Expensive vs cheaper cues

[Onastring]

Is there a benefit to a good cheap cue in terms of less mental pressure on each shot? I.e consciously or subconsciously not trying to prove to yourself (not to others) the cue was worth the money?

I recently picked up a £30 cue and made a 97 break in practice with it. I have more confidence in it now than my more expensive £650 cue. The length is slightly shorter on the cheaper cue, but apart from that I’m wondering the reasons for it apart from the above. I made three 90+ practice breaks with the cheaper cue, so it wasn’t a fluke as per say.

Perhaps the real thing here is there is no real difference between expensive and cheaper cues. And there is less technology possible to be involved in snooker cues than golf clubs for example

[Cue crafty]

I think you have answered your own question within the post. Aesthetic's aside and people who like really good quality cues usually just love the craftsmanship and beauty of the woods etc, the only thing that really matters is how you play with it.

[the lone wolf]

My back up cue is a machines spliced club cue

[Nifty50]

Ask ex World Champ Ken Doherty. His cue was under a tenner.

[Cue crafty]

Ask ex World Champ Ken Doherty. His cue was under a tenner.

I'm impressed he's still using that old machine splice cue considering all the ones I'm sure he's been asked to try for free etc. Story I heard was someone left it unwanted in the rack of his local club, he picked it up played a few frames with it and loved it. That was it, a lifelong love ❣️ Lolz 🤣

[Jim Magee]

Onastring I've certainly found that having an expensive cue can put more pressure on you to perform with it and make you play less well.

[Cue crafty]

If ya well off,buy nice pretty cues that you like and admire them in a rack, if you love and play snooker to any standard try all different cues and get on with improving your game. £25 or £2500. I believe you need to have an idea about feel and what you need to score in the balls versus your long game to know what cue you actually need.

[vmax]

Is there a benefit to a good cheap cue in terms of less mental pressure on each shot? I.e consciously or subconsciously not trying to prove to yourself (not to others) the cue was worth the money?

I recently picked up a £30 cue and made a 97 break in practice with it. I have more confidence in it now than my more expensive £650 cue. The length is slightly shorter on the cheaper cue, but apart from that I’m wondering the reasons for it apart from the above. I made three 90+ practice breaks with the cheaper cue, so it wasn’t a fluke as per say.

Perhaps the real thing here is there is no real difference between expensive and cheaper cues. And there is less technology possible to be involved in snooker cues than golf clubs for example

I would say that the cheaper cue is closer to the one you learned with than the £650 one, after all no one would pay that sort of money for something to have a go at to see if you like it. A cue is a tool for the job of potting balls and as long as the one you learn with is long enough for your height then all it's characteristics will be subconsciously absorbed as you gain experience and your ability improves.
For some people once that original cue is lost they can never have the same confidence in another one, Stephen Hendry and Alex Higgins come to mind, never the same players once their originals were broken and to want something that's expensive and aesthically pleasing and to discard the cue you learned with will sometimes work out the same as having lost something you were at one with.

No two pieces of wood are the same, not from the same tree or even the same board because the grain varies with each years growth and some years are warmer/colder than others, air drying or kiln drying make a difference as well as both methods are not exact sciences and the moisture content of the timber will be different even if dried the same and oil applied once the cue is finished will be absorbed depending on the timbers density.
You may like fancy splicing on the butt but remember that the shaft of the cue up to the point where it doesn't flex is the business end, the rest is just the handle that you hold and the handle can be replicated but not the shaft.