Can we really judge the right spec cue for each of us?

[Shockerz]

Hopefully I'll get my point over right on this one!

I see all these players quoting the correct cue spec for themselves, getting it made and then selling it on. Now either their cue spec is wrong or the wood isn't acting the way they thought it would.

Is the process for choosing our cue spec floored? Surely the best way to find the right cue is to try many cues until you have narrowed your choice by play and then carry on testing until you choose the right one due to success rate.

Now at that point you could write the spec down for future reference but surely if you had one made to the same spec the cue would be different again. Hence that's why making a duplicate cue isn't the answer and pro's have looked for a cue like their old one and hey presto the replacement is different (cause it's a different piece of wood!).

Just be interested what people think?

[ghost121]

You find the right spec over years as you progress the game. Some people don't care, and for some it isn't as critical, we are all different. We all have different abilities, too, of course. Going to the trouble of ordering a custom cue to your specs is just a starting point for those players who know their game inside out and care about that kind of thing. But it's done that way to minimise the list of variables that inevitably comes with a product made from natural materials. But if you don't know for sure what your optimum specs are, then I agree, trying lots of cues and finding one that feels good is the best way to go.

[Shockerz]

You find the right spec over years as you progress the game. Some people don't care, and for some it isn't as critical, we are all different. We all have different abilities, too, of course. Going to the trouble of ordering a custom cue to your specs is just a starting point for those players who know their game inside out and care about that kind of thing. But it's done that way to minimise the list of variables that inevitably comes with a product made from natural materials. But if you don't know for sure what your optimum specs are, then I agree, trying lots of cues and finding one that feels good is the best way to go.

I find it interesting and don't disagree with what your saying but after narrowing your opinion over the years with various cues you will come to a decision based on the last cue you use.

Was it the best one for you or was it the one that you shortlisted it to over that time but could have actually done a little better? The cue then get's lost and you would search for a similar one to get the same snooker standard back. Would you have a cue made to that spec or go somewhere where there are 50 or so cues close to that spec and try them to find the best one (which may not be the exact spec?).

There must be some superb cueists out there that know their spec, break lose or damage their cue and then spend lots of lost time getting cue after cue made to their personal chosen spec; wouldn't it be better to take a trip to GBL etc?

Just posing the question as there seem to be many people searching for the magic cue, maybe they're just after the wrong spec and that's why they can't find it!

[Big Splash!]

Can't remember who said it but he was right. A cue doesn't have to have a spec to be a player that one can adapt to and love. My cue is 17oz, 18'' BP, 33mm butt, fat taper; it's got plenty of power even though it's also got a 10mm tip. Loads of feel. My Phoenix at 19oz and 9.3mm ironically has less power or maybe that's me. It also has way less feel. Whereas a 21oz Cue Craft cue (Sherwood) me mate owns has zip, and is lovely to wield and so much power, yet feel as well. Cues can be strange beasts. :biggrin-new:

Perhaps the one cue doesn't exist, maybe there are many 'ones', we just don't realise it blinded by our obsession about correct specs, shaft woods, tips, ferrules and timbers etc?

I could be wrong, and after today, I probably will be for a long time so ignore me to be safe.

[Shockerz]

Can't remember who said it but he was right. A cue doesn't have to have a spec to be a player that one can adapt to and love. My cue is 17oz, 18'' BP, 33mm butt, fat taper; it's got plenty of power even though it's also got a 10mm tip. Loads of feel. My Phoenix at 19oz and 9.3mm ironically has less power or maybe that's me. It also has way less feel. Whereas a 21oz Cue Craft cue (Sherwood) me mate owns has zip, and is lovely to wield and so much power, yet feel as well. Cues can be strange beasts. :biggrin-new:

Perhaps the one cue doesn't exist, maybe there are many 'ones', we just don't realise it blinded by our obsession about correct specs, shaft woods, tips, ferrules and timbers etc?

I could be wrong, and after today, I probably will be for a long time so ignore me to be safe.

Leave your feet where they are and pretend you didn't pick the phone up!

What are you gonna feel like if you change again and suffer a set-back and another well renowned and respected player says, "I don't know why you changed it as you were flying and could have gone up a level!"

(no disrespect to the guy that phoned you either...)

[Big Splash!]

Leave your feet where they are and pretend you didn't pick the phone up!

What are you gonna feel like if you change again and suffer a set-back and another well renowned and respected player says, "I don't know why you changed it as you were flying and could have gone up a level!"

(no disrespect to the guy that phoned you either...)

Cheers bud, nice thoughts there. I was in a club at the time, which was a bit strange. Anyway, I heeded the advice and had a quick bash, went back to tummy button in line, R ft out, L ft forward and a bit out to the left. Cueing under me upper sturnum, nipple and tight to the R hip again, like the old days. I'm nailing em like Trump and my long game returned. They used to say my long game was frightening. And I'm there, nailing stuff down the long rails, potting crazy stuff. I didn't have time to do any routines (time out at that pointn - family) and test CB control in the balls or any break-building, 6RB, opening the pack, clearing the colours etc. I will do this on Sunday and see. But it did feel lovely and natural.

[ghost121]

Everyone is different so it's impossible to generalise. I agree that 99% of folks who play snooker would be best served by taking a trip to GBL, trying loads of cues and coming away with the one they like best on the day and then taking a bit of time to get used to it thereafter. But then without wanting to sound arrogant, most of those 99% will play the game at quite a modest level. They will not have a full understanding of technique, they will not be able to play a full range of shots and they will never practise mindfully or regularly in order to steadily improve. However, those that do all those things and more need a cue they are totally at ease with. Not a magic wand, not even a super rare, crazy priced custom, but one that experience has taught them they can trust. Trust to the point of forgetting it's even there while they are playing, particularly under pressure. And in order to achieve that, you need to know your specs.

[the lone wolf]

Very interesting thread...
IMO a player can not purchase the right cue by order purchase even if it is a custom made to spec.
Only when the player has the cue in hand playing all the shots will he or she know if the cue suits their needs.
The cue needs to become a utensil; like a knife and fork. We don't question the knife and fork, we just use them because the design, size, weight ergonomics work together completely.

Once the player finds a cue that can be used like a knife and fork, they can become unbeatable and if they have the talent, prime example; Stephen Hendry pre flight break of cue - after that he was always playing with a utensil that was never quite right.

ERGONOMICS - is a key factor that many players over look.

[ghost121]

Getting your preferred cue specs nailed is useless if the cue doesn't feel right. Specs are merely a starting point. But if you combine your trusted specs (gained from experience) with the correct feel, then you forget the cue is even there.

[Shockerz]

Cheers bud, nice thoughts there. I was in a club at the time, which was a bit strange. Anyway, I heeded the advice and had a quick bash, went back to tummy button in line, R ft out, L ft forward and a bit out to the left. Cueing under me upper sturnum, nipple and tight to the R hip again, like the old days. I'm nailing em like Trump and my long game returned. They used to say my long game was frightening. And I'm there, nailing stuff down the long rails, potting crazy stuff. I didn't have time to do any routines (time out at that pointn - family) and test CB control in the balls or any break-building, 6RB, opening the pack, clearing the colours etc. I will do this on Sunday and see. But it did feel lovely and natural.

Fair play. What I like about natural in any sport is the fact that you don;t have to think about it so is doesn't take any thinking to do it, hence a clear mind (No mind, just do it, get the monkeys off your back etc etc).

When I used to play golf, some good coaches managed to totally screw my head up with move this and move that until I couldn't hit a ball without a million thoughts. It totally wrecked my game, I had 4 years of pain trying to get natural again and then gave up and came back to snooker (so there's always a positive!).

Natural's gotta be best of you're at a good standard.

There you go, a complete opinion reversal, God I'm shallow......

[ghost121]

Natural is only any good if it's consistent.

[Shockerz]

Natural is only any good if it's consistent.

Can't disagree.

It could feel natural, consistent and perform absolutely abysmally.

I guess you could have something that feels awful, erratic in your execution of the change but consistently out performs previous results.

That's the beauty of sports and choices, gotta love the human mind and once it's made up, someone drops the seed of doubt in there and your heads stuffed again!

[ghost121]

True enough, because beyond a certain level, snooker is about 80% mental. Which is why you have to be completely comfortable with your cue, however you achieve it.

[sanman]

Hopefully I'll get my point over right on this one!

I see all these players quoting the correct cue spec for themselves, getting it made and then selling it on. Now either their cue spec is wrong or the wood isn't acting the way they thought it would.

Is the process for choosing our cue spec floored? Surely the best way to find the right cue is to try many cues until you have narrowed your choice by play and then carry on testing until you choose the right one due to success rate.

Now at that point you could write the spec down for future reference but surely if you had one made to the same spec the cue would be different again. Hence that's why making a duplicate cue isn't the answer and pro's have looked for a cue like their old one and hey presto the replacement is different (cause it's a different piece of wood!).

Just be interested what people think?

My take on all of this is if a cue is decent enough with enough parctic you will build your game around it. Some of the worst looking cues have won world titles so it's not so much about the cue but rather the individual. If you keep blaming the equipment you will never find the right cue and also never improve as a player.

[Big Splash!]

My take on all of this is if a cue is decent enough with enough parctic you will build your game around it. Some of the worst looking cues have won world titles so it's not so much about the cue but rather the individual. If you keep blaming the equipment you will never find the right cue and also never improve as a player.

Agreed.

@ghost, the best players don't allow tiny things to get to them, they don't worry about this and that. Ding went through loads of cues from different makers thinking his cue was wrong etc. It wasn't, it had just worn. So Stamford respliced and balanced it and bingo, he's back on that one to the world final. I doubt Selby will change from his Stamford either. Higgins had them TWs made which he has now binned. Ronnie has had a few Parris cues, he gets on with it. What they've all realised is that the cue is minor once you've got a good one, compared to the head and technique. Look at Mags, demons aplenty in his head, frustration at the table. Lo and behold, he's changing his cue every five minutes. He's growing doubt all by himself. Dale does it too. Both have underachieved given their talent.

To be boring again; I Never Miss Blue is using a 56'' Joe Davis 16oz maple cue that you can buy for £50 on ebay and he's hitting the big numbers time after time. Now most folk would say he should be using a 57-58'' cue at 17-18oz. Doesn't matter, it has nice feedback (I know because I've owned one) and enough power if you have the technique.