DeeDeeCues
Well-known member
It'll definitely change resonate frequencies. Whether that transfers into more efficient cueball motion takes a lot more analysis than 'feel'.
Would one of the makers give some insight into the performance properties and engineering of the butt of a cue?
- Thread starter GentlemanJames
- Start date
It'll definitely change resonate frequencies. Whether that transfers into more efficient cueball motion takes a lot more analysis than 'feel'.
phreaticus
Well-known member
Yeah, completely agreed. Its just nerdy stuff and obviously not critical to actual play. But OP asked, so us nerds get to chime in!
I’ve always thought that all the inlays, rings and stuff people want on fancy cues is amusingly potentially counter productive to the resonance/physics aspects of a “good hit”. I myself prefer humble full splices, but one can’t help but notice how many pros play with relatively boring merry widow cues; Hard to argue with the simplicity of a single piece of quality wood and a well constructed joint, and why some cheap cues can play lights out. I think this also partially explains the often cited examples of someone like SVB playing with a relatively uninspiring Cuetech…
The engineering issue I've encountered playing around with builds is rigidity, which is probably why many merry widow cues actually use the standard A-joint configuration with a handle screwed into a plain forearm (depending on the woods used, of course) instead of a broomstick design. And why cuemakers often play around with handle and coring material in builds of all type. So in addition to physical dimensions (weight, length, diameter, balance point) and wave physics (how the wave propagates through the cue materials to the shooter's hand), I think rigidity is another component to "feel." Somewhere there is a sweet spot between a totally rigid body and a wet noodle.
Strength Properties of Wood for Practical Applications - Oklahoma State University
A summary of some of the basic concepts related to the mechanical characteristics of wood.
extension.okstate.edu
Most of the knuckleheads making claims about hit, feel, and non measurable.
Would be frame and quartered by most high school science teacher asking for number, research, and lay days to back up comments.
Would be frame and quartered by most high school science teacher asking for number, research, and lay days to back up comments.
Stick to Walmart cues.
You're the knucklehead who can't write at 6th grade level.
Shut up BRUCE.
You don't make cues.
Get out of here.
The original poster asked for cue makers' insights.
He doesn't need your drivel.
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Coos Cues
Coos Cues
It has to do with this:
The sounds of wood
Playing around with some of the wood I build cues out of and noticing the differences in tone
rumble.com
This may sound stupid, but this is exactly why I test the "feel" of my cues while wearing earplugs AND earmuffs. People confuse feel with the sound the cue makes. Try it with two different cues. You will be surprised by the results when you eliminate the sound.Not a cue maker. But I share your theories & consider them quite valid & also very much like @kling&allen ‘s concept of ultrasonic wave testing.
I work in the field of wireless communucations; in RF propagation through antennas etc, there is the concept of Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) where the reflected wave in a transmission line with imperfectly matched impedance results in significantly reduced output power. This concept applies to any EE circuit, but the power levels in radio systems has dramatic affects on system performance, is easily measured & widely documented and provides the easiest graphics to understand the energy/wave concepts.
The same thing occurs in any resonant medium, and is the basis for tonal quality in musical instruments, and of course applies to cues also. The wiki article on resonance is quite good.
This is why butt & joint design certainly do play a part in how a cue feels/plays/sounds. Those that say butts don’t matter much, “its all in the shaft”, don’t understand these physics issues. Granted, at the low frequencies that exist in cue materials, these effects are subtle but still quite real. Non believers can simply put the same shaft on different butts - tapping the shaft near the tip, while gripping the butt far back on each combo, one can easily observe & feel variations in the vibrations/feedback.
Cool thread.
Try this with a cue butt you have 2 different shafts for. You may find that two shafts that have completely different sound may feel very similar. Or vice versa. You may find your favorite shaft or cue feels completely different. Its amazing how much easier it is to discern feel when the sound is gone.
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Well Joey what a Cuemaker, not guy making a few a year in garage.
I hope you find way out of California, dirty air eats brain cells, most Pool rooms closed post C-19.
Think you need to take vacation & look for Etopia.
I had a 3-week vacation in July out of the country after delivering some cues.
When was the last time you were out of the country?
I can make cues in the toilet and I can still sell them.
You? Never. Just a wannabe.
Shut up with your drivel, Bruce.
Why would I want to leave Utopia? Been many other Countries, most are not like USA.
Having more wood of the same kind as the shaft in the butt will make the shaft feel more natural. Adding screws and things like that can make the butt stiffer. Using hard heavy woods in the forearm of the butt can also make the uncomfortable playing conditions you are talking about. Coring forearms with maple has made many woods play more like maple and has improved the hit of many cuemakers cues.
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And there's your daily dose of incoherence folks.