Who makes the best cue? or what are the top 3

[brendan147]

Someone trying to sell a cue here? What cue?

What s going on?

ask willytan...

[Ronnie9]

honest posts in the thread,rather than just wanna make my presence felt

Hmmm , think I managed to understand that statement.

[Burwat Champ]

Kevin Muncaster of North West Cues SHOULD be on this list

So should Tony Ions & Tony Wilshaw.

Will Hunt?

But as ADR says there is no answer to this.

I have had cues off almost every cue maker that ever gets mentioned on these type of threads and there is nothing to seperate most of them especially on the one piece cues I say this only because I have a preference to a 3/4 joint a particular maker uses.

Without meaning to sound harsh most people tend to answer these type of questions out of bias saying TW is deffo better of MW makes the best cues in the world to tell you there truth there are not many who could tell you who made a particular cue if it wasnt badged up (I am talking about comparing the top guys here and not a MW or TW against a joe bloggs cue.)

To give an example I have a Burwat Champion replica made by Tony Ions and showed this to a friend of mine who is a big Trevor White fan, he has a couple of shots with it and says although its a nice cue you can feel straight away that it does not have the quality of a Trevor White, it doesnt have as nice a feel, the finish is no were near as good etc etc..

A couple of months later I take the same cue out but out of curiosity of his reaction this time I tell him its a cue Trevor White has made his response as you may already have guessed is that this a proper cue, exactly what a cue should feel and play like.

My honest opinion is that the best work from all the cue makers mentioned on this thread is as good as each other the difference is there are 4 or 5 who turn out as near to perfect as you can get on a more consistent basis than the rest

[brendan147]

I have had cues off almost every cue maker that ever gets mentioned on these type of threads and there is nothing to seperate most of them especially on the one piece cues I say this only because I have a preference to a 3/4 joint a particular maker uses.

So you prefer using 3/4 cue to play as you feel no different compare to 1pc cue?

[Frying Scotsman]

I had a one piece made by Clive Glover (Tonys dad) years ago but it got broken.I had a replacement made by Tony but it wasnt as good( I guess its probably as good but different if you know what I mean).I had some work done on it by Robin Cook who also did some work on an old Mannock for me and I have to say the job he does is first class.I know he does work for Mike Russell (9x world billiards champion)and he swears by him as do many other billiard players.

[eaoin11]

Terry,

I've been on this forum for about a year now, (but into cue sports much longer) and am interested in your question. Australia is a barren desert for cues, and I think it's a pain in the arse ordering from overseas. I've ordered cues from 4 uk makers and been let down 3 times in one way or another. Frankly I think the promise doesn't live up to reality and many of them are capable of letting out a sub-par product.

The one I didn't have a problem with is Mike Wooldridge (bought from greenbaize cues). I think if you look at the quality of his work, emphasis on playability and the relative output of cues (and therefore availability) he probably does deserve the title as number one cuemaker.

Everything about his website, the info he provides and service he offers reflects a total committment to quality in my opinion and if I were to enter the same business I would want to do everything exactly the same way.

From what I've seen in pics I would also like to try Trevor White but of course availability is a problem.

[telinoz]

eaoin11 (and others!),

I know of one cue maker in Sydney, Peter Hanley whose cues are for the most part well liked and he is a nice bloke to talk with and can do mods with existing cues.
I wanted to include local makers, but was curious to see if any popped up in all this feedback I've had since posting. None at the moment!

So, I also realised from the start of posting this topic that I wanted to ensure I had good stock and/or contacts to get stock from my new venue in 2010 to ensure I could supply the best products to my club players.
UK, being the home of snooker also has most of the best cue makers in the World and I thought it was a safe bet I'd find plenty after posting this.

Thanks again to all that have contributed to this post, I've learned a lot from it and I hope that when I open some of you can come to Sydney, Australia to play as cuesports (including WPA and WEPF pool) is still very small here but has HUGE potential to grow. Aussies are sporting mad and very competitive and although small, we still produce some very good players.

[BoBnoGG!n]

oh cool, if i ever come sydney (definite) might hav to drop by wherever u r =] i heard of a cue maker down at geelong, and one in queensland too. my friend plays with a cue she said was made down at geelong, pretty nice cue too!

[White147]

John Parris is only a cue brand. John dont make this cues.

[Neil Taperell]

Have you ever owned a John Parris cue ? or have you ever owned a quality cue before ?

On what do you make your judgement on the JP Brand ? Interested in your comments

[sanman]

John Parris is only a cue brand. John dont make this cues.

I do believe with the amount of cues JP sells he cannot possibly make all the cues leaving his workshop with the resources that he has at hand in his workshop. Given the effort that goes into making a handmade cue. I do however believe that he does make the more exclusive models in his workshop. I stand to be corrected.

[DeanH]

John Parris is only a cue brand. John dont make this cues.

Have you ever owned a John Parris cue ? or have you ever owned a quality cue before ?

On what do you make your judgement on the JP Brand ? Interested in your comments

See my reply to the other posting. White147 I am also interested in your comments.
http://www.thesnookerforum.com/board...530#post592530

[ken147]

I think in general JP does make quality cues. The question is do snooker players in general know what specs of cue is suitable for them? When I was in my late teens I thought a stiff and heavy cue was the best combination as the cue would pot long balls easier and the weight meant I didn't have to hit the vie ball harder. I was content with the playing characteristics of the cue until my knowledge of the game became more experienced.

I have now found out that I require a lighter and a shaft with more flex/spring which makes the cue more responsive which has improved my game no end.

JP rack cues in my experience are stiffer hence making it a good potting cue which in most circumstances is adequate for the majority of general players.

If you know what specs you want in a cue there are many top cue makers who can satisfy your wishes.

[Neil Taperell]

Exactly the same happened to me , always went for a heavy cue and stiff shaft . Got a new TW cue and just could not play with it .

Went to JP and my mate picked up a cue . Played a few shots with it and really liked it . Specs nowhere like what i would order .

17.3oz and 9.3mm tip . A slim butt . I used to go for a larger diameter .

Went down the club and knocked in 2 50 breaks in one session . Something i've not done for years .

It was not a standard rack cue but a Special cue .

Goes to show after all this years of knowing what i wanted , that i was completely wrong !

[White147]

Have you ever owned a John Parris cue ? or have you ever owned a quality cue before ?

On what do you make your judgement on the JP Brand ? Interested in your comments

It's not a judgement. I didnt saod nothing about quality of this cues. I just say that JP dont make this cues himself. And now answer for your question. I play with 3 JP cues: Champion,Superior and Tradional but this cues are not my own cues. This is nice cues but I prefer cues from cuemakers who work on thier own. I have play with Robin Cook and Trevor White cue and I had order a TW cue.