Why 58 inches????

catscradle

catscradle

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I was looking at Jimmy's Reid's Website and his take on pool cue length.Jimmy's take on cue length Basically he says that most people of normal height are playing with a cue too long and I do know in the past the cues were shorter and house cues are 57 inches. I've a house cue cut down to a little under 56" for some tight spots where my table is. I grabbed it and hit quite a number of balls with it and I didn't find it's length any problem.
So why did the standard become 58 inches? Is it just because it works well with the equipment cuemakers use? Inquiring minds want to know?
 
The standard used to be 57.5 inches, and snooker players like a shorter cue such as 56 inches. Now a few cue makers still make 57.5 inches cues such as Bobby HUnter. Cognoscenti. A balabusha was standard at 57.5 and then he alos custom build them at different height.
I see a lot of players grab the cue way up the grip and I am not sure if it is because the cue was too long. I think a cue is balanced to play its best with a certain grip position. I am not sure if way up the handle was the intesion.
It is very funny that they have settled on 58" . I know allison plays with a 56" and she still grips the cue in the middle of the handle. This is a very good question....
 
Until the late 70's most cues were 57". McDermott and Meucci started making theirs 58" and it just became popular. Viking took all the way until the late 80's or early 90''s to switch. Mali and Schmelke and most others switched between the late 70's and early 90's. Bottom line is 58" just overtook the 57" cues in the 80's in popularity and became the standard.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
 
People are taller now than in the past. Perhaps that's part of the why?

I'm just 5'11" but I sure like my 60" Sailor cue.
 
catscradle said:
I was looking at Jimmy's Reid's Website and his take on pool cue length.Jimmy's take on cue length Basically he says that most people of normal height are playing with a cue too long and I do know in the past the cues were shorter and house cues are 57 inches. I've a house cue cut down to a little under 56" for some tight spots where my table is. I grabbed it and hit quite a number of balls with it and I didn't find it's length any problem.
So why did the standard become 58 inches? Is it just because it works well with the equipment cuemakers use? Inquiring minds want to know?
Click to expand...

I used the formula for finding correct cue length and it said mine should be 58"....I am 6'3" and muscular. My father should use 56" by the formula....he is between 6' and 6'1" (his bicep area is shorter than mine).Having said that...most folks have been playing with 58" for awhile and that's what they are use to.

Terry
 
,,,been receiving and reselling a few cues from the Philippines lately,,,most are 59" or 60" long,,,last 3 rec'd were 60.5" long (not counting the bumper),,,been shooting with one of these (59") for 2 years now,,,good cue...............
 
Tbeaux said:
I used the formula for finding correct cue length and it said mine should be 58"....I am 6'3" and muscular. My father should use 56" by the formula....he is between 6' and 6'1" (his bicep area is shorter than mine).Having said that...most folks have been playing with 58" for awhile and that's what they are use to.

Terry
Click to expand...

So did you and your father try the shorter cues and did you like them?
 
Why 58 inches

JimS said:
People are taller now than in the past. Perhaps that's part of the why?

I'm just 5'11" but I sure like my 60" Sailor cue.
Click to expand...
I thought you were a BLACK HEART CONVERT???????...JER
 
catscradle said:
So did you and your father try the shorter cues and did you like them?
Click to expand...

Not sure yet. I just got my new 58" McDermott and it shouldn't be a problem as far as length (weight may need slight adjusting).
Gave my dad an old novelty cue of mine that's 56" (26" rockbreaker shaft)....I never had a problem with it (great jumper) except for the rare occasion I was forced to use a bridge.But we haven't had a chance yet to get out to a hall yet.
I always found a smaller cue (56-58) easy to handle back when I played fairly regular. On occasions when forced to grab a long cue off the wall I had nothing but trouble.

Terry
 
I think that the longer cues are the reason most Phillapino players have such a long bridge. Being on the short side they need the long bridge to have the proper balance on a 58 inch cue. Other players see them shoot with a long bridge and feel that it is the proper way to shoot because they are so good. In reality they just got used to shooting that way.
 
I just ordered a 32" long shaft for my Schon. I am 6'3" 1/2 and have Gorilla length arms. With the standard 29" long shaft on my cues I look like I am using a little kids cue.

I've played with my buddies Schon with his 31" shaft on it and really like it MUCH more than my normal length cue.

So, mine will play at 61" with the new shaft. Also, it is coming as a 13MM....

my .02
 
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