My first cue - advice please

[Tombo]

Hi, this is my first post, I've read loads of really useful threads on here :-)
I've started playing English pool once a fortnight for a few hours, and might start playing a bit more. I'm getting tired of picking out the least bent cue laying around the club and want to buy my own :-)
There seem to be loads of options, and I wasn't planning on spending more than 50 quid, although I'm getting tempted...
Please can I have some advice? It seems most opinion suggests a 3/4 with 8-10mm tip? Another thing is, where to buy? Rileys club? EBay? Local club? Argos.....?
Thanks very much!

[old school]

To be honest with you , I think that you are doing the right thing in setting a low budget for your first cue , let me elaborate. It sounds as if you are quite new to the sport and treat it as a " social " at the moment i.e. a jar and a frame with your mates . Personally I believe that spending too much on a cue would be a waste of money until you know what specs you prefer to play with .A good starter cue for English pool should be anywhere between 56" - 59" long , 3/4 for ease of transport ( or even a quality centre joint ), 16oz - 18oz and around 9mm in ash or maple , preferably with an oil finish shaft. I use these specs because if the cue is not to your liking , then obviously it will be easier to sell , deviations from a " standard " have a limited appeal and are harder to sell . If you have friends that play , ask if you can try their cues , this can give you an idea for your own spec and costs nothing. Find out if your local club or pub has a league and what night they play on ,turn up and watch , all part of the education and dont be afraid to ask questions either on a forum or out and about in the clubs and pubs , it is a lengthy learning curve. As to sourcing a cue for that sort of money , go secondhand , TSF members always have cues for sale or e-bay for when you know what you want.The best alternative is a trip to somewhere like Green Baize ( N.E) or Craftsmans ( nr Leeds ) to try before you buy i.e. both places have tables you can try a cue out on . Some snooker and pool clubs also sell cues and may let you try a cue out first ( no guarantees). Good luck , please let us know how you go on and welcome to TSF.

[Tombo]

Thanks, that's really helpful :-) I had a look on eBay and will have a look on here. I just missed out on a peradon crown cue on eBay a couple of days ago - seems like a good brand.

[Dave Walton]

Email Andrew Ramsay adr147@hotmail.com always a chance he'll have something suitable.

[Tombo]

Thanks Dave, doesn't he have everything on his eBay page? I've been looking on there. I'll give an email anyway!

[thelongbomber]

My first ever cue was a standard "club" cue that my friend helped me find at the local billiards shop. I probably paid $30 for it at the time. I gradually improved my personal cue as my skill improved and I became more "aware" of what my cue was capable of. Also, comparing your cue and then trying other cues is highly beneficial as well. My current cue is a Greenbaize 1-piece that I have modified and jointed. It's a lovely playing cue.

One thing you should learn to do is re-tip your cue. Re-tipping your OWN cue is crucial. If you don't know how, get a club owner to do it for you and watch closely. They will be happy to teach so that they don't have to do it next time. I re-tip my own cues and it helps build confidence because you know exactly how the tip has been installed.

[Tombo]

Thanks for all the help :-)
I've been given a Riley 2 piece pool cue, blue butt and maple shaft, no splicing. I think I'll play with this first to get a feel for playing with a cue for longer than a few hours, then pay money when I know what I want :-)
The tip is 9mm and quite round, it seems a bit hard/dry - is that ok or will it need working on or replacing?
Thanks again :-)

[bradwight]

If it's the tip that came with the cue it probably will be rock hard and you'll be limited in the shots you can play.
I normally cut them straight off and stick a softer tip on. Elkmasters are fine for pool and dirt cheap.

[Tombo]

That's what I thought. Ordered an adr tip, spent a bit more as the cue was free.

[cyberheater]

If it's the tip that came with the cue it probably will be rock hard and you'll be limited in the shots you can play.
I normally cut them straight off and stick a softer tip on. Elkmasters are fine for pool and dirt cheap.

LOL. Ronnie O'Sullivan seems to do okay with them

[bradwight]

So do I but cant argue that they aren't dirt cheap and fine for pool!
I've tried expensive tips and although I'd say there is a difference I begrudge paying that sort of price when I'm constantly shaping them and going through a tip every fortnight or so. Elks all the way for me!

[Dave Walton]

So do I but cant argue that they aren't dirt cheap and fine for pool!
I've tried expensive tips and although I'd say there is a difference I begrudge paying that sort of price when I'm constantly shaping them and going through a tip every fortnight or so. Elks all the way for me!

You must be doing something seriously wrong if you need to reshape and ultimately change your tips so often

[Dave Walton]

Thanks for all the help :-)
I've been given a Riley 2 piece pool cue, blue butt and maple shaft, no splicing. I think I'll play with this first to get a feel for playing with a cue for longer than a few hours, then pay money when I know what I want :-)
The tip is 9mm and quite round, it seems a bit hard/dry - is that ok or will it need working on or replacing?
Thanks again :-)

Tip shape and how hard/soft is personal preferance mate, its upto you to try different hardness of tips and find what's right for you. Ask to try some other players cues with different tips and see whether a harder or softer tip suits you. In general you can't go far wrong with a good elk, the Adr you've bought though are excellent

[DeanH]

wow, a tip/fortnight
you must hack at the poor tip, like a pool team mate of mine, he is constantly scratching at his tip with rough sand paper nearly for every effing shot
I asked him why, he said I like the tip to be "bobbly", I said why when that will give inconsistent results for each shot as you are not hitting the ball with a consistent tip.
So in my thinking, as he hits with inconsistent parts of the tip, he gets inconsistent results, so he hacks at this tip again, and so on; so on,

[bradwight]

I have to sand it quite small to begin with as play with a 6.5mm tip and if I leave it full height the deflection is quite bad on extreme edge shots. I get about 4-5hrs practice in each day too so it gets a bit of abuse. I prefer a really soft Elk too which doesn't help it stay in shape. I don't use rough paper on it, got a little glass nail file I nicked off the missus which is enough to just about take the shine off it. Doesn't bother me as long as I make sure I've got a bedded in tip for competitions!