What Is The Most Over Rated Cue?

measureman said:
This post says it all.
And just for the record my Lucasi hits as good as most of the cues I have tried. And knowing two cue collectors I have hit balls with some pretty high end cues.
But hit is subjective and thats just my opinion.
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After hitting your Lucasi I think they are the most Underrated cue. In my opinion, Balabushka cues are not over rated. They are historical cues, were the best of their time period, were used by many world champions and pros at that time, and today are still great cues. Balabushka cues were one of the first collectable cues and put cue collecting and building into vogue. We owe a lot to the old masters. Balabushka, Gina, Szamboti, and others were doing what todays builders are striving for a long time ago. Making the best possible cue to the tightest tolerances, using the best materials available. I think the wood available back then was better, or at least now that those cues are so old, the patina and seasoning of the wood makes them really special. There is no shaft I've ever felt that feels as good in your hands as a 40 year old+ Balabushka. Hit is subjective, but I like the way my Balabushka cues hit.
 
I personally HATE the hit from a Cuetec...I don't care if it claims to never warp.
I'd rather play with a broom handle!
 
To respond to the OP, wouldn't you first have to define the rating system? If your rating system is based purely upon playability, pure hit or something along those lines, one could probably say any cue over $500 or $600 is over rated. If you want to get picky about it, a cue that sold for $3,000 would have to play 5 or 6 times better which we know isn't possible.

I would think you have to factor in how well a cue holds it value or appreciates. If you buy a $3,000 cue you think plays great and 5 years later can sell it for $3,000 or more while having played with it regularly, I don't think you could consider that cue over rated. However, if 5 years later you couldn't get $2,500 out of it, I believe it is fair to say that cue is over rated. This value factor certainly is highly influenced by the cue maker who signed the cue.

Unless you're a collector or something along those lines, what difference does it make? If you can afford the cue, you're satisfied with it and it makes you happy, I'd say it is rated perfectly.
 
Maniac said:
Too many to list. Don't believe me? Just go over to the Wanted/For Sale section and look at the many cues listed for enormous $$$ that the seller claims "hits a ton", or "plays lights out", etc. Hell, if there is THAT many cues that hit so great, why do they price them as if THEIR cue is the only one made that has a great hit to it (which is 100% subjective anyway)?

Why is one cuemakers wood, veneers, splices, etc. so much more costlier to a buyer than anothers?

Same reason a Hilfiger or Aeropostale $3.00 T-shirt sells for $25.00. It's all in the NAME, baby!!!

And.......us goofy Americans are gullible enough to pay over-inflated prices for almost ANYTHING that has a "name" to it and is the current fad!!!

Maniac
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I generally agree, but to play devil's advocate to you, there are cues that have a distinctive hit. That has to count for something. A good hitting cue is worth it's weight in gold. So I don't think a cue's hit is an overrated value, I think a person's(seller's) DESCRIPTION of a cue's hit is overrated:).

And most people buy the embellishments on a cue. When they buy an expensive cue the first thing they do is show it off, which means the fancy stuff. They wouldn't do that with a plain jane. Therefore they know what they're paying for. That being said, MOST cue designs SUCK, so yeah MOST cues are overrated.
 
2_Fast_4_Fleas said:
Get some camo tape that you use to put on your shotgun, rifle ect... put in on 20 different cues from the shaft collars down so you cant identify them and then get 1 or 1000 people to shoot with any of them...you will be severly dissapointed when you find out that a $100 cue hits like a $10,000 cue:wink:
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Yes if your the sucker who owns he $10k cue.
You will be severely happy if your the person who owns the $100 cue.
 
Southwest cues-very over priced. They are cookie cutter cues.
Gina Cues-extremely over price, very over rated as playing cues. Inconsistent quailty and hit.
 
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Methinks many of you should be walking down the street with wife or girlfriend that is wearing a T-shirt with an arrow pointing at you that reads most over rated man.

On the non production side I would like to see many go 5 - 10 K out of pocket for wood they might not use for 10 years. Buy equipment and have to refurbish it so you won't be off .001.

Anyone visit The Balbuska mansion or drive one of the many Rolls Royces Harvey Martin owned?

When you start bad mouthing a part of the industry that is the game we love why stop there, bash it all. To me thats like drinking poison hoping someone else will die.
 
I think if you want an "expensive cue" to play with or just collect—the difference in quality and construction of said cue
is where you would rate one cue over the other.

IE: Cue A is priced at $2000 and ( for argument sake ) the points are more accurate or has more exotic inlays than
Cue B and Cue B is priced at $2800...making Cue A "better quality" cue and Cue B over rated.


And let's not forget,
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
smiley-wink.gif


.
 
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I think most people misunderstand the privelage of owning an expensive custom...its not just about playability....its about owning something that you designed and is in part an extention of you, its about owning something made by one of the great cuemakers and being able to tell a story, its about owning a cue with quality materials like ivory or abalone and not cheap plastics. Lastly, its about value. You will almost always get your money back or more when it is time to part with it. When you buy something like lets say a Players or Cuetec...as soon as you swipe your credit card....its worthless
 
blucollar said:
I think most people misunderstand the privelage of owning an expensive custom...its not just about playability....its about owning something that you designed and is in part an extention of you, its about owning something made by one of the great cuemakers and being able to tell a story, its about owning a cue with quality materials like ivory or abalone and not cheap plastics. Lastly, its about value. You will almost always get your money back or more when it is time to part with it. When you buy something like lets say a Players or Cuetec...as soon as you swipe your credit card....its worthless
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Worth less, but not worthless.
 
Really enjoying this thread. Id love to try a Varney, seems like he makes the best hitting cue for the money.
 
blucollar said:
I think most people misunderstand the privelage of owning an expensive custom...its not just about playability....its about owning something that you designed and is in part an extention of you, its about owning something made by one of the great cuemakers and being able to tell a story, its about owning a cue with quality materials like ivory or abalone and not cheap plastics. Lastly, its about value. You will almost always get your money back or more when it is time to part with it. When you buy something like lets say a Players or Cuetec...as soon as you swipe your credit card....its worthless
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It's about flaunting your wealth then?

All gear, no idea.
 
Any cue that isn't mine is OVER RATED! I'm feeling generous today, so let's trade! Anybody want to trade a Balabushka for one of my Players?
 
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