Who or what pro play or own a Balabushka cue , that i know of i think the Miz, i dont think Efren has one , just wondering....
What pros own a Balabushka
- Thread starter seanjonsean
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Probably none, the last Balabushka cue was made before most of today's pros were born.
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So a cue has to be new in order to use it?
That was not the question, he asked what pro's have one. The age of the cues and the collectible nature would make it unlikely any of todays pros own or play with one. I have two by the way but I am not a pro.
Well your comment assumes that because they were made before most pros' time, they should not have any. Poor rationale.
You bring up a few interesting points with your one question. I don't know of any current "pros" that use a Bushka. Kim Davenport had a Szamboti (Gus), that would be the closest that I know of.
The other point being I don't know any pros that own a "collection" of cues. Most pros play with which ever company is paying them....
JV
Rodney Morris shot for years with a Gus.
im sure pros are around now and then even when George was living , wether its used or new i meant , non pros to pros u name it .I am sorry i should have been more clear
No, my rationale must makes sense since there are no pros playing with one. Those cues find their way into collections there would be little reason for a pro to play with one even if they owned one. They would have been turned in to cash long ago.
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They were highly prized by pros during their heyday in the 1960's and the most highly sought after cues of the era. A great many pros used Balabushka's over the years. Most of the ones formerly owned by pros were later sold off for their high value.
The legend of Balabushka was built on the support from pro players during his time. He was very sensitive to their needs, likes and dislikes, and would do anything he could to support them.
Even an average Balabushka with a couple of inlays would command somewhere around $10,000 today, and a fancier one with a pedigree, for example, Pete Margo's Balabushka, over $20,000. These values make it highly impractical for a modern pro to use one.
Today's cues are just fine for playing pool - and a pro level cue can be had for around $300.
Chris
Ps. maybe Macguy could let us know his impressions on how his two Balabushka's he owns play compared to today's cues. I know he regrets selling some of his other Bushka's!
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I think Nick Varner is a collector. I could be wrong but i tend to believe he is. Not sure what he is shooting with these days. probably one from his own line.
i think i read somewhere that Steve Mizerak played with one,
He did and a friend of mine gave him another for doing an exhibition in his pool room. My friend had ordered the cue from Balabushka and didn't like it. I believe Steve had several. In later years though, he played with a Richard Black. I'm not sure if he still owned the 'Bushkas when he died.
Thnk you Pushout , well one down .....
He did as well as Ray Martin and a lot of other played of that era. If you went to the U.S. open tournaments in the 70's they were all over the place, even Jean Balukas player with a Balabushka. In later years though they became rare at the tournaments. I don't think I saw Miz with his Balabushka since maybe the early 80's. He began to use a Richard Black and that was the only cue I saw him play with after that.
He may have played with cues by other cue makers (Mottey?), but I know for sure he used cues by (I remember several each) Balabushka (most famously that "Peace Dove" one), Pete Tascarella Sr. and Richard Black.
Greetings from Switzerland, David.
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„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
I have a Szam that Ray Martin had, the bushka Ray martin owned is owned by Dick Abbott, the cues have the exact same wrap, Ray was very specific on what wrap he had on his cues. Of all my Gus Szams I like the way Ray Martins plays the best of the Gus's. I talked to Ray he thought the Gus was on the cover of the 99 Critical Shots Book, but was not 100% positive.
I dont know of any current pro playing with a Bushka.
I owned Rodneys Gus, but I sold it back to him for cheap, he won the US Open with it, I dont know who has it now. I never hit a ball with it.
Thats my 5 cents (inflation)
Best
Eric
I believe Kim Davenport owns a George B. and a Gus S.