Is a bent cue inevitable

[tmcthree]

Every cue I've owned, which admittedly is only three, has ended up bent to some degree.

Now, I've got a new cue on order from Mastercraft. If in a few months I notice it's developed a bend, should I just accept it as something thats going to happen, to any cue, no matter what?

Could it be to do with the way I play? Hitting the ball too hard, too many masse shots?

And does it make a lot of difference, with the cue bent by a few degrees are your shots going to be out, or do you naturally end up compensating?

[RGCirencester]

If the bend is downwards of where you normally hold it, it shouldnt make much difference to your shot.
Do you store your cue in a garage or car or somewhere for long periods of time? Anywhere that is damp or varies in temperature regularly like by a radiator? I think these are the situations that usually cause cues to bend.

As for "a few degrees", i dont think it matters to some degree, wood is natural and as long as you can play with it, who cares if it has a slioght bend. I think its ken doherty who plays with a warped cue, and wouldnt change it for the world.

[karkit1028]

over years, cue would bend slightly because we tend to play with the same "side" of a cue
most players tend to play with their cue in a certain orientation
this may be explained by the player get used to or feel comfortable with gripping the cue in a certain way
for example, ROS tends to play with the badge of his cue facing upward
this may also be explained that player get used to looking at the pattern of the shaft

try to get a round-butt maple cue, hahaha~

[cueman]

Slightly off topic but if anyone has a good look at Hendry's next match you will see his cue has a slight bend in it now too and its not exactly harming his game much. Strangely enough his last cue went this way too, I wonder whether its down to holding the cue exactly the same position each time is bound to cause some level of stress that its innevitable that over a time a cue will bend.

[1lawyer]

Hendry's cue is made that way. This is supposed to help with deflection according to Accurite. It is not a bend it is a slightly thinner shaft around the bridge area.

Mass produced imported cues can warp if the wood is not given a long enough time to settle before it is turned into a cue. This is why its best to buy British I feel because our makers know and care about what they are doing more.

[trevs1]

All cues can warp/bend. No matter how a cue has been made, it can still do this.

[brettski]

Its just something that happens, but I've seen some £20 cues from argos never bend and £300 from a specialist warp so it seems a very hit and miss statistic. The only thing that seems consistant is that the better the quality of wood the less likely it is to bend and wrp over time.

[tmcthree]

All cues can warp/bend. No matter how a cue has been made, it can still do this.

Thanks Trevor, so do people have them repaired/straightened or is it best not to worry about it?

[ADR147]

Try not to think about it - its rare for a cue to bend so much it make a difference.

[tmcthree]

Oh well, there goes another from my long list of excuses...

[brettski]

Oh well, there goes another from my long list of excuses...

Aye but we all need excuses occasionally to make us feel better lol, the amount of times I've played on a crooked table lol.....

[tmcthree]

Damp chalk is my favourite..

[ADR147]

damp chalk is my favourite..

lol or a loose ferrule

[RGCirencester]

If your in doubt... It was a kick!

[tmcthree]

..or the non-specific examination of my tip while ruefully shaking my head and tutting..