Wrap or Crap

madmiller

madmiller

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I would like to know am I the only one? I see a lot of different cues, cheap ones, expensive ones, custom, etc..
Some of them are very expensive...
But if it has linen wrap on it, I don't care how good it hits, how expensive it is. I will NOT touch it.
Wrap looks like crap, looks cheap, light colors get dirty easy, and worst of all, god forbid you scrape it on something it will come unwrapped.
I just don't get it. A lot of times I see a beautiful cue otherwise, but its look spoiled by having that thing called linen wrap.
 
Well, I don't know if you're the only one, but I sure don't share the same sentiments.
 
I don't know, I play with wrapless cues because it feels better to me but I don't mind the look of linen. On some cues the right linen can really make it pop. I'm probably in the minority with this but I prefer white with black/ brown speck linen over anything else. Personally though I am a wood nut so I like nothing more than a nice figured wrapless handle.
 
madmiller said:
I would like to know am I the only one? I see a lot of different cues, cheap ones, expensive ones, custom, etc..
Some of them are very expensive...
But if it has linen wrap on it, I don't care how good it hits, how expensive it is. I will NOT touch it.
Wrap looks like crap, looks cheap, light colors get dirty easy, and worst of all, god forbid you scrape it on something it will come unwrapped.
I just don't get it. A lot of times I see a beautiful cue otherwise, but its look spoiled by having that thing called linen wrap.
Click to expand...

The wrap is meant to be functional, It is also expendable. When you buy a car do you expect the tires to last forever? Having said that, In like 50 years of playing I have never had a wrap fall off. I think you are exaggerating a bit.
 
I suggest you play with a wood handle, leave the linen to the others. Its a big world plenty of options for everyone.
 
You scrape it on something and it comes unwrapped? If you did that you would have damaged a cue without a wrap. Easier to re-wrap than refinish. Besides, a properly installed wrap should not come off so easily.

Personally, I prefer linen. It has unique physical properties that suit it to the purpose. It is very absorbent, does not make lint, and is extremely strong. It can absorb a great deal of sweat from the hand and yet feel cool and dry.

I understand you apparently don't like the look. I do. To me it looks classic and classy. As far as how it feels, well it feels right to me. A cue without a wrap does not feel right to me.


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macguy said:
The wrap is meant to be functional, It is also expendable. When you buy a car do you expect the tires to last forever? Having said that, In like 50 years of playing I have never had a wrap fall off. I think you are exaggerating a bit.
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When I started playing first, someone game me a cheaper cue as a gift(don't remember what kind it was exactly), something like Action I think. It had wrap on it. Right away I didn't like the feel and look of it, but it was better than any house cue , so I went to play with it. After a week the wrap came off. That was it for me.
But the worst part I don't like that no matter what kind of wrap they use it looks cheap and I don't like the feel of it. IMHO of course, don't wanna offend all the folks who like wrap.
 
Chopdoc said:
It can absorb a great deal of sweat from the hand and yet feel cool and dry.



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Another thing! You nailed it right on the head. I imagine how great that wrap feels after absorbing all the sweat and dirt after playing for a while. And it's not like you can put it in the washing machine to wash all that sweat and dirt( grease from hands, etc.)
 
Chopdoc said:
I understand you apparently don't like the look. I do. To me it looks classic and classy. As far as how it feels, well it feels right to me. A cue without a wrap does not feel right to me.


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I agree 100% on the classic, classy look of linen. When I picture an old Balabushka or old Brunswick I imagine a linen wrap beauty. I think the wrap on the color of money cue is what I envision when I think of an old classic looking cue.
 
madmiller said:
Another thing! You nailed it right on the head. I imagine how great that wrap feels after absorbing all the sweat and dirt after playing for a while. And it's not like you can put it in the washing machine to wash all that sweat and dirt( grease from hands, etc.)
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I understand why you don't get it...you don't use it so you don't know.

It continues to feel dry after hours of use. After a simple wipe down all that is needed is air drying.

If is does get too dirty then it can in fact be cleaned and repressed.

This is how my JOSS wrap looks after something approaching 40 years. Never been cleaned beyond wiping it off and I have no intention of having it cleaned. It feels great. :)

IMG_0194.JPG



EDIT: By the way, that is Cortland. Have you ever touched it? Shot with a cue wrapped with it? I recommend you try it. You can always just get a cue maker to wrap a cue with it for you....if he has it....and if he will do it for you....and you can cope with the price.


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madmiller said:
Another thing! You nailed it right on the head. I imagine how great that wrap feels after absorbing all the sweat and dirt after playing for a while. And it's not like you can put it in the washing machine to wash all that sweat and dirt( grease from hands, etc.)
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go back 50 years
and look at the cues used
by the champions
of 9 ball
straight pool and
one pocket
i woud think most played with linen wraps
lately leather/lizrd/elephant ear etc has become COOL
not sure BETTER
icbw
 
madmiller said:
When I started playing first, someone game me a cheaper cue as a gift(don't remember what kind it was exactly), something like Action I think. It had wrap on it. Right away I didn't like the feel and look of it, but it was better than any house cue , so I went to play with it. After a week the wrap came off. That was it for me.
But the worst part I don't like that no matter what kind of wrap they use it looks cheap and I don't like the feel of it. IMHO of course, don't wanna offend all the folks who like wrap.
Click to expand...


You are judging linen wraps based on a cheap cue that unraveled?

Are you even sure it was really linen?

Do you know what linen is?


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madmiller said:
When I started playing first, someone game me a cheaper cue as a gift(don't remember what kind it was exactly), something like Action I think. It had wrap on it. Right away I didn't like the feel and look of it, but it was better than any house cue , so I went to play with it. After a week the wrap came off. That was it for me.
But the worst part I don't like that no matter what kind of wrap they use it looks cheap and I don't like the feel of it. IMHO of course, don't wanna offend all the folks who like wrap.
Click to expand...

Well It's your opinion and that's fine. However, your judging all wraps by a cheep import action that most likely wasn't even linen, probably nylon thread. A quallty cue with a pressed Irish Linen not only feels good but will not come off no matter if you "scrape" it or not. Now I'm not saying wrapless cues don't look great, to each their own. But for those of us with clammy hands, it is great and can look fabulous. JMO.
 
I like the beauty of a wrap. Also gives me an index where to grip. I try to consistently grip near the bottom of the wrap. My cues look as good today as they did many years ago. They never came undone....or changed physically or appearance wise. I do have a few wrap-less cues but I prefer to play with a wrap.
There is no right or wrong regarding a wrap. There are no rules. Buy what you are comfortable with.
 
Wraps

As long as we are voicing opinions about wraps, I will voice mine:

Don't care for unpressed linen wraps.

I am sooooo sick of seeing white linen with green specks on cues, especially expensive sticks, and it hardly ever goes with the cue color wise. It also like it would get dirty easily.

I like leather wraps, haven't tried out a stacked leather wrap to know whether I would like it or not, but most soft leather wraps are good. Haven't tried a variety of lizard wraps either. The 'in' thing right now seems to be 'Elephant ear' wraps, and although I have never seen one yet, I like how it looks.

I have shot with a wrapless cue for the last 9 years though, and don't know if I could get used to a wrap again or not.
 
I started the exact same thread a few months ago and got pissed
on like a sleeping bum in a alley.I agree with you completely but
if I had to have linen it would have to be pressed alot and solid black.:)
 
I don't like the look of linen. If wrapped, I prefer some type of leather. On most cues, I prefer wood. It's personal preference, no different than someone saying they like Redheads but don't like Blondes. To each their own.
 
scsuxci said:
I started the exact same thread a few months ago and got pissed
on like a sleeping bum in a alley.I agree with you completely but
if I had to have linen it would have to be pressed alot and solid black.:)
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Don't worry, nobody gets pissed on anymore. :)

Just slapped around a little is all...friendly like....you know...nothin' but love .... :wink:


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madmiller said:
I would like to know am I the only one? I see a lot of different cues, cheap ones, expensive ones, custom, etc..
Some of them are very expensive...
But if it has linen wrap on it, I don't care how good it hits, how expensive it is. I will NOT touch it.
Wrap looks like crap, looks cheap, light colors get dirty easy, and worst of all, god forbid you scrape it on something it will come unwrapped.
I just don't get it. A lot of times I see a beautiful cue otherwise, but its look spoiled by having that thing called linen wrap.
Click to expand...

I completely disagree.

I won't play with a cue that doesn't have a linen wrap. I've bought cues with leather and cork wraps and had them re-wrapped with linen.

If its not linen wrap, it's crap. To me, anyway.
 
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