Mike Wooldridge - *NEW* 'BlackSpin' Ferrule System

[jrc750]

Specs on yours ?? Played with mine this afternoon (4 enforced days off this week ) still can't believe it was deemed not good enough for his badged up cues

[narl]

Specs on yours ?? Played with mine this afternoon (4 enforced days off this week ) still can't believe it was deemed not good enough for his badged up cues

57" 9.5mm 30.2mm butt 17oz

Scary thing was the tape and carboard at the top of the tube was nearly off when i got it, didn't have to use anything to get it off at all, looks like someone was slinging the tube around or someone wanted to have a nosey.

[MikeWooldridge]

guys, this is the problem. i beat myself every day trying to decide whether someone will be happy enough with grain etc..

90% of customers are more than happy with ANY of my 'standard' shafts, but when you've spent years listening to specific requests, you start to look at wood and pick out every tiny 'defect'. not defects as such of course, just reasons for 'some' people to criticise.

if they just said make me a great playing cue, life would be easier...

but it's the collectors, and worse still, the 'newbies' who know virtually nothing about cues, who decide they want 'the best' or start a collection, that attach almost impossible limits to their orders. you know the sort of thing - "exactly six arrows, evenly spaced with the top one 3" from tip, with straight lines at the side etc., etc.."

when we pick out shafts here, we see every little deviation, maybe slightly 'odd' looking uneven arrows, maybe a bit of natural colour change, maybe slightly 'wobbly' grain lines.

all little things, but things i know some people will complain about.

i've said before and i'll say again, i see lots of cues pictured here, some very expensive, and i almost do a little bit sick in my mouth when i see the 'terrible' shafts on them

not terrible of course, but when it's backed up by "best shaft/cue i've ever seen in my life" then i have to go and have lie down. after i've stopped laughing. i mean crying...

anyway, glad you like them. i actually prefer a lot of my 'borderline' shafts cos i appreciate the character.

personally, from my own playing perspective, i need to see only one arrow (or more is good too, but one's fine for me) somewhere between bridge and tip, and then i feel 'comfortable' with my cue and psychologically at ease.

whatever's going on below that makes no odds to me whatsoever. i couldn't care less how 'wild' the grain is on the rest of the cue.

[MikeWooldridge]

I really can't see why this was a sin bin cue, it's easily as good as the special cue I had made around 14 years ago. You sure you didn't put this into the wrong pile Mike? .

i think i did...

well i'll tell you something else, something i am well aware of but still you never can quite tell. and the reason i won't send people pictures of shafts or half finished cues, so they can 'approve'.

when you have the bare wood in your hands, it can often seem like the shaft won't look 'nice' enough finished. but by the time it actually gets finished, i.e. oiled up, polished etc., it can look almost like an entirely different cue, taking on a lovely colour etc., that really brings the shaft 'to life' and makes it look sooo much nicer than you might have thought it would at the start.

i've already said to gav on a number of occasions that i really shouldn't have let some these cues go 'cheap'. they've turned out lovely and really i should never have worried about them.

on the flip side, occasionally we get ones that we 'reckon' are gonna be ok, but after finishing they just don't quite work. so a lot of hours are wasted...

when i say don't quite work, they'd probably be fine for many people still, but my own personal preferences kick in and i may just not 'fancy' it.

so, next time i get an email from someone who is worried my standard shafts may in some way be 'inferior' (god forbid!), i'll point them in the direction of this thread, and tell them they're usually better than the ones pictured here. :snooker:

[narl]

Mike Wooldridge - *NEW* 'BlackSpin' Ferrule System

Had a knockabout with it today, hits the ball really well and has a solid feel. Knocked in some long pots that would make the flavour of the month "Judd" look like mr magoo

[willtyson]

Sounds and looks great Narl, cannot wait for mine now. Hope it's as good as either of the two shown on this thread! :snooker:

[MikeWooldridge]

Sounds and looks great Narl, cannot wait for mine now. Hope it's as good as either of the two shown on this thread! :snooker:

who's a lucky boy then? best wait in for the postman tomorrow...

due to a minor miracle, i.e. me working my b*ll*cks off and rushing to to catch post office, i managed to get your cue off special delivery.

usually arrive saturday morning though not guaranteed.

fingers crossed

[willtyson]

Thanks Mike! I'll get pics and reviews etc on here asap once it's arrived :snooker:

[raymo147]

Hope its nice Will!!

[jarcher]

Mike Wooldridge - *NEW* 'BlackSpin' Ferrule System

Well, just received my cue back this morning after having a blackspin fitted.

Honestly, I've mixed views on it. I'm missing pots with side as they are now going more in line with my aim, whereas before I was having to compensate, so this will take a bit of getting used to. :P hopefully now I want need to change compensation depending on what cloth I'm playing on

As for the hit and feel, one word, impressive. Touch shots have so much more feel and the hit is so solid. My long pots, which I'm normally below average at on a club table, were hitting the centre of the pocket on a tournament spec table.

Overall verdict from someone who was happy with their cue but needed the ferrule fixed:
PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW!!!!

Mike has truely found the holy grail in a ferrule 'system'. Already my confidence is so much higher. Could not recommend this highly enough

[willtyson]

Mine arrived today (after the idiot postman decided he wasn't going to knock and just took it straight back with him!?!)

At first look it is fantastic, very nice bits of ebony and beautifully clean maple. The way the butt is shaped is very good- nice little chamfer (if that's what the little flat bit is called? lol) and feels wonderful in the hand. The cue has to be the silkiest feeling I own and I cannot wait to have a go with it. The weight is just as I asked and at first glimpse has a lovely balance and solidness to it. The joint looks very classy. The tip chalked up well although I haven't hit a ball with it yet. The blackspin looks wonderful on the maple and gives it a elegant look.

All in all the cue looks and feels very good. I await to play with it and hope it plays just as good as it looks. I'll get few review of the blackspin as soon as I can and pictures. Thanks again Mike!

[jarcher]

Mike Wooldridge - *NEW* 'BlackSpin' Ferrule System

Got playing a little more after my last post. This thing is awesome. The feel I'm getting is incredible. Shots I used to struggle with are no longer a problem.

Just placed my order with Andrew for more talismans as this will be my true test on the difference made... playing with a cue I know and a tip I know, the only difference being the blackspin, but so far, extremely impressed

Well done Mike

[jonny1]

How much does it cost for the new black spin ferrel ?

[prince07799]

How much does it cost for the new black spin ferrel ?

Its £75, plus postage each way so not cheap, i have on my shark as standard and i do like it

http://www.handmadecues.com/zen/inde...roducts_id=187

[DannyC]

What's the difference between a Deluxe Shark and a Black Legend?