Who was or is, past or present the best pool playing cuemaker

Sigel was a lot better cue maker than people give him credit for. His personal cues had very nice workmanship in them and they played good too. He's underrated imo. He would have to be number one all time as far as playing ability for a cue maker. I would put Billy Stroud (a very good gambler), Bob Hunter, Shawn Putnam and Mike Gulyassy all close together in playing ability. I happen to like Bob's cues the best, but that's just my personal opinion. Billy made the favorite playing cues for a whole generation of players in the 70's and 80's. I didn't really know how good Dennis Searing played.
 
greyghost said:
Sigel is the least skilled cuemaker out of all the guys mentioned and his attitude doesn't help him sell either..........I always see many for sale never see anyone with one.

He plays at the top but his cues are by no means where hunters and searings are.......searing may not have the championships but he's a top flight player and his cues get the money from anyone and I know Sigel doesn't have an 8 yr wait list that costs what 5k min?

Game, set, match my buttstock!

Bobby, Mike G, Dennis Searing, Joe Gold all very high level players that build the highest level of cues and collectors really want their cues while no one is praying to god they won the lottery to purchase a sigel..........

to the back of the short list with Mr Sigel.


PS: by the way the mosconi to Mantle cue was COMMISSIONED by willie for mickey Mosconi did not do anything to the cue...........he had FRANK PARADISE make it.



-Grey Ghost
Click to expand...

Hey Ghost, who the hell is Mickey Mosconi? Could he play? :rolleyes:
 
greyghost said:
Sigel is the least skilled cuemaker out of all the guys mentioned and his attitude doesn't help him sell either..........I always see many for sale never see anyone with one.

He plays at the top but his cues are by no means where hunters and searings are.......searing may not have the championships but he's a top flight player and his cues get the money from anyone and I know Sigel doesn't have an 8 yr wait list that costs what 5k min?

Game, set, match my buttstock!
Click to expand...

The question was who is the best playing cuemaker... it had nothing to do with anyone's opinion about the cues they make.

I agree with Jay, Sigel's cues are excellent players. From a marketing and aesthetic perspective, he missed the mark. But everyone of his cues I have played with were really nice playing cues.

I understand this is a very subjective question... but when you look at Mike's accomplishments in the world of pool, like him or not, I do not understand how you could pick anyone else.
 
Ok, how about "who is the best pool playing cue maker that was never a pro" never won a major. don't be too critical when saying how do you rate a pro. We all have the intellegent's to judge this.

If going by my terms: Bobby hunter(best of the group), Mike Sigel, Shawn Putnam, Larry Nevel, And Mike Gulassy(sp?) would not count based on ability and touring schedules past present what ever.

So that being said:

I'd say Rick Howards 9-ball game would fall in this catagory.

Never seen him play but I have heard that Stroud played well.

I play pretty decent 1-pocket when I'm in the middle of a flash back.
 
My good friend Andy Gilbert is a very good player. He told me once that when he was younger he thought his game was good enough to take on the road but had decided to give cuemaking a try instead. His loss, our gain, wouldn't you say? :smile:
 
Cuemaker/player

Kevin Lindstrom said:
I would like to hear opinions on who was or currently is the best pool playing cuemaker.

Thanks

Kevin
Click to expand...

The best combination of the two could be Richard Harris of Bluegrass Cues. His cues are second to no other maker that recuts and inlays by HAND. At an Akron open after the first three rounds Richard was 30-3...The best record there with a HOST of champions in the field. He has also been ejected for running too many racks in Las Vegas in amature play years ago. Most importantly,he ALWAYS elevated his game for the money...He has his own room now and is hitting the balls well.
 
I have to go with Bobby Hunter if your talking about quality of the cue's he makes and his playing ability.:thumbup:
 
Sigel, Stroud, Hunter & Gulyassy. I don't think Searing was ever on even turf with these guys. Don't get me wrong, Dennis plays good, but, they play gooder. JMHO
 
How about first starting with a list of cuemakers that are also former or current players. This has been brought up before and it's kind of hard to put certain people in the same category. For instance, it wouldnt be fair to compare Ernie (ginacue) to Shawn Putnam for instance. I dont know how much playing background Ernie has but I did watch him play at the DCC about 5 years ago. Ernie's cue's are much better than Putnam's but Shawn is a much better player so you would have to find a medium between cue quality and the makers playability. You could even go as far as to say that Siegel gives Bill Stroud the 8 and last two on the table but Bill's cue's are the 6 ball better than Mike's, just as an example. Maybe someday there will be a Cuemaker's Open and everyone will get to see who really is the best cuemaker/player.....

In no particular order
Bill Stroud
Richard Harris
Mike Gulyassy
Rick Howard
Bobby Hunter
Joey Gold
Pete Tascarella
Paul Mottey
Shawn Putnam
Mike Siegel
Dennis Searing
Bill Schick
?
?
?
?
?
 
Last edited:
Are you giving any points for longevity?

In case any of the guys on the list want to play anything after they have been making cues like I have for 44 years give them my number.

Just kidding,

Bill Stroud
 
bstroud said:
Are you giving any points for longevity?

In case any of the guys on the list want to play anything after they have been making cues like I have for 44 years give them my number.

Just kidding,

Bill Stroud
Click to expand...

hahaha :thumbup:
 
We have a guy up here in northwest Montana that can throw a cueball around the table like he knows what he's doin! And I'll be darned if he hasn't built a few pretty sweet cues in his time. I'm here to give Jack Madden a tap tap tap. See ya next weekend Jack, you have a title to defend. Don
 
bstroud said:
Are you giving any points for longevity?

In case any of the guys on the list want to play anything after they have been making cues like I have for 44 years give them my number.

Just kidding,

Bill Stroud
Click to expand...

Bill....now...you KNOW anyone that's been making cues for more than 44 years....in order to play you some....they'd have to be dug up first:D
 
There is a saying around here that goes, "The proof is in the pudding."
So all you have to do to give an honest opinion is take all touring pros that have been mentioned and look at their tournament records. I am sure after you have done that, you will see Mike Sigel is the best pool player to become a mid to top level cuemaker. The reason I say Mid to Top level is that we may find out that some other world champion actually made a cue or two, but never really pursued it. Mike made cues full time until the market fell out and cuemaking could no longer support him. Many of the other pool players mentioned are champion pool players, but none have Mike's record of major wins.
Some might say they saw this one or that one beat Mike and that means they are better than Mike. So what. I have played a well known World champion twice in tournaments and I lost once and won once. So by that logic that would mean I play even with him. But I know I am no where near his level and he knows it too. I just played a good set and won once.
 
realkingcobra said:
Bill....now...you KNOW anyone that's been making cues for more than 44 years....in order to play you some....they'd have to be dug up first:D
Click to expand...

Glenn,

I guess living right has it rewards. You know. Beautiful women, fast cars and all the rest. What more can I say?

Bill Stroud
 
For a guy who actually made cues for a living as a primary profession?

I don't think anyone truly comes close to Mike Sigel on this question.

He was clearly a cue maker for years as his sole profession and he is without a doubt one of the best players to ever pick up a cue.

Noone else who makes/made cues for a living plays as well as Mike Sigel did. That is a simple fact.
 
Last edited:
Each one of the cuemakers already listed makes a cue that have different playing characteristics that are similar to what they feel play good and doesn't mean any particular player will like it. With that being said I think most "most" builders strive to build a quality product that will last and play good for someone. I don't like cues with a wooply shaft, I like stiffer shafts with med to hard tips with my style of play.
I also know that all the cue makers listed can make a cue that will work for you, butt heavy, front heavy, stiff, soft etc, it's just a matter of trying some and communicating to the specs you like. As long as the maker is a good machinist and cares about his work you can't go wrong.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top