Who plays with more than one cue/shaft/tip and has [no] problems

[td873]

Interesting discussion tonight about using a different cue/shaft/tip and having problems adjusting. I usually play with two cues (one in the car for the pool hall, and one at home). But I've played with 3 or 4 in a week. One cue has snipers on it, one elk master, one le pro. I I know I consciously decide to use more center ball at first when switching, then move to english after my mind adjusts. In just a little while I feel like I'm playing about the same either way. At least I like to think so.

Does anyone notice a difference when they switch from one cue to another or from one shaft to another?


-td

 

[Shannon.spronk]

I notice a small difference, but the only difference for me is the tips. Same butt, same brand of shaft, one has an Everest medium on it and the other has a Kamui black hard.

The only time I will really switch out after starting to shoot is just based on my mentality. If I feel that something just doesn't feel right I might switch. Alot more mental than anything else.

 

[poolguppy]

It's hard to tell, because you can't possibly miss a shot and honestly say if you had a different cue you would have made it. Sure you will notice differences in feel between weights and tapers and such, but you are conscious of those and play accordingly like you mentioned. I feel I play most consistently well with my main cue, but some of the best table runs of my life were without it. But in a long stretch I will have played better overrall with the cue that has spent the most amount of time in my hands. I love switching to one of my other cues once in awhile, but after an hour or two I always switch back to the cue I favor the most because of how it feels in my hands

 

[Pushout]

On my Dishaw I have three Triangles and one Le Pro. The shafts are all close but are not all the same size also, and I have no trouble.
I do notice the difference, but it's minimal and doesn't bother me.

 

[jaetee]

I constantly swap cues, most of which have different tips on them as well. Generally, I can feel slight differences in hit and the effect they each have on the cue ball, but after a few minutes of warm up I play about the same with them all.

That said, my Schon has become my main player when I leave the house, for two reasons:

1) The hit is very nice and that cue requires the least warm up to feel right...
2) It can be relatively easily replaced...

Ever since I put on a milk dud tip it's kind of become my benchmark cue. I'm amazed at how many Schon's hit so similar...

Other favorites include an old McDermott D-26, a 1996 Espiritu and a Wayne Gunn Sneaky Pete from the late 80's...

 

[BeachBum2012]

I change dependant on the table conditions sometimes. I play most of the time on Diamond bar boxes. They're tight and fast so I play a slow finesse game most of the time. On occasion I play on really crappy slow tables that look like the shag is longer than the carpet on the floor and my game has to change a bit. I typically will grab a shaft with a larger diameter and harder tip as I feel it allows me to hit with more power without having to be as precise with aiming point on the cue ball. I feel a difference for sure, both in the feel of contact and the amount of deflection that I produce. I know both fairly well, so it doesn't affect me much though.

 

[DAVE_M]

I used to have two Tiger Ultra X LD shafts. One was 29 inches and the other 30 inches. I played with the 29" shaft for a while and went to the 30", because I wanted a longer cue. It took some adjustments to get used to the 30" shaft, but going back to the 29" shaft was no problem.

I think it had to do with where my back hand was. If I kept my back hand in the same spot, the front of the cue was longer and changed the pivot point or something. It's too early and I haven't had enough coffee yet.

I've never had a problem with switching between tips.

 

[ssbn610g]

I have 5 shafts I carry in my Cue Case not including the jump stick. I usually play with my main stick/shaft but have on occasion changed shaft in warm ups. I have two 314 shafts, one 314-2, a Tiger X shaft, and a Lucasi maple shaft. All have different tips but they are all soft or medium. I usually change because for some reason the main cue just doesn't feel right and I feel it has made a difference. I like to change under certain circumstances.

Sunday, I played two sets with a friend's cue which is a Meucci with a 31" shaft and a hard tip. This cue is totally different than anything I have ever used. I shot lights out for me and my friend said two sets were enough. I just got off the phone to see if he would sell the cue. He said no. LOL Oh, the shaft was 12 mm and I usually use a 12.75 mm.

I think changing can be good.

Al

 

[bdorman]

My difference is only in the tip: two OB2 shafts, one with an ultraskin soft (my regular player) and one with the stock Everest.

I use the Everest tip when I want a change-of-pace. Sometimes I just like to experience a crisper hit.

Does changing the shafts hurt my game?

Nothing could hurt my game more than my own lack of skill...but I'll blame it on the tip. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Kim Bye]

I carry four shafts. Two Mezz WX900 shafts. One with a Zan soft tip and one with a Navigator soft tip. I prefer the shaft with the Zan tip.
I also have a Mezz Hybrid Alpha with a Zan soft tip and a Mezz Hybrid Pro II shaft with a G2 soft tip. The WX900 I use for everything, but for straight pool. For that I use the Alpha or HP II. All my shafts are 30"

Pretty interesting when you have several identical shafts (close to atleast..) with different tips, that way it`s easy to notice the difference between the tips.

 

[Bavafongoul]

I carry a 6x12 case.......

Tim Scruggs cue (18.2 ozs & 18.3 ozs with either shaft -12.8 & 12.9mm).
Paul Mottey cue (18.1, 18.3 & 18.6 ozs with shafts 12.7, 12.85. & 13mm)
Bob Owen cue (18.28 -18.41 ozs with shafts 12.6, 12.7, 12.9, & 13mm).

I can yank any of these cues out to play with and there's no degradation or elevation in my game play.
These cues pretty much are tailored to what I like. The shafts have ivory ferrules & the cue joints are ivory;
the Mottey cue has a piloted ivory joint and the Scruggs & Owen cues both have big pin flat ivory joints.

As you can see, there's really only minimal differences in the individual cue specs and my 3 cue-makers are
known for producing great hitting pool cues. Consequently, my pool stroke doesn't have to make adjustments
for differences in which cue I select to use. Ergo, I get to practice the same stroke routine over and over with
basically the same weight and a great hitting cue feeling even when I switch cues and I do during a match. I
assemble my break cue, and usually 2 cues and this week when I practice it's been my Mottey & Owen cues.

Now when I play with my Runde,Schon, it's entirely different cue and I struggle with my position play with the cue
ball. This cue was made in 1985 and it was constructed pretty much the way cues were made back then, i.e., big
& heavy. The Runde Schon butt is larger than the slimmer butts on my other cues. It weighs....gulp....21.4 ozs....
and a piloted steel joint......to say the cue hits firm is an understatement. So that cue stays at home and is retired.

Jerry Rauenzahn is building me a cue right now and guess what the specs? Yup, 18.5 ozs (max) and 18.3ozs (min),
3/8x10 flat ivory joint and 12.85mm shafts with ivory ferrules. So as you can see, I match the cues I buy to my playing
specs or I don't buy the cue, not the other way around. I pass on cues that are beauties because of that very reason.

The cue shafts must be approach 4.0 ozs or preferably even heavier. I won't buy a cue with shafts that weigh 3.5 ozs.
So by matching my cue equipment to my specs and keeping all my playing cues comparably close in specs, this allows
me to pretty much pick any cue to use and expect my play not to be affected in any way by my cue selection.

Matt B.

p.s. Please don't infer I'm implying that any of my cues makes me a better player or stronger opponent, just more consistent play.

 

[MitchAlsup]

I have a 314-1 and a Z2 on my SPWR8, both with the same tips and same radii.

At home in casual play, They are essentially interchangeable. I can pick up either and run tables.

However in fierce competition, there are those critical moments when a shot needs that extra something--I can blow the shot if I am using the wrong shaft.
In my case, the correct shaft to be using is the shaft I have practiced with for at least 7 continuous practice sessions (of several hours each).

I believe that in moments of great stress the muscle memory snaps back to the most resent experiences, and while the differences between these shafts are minimal, they are non-zero. And when you need the last iota of accuracy you better have the right shaft on deck.

 

[CMarshall]

I constantly swap cues, most of which have different tips on them as well. Generally, I can feel slight differences in hit and the effect they each have on the cue ball, but after a few minutes of warm up I play about the same with them all.

This is exactly what I was going to say.... I have three main cues, I use them all....just takes a few moments to adjust. :thumbup:

I don't use my G 303, I've found that I don't like the Irish linen wrap on it. Once I change to to a leather wrap, I'll probably use it too! I bought all my cues, I use them all....