Is it the cue or is it just me?

[41shots]

...probably me. I got my first own cue a few weeks ago. It's a Mastercraft. I know, one should always feel the cue before buying, but as you can imagine, there are not so many cues to feel around here. So I ordered a pretty standard size cue: 9.5 mm tip, 58", 18 oz, 30 mm butt diameter, 3/4 joint. I remember thinking about the weight when I ordered it: "Should I take a 17 oz cue..." This thought came to my mind because at my club, I have a tendency to choose one of the lighter cues available. But I don't know the specs of any of 'em. Well obviously I didn't order the 17 oz cue.

After five weeks of waiting I got the cue. It felt a bit heavy the first time I got it in my hands. I thought it will pass as I get used to it. Now I'm concerned that it might not pass. I've practised for hours with the cue and I've got worse results than what I had with the club's crooked cues. The lighter ones to be exact. I'm thinking of trying one of the lighter cues tomorrow at the club. If I play better with them, then it's the cue. If not, then it's me.

After this monolog, I have a question for you:

After getting a new cue, how long has it taken you to get comfortable with it?

I'm getting frustrated because it feels that I can't make a break to save my life. Even with line-up or other "easier" practice routines. I've tried making long straight pots to help me cue straight. I'm very streaky with that one also. Sometimes I make 4 in a row, and sometimes I miss 10 in a row. Some coaching would be great but I don't think there are any where I live. Sucks to be me.

Any advice would be appreciated!

EDIT: And I also put the cue on a scale: it's 18,8 oz.

[ste bed]

maybe your thinking to much about the cue and not enough on the actual game so your concentration is not 100% on the game and the shots your taking try forgetting about the cue and just focus on the snooker. give the cue a good chance it always takes me a couple of months to get used to a new cue but dont get rid to early like i said give it a fair crack. then after a few months if your still not getting on with it then maybe a change is in order.

[thai_son22]

maybe your thinking to much about the cue and not enough on the actual game so your concentration is not 100% on the game and the shots your taking try forgetting about the cue and just focus on the snooker. give the cue a good chance it always takes me a couple of months to get used to a new cue but dont get rid to early like i said give it a fair crack. then after a few months if your still not getting on with it then maybe a change is in order.

i second that. more or less spot on. sometimes frustrating is the key to getting on with the cue. when i got my new cue, i tried far too hard and eventually got fed up and just started knocking balls about.

turned out i started hitting 50s and 60s in practice.

early days still, a couple months should decide if it suits you or not. but this varies with everyone. 18.8 is abit heavy though if you are use to 17oz cues. perhaps you will get use to the weight eventually.

[41shots]

Maybe I'm just trying too hard. I'll try to relax more. The cue shouldn't be that much of a difference at my level. An ounce here or there shouldn't be a big deal. I'll give the cue and myself a few months of practice and then I'll hopefully be comfortable with it.

Thanks for the quick replies!

[thai_son22]

yes hopefully it wont make much difference but it does sound like your going about 1.5oz heavier more or less.

but as said, just get use to it. i know a player who went from 17.5 to about 19oz+ and hes gotten use to it and knocks in all the breaks!!

[wildJONESEYE]

its proberbly the tip...

i know its the smallest thing on the cue but it makes the different....

you not profesional standards so just practice hard with it and the cue and tip will bed in and im sure the old crocked club cue will be forgoten very soon.

[Mr O]

Maybe I'm just trying too hard. I'll try to relax more. The cue shouldn't be that much of a difference at my level. An ounce here or there shouldn't be a big deal. I'll give the cue and myself a few months of practice and then I'll hopefully be comfortable with it.

Thanks for the quick replies!

If it's nearly 19 oz and you already ordered it on the heavy side for you at 18 then it may well be too heavy. I also don't like heavy cues, no heavier than 17.5 for me personally, and tend to go for about 17.25 oz to be safe.
No big deal if you don't like it, advertise it here or put it on ebay, you should get about £80 back for it as a rough estimate.
If it doesnt feel right at all, not much point in wasting your time IMO, at least you know to order one slightly lighter next time. If you buy another Mastercraft, tell them the last one was nearly an ounce too heavy, which is way out to be honest, if your scales are accurate.

[n.er]

You should know in an instant if the cue will suit you or not,if the cue is heavier than what you are used to you can always have some weight removed and see how it feels than,but dont waste your time if you are not happy with the cue!!! it will cause you more heartache than good.

[sunny3909]

I think you should get the cue weight reduced don't waste your time getting used to it, if the cue was suiting you it would have felt right as soon you would have picked it up.get some ebony drilled out from the butt and fill it with some lighter wood.Any cuemaker will do this for you at a nominal cost.

[41shots]

Many opinions here I'm afraid there aren't any cuemakers around here. Posting it to a cuemaker in the UK and paying for the work he does would probably cost almost as much as the cue itself (130£). Postage was 30£ when I ordered it.

If I decide to sell it, I would probably get the best price here. I'll have to think about it.

[unclevit]

Maybe I'm just trying too hard. I'll try to relax more. The cue shouldn't be that much of a difference at my level. An ounce here or there shouldn't be a big deal. I'll give the cue and myself a few months of practice and then I'll hopefully be comfortable with it.

Thanks for the quick replies!

Give it more time. Perhaps it's the weight that u are not comfortable with. 17oz and 18.5+ oz is totally different if play for longer period. Hope the shaft tip is not too light, and butt is not too heavy. With proper cue balance you should not feel that heavy in your cueing action. Good practice

[eaoin11]

I think it's probably the cue and the weight to be honest, you seem open minded enough to have given the cue a chance.

I prefer lighter cues too, 18 max. I know there are plenty of great 19oz cues out there but I've never been able to get the most out of them and that might be down to my slight build.

The other thing to consider is the balance point. Some heavier cues are butt heavy, whereas a lighter house cue will often have a more forward balance. It should be around 16-18 inches from the butt.

[41shots]

The other thing to consider is the balance point. Some heavier cues are butt heavy, whereas a lighter house cue will often have a more forward balance. It should be around 16-18 inches from the butt.

I measured the balance point. It's 17 inches from the butt. So no problem there, I guess. I'm off to my club now. Going to try the lighter cue.

[samad]

I measured the balance point. It's 17 inches from the butt. So no problem there, I guess. I'm off to my club now. Going to try the lighter cue.

How do you measure the balance point of your cue ?

[thai_son22]

How do you measure the balance point of your cue ?

balance cue on your finger. where it doesnt tilt and stay still, measure it