Mike Wooldridge - *NEW* 'BlackSpin' Ferrule System

[westberger]

Well, yeah. It's 30% of the money and it's more than just a ferrule fitment. MOT by Mike too. I'm fond of and familiar with my cue so why not spend that improving it.

The way i see it is I'm spending £108 not just on a ferrule but a new cue. It's not a proper Mike Wooldridge cue but if its 30% of the way there i guess I've not spent my money badly. The original cue was a bit of a bargain so I'm not going to worry too much about the original investment in my possibly questionable equation.

Also, i said i couldn't justify spending that much on a cue at the time of ordering but now my work/financial situation has improved in the last few days i could possibly maybe justify spending nigh on £400 on a cue. But it's still a lot of money in my head. I guess we all value things in our life differently. I've owned cars that cost less than one of my camera lenses before. Money is a funny thing and I'm comfortable with the service I've paid for with Mike.

[westberger]

@westburger

If you we're gonna buy a black shark maple from mike, you wouldn't have had to pay extra to get backspin fitted as they come standard on them.

I know. In the itemisation i mentioned the joint which you do pay for. I don't fancy one piece when getting in and out of taxis or walking in crowds.

[Gary Hall]

Sorry read it wrong

[cyclone crouch]

thought i would add my feelings towards this black spin ferule, I've had my cue back for many weeks now, i sent it to mike it was back well within a week, he also done an mot on my cue, I've has this cue for many years, i don't play anywhere near the hours like i used to, i was half man half snooker table,in matches/competitions I've had around 20 centuries,but that was back in the day,,now to be honest in last 10 years I'm a part-timer, i play once a week in the league,sorry for going on,however,,,, as soon as i hit some balls it felt without doubt fantastic, great contact, great action,its the best my cue has ever felt!!!,, i was worried as i like a clean shinny brass ferule, but when your chin is on the cue, you see a very tiny amount of ferule, you cant even notice it,, i cannot recommend the system higher!,, and it wont be long (I'm surprised it hasn't happened already) a top pro has not tried and won with this!,, thank you mike,, its different class

[narl]

One of the reasons i prefer maple cues. I find that with ash cues that either the straight grain or chevrons are, for want of a better word, distracting. Not very much so, but it's a less pure image for me to process when picturing the pot as i line up to take the shot. Just what i've found with my eyes and my brain, but that's what i find.

I find maple distracting though in its own way given how bland it looks. With Ash the spacing and straightness of the grain points is pretty much what you're paying for to an extent, with Maple you obviously don't have that so its sorta of like you start looing for where the cost of the cue is. Also find it quite hard to get reaction on the white with maple cues for some reason, still haven't worked that one out. Still I wouldn't mind trying out a legend with a blackspin on it at some point, as you say it might make for better aiming with a black point of focus. Might look into that at some point in the future.

Btw, Mike if you read this could you check your mail, re: postage

[BaulkLine]

Last week I bought and received Mike's last in-stock Shark. It's one-piece, maple, ebony butterfly splicing, 57" long, 9mm tip, blackspin ferrule and F1 base joint. My playing cue is a 3/4 H&O'B green plate which I bought in person from Will Hunt. Effectively it's a rebadged Aeon with quite a whippy shaft which suits me save for a it lacking a bit of 'oomph' (my inconsistent timing aside!). I've dabbled with other cues over the years but never got the right feel off stiffer cues.......until now.

This Shark is a stonker. It has the lion's share of the feel that I like about my existing playing cue but loads more power without any extra effort. I really think Mike's on to something with the blackspin ferrule and as for the rest of the cue, well, it's beautifully balanced and the maple is sublime. I know I'm waxing lyrical a bit but there are even noticeable chevrons in the grain right down the sighting line. This cue is most definitely a keeper chaps (will post some pics in due course) although I'll have to sell my others [Mannock/Glover/Camkin/Cannon shortly (but not the H&O'B/Aeonfor sentiments sake)] to fund the purchase + accessories :-)

[kingcheongj]

Hi, anyone has pictures of the new ultrashine finish?

[westberger]

I guess I should review my newly blackspinned cue now I've been playing with it for a month. That little black bit on the end of the woody sticky bit, I never notice it when I'm down on a shot. It's just sitting there anonymously. No twinkle. No noticing little scuffs on the brass while im chalking. It's just there and has little effect on visual aiming.

What else of the way it looks? As part of the blackspin fitment service my cue has been refinished. 1st week was a shocker as it felt so silky smooth that house cues and mates cues started feeling like nobbly branches.

I okayed Mike to reprofile my shaft as he saw fit, and boy am I glad. I always felt my cue got a bit too wide a bit too soon around 4 inches up from the tip. Not anymore, the profile at the business end seems to be dead straight taper now which looks and feels much nicer across the bridge.

Now, in use! The contact feel when striking the cue ball is subtly different. I'm going to struggle to explain this but it's more of a *thunk* than a *plink* which feeds back through the shaft. For around five minutes I was having to keep an eye on my contact point with the cue ball as I soon learnt that the blackspin definately communicates more of the side, top or draw that you try to influence onto the white. I say only 5 minutes as it's so predictable and consistent that's all it took to learn my "new" cue. Radically different to the cue I sent away yet still familiar, im now placing the white where I want after each shot.

This was well worth the money. I'm potting better as a result of my increased confidence in my white placement.

The only low point was dropping the butt last week on a slate floor and putting a little ding in it. But I forget it's there 30 seconds after I get it out the case.

, I'm winning more, getting greater satisfaction over seeing shots pan out and I give it a little smile each time I open the case.

Cheers Mike. Really good value service I reckon.

[tonmachine]

Hi Mike

when are the tips ready for sale, I need a new one before our season starts ( need to buy a few)

[MikeWooldridge]

lol, saw your other post first so here's a copy of my response:

not ready for sale yet.

although i've been fitting them on all new cues for some time.

i'm waiting for some new tooling so i can manufacture them more efficiently.

patience, should not be too long...

[MikeWooldridge]

just out of interest Mike, how different will they be to your super tips, i have used them for the last 2 years and love them. whats the differences between them. will they be harder, softer...etc.

Alabbadi

the new blackspin tips are hand made individually and have gone through several processes to make them quite different to other tips.

they are produced using tooling i designed and had made by my engineer. i personally make them from start to finish.

they appear harder at first, but the method of treatment/manfacture i employ appears to allow them to 'spring back' a little, producing excellent cueball response, holding chalk etc., once fitted and played with.

i have been fitting them to all new cues for some time and paying close attention to feedback, which has generally been extremely positive. it should be noted that i have fitted several prototype versions and made minor changes along the way and i think i have solved any issues that arose during that period.

consisting of two layers, they are a hybrid pressed/laminated tip, having the the superior playability of solid premium treated leather (no glue layers on the playing surface = good), yet the wear and consistency of a laminated tip.

they are not ready for sale yet but will be shortly. and i think they will be very successful

[mythman69]

Sounds good . . .

I just bought some of your 'Super tips' so maybe next time.

[alabadi]

Thanks Mike as I like your super tips I am sure if these are an improvement on them I will like them even better, my game is suited to a harder tip, and my cue is set up for it. Can't wait to try some out

Alabbadi

[danam1]

the new blackspin tips are hand made individually and have gone through several processes to make them quite different to other tips.

they are produced using tooling i designed and had made by my engineer. i personally make them from start to finish.

they appear harder at first, but the method of treatment/manfacture i employ appears to allow them to 'spring back' a little, producing excellent cueball response, holding chalk etc., once fitted and played with.

i have been fitting them to all new cues for some time and paying close attention to feedback, which has generally been extremely positive. it should be noted that i have fitted several prototype versions and made minor changes along the way and i think i have solved any issues that arose during that period.

consisting of two layers, they are a hybrid pressed/laminated tip, having the the superior playability of solid premium treated leather (no glue layers on the playing surface = good), yet the wear and consistency of a laminated tip.

they are not ready for sale yet but will be shortly. and i think they will be very successful

Haha, you said that 10 months ago!!
I really like your super tips but I do prefer the black spin tips.

[MikeWooldridge]

Haha, you said that 10 months ago!!
I really like your super tips but I do prefer the black spin tips.

yes i know

last couple of years have been spent developing new products and, trust me, it's quite depressing. never ending changes/modifications, constant trips to my engineers.

everything is in place now though, i just need people to stop ordering cues so i can get on with the serious business of bringing my latest innovation to market....