Confused now

[Carpy2009]

Hi all, well i am more confused now than i was before i started looking for a cue. I have been all over the internet looking at different cues, the problem is, i am a beginner, despite my age, i also have a very limited budget, the most i could spend would be £120, but i would like a hard case and maybe an extension if possible. These Chinese sets on Amazon and other such places seem like great value, but i am wary of the quality of them, i don't fancy having to replace the cue after a short period because it is not fit for purpose. Then you get on to cue names, Peradon, Cannon, Britannia etc. As i don't drive, getting to a snooker retailer is almost impossible, so the net is the way to go for me, i am a learning this great game and don't play seriously, just in my local social club, i have an old BCE Jimmy White cue at the minute, its ok but it is full of varnish/lacquer or whatever they use, and it stick's on my hand like mad, and to be honest it just feels uncomfortable to use. So any advice or recommendations you good people have would be most welcome.
cheers Carpy

[qc2]

Ideally you'd want to try a bunch of cues but if you don't have specific requirements I'd also suggest grabbing the best standard spec cue you can afford and just getting on with it. Those chinese bundled sets are within your budget of course, but I'd also look at some of the machined thai cues, phoenix and master cue I've seen recently on ebay.

There's nothing stopping you from buying a used cue and then matching up extensions and cases with it. Plenty of knowledge on this forum to help with the matching of joints etc to make sure extensions you buy will fit.

Andrew (ADR147) I imagine would be able to throw you together a decent enough package for around that price. No pressure Andrew...

[Tommykiid]

Confused now

I got one of those amazon sets and used it for about the best part of a year the case and extensions are really good I still use them the cue it's self it good for a beginner cue but as u process you do notice there a bit whippy so I just saved up while using it then bought an abben reddy cue and the extensions fitted and the case is sturdy so in the long run saved a few quid on a big set off one of the major companys

[Mellow Yellow]

are you confident enough to remove the lacquer yourself? no reason to spend money if you don't have to.

[Carpy2009]

I could sand it down myself, but, as i said the cue just feels wrong, it seems to want to lift at tip all the time, i know that is probably down to me and my action, but really don't like the feel of it anymore, it was ok about 10 years ago when i used it to play pool. And it probably doesn't help that the tip has been on the cue for longer than that lol. But i think a change is in order, this maybe more of a mental thing, it is like starting again from new, if you get what i mean?.

[Mark187187]

Stu at greenbaize.com has machine spliced master cues available for £90-100. If you contact him, he will give you an honest review. He will also offer advice and try cues out himself to find you a good match.

[Carpy2009]

Cheers Mark, i had looked at those, but not sure i they are a touch to long, i struggle with a 57" and they are all 58-59, but my eye was drawn to the set he has got at £85.

[Shockerz]

are you confident enough to remove the lacquer yourself? no reason to spend money if you don't have to.

I did a video on how to simply remove lacquer with a scraper; works for me but each to their own.

How to remove lacquer from a snooker cue

[bobmikeking]

Cheers Mark, i had looked at those, but not sure i they are a touch to long, i struggle with a 57" and they are all 58-59, but my eye was drawn to the set he has got at £85.

Just to let you know the cues that come with the £85 starter pack on GB have a lacquer finish

[ADR147]

Ideally you'd want to try a bunch of cues but if you don't have specific requirements I'd also suggest grabbing the best standard spec cue you can afford and just getting on with it. Those chinese bundled sets are within your budget of course, but I'd also look at some of the machined thai cues, phoenix and master cue I've seen recently on ebay.

There's nothing stopping you from buying a used cue and then matching up extensions and cases with it. Plenty of knowledge on this forum to help with the matching of joints etc to make sure extensions you buy will fit.

Andrew (ADR147) I imagine would be able to throw you together a decent enough package for around that price. No pressure Andrew...

sure I could come up with something.

email me adr147@hotmail.com

[ADR147]

I did a video on how to simply remove lacquer with a scraper; works for me but each to their own.

How to remove lacquer from a snooker cue

the danger always with removing lacquer is what will you find underneath!

[Shockerz]

the danger always with removing lacquer is what will you find underneath!

Yep, always a risk and have found many a nice paint job underneath!

Personally hate the stuff but comes as standard with some manufacturers.

[ADR147]

Yep, always a risk and have found many a nice paint job underneath!

Personally hate the stuff but comes as standard with some manufacturers.

I have tried saying please just leave as bare wood or use sanding sealer but they take no notice!

[Carpy2009]

Well i managed to get a friend to take me to Craftsman cues in Leeds, and came out with a Cannon Synergy 3/4 cue, and an Aluminium Case. The cue is 3/4 jointed, 57", 18oz and a 9.8mm tip and came with a mini butt, total price £134, and the good thing was, i managed to try a few different cues and weights before i settled on the Cannon, although it must be said that my budget restricted my options a lot, there were some lovely cues there that were £30 - £50 outside what i had available. But for a beginner i am happy with what i got. It feels way better than my old BCE Jimmy White cue, which came from a high street sports shop. Now i just need to learn how to play and pot balls with it.

[DeanH]

fantastic, nothing better than giving a cue a go before buying
hope your game progresses for you