What exactly are they wiping off???

[Maniac]

Cues sweat, even wood ones.

Maybe. I've never noticed it. I've played 12 hours straight, without a break, twice in my life with a wood cue and never felt the need to wipe it down.

Most of these pros I am referencing in my OP are using carbon fiber shafts. If they sweat, I have never noticed mine doing so in the 6 months or so I've been using carbon fiber.

I'm skeptical. I still think they are doing it because everyone else is doing it...as part of their routine. YMMV

 

[mnorwood]

They are removing the ashes of long since cremated road players who were never able to realize their dreams as tournament champions. Their remains are blown about the world always looking for the next opportunity to put the bite back on the living for 20 dollars.

 

[pt109]

Maybe. I've never noticed it. I've played 12 hours straight, without a break, twice in my life with a wood cue and never felt the need to wipe it down.

Most of these pros I am referencing in my OP are using carbon fiber shafts. If they sweat, I have never noticed mine doing so in the 6 months or so I've been using carbon fiber.

I'm skeptical. I still think they are doing it because everyone else is doing it...as part of their routine. YMMV

In a large crowd your cue will sweat.
…..but I think a lot of pros do copy-cat…they’ll walk around the table unnecessarily to see what angle they need on the next ball or they’ll check their angle when it’s not a back cut….I call it the Souquet syndrome.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... It has become a frequent sight to see the pro players wiping down their cues before they break, between shots DURING a run, etc. What the heck are they wiping off of their cue?...

In the case of Jeremy Jones, he sweats profusely. It seems like he wipes after every shot, sometimes. It was remarked on during a recent Matchroom event.

I used to sweat and used a lot of powder when that was the style, but I somehow stopped sweating, and haven't used powder for a few decades.

 

[ShootingArts]

I can't say what they are doing. When I was doing it with wooden shafts I was burnishing the shaft before the shot making it a little slicker. A piece of grit right where I am transitioning could be a distraction too, best to know my equipment is ready.

Today with a CF shaft I am making sure that a drop of sweat or speck of grit hasn't gotten on the shaft in an awkward place. If facing a tough shot I want to know my equipment is as ready as I can make it. I am not an every shot chalker but if I chalk it is almost a given I will wipe the shaft, cheap insurance.

These reasons, and just habit while thinking are probably why the pro's wipe a shaft.

Hu

 

[boogieman]

Maybe. I've never noticed it. I've played 12 hours straight, without a break, twice in my life with a wood cue and never felt the need to wipe it down.

Most of these pros I am referencing in my OP are using carbon fiber shafts. If they sweat, I have never noticed mine doing so in the 6 months or so I've been using carbon fiber.

I'm skeptical. I still think they are doing it because everyone else is doing it...as part of their routine. YMMV

You know how you can never keep a black vehicle clean? It's kind of that. You see any streak (even from hand oils). It doesn't really effect play until it does. If you see it while down on a shot it could be a mental block so it's easier to wipe it. I'm a heathen and just wipe it on my shirt.

 

[jayman]

Once again, my curiosity has gotten to me.

It has become a frequent sight to see the pro players wiping down their cues before they break, between shots DURING a run, etc.

What the heck are they wiping off of their cue?

My personal opinion is that it's just become a "thing" similar to wiping the palm of your hand on top of the rail before shooting or running your bridge hand out in a circular, closed ring from near the joint to the tip immediately after chalking. Kind of like a pre-shot routine.

I can't imagine there is any sweat or carbon fiber residue on their cue. It's not possible for carbon fiber to accumulate a powdery residue THAT often, and I cannot fathom that the venues they are playing in would have temperatures that would cause sweaty hands. That, and they are almost exclusively wearing gloves on their bridge hands anyway.

I have also opined that maybe they do this as a means to slow themselves down and/or calm their nerves and/or collect their thoughts. There cannot possibly be anything on their cues that needs to be wiped off, right?

What's your take on this?

You have it backwards. What are they wiping on?

 

[straightline]

You have it backwards. What are they wiping on?

Burnishing in from the looks of it.

 

[InsertCleverNameHere]

Its a nervous tick that's part of a lot of players psr. Anything on the shaft can be a distraction, even if its not there.

"even if it's not there" SO TRUE

 

[ChrisSjoblom]

If you watch for it you will sometimes even see players wiping their hands and face with the same towel they wipe their cue with. I've seen this a few times in videos of matches at Buffalo Billiards, and quite a few times in Asian tournaments so I guess it's a product of particularly humid rooms. Hard to understand the use of wiping your shaft with a towel that is already carrying sweat and oil from your face. I carry separate face and shaft towels when I know I will be playing in a humid environment.

 

[couldnthinkof01]

Sometimes it's best to take a second and wipe the cue after a challenging shot so you don't rush and make a stupid mistake.

Sometimes the shaft is sticky

Sometimes you gotta show the ladies your skills

 

[Fatboy]

I always thought it was the blow they were wiping off,,,,,,,

 

[fishless]

I always thought it was the blow they were wiping off,,,,,,,

No, they would be licking that off

 

[Black-Balled]

Also, some cloth directional grooming going on.

Is that fooookin English?!?!

If so, was it written in the 21st century?

 

[L.S. Dennis]

I've always been a 'joint to tip' wiper-offer.

I remember seeing Rempe doing this a lot before shooting

 

[straightline]

I remember seeing Rempe doing this a lot before shooting

Keith Mcready would do this as well as he sauntered around the table.

 

[Maniac]

Keith Mcready would do this as well as he sauntered around the table.

Scott Frost too.

 

[kitsap]

You know how you can never keep a black vehicle clean? It's kind of that. You see any streak (even from hand oils). It doesn't really effect play until it does. If you see it while down on a shot it could be a mental block so it's easier to wipe it. I'm a heathen and just wipe it on my shirt.

Any type of fingerprint or mark on the black shaft is picked up in the reflection from the table lights. Even more so from the lights on the TV table. This is a moving visual distraction in the line of sight as you go through your practice strokes. After a while wiping them off becomes a habit!

 

[Maniac]

Any type of fingerprint or mark on the black shaft is picked up in the reflection from the table lights. Even more so from the lights on the TV table. This is a moving visual distraction in the line of sight as you go through your practice strokes. After a while wiping them off becomes a habit!

I've been playing with a CF shaft for months and haven't wiped it off yet while playing. I do wipe it down before putting it back into the case.

As far as "a moving visual distraction" goes, I'm not focusing my eyes on the shaft, I'm looking at where the tip is in relation to the point on the cue ball I wish to contact. When I'm pulling the trigger, I'm focused on the object ball. So, this "visual distraction" never happens to me. YMMV

 

[maha]

if you sweat a lot your shaft can get sticky but otherwise, especially if you use a glove its not needed. but people in all things get into routines that are meaningless.

why do i order my bills in my bankroll so they all face the same way?