How to tell if a cue is springy, whippy or Stiff?

[mchpddl1]

How to tell if a cue is springy, whippy or Stiff? is it by hitting it on a palm and observe its flex?

Then is a whippy cue better for screw shot because of is flex? a stiff shaft is better for long pots because of less deflection?

I cannot understand whether i need a stiff shaft or a whippy shaft, if anyone can share some experience of these kinds of shafts so i can gather some consensus opinions, thanks all.

[sunny3909]

There should be certain amount of spring in the shaft but not too much as it will have more deflection.
The cue should be stiff or medium stiff depending upon what you like.
You need to balance out both factors.
The top cuemakers always select a shaft that is stiff/medium stiff with some spring in it to make it responsive.

[nrage]

AFAIK there is no evidence to suggest a springy/whippy shaft has more or less deflection, as far as the evidence goes it appears cue end mass (the weight of the tip end of the cue) causes deflection, the more weight/mass, the more deflection.

I have been told my cue is very stiff and that this makes long pots easier and touch around the balls harder. I'm not sure I believe that, yet.. I guess a very flexible shaft might compress/bend in a uneven way, causing the angle of the white to be off by a fraction of a millimeter, and over 12 foot this might make a big difference for long potting. And, I could believe that a springy shaft would give you a little more 'feedback'/'feeling' on how hard you've hit a shot, vs a stiff shaft which just feels stiff/unyielding on every shot except the very high power ones.

Another aspect to consider is the weight of the cue, I could believe that a heavier cue, which mine is, might make finer power control harder around the balls.. I know I frequently over hit shots around the balls, and find a roll up very difficult, but to be honest I really need more practice at these shots.

I suspect anyone can learn to play with any shaft type, but you don't want to make the game harder for yourself than you have to. So, a good idea is to start with a medium weight shaft which is fairly firm and see how you go.

I am not sure how to objectively test for springiness, so this is a guess.. I suspect you really have to have a range of cues in front of you and play a few shots with each, both low and high power shots and just feel the difference each shaft gives. A springy shaft will feel like it bends/gives more on the higher power shots, and the more difference you can feel between shots of varying powers, the more springy it is.

[damienlch]

I recall reading in previous threads something about the duration the shaft vibrates when you hit it against your palm. Can't quite remember but the vibration should last something like 7 or 8 seconds (?) for a nice, responsive shaft. Too short a vibration would imply the shaft is too stiff and vice versa. Don't know if there is any truth in it.

Well, the best way to test a cue is to hit a few balls with it and see how you like it. But of course, that may not always be available.

I would rather play with a stiffer shaft than one that is really whippy as I prefer a more solid hit.

[liliput]

I recall reading in previous threads something about the duration the shaft vibrates when you hit it against your palm. Can't quite remember but the vibration should last something like 7 or 8 seconds (?) for a nice, responsive shaft. Too short a vibration would imply the shaft is too stiff and vice versa. Don't know if there is any truth in it.

Well, the best way to test a cue is to hit a few balls with it and see how you like it. But of course, that may not always be available.

I would rather play with a stiffer shaft than one that is really whippy as I prefer a more solid hit.

Erm...7 or 8 secs is bit too long ? Its like {( tooiinyuung...)} x 2.5 times the duration No offence just found it a bit farney heehee.

[cally]

WOW.. ppl are being over technical with testing how springy a cue is...

Just grab the end and flex the bugger, if it's very firm there will be hardly any movement, if it bends like a fishing rod, then it's whippy.

And anything in between you can work out yourself...

[CueAntW147]

WOW.. ppl are being over technical with testing how springy a cue is...

Just grab the end and flex the bugger, if it's very firm there will be hardly any movement, if it bends like a fishing rod, then it's whippy.

And anything in between you can work out yourself...

lol.......you tell 'em mate !

made me smile this post......:-)

[damienlch]

Erm...7 or 8 secs is bit too long ? Its like {( tooiinyuung...)} x 2.5 times the duration No offence just found it a bit farney heehee.

No offence taken... Yup, 7, 8secs seem rather long... I can barely get my cue to vibrate / resonate for half that time.

This test was discussed in http://www.thesnookerforum.com/board...shaft-of-a-cue

But as Cally had mentioned, we are probably reading too much into this...

[cally]

That's why i couldn't get on with my last trev cue, it was too stiff for me. i just cant get the feeling for a very stiff cue at all.

But as said, over distance i could pot like a beast but amongst the balls i just can't get the feel and it effs me right up.
I like a cue to give a little feedback/feel on the shot, and a very stiff shaft is terrible for me/my game.

My next cue is gonna have a little more 'give' and a keeper i hope (fingers crossed)..

Does my nut in this cue spec malarky aye...

[sunny3909]

Simply just try some cues out and pick the best one you feel most comfortable with,Getting too much into technical issues will confuse you even more.

[deant1982]

WOW.. ppl are being over technical with testing how springy a cue is...

Just grab the end and flex the bugger, if it's very firm there will be hardly any movement, if it bends like a fishing rod, then it's whippy.

And anything in between you can work out yourself...

I actually laughed out loud at this post.

My mrs now thinks I'm a weirdo as i sit here chuckling away to myself!

A (not sure if intentional) funny post!

[bonoman1970]

I actually laughed out loud at this post.

My mrs now thinks I'm a weirdo as i sit here chuckling away to myself!

A (not sure if intentional) funny post!

just ask yr missus whether she likes it whippy or stiff....that will shut her up

[deant1982]

just ask yr missus whether she likes it whippy or stiff....that will shut her up

She doesn't care, as long as it isn't mine! Stiff is good, but whippy allows for more flexibility in the delivery. As long as it's shaft is wider that 30mm she is happy! Lol

[Fairuz]

Hardly to say about the cue feeling.. to be honest low deflection or not is all about how you play and how the cue will suit your need in the game.. im use to have over 40pcs cue in my collections and trust me i use to play with all of it and then later get boring with it.. base from my experiance whippy cue trow less but it need some power on it.. which people call spring effect.. usually if feel good at first then later if you do so much power shot with it.. the cue start to feel death and whip inconsistantly which just make you miss ball fairy often.. small tip and slim taper are great feel at hand but if you pressure so much in game you tend to miscued badly which end up damage the tip.. rigid cue with stiff shaft are ok if it have spring effect.. but if cue are too heavy.. you tend to do unintentional side with it or even struggle just to do spin using it.. but to be honest this thing more to personal selections..
The cue now im using is a result from keep changing cue in my noob past time..
Weight 16.5oz as im tend not to feel cue ball when im nervous in match.. this weight seem help..
Ballance around 18.4inc from butt cue as this give a feeling that i keep my cue parallels with table as close as i can.. and it does effect my stance too..
Length around 56.3inch due in past everytime im using longger then this i tend more to over draw my cue shaft resulting slight side pushing error.. with this length im doing just fine..
Tip size is 9.8mm and i used thick leather tip and shape it super dome just to get better result with spin..
Shaft thick and very very stiff.. as in past springgy feel never feel consistent.. so im deside not to feel it..and get use to it.. if it springg sometime then its a bonus for me..
The hole length of cue tapered thick but feeling like a slim.. more like milk bottle taper.. and mu cue but size is 28mm with deep chamfer.. as i like holding my cue with 3fingger hanging grip style..

[Denbo147]

Easy way to test this. Get the cue tip and push it into the wall, obviously with the cue horizontal. The more give in the cue the more "whippy" it is. You need to test a few to get a good feel for it.