Worth it for a new player to buy a new cue?

H

HeyYouItsMike

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Hi folks, newbie here. I've played pool maybe once a month for the past few years, but lately I've gotten really into it and want to become a good player. Admittedly I'm not very good, which is primarily an impulse control issue. Is it worth it for me to get my own cue? Or is it better to keep on learning with house cues? I play about 6-8 hours a week.
 
There's nothing wrong with house cues. Any good player can play pretty close to their full speed with a house cue as long as the tip is decent and it's reasonably straight.

That being said, it is also a good thing to be able to play with the same cue for comfort and confidence reasons. I would suggest a Huebler sneaky or Joss to start out with. They can both be found for less than $200 new and both will be a good, solid starting cue.
 
HeyYouItsMike said:
Hi folks, newbie here. I've played pool maybe once a month for the past few years, but lately I've gotten really into it and want to become a good player. Admittedly I'm not very good, which is primarily an impulse control issue. Is it worth it for me to get my own cue? Or is it better to keep on learning with house cues? I play about 6-8 hours a week.
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Hard to answer without knowing just how serious you are. Why not buy something like a Players that isn't expensive but decently constructed. Use that and look at more expensive cues if you decide to get more seriously involved (you probably will).:)

Terry
 
id ask to hit a with a few cues and find something you like and buy it. You should be able to find something decent, especially in the sneakypete dept for less than 200 easy, and prob much less. Its hard to get good with a house cue, youre always playing with something different, and youre wondering is it me, is it the cue. Take the plunge
 
I bought a Lucasi Sneaky last year and gave it to my best friend yesterday. IT hits good, nice solid feel and not to mention breaks like you wouldn't believe. I bought it for $119 at Hawley's billiards.
 
HeyYouItsMike said:
Hi folks, newbie here. I've played pool maybe once a month for the past few years, but lately I've gotten really into it and want to become a good player. Admittedly I'm not very good, which is primarily an impulse control issue. Is it worth it for me to get my own cue? Or is it better to keep on learning with house cues? I play about 6-8 hours a week.
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Well young'un, I'd say get yourself a nice $150-$200 cue from eBay (look for the feedback), a Pawn Shop (look at Players, Action, McDernmott, Lucasi or some other decent brand) or whatever means you might choose. If you do buy a cue, for $150-$200, which is made by a reputable company, you can sell it for almost what you have invested in it.

Investing a $150-$200 into something you can exonerate yourself from, for almost the same investment, is a FREEBIE. If you can't find help, send me an email to ceebee@sbcglobal.net... I'd be glad to help you or refer you to someone in your geographical area.
 
HeyYouItsMike said:
Thanks for the feedback. Are there any brands I should specifically avoid? Any recommendations for a place to buy a cue in NYC?
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Don't know what's in NYC but one of the better discount places is Billiards Warehouse located in NJ.http://www.billiardswarehouse.com
EDIT: Take that back I just checked and it appears they're now in North Carolina. Still a good place to order from.

Terry
 
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A good cue that suprised me for the price is a Nick Varner sneaky pete. I think they retail for about $70. It played very well. Then we put a Morrie tip on it and it plays excellent.
 
I just got back into pool about 6 months ago after not really playing for 4-5 years. I bought a $200 Joss off ebay right when I got going again and thought it was well worth the investment. It was definately beneficial to me to have a cue that I felt comfortable with. I have since moved on to a different cue, but I still think it was well worth the investment. To echo what some others have said, I would look on ebay for sellers with good feedback (e.g. 99% or higher) and cue brands such as low-end Joss, McDermott, or Lucasi-which I have heard really good things about as far as inexpensive cues go).

While house cues are usually decent, unless you have a good pool hall they are usually sticky/dirty and don't really have decent tips on them. For around $200-$250, I think you could probably get a decent starter cue, an inexpensive tube case, a new tip if necessary (try triangle for cheap, or talisman for an inexpensive, good layered tip), and a few tip tools (my favorite is the ulti-mate). That will put you well on your way.
 
iive been buying cues ever since i started playing a couple years ago. now i wish i had just saved up to buy a really decent custom.
 
Well first of all, there is a thing called "speed control". This is when you use your judgement for how hard to hit the cue ball so it hits the object ball, then travels the exact correct distance to line you up for your next shot.

This is best to learn if you *always* use the same weight cue. If you are always using different weight cues, this will be difficult to judge. I use a 19.5 oz cue. (A heavier cue will be difficult to control for very slow shots.)

Then there is cue ball deflection. I have a low deflection Predator 314 shaft. With this, I can aim with a dead center aim, then move my front hand left/right (leaving my back hand in place) to apply english and the cue ball goes to the same spot as a dead center hit.

Then I use a dime shaped Moori Q (hard) tip and always keep it a dime shape using a dime shaped sandpaper shaper.

So basically I'm always playing with the same weight cue, same deflection shaft, and a tip with the same shape, hardness, and surface condition.

My cue *always* plays the same. And when I need a new tip, I install the same brand and shape. So a new tip plays the same as the old.

What is important is NOT the name on the butt of the cue or fancy designs, it is the specifications of the cue, and that you always use the same thing. And the tip which is the "business end" of the cue.

So at a minimum, I would suggest getting a cue within your price range. Find out what brand and hardness of tip it comes with. Find out what tip radius it has (nickel. dime), and stick with that exact same cue forever.

Using the same cue will pay off several years from now.
 
meucci not good for beginner

The first cue i had was a cuetec and i was pleased.. they are durable as crap (i banged my stick alot back when i used to miss, :) ). the only brand i would say to avoid is a meucci... you can develop your stroke much better with a firmer shaft and the deflection on a meucci is hard to compensate in my opinion... if you find somene who started learning how to play with a meucci then give them any other stick they can't draw their ball two inches much less make a ball... but you give someone a meucci who developed their stroke with say a joss, lucasi, cuetec, mcdermott, etc. they can damn near shoot trick shots with all of that english that a meucci shaft kicks onto a ball, but they will still miss
 
oh yeah

and my point i forgot was.. that improving in billiards or any other sport for that matter is all about consistency.... and the first step is playing with the same equipment ... if tiger woods used a different driver every time he hit a golf ball when he was growing up then he would probably be like number 3 or 4 on the tour .... ha ha... anyway,,, by a cue , you will regret it more if you don't
 
This is all great feedback, I really appreciate it. What do you guys think about Fury? I think I'm leaning towards Predator, Cuetec, McDermott, or Lucasi.

So does anyone know a good shop in NYC? I'm very finicky with these types of things so I want to buy it in person.
 
You are in NYC

If you are in the city, try Blatt Billiards. I don't know how much they have in the low end price range though.
 
Earning a cue

It really depends on what your goals are for the game. If you are a recreational player then it might not matter. I always used cues as a form of graduation symbols between levels. I do think that consistent equipment is a complete requirement for the game, however I think you should reward yourself with a better cue as you can peform and appreciate it. This is what my friend told me and I have subscribed to it.

I would start out (according to budget) with a players or even a low end McDermott cue. Learn everything there is to know about that cue- and then graduate to a schon or even a predator sneaky once you have a consistent stroke. If you develop a stroke then you can reward yourself with a better cue. You earn it. Use your schon or predator and win some. By this time you will know how serious you are- and if you love it that much then go ahead and get your first custom. Read the boards about the custom makers- and hit balls with different cues. By this time you will have an idea of what makes you happy as a player.

A lot of people I have seen jump right in and grab the high end cue or a custom cue but don't have the stroke to appreciate what the cue can do or the feel that the cue can give. They get frustrated and end up on the wayside. To me they kind of appear like the spoiled kids of the world- they just cannot figure anything out about the game because the cue was their end and not the development of a complete game.

This is just my 2 cents.
 
There's a lot to be said for being able to shoot with exactly the same stick time after time. It takes out one of the many variables encountered shooting pool.
 
HeyYouItsMike said:
Is it worth it for me to get my own cue? Or is it better to keep on learning with house cues? I play about 6-8 hours a week.
Click to expand...

Getting your own high quality cue is a major step for a new player to gain consistency. If I was you, I'd buy a low end Joss.

Fred
 
I would just like to point out that many cue makers manufacture all sorts of different cues. And these would all play differently.

So to say a particular brand is good/bad might not be accurate. May want to say what brand and then the specific model of cue and which shaft. Because that same cue maker might make many other cues which are totally different.

Some web sites allow you to order *exactly* what you want, weight, shaft, wrap, and all sorts of options.

Here is an example of one web site, one brand, and one specific cue the company manufactures. Scroll down to "Custom Order"...
http://www.billiardwarehouse.com/cues/viking/viking_f07_pool_cue.htm
 
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