The most important aspect in a cue

[EnterTheDragon]

Just doing a little poll her, so what do you think it is?

-straightness
-balance
-stiffness
-taper
-looks
-something else?

I personally think that the shaft is the most important thing, it has to please the eye and work like it should. And the second most important thing is the balance (even the weight doesn't matter that much in my opinion)

Opinions?

[Snook1]

Feel. When you play it has to feel right.

[The Doctor]

Yes, how it plays must be the no1 priority.

[cueman]

Needs to be the right rigidity and density, those two are really the main aspects for a good playing cue. Far too many cues made do not make for good playing cues IMO. They are made for the masses who are club player standard, but for top class players or regular century break standard they will be far more demanding of these aspects to their cue.

[sanman]

The best balanced. Most beautifully made. The best materials. All the above mentioned aspects are pointless without a good tip. Without a good tip its just one would never be able to appreciate the playing aspects of a cue. Just the visual aspects

[Asi]

Realtors say location, location, location - snooker players say Feel, Feel, Feel

[damienlch]

For me, the balance of a cue outweighs the other specifications, within reasonable limits of course.

After much experimentation, I know the range of cue specs (e.g. tip size, butt diametre etc...) I prefer or can work with. But if the balance feels wrong, then the cue is quite useless to me.

I would like to try a cue before buying but this is not always possible. Always taking a bit of a gamble when ordering online or custom made. Luckily, the top cue makers seem to get it right more often than not. So it's not too bad.

[Terry Davidson]

For me they are all important, but ranking them in order it would have to be shaft flex (and smoothness), balance, butt diameter, tip size, weight (I also think it's very important to keep the ferrule as light as possible but still sturdy enough to withstand a bad mis-cue).

Looks would play no part in my cue selection however I can see the point if I were a collector in order to get the workmanship of a fancy butt with multiple spices and veneers

Terry