Buying a new cue, need advice

[jeffrobizzle]

Hi, i am thinking of getting a new cue and was hoping you guys could give me some advice, i have £100 budget.

i have come across 2 cues that i like the look of, here they are

http://www.snookerbilliardspool.co.u...sp?ItemId=1003

and

http://www.snookerbilliardspool.co.u...sp?ItemId=1006

what do you guys think and which 1 would you go for also do these brands have a good reputaion or well known? thanks

Any cue suggestions much welcomed

[checkSide]

Jeffro. Don't spend your money just yet!

Read through the cue forum here, and make an informed decision.

[snooker warrior]

have a look here ,,,http://www.welshpooltrading.co.uk/ this guy is called paul morris he is also on here under the username BITTER ,,he also has a shop on ebay ,, if you contact him he will do his best to help , you really cant do better for the money , his cues are handmade just tell him what spec ,length,weight tip size etc ,1 piece or 3/4 split ....... in fact he is selling a 1 piece cue on ebay 58.5 long 9.9mm tip 18.5 ounce ash shaft plain ebony butt for just over your budget ,have a look here .http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ONE-PIECE-CUST...742.m153.l1262

[poolqjunkie]

No offense, I think both the two cues in your links are no good. You are better off buying those China cue with a case and two extensions for 100pounds than spending on either one of those two cues.
If you can find an extra 50 pounds or so, Welsh pool trading will make you very happy.

[jeffrobizzle]

thanks for the help, i'll put a bit more thought in to my next cue

[RGCirencester]

Well I personally have a welshpool trading cue which i love. It cost me 160 with a mini butt. His stock range of cues cost 120 from ebay or you can contact him through his website listed above.
Another one piece from Paul on ebay at the moment
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ONE-PIECE-CUST...3A1%7C294%3A50
And his stock range
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GENIUNE-UK-MAD...742.m153.l1262
Another good bet would be craftsman classic series which would allow you to buy a cue and case for around your budget if you require one.
http://www.craftsmancues.com/acatalo...ssic_cues.html
If you can get to craftsman in Leeds and try the cues out on the practice table there that would be a good plan. If you are not sure of the specifications that suit you best you could try a range of cues and buy the one that feels best.

[JamesFoster]

If you are looking to spend less than £100 then you are looking at a machine spliced mass made cue. However, you can still get a good cue. I would strongly advise you to go for a british made cue or even a thai cue. Do not buy chinese made endorsed firewood from the likes of BCE/Riley. You have alot of things to think about: ash or maple shaft, medium weight 18oz or heavy weight 20oz, length will be 57/58 inches, 1 piece, 2 piece, 3/4 length 2 piece cue, hand spliced or machine spliced, the finish, butt material and then optional inlays and veneers and then tip size.
Most brits will suggest ash 58in shaft, 3/4 length although many favour the 1 piece but it will be a hassle to carry around, the standard tip is 9.5mm. If you can visit a cue shop then do so because the key thing is the feel of the cue in your hand.
Peradon make very good cues in your price range. The following will probably meet your needs:
Joe Davis 3/4 Snooker Cue
http://www.thurston.co.uk/Pages/Prod...D=A1606&page=2
Ascot 3/4 Snooker Cue
http://www.thurston.co.uk/Pages/Prod...mID=1223&page=
However if you want a really fine cue albeit more expensive then check out the following cuemakers:
John Parris: https://www.parriscues.com/home.html
Mike Wooldridge: http://www.handmadecues.com/
Robert Osbourne: http://www.robertosbornecues.com/uk/
If you are new to the game then I would get a Peradon Crown for £48.20
http://www.thurston.co.uk/Pages/Prod...ID=A1604&page=
Then if you find you love the game and start knocking in at least 50 breaks, then that is the time to think getting a custom cue. As for the case a hard leatherette ie fake leather case or an aluminium case will be good enough. Remember to store the cue indoors in its case lying flat and away from an radiator etc. Don't be tempted to go for a flash looking cue. The feel of the cue in your hand is the important thing.
You should also realise that some great players have used cheap cues and won major titles, ie Dennis Taylor, John Spencer, Ken Doherty and Peter Ebdon. You should also bear in mind that if you find a cue you really like then it can last forever if you look after it.

[RGCirencester]

Wow you could be bothered to type more than me So lets overcomplicate the issue even more!

One thing... 10mm tip size isn't "beginner" neccesarily... try a few cues see what you like, but a bigger tip will give you more margin for error with how straight you cue and where you hit the cue ball. I believe Peter Ebdon and Fergal O Brien play with an 11mm tip, however I will concede they are the exception to the rule.
If you get a cue with a 9.5mm tip this is considered "standard" and you can fit a 10mm tip to this and get what is known as a "mushroom tip", which overhangs the ferrule, however a 10mm tip can only be taken down to 9.5 by physical alteration of the cue. So you may be best with 9.5mm. I personally prefer 10, but its all personal preference

The 100 pound budget seems to have been ignore with the second section of cues lol!
And personally I believe craftsman cues to be of higher quality than peradon. I have spoken to quite a few people very happy with craftsman machine spliced classic series which I previously linked.

[atm147iwish]

"Then if you find you love the game and start knocking in at least 50 breaks, then that is the time to think getting a hand made cue.
Don't be tempted to go for a flash looking cue. The feel of the cue in your hand is the important thing. "


sorry, but if you want a handmade cue, why should you be limited to 50breaks plus?

garbage!

perhaps thats my opinion and i enjoy the craftsmanship of a handspliced cue yet shouldnt own one cos im really not good enough!! and i also own 2 of crispian's cases, whose value would total well over 300 of her maj's finest, but if im not good enough...

[RGCirencester]

2 cases? Can I have one

Agreed on the above I dream of making 50 breaks but even my mate who played snooker for the first time this week after our exams can tell how much nicer me my cue is than the painted rubbish my other mate brought with him.

P.S. how flash would you look if you took your cue in one of crispians cases and your extensions in the other haha

[atm147iwish]

ive one for me snook cue and one for me pool/small table snook cue! since i bought his cue (advertised on here), im lucky!
cris makes a top case!

[ChatLag]

P.S. how flash would you look if you took your cue in one of crispians cases and your extensions in the other haha

Crispian will for sure make you a third case for chalk and towel...

[jeffrobizzle]

Wow loads of info, thanks, this forum is top. I have been playing for a while but now i want to take it more seriously and try to better my game. i dont think i will invest in a hand made spec cue just yet because i am not sure what spec i want as i have never even thought to considerd weight, tip ect. so for now i'll get a cheep good quality cue and with the info from u guys and the assessment of the new cue i will be able to understand what spec i want from a top quality hand made cue