who's probably 6'5" or 6'6" and he's really far forward. My goal is basically to be able to use the most efficient stroke in all shots and not have to change my technique for the toughest shots demanding the most accuracy.
I have a cue that has an exra-long shaft and I played with that for a while but didn't like the hit, it was too whippy as others have suggested. However, having a cue that is built to be a 60" cue so that the butt and shaft are 30" long, this makes the hit much better. I don't feel it hits whippy at all. I totally agree with you Rackin Zack, that you may need a little longer cue to ensure that your fundamentals are attainable the same way as shorter players with the 58" cues. Why should we be penalized just because we're taller.
AuntyDan said:
When my hand is all the way at the end of the butt plate, although not hanging over, it is about a six or seven inch bridge. If I go all the way to the end of the cue, thumb and forefinger the only thing on the edge of butt plate, I can get a ten to eleven inch bridge while staying perpendicular.
Rackin_Zack said:
Wing span is the important issue here. When bridging at a proper length, say 8", how far back is your back hand on the wrap/butt area when you're cued up to the cue ball and is your forearm perpendicular to the floor?
If it's more than 8" below the balance point of the cue towards the end of the butt, then you need a longer cue.
Barbara
Interesting thread......
I have recently had a 64" cue made by Paul Dayton and it fits me just fine. The standard 58" cue is NOT for everyone. Everyone has arm and bridge differences. Some people get waay down on the shot like Aunty,while others tend to stand up a little more. I would suggest playing with a longer shaft first, and if that helps, consider a butt made to the same length. IMO your hand should be on the wrap on every shot. That is what it's made for! If you play with your hand on the end of the cue, time to get another spear, Scott
I have recently had a 64" cue made by Paul Dayton and it fits me just fine. The standard 58" cue is NOT for everyone. Everyone has arm and bridge differences. Some people get waay down on the shot like Aunty,while others tend to stand up a little more. I would suggest playing with a longer shaft first, and if that helps, consider a butt made to the same length. IMO your hand should be on the wrap on every shot. That is what it's made for! If you play with your hand on the end of the cue, time to get another spear, Scott
60 inch cue
I have a cue maker friend that makes 60" cues almost exclusively. I have hit with several of his cues and have yet to hit with one that does not hit very solidly. I am building my first cue.......it is going to be 60 inches. It would be a dull ole world if everyone was alike wouldn't it? The taper does make the difference. And IMHO saying everyone should use the same length cue is kinda like saying everyone who uses a walking cane should use a certain length.
I have a cue maker friend that makes 60" cues almost exclusively. I have hit with several of his cues and have yet to hit with one that does not hit very solidly. I am building my first cue.......it is going to be 60 inches. It would be a dull ole world if everyone was alike wouldn't it? The taper does make the difference. And IMHO saying everyone should use the same length cue is kinda like saying everyone who uses a walking cane should use a certain length.
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