will cues ever change

jackpot

jackpot

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
This might have been asked before but I was wondering if cues will ever be really
different. I realize there have been many improvements but they are still about the
same as they were many years ago. Smaller handles, LD shafts, and not a whole lot
more. Golf, Tennis, and I'm sure many others have vastly improved the tools used
to play the game. with new materials and technology. Hogan used to hit his driver
like 230, now even duffers hit it 50 farther. As long as cues are made from wood
there is only so much that can be done. I realize that some shafts are hollow or
have inserts but no two are ever the same. I would think that the technology and
materials are available to make a cue that can be fine tuned to give consistent
results, like golf clubs, loft, lie, shaft, swing weight etc. You can specify all kind
of things when ordering a cue, balance point, flex point, shaft taper,etc. but no
two ever play the same. All that being said I hope not. This game stands alone
in it's uniqueness. I don't even like jump cues, break cues with some kind blasting
cap tips and so on. But as long as there is nothing available that sounds and feels
like wood maybe we are safe. But I think the same thing was said about hickory
shafts and "metal woods". Somehow a fancy B.B. made from plastic or fiberglass
wouldn't be the same.
jack
Free SJD
 
jackpot said:
This might have been asked before but I was wondering if cues will ever be really
different. I realize there have been many improvements but they are still about the
same as they were many years ago. Smaller handles, LD shafts, and not a whole lot
more. Golf, Tennis, and I'm sure many others have vastly improved the tools used
to play the game. with new materials and technology. Hogan used to hit his driver
like 230, now even duffers hit it 50 farther. As long as cues are made from wood
there is only so much that can be done. I realize that some shafts are hollow or
have inserts but no two are ever the same. I would think that the technology and
materials are available to make a cue that can be fine tuned to give consistent
results, like golf clubs, loft, lie, shaft, swing weight etc. You can specify all kind
of things when ordering a cue, balance point, flex point, shaft taper,etc. but no
two ever play the same. All that being said I hope not. This game stands alone
in it's uniqueness. I don't even like jump cues, break cues with some kind blasting
cap tips and so on. But as long as there is nothing available that sounds and feels
like wood maybe we are safe. But I think the same thing was said about hickory
shafts and "metal woods". Somehow a fancy B.B. made from plastic or fiberglass
wouldn't be the same.
jack
Free SJD
Click to expand...

The reason that cue shafts are still made of wood is that every other material sucks to use it with. Golf clubs are hit with a totally different section of the shaft which means that vibration and how the handle reacts is not like a cue at all.

I actually can't think of another sport that uses the instrument in the same way to hit another object. Everything is hit from the side, where in billiards you hit the long way.
 
Advancements in golf have not only been in the clubs, but also in the balls, the turf, and how the game is played. Back when your only choice in a driver was persimmon or laminate, and balata balls, 250-280 were really long drives. Ball usually only lasted 4-6 holes before getting out of round. Persimmon drivers would last maybe a season before inserts had to be changed. When I played in the 80's, I went through 6 drivers in 1 season, shafts broke, heads cracked, or inserts broke. I only had a club head speed of 115-118 mph, I can't imagine what pro's were going through who could really swing the club, like 125 mph. Now days, swing speed are about the same, equipment is better, doesn't fail nearly as much, the balls are better, go further, you will see average driving distances in the 350yds range soon. Don't think pool has any kind of technology current or in the future that will drastically change the game.
 
jackpot said:
This might have been asked before but I was wondering if cues will ever be really
different. I realize there have been many improvements but they are still about the
same as they were many years ago. Smaller handles, LD shafts, and not a whole lot
more. Golf, Tennis, and I'm sure many others have vastly improved the tools used
to play the game. with new materials and technology. Hogan used to hit his driver
like 230, now even duffers hit it 50 farther. As long as cues are made from wood
there is only so much that can be done. I realize that some shafts are hollow or
have inserts but no two are ever the same. I would think that the technology and
materials are available to make a cue that can be fine tuned to give consistent
results, like golf clubs, loft, lie, shaft, swing weight etc. You can specify all kind
of things when ordering a cue, balance point, flex point, shaft taper,etc. but no
two ever play the same. All that being said I hope not. This game stands alone
in it's uniqueness. I don't even like jump cues, break cues with some kind blasting
cap tips and so on. But as long as there is nothing available that sounds and feels
like wood maybe we are safe. But I think the same thing was said about hickory
shafts and "metal woods". Somehow a fancy B.B. made from plastic or fiberglass
wouldn't be the same.
jack
Free SJD
Click to expand...

Two words - Louisville Slugger.

Next.

Dale
 
I tested a predator black composite shaft last night simply the best thing ever happened to shafts or pool cues in years Just little pricey 550 dollars per shaft again simply the best hit ever. But $550?this would be the last shaft you ever had to buy.
.
 
Somebody probably already tried, but I always wondered about a carbon fiber ferrule.
 
dnixon said:
I tested a predator black composite shaft last night simply the best thing ever happened to shafts or pool cues in years Just little pricey 550 dollars per shaft again simply the best hit ever. But $550?this would be the last shaft you ever had to buy.
.
Click to expand...

I've heard a few rumors of this shaft and I'm excited to see it come out. Not sure what I think about it yet, but if they can make a super low deflection shaft that still feels good and is always going to stay straight and not wear out then I can see people paying that kind of money for one for sure. I would really like to see it matched to a butt of similar design (maybe not carbon, but it seems weird to me to throw a carbon shaft onto a classic wood butt).

I've said it before but I'm surrounded by carbon and carbon engineers everyday at the bike company I work for. There was a time when carbon was looked at with serious skepticism as people still longed for the classic feel of steel or liveliness of titanium frames. It took a decade or so but carbon has come to dominate the cycling world and is by far the best material we've ever seen. The control we're offered allows us to design a bike that rides wonderfully, is incredibly light, and is stiff where it needs to be but soft enough in areas to provide a comfortable ride.

I hope that they can learn from the advancements in carbon in other industries to put out a truly top quality product first go around. Early carbon bikes were not the best riding but we've figured that out and the carbon technology out there is so much more advanced than it was even 10 years.

I'm not ready to give up my wood cues anytime soon but I'm excited to see what is possible with carbon and look forward to trying one at some point.
 
dnixon said:
I tested a predator black composite shaft last night simply the best thing ever happened to shafts or pool cues in years Just little pricey 550 dollars per shaft again simply the best hit ever. But $550?this would be the last shaft you ever had to buy.
.
Click to expand...

Darren and Karl Boyes were demoing those shafts at a tournament in mid-October.

Needless to say, they performed tepidly and did not elect to use them in the US Open.

I saw other Predator reps fooling with the black shaft last summer. None of them seem compelled to switch.
 
Other than consistency what would be the benefits of other materials? We don't need to hit the balls farther, don't need a reduction in weight, and cues can last a very long time if properly cared for. Shaft technology is advancing, though I'm not sure how important it really is. Besides, I like the variations of different cues. Finding that one you really feel "in tune" with is special.
 
There will be experimentation with other materials and perhaps some day something may come along to replace wood......but so far despite all the advances of science achieved since two piece pool cues were invented, cue designs essentially remain the same.......and I for one am really glad too.....the artistry of cue-making can at times become wood working at its very best.......you know the cue-makers I am thinking of.....and certainly you'd spot these cues at first sight even in a crowd........cue-making as far as I'm concerned ia wood art that both amuses and bemuses at the same time. And personally, when you actually design what the cue-maker should build and you see it come together, you will become entranced with cue-making......those of you that have done this.....like with the Jerry R. Buhska Cue Project Deanoc inaugurated or a fancy custom you ordered and waited what seemed like an eternity to reach you........you know exactly what I am speaking about.......nothing quite like that thrill......a definite e-Ticket ride IMO.

Matt B.

p.s. In case I wasn't clear, "No!" .....cue-making will continue to remain as is just like grand pianos are still made the same way......Some things cannot be improved upon despite one's imagination.
 
Not to get in the way of a good story, but the average male golfer hits a driver 214 yards, according to Tracman, so we have yet to catch up to Ben Hogan's persimmon woods. The avg driving distance on the PGA tour in 2014 was 282 yards. Carry on.
 
BrianaBrown13 said:
Advancements in golf have not only been in the clubs, but also in the balls, the turf, and how the game is played. Back when your only choice in a driver was persimmon or laminate, and balata balls, 250-280 were really long drives. Ball usually only lasted 4-6 holes before getting out of round. Persimmon drivers would last maybe a season before inserts had to be changed. When I played in the 80's, I went through 6 drivers in 1 season, shafts broke, heads cracked, or inserts broke. I only had a club head speed of 115-118 mph, I can't imagine what pro's were going through who could really swing the club, like 125 mph. Now days, swing speed are about the same, equipment is better, doesn't fail nearly as much, the balls are better, go further, you will see average driving distances in the 350yds range soon. Don't think pool has any kind of technology current or in the future that will drastically change the game.
Click to expand...
it is too small of an industry to be worth any investment in innovation. Golf is a multi billion dollar industry.
 
macguy said:
it is too small of an industry to be worth any investment in innovation. Golf is a multi billion dollar industry.
Click to expand...

Well, we have break cues with synthetic tips now .
That's an advancement .

We have LD shafts. Some with carbon fiber tubes .
 
dnixon said:
I tested a predator black composite shaft last night simply the best thing ever happened to shafts or pool cues in years Just little pricey 550 dollars per shaft again simply the best hit ever. But $550?this would be the last shaft you ever had to buy.
.
Click to expand...

I tried that shaft myself and would love to test it long-term, but yes, the rumored price is a bit high. I heard $450 but that is a lot of money.
 
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