Honeymoon period for cues?

[apa147]

I've been playing snooker for about 20 years now to a good local standard. About 4 months I bought a new cue and in the first week had my best two practice sessions ever (4 x 130+ in one). I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, but since then my play has returned to the previous level if not slightly worse and I'm even considering changing again.

I put it down to concentrating full and being focussed cos it's new and having no negative thoughts about the cue? What do you reckon - anyone else experienced this?

[cueman]

Yes, been there, although not to the level you acheived with a new cue! I wanted to try out a maple cue and had one made and played great with it, I think the 3rd frame or so I had a 114 with it and was playing really well with it.

It didn't last too long though before the standard went back to average and I kept swapping between my old cue and the new one to try and find the consistancy I was looking for. Eventually I sold the maple cue as it wasn't helping my game having another cue to swap to when my form was off.

There should be something called the new cue syndrome, because I know of quite a few players who have played really well with a new cue and it only seems to last a few sessions before their standard returns back to normal.

[ADR147]

i know this feeling aswell, its also odd that you can play one day and not miss anything, and same cue same table the next day you can't get over 24 if you life depended on it!

[trevs1]

By the same token regarding the above comments.

I've known a good number of players who've played to very good levels with the same cue for years, never feeling completely happy with it.
On deciding to change to another cue, many have said they'd wished they had done it years ago, as the benefit had been worth the swap and all the brief uncertainty that comes with it.

However, I'd agree that many 'Serial cue swappers' do go through this 'honeymoon period' whereby they feel the cue is giving them 'EXTRA' in some way.

I think it's more about finding a cue that you 'KNOW' does it all pretty well, and from there, it's more about the player, their ability, experience and application that counts.

We've all been there where we play amazing one day and not so the next, that's normal enough for most players, but, is probably not reason enough to consider changing cues. Having said that, many players get a real and tangible buzz from cue swapping, there's nothing wrong with that either. If anything can offer more 'ENJOYMENT' while we play, that has to be a good thing.

At the end of the day, if it is part of what keeps you interested, and, you can afford it, changing cues now and again is not a big problem.........

As long as playing is not how you make your living.

[ADR147]

By the same token regarding the above comments.

I've known a good number of players who've played to very good levels with the same cue for years, never feeling completely happy with it.
On deciding to change to another cue, many have said they'd wished they had done it years ago, as the benefit had been worth the swap and all the brief uncertainty that comes with it.

However, I'd agree that many 'Serial cue swappers' do go through this 'honeymoon period' whereby they feel the cue is giving them 'EXTRA' in some way.

I think it's more about finding a cue that you 'KNOW' does it all pretty well, and from there, it's more about the player, their ability, experience and application that counts.

We've all been there where we play amazing one day and not so the next, that's normal enough for most players, but, is probably not reason enough to consider changing cues. Having said that, many players get a real and tangible buzz from cue swapping, there's nothing wrong with that either. If anything can offer more 'ENJOYMENT' while we play, that has to be a good thing.

At the end of the day, if it is part of what keeps you interested, and, you can afford it, changing cues now and again is not a big problem.........

As long as playing is not how you make your living.

its called 'MIKERUSSELLITIS'

[apa147]

You've hit the nail on the head trevs1 it's all about enjoyment and changing cues now and again is part of it and it personally helps maintain the interest.

I think you need to have things or events which focus or inspire us and changing cues is probably just one of those. Tonight we're trying the cuefactor handicap thing cos practice has been rubbish for the past few weeks so it must be worth a try!

[Oldgit]

Well, I sat and watched a current top 64 Snooker Pro practice at the weekend. The guy has always played with the same cue, a maple 3/4 joined cue. I noticed at the weekend that he was playing with a brand new cue, still 3/4 joined but now with an ash shaft!! I asked him why he had changed and he replied that he was still perfectly happy with his maple cue but had slightly lost interest with snooker recently and felt that changing to a new cue would give him a 'buzz'. He is playing fantastic snooker at the moment and told me that the new cue has given him back the enjoyment that has been missing.

Oldgit

[archalf1471]

mikerussellitus is however a very contagious desease and not to be underestimated at any costs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ADR147]

mikerussellitus is however a very contagious desease and not to be underestimated at any costs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes i heard you were a sufferer!