Any Billiards players here?

[wally2450]

I'm looking at buying a cue between 60-80 bucks. All opinions welcome!

 

[EJFan]

opinions of what nature?

sorry... i'm not trying to be sarcastic... but what do you want an opinion on? a good player can play with a tree limb (ok, i'm exaggerating but you get my point). any consistency you add to your game will improve it so in that regard it's a plus. if you value the cue at or below its sticker price it's a good buy.

i've been out of the game for some time (so i'm not terribly familiar with the different materials used now) but at that price you're going to get a cue that is the weight and diameter that suits you but it's likely not going to be a durable product. a well crafted cue that's going to hit truer and last longer (not warp and such) will likely cost you at least double to triple that... then, of course, you reach a point where you're paying for cosmetic bells & whistles (inlays and such).

like most things, i recommend getting the best product you can afford and "trading up" when possible. in the mean time just take very good care of what you have. don't use your cue to break, keep it protected from stress and the elements when it's not in use... and for christ's sake try to avoid using that chalk crap on your hands... many years ago someone recommended i rub the shaft with a dollar bill to help it glide through my hand.

i have a schmelke cue that i bought about 15 years ago. i love it but haven't played for about 10 years. i played with (and lost to) ewa mataya and tom rossman... both of whom autographed my butt (of the cue, that is).

edit to add:
the thicker the collar screw (or whatever the hell the joining hardware is called), the better. you'll notice many have very thin screws at the joint and that tends to lead to more vibration and a less secure joint. when last i played i think graphite was getting pretty big but it may have been a trend... they also made them with fiberglass and/or graphite around a wood core if i remember correctly... but i'll leave debate over these kinds of specifics to people who are more familiar with the current technologies.

good luck and smooth rolls to you.

 

[wally2450]

opinions of what nature?

sorry... i'm not trying to be sarcastic... but what do you want an opinion on? a good player can play with a tree limb (ok, i'm exaggerating but you get my point). any consistency you add to your game will improve it so in that regard it's a plus. if you value the cue at or below its sticker price it's a good buy.

i've been out of the game for some time (so i'm not terribly familiar with the different materials used now) but at that price you're going to get a cue that is the weight and diameter that suits you but it's likely not going to be a durable product. a well crafted cue that's going to hit truer and last longer (not warp and such) will likely cost you at least double to triple that... then, of course, you reach a point where you're paying for cosmetic bells & whistles (inlays and such).

like most things, i recommend getting the best product you can afford and "trading up" when possible. in the mean time just take very good care of what you have. don't use your cue to break, keep it protected from stress and the elements when it's not in use... and for christ's sake try to avoid using that chalk crap on your hands... many years ago someone recommended i rub the shaft with a dollar bill to help it glide through my hand.

i have a schmelke cue that i bought about 15 years ago. i love it but haven't played for about 10 years. i played with (and lost to) ewa mataya and tom rossman... both of whom autographed my butt (of the cue, that is).

edit to add:
the thicker the collar screw (or whatever the hell the joining hardware is called), the better. you'll notice many have very thin screws at the joint and that tends to lead to more vibration and a less secure joint. when last i played i think graphite was getting pretty big but it may have been a trend... they also made them with fiberglass and/or graphite around a wood core if i remember correctly... but i'll leave debate over these kinds of specifics to people who are more familiar with the current technologies.

good luck and smooth rolls to you.

Thanks for the opinion. I was looking for brand recommendations and the part about the price I might need to spend was helpful. I was wondering the same thing actually.

 

[EJFan]

Thanks for the opinion. I was looking for brand recommendations and the part about the price I might need to spend was helpful. I was wondering the same thing actually.

well... mcdermott and schmelke were always two of my favorites. cuetec was pretty popular back then but i don't know what they're like now. these companies should all have products starting in the low to mid-$100 area i suspect.

what i'd recommend is going to whatever stores you can find that sell cues (or your local billiard parlor if they sell cues) and try them. also, don't be afraid to talk to other players... they'll likely allow you to shoot theirs so you can get an idea of what you like or dislike about different materials and brands.

the distribution of weight is a key thing... you want one that's well balanced and just plain feels comfortable. if you can't shoot it at the store, don't buy it. and don't even consider stuff from wal-mart. if a wal-mart cue is all that's in the budget just save a few more bucks and stick with house cues for the moment.