Shortening a cue by 2" or buying a new cue

[jaffa.johnson]

Can you get hold of a cheap 55 inch cue and see how it goes? all goes well alter the parris.

[ADR147]

I would sell it on and stalk eBay, 55" cues are quite common and extremely undervalued, you'll never get back anywhere near what you put into it and it will not come back anywhere near as you remember it.

correct - once you cut it, it will be a different cue.

[jamesg19851]

Did your coach actually tell you it was the cue?

I mentioned it and he said that a shorter cue would be better. At the moment I have around 6 inches hanging out the back. It does feel a little unbalanced.

At the moment I'm unsure what to do, there aren't many 55 inch cues around, maybe I could have a cheap one made by cue craft but that's still going to cost me 60 odd quid.

John Parris said to me that shortening the cue would stiffen the shaft but the shaft is quite flexible so that might not be a bad thing.

[focus]

If you're using it for pool (as someone hinted), you may as well buy a pool cue, there are stacks of short pool cues to choose from. Cuecraft for example.

[markz]

I mentioned it and he said that a shorter cue would be better. At the moment I have around 6 inches hanging out the back. It does feel a little unbalanced.

At the moment I'm unsure what to do, there aren't many 55 inch cues around, maybe I could have a cheap one made by cue craft but that's still going to cost me 60 odd quid.

John Parris said to me that shortening the cue would stiffen the shaft but the shaft is quite flexible so that might not be a bad thing.

My mate is the same height as you and uses a 58" cue, like yourself he has a good few inches behind his grip hand but he has just got used to the cue. He's probably become a better player and doesn't even think about the length of cue anymore. My best break was made with my old JP elite 57" but now I'm using a Trevor White cue that is 59" long, I know myself it feels an inch or so too long but I don't let it effect my game, just crack on and play. You would be better off seeing if the coaching is going to improve you than worrying about the cue.

[jamesg19851]

If you're using it for pool (as someone hinted), you may as well buy a pool cue, there are stacks of short pool cues to choose from. Cuecraft for example.

Thanks, I'm using it for snooker and pool. Maybe I'll just stick with it or get it shortened by 1 inch.

[markz]

Thanks, I'm using it for snooker and pool. Maybe I'll just stick with it or get it shortened by 1 inch.

I've not got the same experience as someone like ADR but I've had ferrule changed and cut off, kept as 9.5mm and the cue felt totally different. That was just shortening by the height of a ferrule.

[culraven]

I never understand people altering cues in this way unless they have sentimental value, the cue will never play the same again, and the resale value takes a serious hit, not to mention the cost of the work in the first place. Either get a cue made in your specs or go to the likes of greenbaize and have a knock with a few until you find one that suits. You may even find a 57" cue which is more front balanced that you can play with a bit of overhang and still have the extra length needed for some shots in snooker?

[Snooker man Stevie]

How did you not listen to the master cue builder himself as he made it for you was you in the shop when you got the cue

[jamesg19851]

How did you not listen to the master cue builder himself as he made it for you was you in the shop when you got the cue

I tried some smaller cues while I was in there but they didn't feel right, I think because of the balance point. The 57" cue I ended up with is balanced at 17.5" so it feels ok held up the butt but still out of balance a bit. I liked it in the shop and still do, it's a beautiful cue that feels ok, but could maybe fit me better being shorter.

I remember having a conversation with Stu at Greenbaize and he said to me that having a cue shortened by 1 inch would be ok, but he implied 2 inches would alter the cue too much. John said to me in the shop that if I decided that I wanted the cue shortened then that wouldn't be a problem, the cue would just become sligthly stiffer. He seemed to be implying that it was nothing to worry about.

Thanks for everyone's advice, it's quite a tough decision.

[ADR147]

I tried some smaller cues while I was in there but they didn't feel right, I think because of the balance point. The 57" cue I ended up with is balanced at 17.5" so it feels ok held up the butt but still out of balance a bit. I liked it in the shop and still do, it's a beautiful cue that feels ok, but could maybe fit me better being shorter.

I remember having a conversation with Stu at Greenbaize and he said to me that having a cue shortened by 1 inch would be ok, but he implied 2 inches would alter the cue too much. John said to me in the shop that if I decided that I wanted the cue shortened then that wouldn't be a problem, the cue would just become sligthly stiffer. He seemed to be implying that it was nothing to worry about.

Thanks for everyone's advice, it's quite a tough decision.

It is a simple choice - ruin the cue or not! also pool and snooker are very different games that require different cues.

[lesedwards]

I was in the same predicament. Terry Davidson decided because of my bad bridge arm which makes for a very compact style maybe I should try having one of my cues shortened. So I had a GBL 3/4 Ebony which I bought used off of Stu. So I shipped it back and he took 3" off it. It is like a dream come true as it just felt perfect and now I am not choking up so much. My problem is I have another GBL C6 one peice and also a JP Exclusive 3/4. I am using my cheap used cue while my two expensive ones are sitting in the rack. Do I ship back the others?

[itsnoteasy]

Risky Les, why not sell them and get a custom made one, now you know what specs you need.

[lesedwards]

Risky Les, why not sell them and get a custom made one, now you know what specs you need.

You read my mind.....LOL Just took some photos of my JP Exclusive. Going to post it later tonight.

[markz]

It's a tough lesson to learn but if your going to pay big money on top make cues you need to know your own specs. You both must have been playing fine to warrant purchasing expensive cues but now you think they are wrong. Defo just sell and start again.

Just stick with the shortened GBL Les, a more expensive cue won't make you play any better and it sounds like your really pleased how it's turned out.