What is a cue’s “hit”?

Patrick Johnson said:
We often hear how good a cue’s “hit” is, but I don’t recall ever hearing what the “hit” is. Can it be described in more detail? Is it specific objective qualities or just the overall experience of hitting a ball with it? Can the difference(s) between “good” and “bad” hits be described in any detail?

Thanks in advance for any insights.

pj
chgo
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It like asking some one in NYC, what is Best Bagel in Manhattan.

Very subjective to each person you ask.

No right, or wrong answer.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
We often hear how good a cue’s “hit” is, but I don’t recall ever hearing what the “hit” is. Can it be described in more detail? Is it specific objective qualities or just the overall experience of hitting a ball with it? Can the difference(s) between “good” and “bad” hits be described in any detail?

Thanks in advance for any insights.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
I'm, I think a hit is something that a player subjectively/objectively want generally in a cue. Like intended/expected result from a cue. Although lots of variables come with it, shaft, deflection, weight, hardness. Softness, lightness. I think it pertains more to accuracy and feel. I'm not sure how pool players in general can determine subconsciously especially in a blind taste.
 
Hail Mary Shot said:
I'm, I think a hit is something that a player subjectively/objectively want generally in a cue. Like intended/expected result from a cue. Although lots of variables come with it, shaft, deflection, weight, hardness. Softness, lightness. I think it pertains more to accuracy and feel. I'm not sure how pool players in general can determine subconsciously especially in a blind taste.
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Would think most Top Pro Players, play for pay with what ever Cue by what cue maker, or company that builds Cue like CueTECH that ='s most Dollars n Cents in their pockets. Plus FREE Stuff to do with as they like like sell to fans.
 
My vote goes to Brooklyn Bagels……opened in 2002…….QVC promotes them as the best……they claim it’s the water.
I have enjoyed them for the past 24 years. My family on Staten Island keeps me supplied all year long. What a great
sandwich bagels can create and the variety of flavors is delicious…..and zero calories too.

Okay, I pushed the envelope on the calories thing but bread seems to be the staple of life down through history and bagels are better than toast, even sourdough, IMO. Besides, bagels also come in sourdough and helluva lot more.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
We often hear how good a cue’s “hit” is, but I don’t recall ever hearing what the “hit” is. Can it be described in more detail? Is it specific objective qualities or just the overall experience of hitting a ball with it? Can the difference(s) between “good” and “bad” hits be described in any detail?

Thanks in advance for any insights.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...

To me, the "hit" or "playability" is different than pure performance like shaft deflection. Hit and playability is the combination of the cue parts, from the buttcap to the tip, how it feels in the hand, how much enjoyment you get when using it. How the wood and construction and design choices such as shaft taper, wood used, etc... come together. A good analogy would be eating in a good restaurant vs a bad/OK one, the food is still the same nutrution value (performance) but how much you enjoy the meal depends on how the ingredients are handled and even the atmosphere of the restaurant.

I hate questions like "how does it play" "how does it hit", since that is not anything quantifiable and is based on opinions, it plays as good as the player does when using it LOL. There is really two numbers that matter in the "performance" of the cue that is measurable, the deflection, and how well is puts spin on the ball (I guess energy transfer would be the technical name there). A shaft does what it does no matter who holds it, if tested properly. How the player can make balls with that performance and how they like the feel of the cue is all personal to the player.
 
hang-the-9 said:
There is really two numbers that matter in the "performance" of the cue that is measurable, the deflection, and how well is puts spin on the ball (I guess energy transfer would be the technical name there).
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Good post - the highlighted part above is the only part I don't fully agree with.

In pool "how much spin" means how high is the spin-to-speed ratio (the measure that determines angle change off a rail). Spin-to-speed is determined purely by how far from center you hit the cue ball with any cue - hitting the CB on the same spot will produce the same spin-to-speed ratio for all cues at all speeds.

pj
chgo
 
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HawaiianEye said:
People will know when they find the right hit.

They will be happy when they finally hit the Jackpot.
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This. When I got back into pool after being away for 14 years I realized I didn't even know if I liked my current cue at the time so I went on a buying spree and bought about 8 different cues. In the end I switched to a much lighter cue but with the same dimensions (both Hueblers), went from a 20oz to 17.3oz. If I play on a 9' table I switch back to the 20oz with the shaft from the 17.3oz cue.
 
garczar said:
What did the SupremeCourt justice say about pornography? "I can't describe it but i know it when i see it" I can't define a cue's hit but i know it when i feel it. Everyone has their own aspects of a cue's hit/feel that they feel is important. PJ has played long enough to know that there is no definite answer to this.
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He likes stirring the pot. 😁
 
axejunkie said:
It's mostly the sound for me. I like some pingy tones in my cue. But not too pingy, which I've had in a few cues.

To some, the sound means very little and I respect that. But I think almost everyone hates the sound of a miscue.

On a different tangent, I might like one guitar player's tone more than another's, even if they play the same part.
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Since I play with earbuds respectively now, I need that tactile sensation, awareness coming down into my hands. My eyes can tell if I hit it good, but the feel is also very important. You know when you've stroked off a difficult shot. You can feel it resonate in the cue.
Since my game currently sucks, pay no attention to any of this. 😉
 
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