MasterCraft or Craftsman ?

[Sam Berghmans]

Hello everyone,

I'd like to buy my first snooker cue. Something nice for value/money.
So my current choices:

- Mastercraft Retribution: 135 £
- Craftsman 147 (or other models of that pricerange): 145 £

I've searched almost the entire web by figure of speech so I would greatly appreciate some advice about these two brands!

This might be wrong but I think Craftsman is a safer way to go?
I noticed there's an option to take Grade A wood or something ? Does this improve the looks or performance?
2 piece centre jointed OR 3/4 jointed?

Thanks in advance!

[mattyuk]

Grade A just means better wood. I would go with Craftsman. More well known in my eyes.

[platt]

craftsman well made cues

[scottca]

Hi Sam,

I was in the same split decision as you were and today I took delivery of my craftsman predator - I have only started playing weekely for the past few months so im no pro, but the cue looks great, and feels really good to play with.

I havnt used a mastercraft so personally cant comment on them, but I am impressed with the quality of the craftsman - it seems to feel and look more expensive than it actually was!

Craig

[Sam Berghmans]

Craftsman is on the lead it seems. What's the difference between the Craftsman standard and classic cues anyway? The Predator looks very nice indeed scott.
That Mastercraft Retribution cue looks very good also and is a tiny bit cheeper. (about 10 pounds) Not that makes a difference in the total price...

Anyway thanks for these replies already!

[ADR147]

you might save yourself a lot of money with one that was made for me - they don't get better than that!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MESE:IT&ih=016

[BITTER]

The differance between standard and classic is one is uk made the other imported from Thailand both are good value, has are Mastercraft.

So not much differance in all three to be honest, I would go for the one nearest to you has I know Mastercraft will do alterations while you wait

[Sam Berghmans]

I live in Belgium so i can't go pick it up anyway. I'm almost sure I'm going to take the 147 or Panther of Craftsman.

Thanks for replying.

[snooker warrior]

you could also try welshpool trading , pauls just made me one 3/4 jointed ash shaft plain ebony butt with mini butt and long extendable exstension all with airlock joints made to my spec 59.5 inch long 10mm tip and 22ozs all for £165 delivered ,i would reccomend him to anyone

[Sam Berghmans]

That's interesting. Quite cheep actually. But it seems i can order a cue from Craftsman here in a local snookerbar. The guy who takes care of it knows the people from Craftsman so that reduces the risk that anything can go wrong. I still think the mastercraft retribution looks very good, but every other arrow is pointing to Craftsman.

Peace

[mattyuk]

If the guy from your club can take care of it, thats even better. I would go with Craftsman if I was you.

[BITTER]

Snooker warrior thanks for the recomendation, your cheques in the post !!!!!!!!

Have a look at our range, currently have about 30 in stock so a good selection of sizes and designs.

PM me your spec and I am sure I can find something for you with a sensible shipping cost to Belguim

www.welshpooltrading.co.uk

Paul

[ADR147]

wait i did not know there a commission scheme paul how many cheques are coming my way?

- still think you should look at the one i have on ebay though, everybody quite rightly always bids on the trevor whites and the mike wooldridges but the craftsman i have on is in the same bracket for quality, it is in effect brand new, and it will go for less than a normal craftsman i bet! i don't want to appear the salesman on a forum but i genuinely think if the spec suits you it would hard to find a better value cue, a cue made for me is not the same as a cue made for joe public.

[mattyuk]

adr is just shamelessly plugging now! lol

[Sam Berghmans]

Thanks for the recommendations but i'm sticking to the Craftsman i can order from the local snookerbar. Then i'm 100 % sure everything is ok.
That cue on ebay ADR is a one piece i believe? That doesns't come in handy for me. I know you can buy very good second hand cues from ebay, but I rather buy a new one.