cue length confusion

[snooks1000]

hi all.
my dilemma is this. i'm 6'4" and approx 2 years ago i had my cue extended to 60.5 inches from 58 inches on the advice of a coach.
i have never found this to have improved my game and my cue doesnt play anywhere near the same as it used to.
the thing is, the other night i went for a pint and was talked into having a frame with my mate and shared his cue which i guessed to have been around 58 inches, and immediately i felt comfortable even though my arm was forward of the vertical on address. my long potting was more consistent than it has been for some while.

i suppose my question is this, is it likely that i just have to accept that my cue doesnt play well anymore (i.e the balance etc is wrong) or could it be that i just maybe didn't need a cue as long as was thought?
I'm looking at treating myself to a new cue in the new year, but want to get the spec as accurate as possible. the only problem is, i don't no what my specs are and i've been playing 12 years!

Hope someone can offer some insight/advice.

all the best in the new year to everyone...

[hotpot]

I suppose its all down to what you feel comfortable with rather than what someones advises you .

Half an inch can feel diiferent so adding 2 1/2 " is going to make a massive difference unless its to youre desired and preferred spec .

If you feel comfortable with your friends cue then ask him to measure it. If its 58 " you could always go for a 59 and then alter it as i think its easier to have a cue shortened and probably wont effect the balance very much at all taking an inch or so off .

[tornado taylor]

I'm 6'5" and play with a 59" cue for years and when I play a shot with my bro's 58" cue it feels short you would think an inch would get lost somewhere and wouldn't notice it so I would I think playing with a 60.5 must seem like playin with the old style half butt on the side of the table lol. Like already said go with what you feel comfortable with and if you go long it can always be shortened.

[burwat292596]

All down to personal preference, I am 6'3 and over the last 5 yrs have gone from 58 to 59 and now just short of 60, having found that the longer shaft allows me to stretch out my left arm and ultimately be more consistent - just need to get the weight sorted now - 180z @ 18.5/19 inches is bang on for me.
Hotpot is close to the mark, it is easier to shorten a cue and not hurt the weight or balance point provided you have been mindful of the future requirements in your original spec request.

[snooks1000]

All down to personal preference, I am 6'3 and over the last 5 yrs have gone from 58 to 59 and now just short of 60, having found that the longer shaft allows me to stretch out my left arm and ultimately be more consistent - just need to get the weight sorted now - 180z @ 18.5/19 inches is bang on for me.
Hotpot is close to the mark, it is easier to shorten a cue and not hurt the weight or balance point provided you have been mindful of the future requirements in your original spec request.

one thing i forgot to mention is when i got it extended, i also had an extension joint put in the end which has added weight. the cue now weighs 20.5 oz which i've never really felt comfortable with....

[old school]

Changing the weight,by adding a butt joint,will have altered the balance point,leading you to the conclusion,in your own words "my cue doesnt play well anymore".What about determining the balance point of your friends cue,altering yours to match and adjusting the length to 59".You may get the best of both worlds.

[cazmac1]

You would think I would have the answer, I've asked many questions on the forum about this issue and if you do a search you'll find some great info.
Over the past four years I've tryed cues from 59 to 55. I recently been playing with two 56 inch cues and think that I'm very close to finding the correct lenght for me. I've come to this purly by trial and error and some expense. Sadly there is no one answer that anyone can give you that will be correct, You'll have to take a punt and see how you get on. One thing is certain and that is your current cue lenght is not right or you wouldn't be asking the question. Good luck and I hope you find the cue without to much time, money and effort

[vmax4steve]

hi all.
my dilemma is this. i'm 6'4" and approx 2 years ago i had my cue extended to 60.5 inches from 58 inches on the advice of a coach.
i have never found this to have improved my game and my cue doesnt play anywhere near the same as it used to.
the thing is, the other night i went for a pint and was talked into having a frame with my mate and shared his cue which i guessed to have been around 58 inches, and immediately i felt comfortable even though my arm was forward of the vertical on address. my long potting was more consistent than it has been for some while.

i suppose my question is this, is it likely that i just have to accept that my cue doesnt play well anymore (i.e the balance etc is wrong) or could it be that i just maybe didn't need a cue as long as was thought?
I'm looking at treating myself to a new cue in the new year, but want to get the spec as accurate as possible. the only problem is, i don't no what my specs are and i've been playing 12 years!

Hope someone can offer some insight/advice.

all the best in the new year to everyone...

I'm six foot two and have a 62 inch cue which I had made for me about twenty five years ago. When I'm playing close in around the black and pink spots I'm not holding it at the very end of the butt, I'm holding it about three inches from the end. I hold it at the very end only when going for long shots.
This is not a concious decision, it's completely natural and it's what all players subconciously do if their cue is long enough.
The problem with taller players is that they cannot do this with average length cues of about 57 inches and usually hold their cues right at the end of the butt all the time. If this is what you are doing with your new longer cue then it will indeed feel strange. Put a piece of masking tape about three inches from the end of the butt and hold the cue there for close in and at the end for long shots. Keep the tape there until it becomes natural for you to move your hand about.