3/4 versus 1/2

[dash rendar]

Sorry for this dumbass newbie question...

I did use the search before posting this, but it's hard to use search terms that return a short list of results.

Anyway, I gather 3/4 splits are better in 2-piece snooker cues than 1/2. I was just wondering if someone could tell me why? Ta.

[hotpot]

Well apart from looking much better 3/4 are just the in thing and have been for some time .Two piece may be slightly more forward balanced , but apart from that i dont think there is any difference in terms of how they play , some may argue otherwise , one piece seem to be coming back and may well be more popular than 3/4 again .

3/4 or one piece look much better than two piece even if they play similar . Personally i prefer the look and touch of a one piece .

[Vitalich]

says a friend of mine cuemaker, 3 / 4 better than 1 / 2 so that the twist at impact is not pulling a stubble chin))

[BoBnoGG!n]

1/2 cut 2 piece cues r only good if theyre 'matching grain' (cut from 1 piece of wood) because u get a lot of cheap 1/2 cues that are made from 2 different pieces, and they often feel terrible.

[Burwat Champ]

I personally prefer 1/2 split to a 3/4 as I find they tend to be a little more forward weighted.

1 piece is the best for feel and you never have to worry about the joint coming loose.

This said I am about to go back to a 1/2 split cue made by our very own Dan Shelton purely due to storage convenience as I travel quite a lot to tournaments and there are usually 5 of us in the same car with two 1 piece cases and three 3/4 cases, it can get a bit tight.

[gazza147]

You Definately get more Fell and Responce of a 1pc Cue, I used to have one myself but I found it abit of a pain transporting it around Especially on Snooker Nights/Tourny's with mates in the same Car no Room for Case.


Gaz.

[eaoin11]

Balance is the biggest issue IMO. I've played with some pretty good 1/2 cues with a good solid hit but they were all relatively heavy. That lump of brass for the join is a lot further forward on a 1/2 cue so to keep the balance point at the ideal position (16-18 inches from butt) you need to have more weight in the butt to compensate.

For this reason I suspect that a standard center joint cue needs to be at least 18 oz if it's to be well balanced. If you like lighter cues, say 16-17oz then it's best to have a 3/4.

[Qubit]

For this reason I suspect that a standard center joint cue needs to be at least 18 oz if it's to be well balanced. If you like lighter cues, say 16-17oz then it's best to have a 3/4.

Umm, sorry but this isn't really right. While its possible to build a light(ish)weight cue of any type, a 3/4 is the least likely to be under 18oz.

The joint will a larger diameter for starters, plus on a conventional 3/4 cue the butt is turned from a single piece of heavy wood such as ebony/rosewood, rather than splices over a less dense wood such as ash or maple, hence the butt will be proportionally heavier.

There are ways this can be overcome (chiefly drilling the butt or slimming it down, wood selection), but most 3/4 cues come in the range 18-19oz generally. Very few will be under 17.5 (in fact when i specified 17.5oz from Mastercraft i ended up with 18.5oz - fair bit of difference!)

The balance of a 3/4 may well be preferable to many, but any type of cue can be a good cue if made properly.

[eaoin11]

Umm, sorry but this isn't really right. While its possible to build a light(ish)weight cue of any type, a 3/4 is the least likely to be under 18oz.

The joint will a larger diameter for starters, plus on a conventional 3/4 cue the butt is turned from a single piece of heavy wood such as ebony/rosewood, rather than splices over a less dense wood such as ash or maple, hence the butt will be proportionally heavier.

There are ways this can be overcome (chiefly drilling the butt or slimming it down, wood selection), but most 3/4 cues come in the range 18-19oz generally. Very few will be under 17.5 (in fact when i specified 17.5oz from Mastercraft i ended up with 18.5oz - fair bit of difference!)

The balance of a 3/4 may well be preferable to many, but any type of cue can be a good cue if made properly.

I didn't say a 3/4 is more likely to be under 18oz. People above have noted that 1/2 cues are more forward balanced. I'm saying that this is really only a problem for very light center joint cues. If you like a medium-heavy 2pce they can be quite good.

Sure, the join on 3/4 cues is bigger therefore heavier but it's usually much closer to the center of balance. There are many ways to make a 17oz custom 3/4 without drilling the butt. You can have a slimmer butt, a shorter butt (jointed at 12 inches rather than 14 or 16), four secondary splices of a lighter wood, use a lighter base joint for extentions, and combinations... all while retaining a balance point within 16-18 inches from the butt.

I ordered a 2pce from Robin Cook last year and wanted it to be 17oz balanced at 16-18 inches. But he found that at 17oz the balance point would have been at 19 inches which is too far forward IMO. For this reason I think a well balanced 2pce (with standard brass join, and shaft of good density and standard taper) needs to be around 18oz or more.

[Qubit]

Well you did say that if someone wants a 16-17oz cue they should go for a 3/4. This I would very much disagree with. Thats really 1 piece territory for the most part. Especially if you dont want a slim butt, for example I can't have a butt less than 30mm really. 19" is too far forward for you, but its not completely unreasonable. A lot of 1 piece cues when made up without any weighting have more forward balances than a lot of people like.

A 2 piece can be tailored as well - some joints are heavier than others and would need more weight correction in the butt - joints can be made without brass faces hence less weight correction in the butt.

Facts are for a standard 3/4 vs a std 2 piece (even a well balanced one) the 3/4 will on average be heavier.

Anyway, I always maintain that whats most important is trying out a cue if possible. Only way to be sure you like it!

[heera2009]

I might be wrong, but watching china open i noticed mjw did not have his usual stubble as seen previously.. I think he is now using a centre split?? Personally i find them more whippier than 1pce& 3/4 cues.

[hotpot]

No he,s using a 3/4 joint above the splice

[Freddie Ng]

Bro hot.. but the case he use is for 1/2cue if not mistaken..

[hotpot]

Bro hot.. but the case he use is for 1/2cue if not mistaken..

Pheraps he just used that to put his winnings in . I didnt notice the case muck but he definitely use a 3/4 J P .

[heera2009]

Bro hot.. but the case he use is for 1/2cue if not mistaken..

thats why i assumed it was a centre split... THE CASE!!