tall players/standard cue

[trevs1]

I think the fact that almost all professional players use cues of below 58.5" long tells us something. Of course there will be the odd exception to that, but in general, the vast majority would be between 57" to 58".

I have used Mark Williams as an example of tall players using shorter cues. When he was World number one (first time around) and winning more or less everything in sight for a few seasons, he was using a cue of just under 57". Now obviously, this suited Marks technique, in that his grip hand is slightly forward of vertical on address to the white, AND he has a bent bridge arm. Keeping that in mind, it's possible that for players of the same height, different cue lengths may be more suitable for one or the other. It could be due to either of the points mentioned above, or could even be the position of your feet in relation to the shot, whereby one player leans into the shot (body tilted forwards) while another has more of his bodyweight on the back foot, creating a more leaning backwards type of stance.

As for the guy with a 62" cue, he's certainly not in the majority using that thing. It must be like using a beach caster.

[snooks1000]

hi Trevor. would you also say then that for someone of my hight a cue of around 59"-59.5" isnt unnecessarily long then?

[trevs1]

hi Trevor. would you also say then that for someone of my hight a cue of around 59"-59.5" isnt unnecessarily long then?

No, not necessarily too long. As I say above, it does depend on your own personal setup. I know of many a good (better than good) player, who has had a coach (occasionally top level and very well known coaches too) state that he needs a longer cue, only to find that he cannot adjust to the cue after alterations. It can really mess with someone's head, not to mention their technique.
Personally, I think a lot of faith is placed (maybe misplaced at times) in coaches, and people allow them to make decisions for them that just don't make a lot of sense, but that's maybe not for me to say too much on.

As for cues, what I would say is that generally speaking, they do not improve for having excess length, quite the opposite in fact.
Longer cues are often just not as reliable as shorter, more compact cues, and at times, can feel as though they push to ball offline.
This effect makes them feel as though unless a player strikes the ball "bang on accurately" there is absolutely no room for error. Conversely, great cues appear to offer the feeling whereby they give a player a margin of error that allows them to get fairly good results even when they do not hit the ball really well, and seem to feel much more accurate and trustworthy.

It's odd really but it's true.

[snooks1000]

No, not necessarily too long. As I say above, it does depend on your own personal setup. I know of many a good (better than good) player, who has had a coach (occasionally top level and very well known coaches too) state that he needs a longer cue, only to find that he cannot adjust to the cue after alterations. It can really mess with someone's head, not to mention their technique.
Personally, I think a lot of faith is placed (maybe misplaced at times) in coaches, and people allow them to make decisions for them that just don't make a lot of sense, but that's maybe not for me to say too much on.

As for cues, what I would say is that generally speaking, they do not improve for having excess length, quite the opposite in fact.
Longer cues are often just not as reliable as shorter, more compact cues, and at times, can feel as though they push to ball offline.
This effect makes them feel as though unless a player strikes the ball "bang on accurately" there is absolutely no room for error. Conversely, great cues appear to offer the feeling whereby they give a player a margin of error that allows them to get fairly good results even when they do not hit the ball really well, and seem to feel much more accurate and trustworthy.

It's odd really but it's true.

i can relate well to much of this post after having a cue extended 2 inches to 60.5" and losing faith in it completely. i just havent found a cue i feel really comfortable with since. i need a cue that is as short as i can get away with by the sounds of it and i think 59" is as short as i can comfortably go

[mick 142]

Im 6ft .4" and use a cue 59" long .

[bensuzuki]

just experiment, and see what feels good. im 6ft 2" and use a 57.5" cue no probs. but someone else of the same height might be different, there really is no right or wrong answer just see what feels right

[rongreen]

just experiment, and see what feels good. im 6ft 2" and use a 57.5" cue no probs. but someone else of the same height might be different, there really is no right or wrong answer just see what feels right

I'm 6'-2" and purchased a 57.5" cue and and couldn't get to grips with it (no pun intended) with 2 fingers wrapped around the end and shortened back swing, so tried and purchased 59" cue, a lot more comfortable, better grip, delivery etc. so it's whatever feels comfortable.

[gem]

I am just under 6'3" and use a 59 1/2" cue. Just feels right for me. I have quite long arms though and I think this is more relevant than height.

[nrage]

I am just under 6'3" and use a 59 1/2" cue. Just feels right for me. I have quite long arms though and I think this is more relevant than height.

True, however most people have an arm span which matches their height, more or less. So the two are usually the same, or very nearly

[gem]

Usually this is about right. I am 189cm tall and have a 200cm span from my fingertips so the cue does need to be a bit longer for me to feel comfertable.

[nrage]

Usually this is about right. I am 189cm tall and have a 200cm span from my fingertips so the cue does need to be a bit longer for me to feel comfertable.

Wow, most ppl tend to be within 5-6cm I believe, so 11cm is quite a difference.

[gem]

Wow, most ppl tend to be within 5-6cm I believe, so 11cm is quite a difference.

Just double checked the span and it is 200cm. My height is about 6' 2 3/4" so just under 190cm. The gap is slightly over 10cm.

[The Stig]

I'm 6ft 1", i play with a 57 3/4 inch cue. To be honest ive not tried a cue above 58 inches for any length of time so i can't make a fair comparison with a longer cue, i guess its what you feel comfy with.

This is what John Parris says about the correct cue length

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvgwbpAOpcA

[nrage]

Just double checked the span and it is 200cm. My height is about 6' 2/34" so just under 190cm. The gap is slightly over 10cm.

Sorry, I wasn't doubting what you were saying, I was just surprised is all

[Acrowot]

A friend of mine is 6ft 9inches and he plays with a cue of 59.5 inches and he is quite a good player. He has made centuries, but now has MS and does not play quite as well, but is still quite a decent player.