Shortening a cue by 2" or buying a new cue

[jamesg19851]

I had my cue shortened by 1 inch yesterday. It feels so much better, as it doesn't feel so unbalanced. I wish I had got a shorter cue years ago. I'm going to have another inch off to make it 55 inches, as per a coach's recommendation. I was being cautious in just having one inch off, but am certain that 1 more inch will be just right, as I still have quite a bit of cue hanging out the back and it is a bit unbalanced.

[markz]

I had my cue shortened by 1 inch yesterday. It feels so much better, as it doesn't feel so unbalanced. I wish I had got a shorter cue years ago. I'm going to have another inch off to make it 55 inches, as per a coach's recommendation. I was being cautious in just having one inch off, but am certain that 1 more inch will be just right, as I still have quite a bit of cue hanging out the back and it is a bit unbalanced.

Sounds like shortening has worked out James. Who did you get to do the work? Midlands cue maker or sent back to JP?

[jamesg19851]

Sounds like shortening has worked out James. Who did you get to do the work? Midlands cue maker or sent back to JP?

I had it done at B and W billiards in Brierley Hill, West of Birmingham. For shortening the cue, 3 blocks of green master chalk and a new elkmaster tip it was only about £30. It took about an hour and a half, the service was great. They've got a great setup there, with a snooker table, and a pool table. They make their own cues too.

By the way the master chalk green I found to be worse than green triangle, with an elkmaster it just seems to fall off the tip, green triangle seems to adhere better. i found that surprising, as a lot of the pros use it.

[markz]

I had it done at B and W billiards in Brierley Hill, West of Birmingham. For shortening the cue, 3 blocks of green master chalk and a new elkmaster tip it was only about £30. It took about an hour and a half, the service was great. They've got a great setup there, with a snooker table, and a pool table. They make their own cues too.

By the way the master chalk green I found to be worse than green triangle, with an elkmaster it just seems to fall off the tip, green triangle seems to adhere better. i found that surprising, as a lot of the pros use it.

I'm not as brave as you, could probably do with inch off my cue but I'm happy to carry on using it. It's strange, I'm using the master chalk at the moment with a laminated tip and it holds to the tip well, doesn't make a mess of table either. I must have got a different batch than everyone else lol.

[lesedwards]

I sent my GBL back to Stu in the fall and he had Allan take 3" off it and it works great. I sent my one peice GBL back to Stu last week and Allan is shortening it and I hope to have it back late next week. As for my JP Exclusive I am un decided. Might just sell it.

[jamesg19851]

I'm not as brave as you, could probably do with inch off my cue but I'm happy to carry on using it. It's strange, I'm using the master chalk at the moment with a laminated tip and it holds to the tip well, doesn't make a mess of table either. I must have got a different batch than everyone else lol.

Maybe it works better for laminated tips but maybe not so well with a softer pressed tip like an elkmaster. I guess it's just a case of experimentation, see which is best. I used to have a laminated tip but I think it was one of the harder ones and felt a bit too hard.

I wondered for a while whether I needed a shorter cue, but am happy that I now know I do. I have a compact cue action and am only 5ft 4, so with a 57" cue I have around 6 inches hanging out the back, which is unbalanced.

[jamesg19851]

I sent my GBL back to Stu in the fall and he had Allan take 3" off it and it works great. I sent my one peice GBL back to Stu last week and Allan is shortening it and I hope to have it back late next week. As for my JP Exclusive I am un decided. Might just sell it.

That's good it worked out for you, I think when shortening a cue the thing that changes is the cue becomes stiffer and the balance point shifts back slightly, but only by a fraction of an inch, as you're taking weight from the shaft.

The guys at GBL are great. I have bought some chalk from them, but he was happy to offer advice about my cue and was very friendly.

[itsnoteasy]

I sent my GBL back to Stu in the fall and he had Allan take 3" off it and it works great. I sent my one peice GBL back to Stu last week and Allan is shortening it and I hope to have it back late next week. As for my JP Exclusive I am un decided. Might just sell it.

Do you know if they re taper the whole cue Les?

[lesedwards]

Do you know if they re taper the whole cue Les?

Yes but not sure how far down they go towards the butt. The one he has now he will have some work to do because the shaft is thick so when he takes 3"s off it the tip size will probably be around 12mm. So to get it back down there is some work to do. I hope to hear from Stu tomorrow.

[itsnoteasy]

Did you take before pictures to compare the changes, James and Les?