Which cuemaker makes GREAT playing cues? How to search for cuemaker?

twilight

twilight

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
First I just wanted to address that I did do a search for best / great playing but it says that best and similar words are too broad to search for. Also I know this is also a subjective to the individual, but I am in fact asking you guys out there for your opinion.

I finally have a decent amount of money saved ~$2000 for a custom cue. While I know that cues like boti's, herceks, tasc, etc are out of my league. There has to be a wonderfully playing cues out there in my range. If there's a great playing cue for $1000 even better :) I however want something nice looking with points, inlays optional. I'm looking for those cuemakers that make cues that really play, not just for show.

With that in mind I think I'm going to take the top 3 or 4 cuemakers suggested and send out some emails and talk to a few of them. I was also thinking about buying one of the suggested cues on ebay, play for a few weeks then sell back on ebay just to get an idea. Who would you say makes those cues that really play?
 
Lots of cuemakers on this forum and all very good.
Blud (Leonard Bludworth)
Mike Webb
Sheldon Lebeau (?sp)
Murray Tucker
Chris Hightower
Sherm Adamson
Theirry Layani
Willeecue
Madden
etc,etc
Somebody can make what you want.
 
If you want to see cues, hit a ball, talk to a cuemaker, then go to the largest show of cuemakers in the world. It will be at Valley Forge Convention Center, PA (North of Philly) on March 16-19. Several of the cuemakers mentioned here will be there. I will be in booth 62. Come by, we can talk cues and you can take one for a test drive.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
 
Its not the cues that are great playing... its in the hands that hold them... :D

Joe
 
twilight said:
I finally have a decent amount of money saved ~$2000 for a custom cue. While I know that cues like boti's, herceks, tasc, etc are out of my league. There has to be a wonderfully playing cues out there in my range. If there's a great playing cue for $1000 even better :) I however want something nice looking with points, inlays optional. I'm looking for those cuemakers that make cues that really play, not just for show.

With that in mind I think I'm going to take the top 3 or 4 cuemakers suggested and send out some emails and talk to a few of them. I was also thinking about buying one of the suggested cues on ebay, play for a few weeks then sell back on ebay just to get an idea. Who would you say makes those cues that really play?
Click to expand...

My list would be:

Mike Webb
Skip Weston
Andy Gilbert

Completely subjective and I'm omitting some great cuemakers with huge backlogs but these would be my choices.

Koop
 
Jack Madden was at one time one of the TOP 9 Ball Players in the World, he builds a Cue that is GREAT IMO.

You do not need 2K to get a Madden Cue, but Jack knows how a Player want s a Cue to hit.

Like I said Jack in his younger days one of the TOP 9 Ball Players in the World.

Jack build this Cue below from my concept.
 

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Depending on the style of cue you look, look at Gilberts or Darrin Hill cues. Both are great guys that make great, unique cues to your liking.
 
Just talked to darrin hill today about building me a cue. He could do a lot with the budget you have. Read some of the other threads on him. Nothing but good reviews.
 
Lots of choice

twilight said:
First I just wanted to address that I did do a search for best / great playing but it says that best and similar words are too broad to search for. Also I know this is also a subjective to the individual, but I am in fact asking you guys out there for your opinion.

I finally have a decent amount of money saved ~$2000 for a custom cue. While I know that cues like boti's, herceks, tasc, etc are out of my league. There has to be a wonderfully playing cues out there in my range. If there's a great playing cue for $1000 even better :) I however want something nice looking with points, inlays optional. I'm looking for those cuemakers that make cues that really play, not just for show.

With that in mind I think I'm going to take the top 3 or 4 cuemakers suggested and send out some emails and talk to a few of them. I was also thinking about buying one of the suggested cues on ebay, play for a few weeks then sell back on ebay just to get an idea. Who would you say makes those cues that really play?
Click to expand...


You have a lot of choices for players cues in the price range you have listed. What you have not listed is the game that you play and the type of hit that you are looking for etc.

I went on a search for a really topflight playing cue- after years of playing with the same cue.

I have learned that having a meaningful dialogue with a cuemaker about what you want is really important- after all it is a tool and the tool is supposed to be suited for a particular job by a particular person. I have learned that they do want to know and it does help them make your cue.

If you like flat faced cues there are many options-

If you like steel jointed cues there are just as many options

Same with ivory jointed-

Try the Search function with "players cues" or "player cue". Also, if you zero in on a particular maker- do a specific search for them.

I just got a Madden that I am very happy with- very classical hit- with ss joint. I also like Rick Howard - his new cues really hit great- if you like stiff flat faced cues. A lot of people love Benders and SW cues- both of which also seem to be in your range.
 
More choices than I can narrow down to. I can't make it to valley forge this year, maybe I should hold off till next year? I just can't wait.
 
twilight said:
More choices than I can narrow down to. I can't make it to valley forge this year, maybe I should hold off till next year? I just can't wait.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with Koop. If you want to have the cue made and get it in 6-8 months then you can't go wrong with a Webb, Skip or Gilbert. I own a Skip and a Gilbert and they both feel great in my hands. I've not hit with a Webb but have heard nothing but great things.

P.S. I personally really value really tight point and inlay work so Skip is my personal favorite! Also, the cue in my avatar is my fancy Skip that I absolutely love!!
 
I would go with a Mike Webb. Alot of cue for the money. Mike is a great guy and will take care of you at a more than fair price.
 
I'm on the same page as Koop and Zeeder. I never really truely fell in love with a cue until I got my Skip. Just felt completely natural in my hands, and as a result, I shot very well with it. I sold it back in the fall in order to get a slightly fancier Skip, which I hope to have soon.

Skip knows a fair amount about pool, being a player himself. When I told him how well the cue felt in my hands, he was quite pleased that he had acheived the result he was seeking...to make a great playing cue. He basically told me that first and foremost a cue should be a great player, and the rest is just window dressing. And he is still reasonably priced, extremely easy to work with, and aims to please. I know he is getting more orders all the time, but hasn't increased his production, so I suspect that before long his waiting list will begin to grow.

Pictures really don't do his cues justice; every ring, point, veneer, and inlay is vividly crisp. Truly stunning and amazing in person. When I first received my Skip and pulled it out of the box, I was simply awestruck, and at a loss for words...and anyone who knows me knows that's pretty phenomenal...Lol.

Lisa
 
twilight said:
I finally have a decent amount of money saved ~$2000 for a custom cue. While I know that cues like boti's, herceks, tasc, etc are out of my league. There has to be a wonderfully playing cues out there in my range. If there's a great playing cue for $1000 even better :) I however want something nice looking with points, inlays optional. I'm looking for those cuemakers that make cues that really play, not just for show.
Click to expand...

Here is the link for the membership roster of the American Cuemakers Association. It is an excellent starting point, for cue shopping.
http://www.cuemakers.org/aca-rstr.htm

From that list, I highly recommend Tim Scruggs, however, Tim is easing into retirement and not making as many cues as he did at one time.
http://www.timscruggs.com/

One of the younger cue makers, who I can't recommend highly enough, is Mike Capone. I am currently playing with a Capone cue and it is one of the best cues I have ever used.
http://www.caponecues.com/
 
Dreams

ridewiththewind said:
I'm on the same page as Koop and Zeeder. I never really truely fell in love with a cue until I got my Skip. Just felt completely natural in my hands, and as a result, I shot very well with it. I sold it back in the fall in order to get a slightly fancier Skip, which I hope to have soon.

Skip knows a fair amount about pool, being a player himself. When I told him how well the cue felt in my hands, he was quite pleased that he had acheived the result he was seeking...to make a great playing cue. He basically told me that first and foremost a cue should be a great player, and the rest is just window dressing. And he is still reasonably priced, extremely easy to work with, and aims to please. I know he is getting more orders all the time, but hasn't increased his production, so I suspect that before long his waiting list will begin to grow.

Pictures really don't do his cues justice; every ring, point, veneer, and inlay is vividly crisp. Truly stunning and amazing in person. When I first received my Skip and pulled it out of the box, I was simply awestruck, and at a loss for words...and anyone who knows me knows that's pretty phenomenal...Lol.

Lisa
Click to expand...
ThERE ARE GREAT PLAYERS, BUT SADLY NO GREAT PLAYING CUES. THAT IS IN THE MIND OF THE CUE OWNER. iF YOU ARE A HIGHY ACCOMPLISHED PLAYER, THEN YOU CAN MAKE A CUE SING A SWEET SONG BY POCKETING EVERY BALL YOU SEE; OTHERWISE BUY A CHEAPER CUE. ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD.
 
dream on

I have a wonder of a cue. I just sit back in my chair and enjoy the ride. and all the balls fly into pockets; oh, and all the banks, caroms, combos, fly into pockets also. That cue cost me 30 dollars. I would not part with it for any amount of money.
 
i ALWAYS say Barry Szamboti...................however the wait is a loooooooooooong time, so second choice have Rick Howard make you a fancy break/jump with points. his jump cues play very well and are just as easy a great playing cue if you use a leather tip,,,,,,,,Wild Bill from Fort Walton sent ya, ricks number is 850-939-1454

or he could build a break/jump and playing cue
 
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