buying a cue in England

[Core]

hello TSF

Today i wanted to ask your help bcoz i am on the virge of buying myself a decent handmade cue....with the pound being cheap.
my birthday is tomorrow and i've been looking for over 2 weeks now.
i've been looking everywhere on the net and some are quite expensive.
but to safe myself some sorrrow i'd like to know wich way to go.
could any of you help me out...I'm shre its one of these threads you see weekly if not daily....so excuse me for it..I did read quite a few threads though and i have a few favorits, Parris cues,mike wooldridge,trevor white cues,peradon
to name a few....so could you help me out a bit plz

[andy carson]

best bet is to email the makers you like the look of the cuies with your specifications and see who comes out at a good price, though my preference from using one of the cues once is a woolridge cue

[Terry Davidson]

Core:

How about used? I have a Hunt & Osborne and an Accuerate for sale

Terry

[KeithinFrance]

Have a look at Robin Cues's website and Coutts Cues as well. Glover Cues also make very fine cues.

Do you have a specific budget? Do you have a specific style of cue in mind? Perhaps these criteria would help us to orient you in the best direction ...

All the cuemakers I've mentioned and all the ones you mentioned, except for Peradon, are excellent cuemakers and will be able to build you a wonderful cue in any style you like. It all depends on the budget and time you want to wait for, IMO.

[bkpaul]

It really does scare me, the number of people that buy cues and in particular snooker cues without actually trying them out first....

I just couldn't do it!.

[spike]

It really does scare me, the number of people that buy cues and in particular snooker cues without actually trying them out first....

I just couldn't do it!.

I totally agree with you mate..

[the montrealer]

Buying a cue in england

hello TSF

Today i wanted to ask your help bcoz i am on the virge of buying myself a decent handmade cue....with the pound being cheap.
my birthday is tomorrow and i've been looking for over 2 weeks now.
i've been looking everywhere on the net and some are quite expensive.
but to safe myself some sorrrow i'd like to know wich way to go.
could any of you help me out...I'm shre its one of these threads you see weekly if not daily....so excuse me for it..I did read quite a few threads though and i have a few favorits, Parris cues,mike wooldridge,trevor white cues,peradon
to name a few....so could you help me out a bit plz

HI The best advice i can give you is to go to your Local Billiard Room and try out the cue that you like and then you can decide which cue suits you best. Now if you order a cue from England the problem is maybe the cue is crooked etc etc also if you do order it maybe you will not like the feel of the cue. Best advice is try the cue before you buy it cheers Leonard from Canada

[ChatLag]

It really does scare me, the number of people that buy cues and in particular snooker cues without actually trying them out first....

I just couldn't do it!.

I agree that this is not the most optimal way. But if you are not in UK you will hardly have the chance to try any kind of cue besides BCE or Riley club cues.

[bkpaul]

I agree that this is not the most optimal way. But if you are not in UK you will hardly have the chance to try any kind of cue besides BCE or Riley club cues.

Snooker is not a UK only sport anymore and as such I am sure there are cue makers across Europe but if you can't find one or don't like them then I think a short trip over to the UK will work out cheaper than buying 5-10-20 cues that don't suit you.

Maybe kill 2 birds with 1 stone, come over and take in a tournament and whilst you are here visit a few cue makers and make your selection that way.

Bottom line is do you want an ok cue or do you want a cue that suits you!, a cue is for life and is probably the most important snooker decision you will ever make.

[ChatLag]

Snooker is not a UK only sport anymore and as such I am sure there are cue makers across Europe but if you can't find one or don't like them then I think a short trip over to the UK will work out cheaper than buying 5-10-20 cues that don't suit you.

Maybe kill 2 birds with 1 stone, come over and take in a tournament and whilst you are here visit a few cue makers and make your selection that way.

Bottom line is do you want an ok cue or do you want a cue that suits you!, a cue is for life and is probably the most important snooker decision you will ever make.

I agree, Snooker is not a UK sport anymore. But there are no shops, neither online or in real life where you can buy a proper cue. And there is one cue maker in Germany making a kind of snooker cues.
I doubt that you can find a dream cue during a short visit at a cue maker. I was at H&O in May and they had exactly 2 cues on the rack.
And all the other top cue makers are so crowded with work that they do not have full racks with cues to test.
To order a custom made cue is always a risk, no matter where on the world you are living.
But if you are lucky you will have a wonderful cue.

[bkpaul]

I guess it's how important it is to you to find the right cue, like I said it's the most important decision a snooker player will ever make.

I do not suggest buying a cue at the tournament albeit you may find one there, I did say visit a few makers in the area and try theirs out, take 2 or 3 days out of the trip and try as many cues as possible, you may still not find one! but at least you have looked.

some players never find a cue that is right for them and they settle for an ok cue or constantly change their cue!.

I know a player that had a cue for 2 days, knocked in several massive breaks with it and still changed it because he didn't like it!, you will know when a cue is right for you....

You also have players that will blame a cue for all their misses and this type of player is destined to never achieve their best, you must have total (blind) confidence in your cue! only then will you be trully happy with it.

[Watford]

I think it's nice to try but if you want something slightly different from the norm or a particular look getting a custom is then way to go.

I wanted to try first and did loads of trying at places like Craftsman or Greenbaize. In the end I new what I wanted from what I'd played with but not found a cue that had everything. So I got a custom cue from Trevor White in the end.

If you can't travel to somewhere to try as long as you know what you want you should be all right ordering form England.

If you get a custom cue from one of the makers mentioned or by something from somewhere like Greenbaize or Craftsman (or any members who sell like Bitter and ADR147) you should be fine. I can't see anyone selling you a bent cue like someone has said. You certainly should get a new cue, a fix or your money back if you did.

Post what your looking at for further help.:snooker:

[s1ivv3r]

It really does scare me, the number of people that buy cues and in particular snooker cues without actually trying them out first....

I just couldn't do it!.

Its all well and good to say that... BUT.. if like me your cue has to be a minimum of 59" long and preferably 60" long where do you go try something that just isn't standard and is only made to order?

Not like buying big clothes with specialist shops for the oversized is it.. lol.

I would love to walk into a cue shop, ie Craftsman, and grab a dozen cues of the rack and try them, but sadly 58" is about the longest they make as standard.

[bkpaul]

@s1ivv3r

I was obviously talking standard cues and there are always exceptions to the rule as in your case and I expect it will be very difficult for you to get a cue that is ideal for you as said even if you have a cue made to very exact specs it may not work for you.

At the end of the day it's each to their own and the prevailing circumstances, all we can do is advise as to the "best way" to achive what you want to do as with any given subject this is no different.

[s1ivv3r]

@s1ivv3r

I was obviously talking standard cues and there are always exceptions to the rule as in your case and I expect it will be very difficult for you to get a cue that is ideal for you as said even if you have a cue made to very exact specs it may not work for you.

At the end of the day it's each to their own and the prevailing circumstances, all we can do is advise as to the "best way" to achive what you want to do as with any given subject this is no different.

I've got one mate.. all thanks to Mike Wooldridge... no advertising intended.. lol.. but thanks Mike!