My 360 Purecue Action Trainer review

[Terry Davidson]

I definitely recommend the 360 new model (2-piece). I received one and used it and it really helps to cure any glitches you may have in your technique by providing INSTANT feedback.

Unfortunately, (for me) I had a student from Malaysia who felt his ability to order and receive one from the UK was compromised and he asked me if I would sell him mine, and I did.

But now I realize I have to buy another one myself, but I will for sure

Terry

[wipeman]

I definitely recommend the 360 new model (2-piece). I received one and used it and it really helps to cure any glitches you may have in your technique by providing INSTANT feedback.

Unfortunately, (for me) I had a student from Malaysia who felt his ability to order and receive one from the UK was compromised and he asked me if I would sell him mine, and I did.

But now I realize I have to buy another one myself, but I will for sure

Terry

I have just head of this cue and have seen that it is "two piece". Is that a centre-joined two-piece or 3/4 joined? I can't make it out from the video or pictures I've seen so far.

Thanks.

[wipeman]

I have just head of this cue and have seen that it is "two piece". Is that a centre-joined two-piece or 3/4 joined? I can't make it out from the video or pictures I've seen so far.

Thanks.

Please ignore this question. I now know it is two-piece, centre jointed. Interesting...

[dantuck_7]

I was wondering about this as well, you sure its not 3/4?

[Terry Davidson]

The new model is definitely centre-jointed and it appears to be a fairly well made cue for the price. I believe the length is a standard 58" but it is a training cue and not meant for actual use (although you could use it if your delivery was that good).

As I've sold my own, I will definitely be ording another one and get it delivered to me while I'm in the UK to save a bit on shipping and customs. I have to deliver 2 cues to buyers so I imagine I'll have spare room in my case on the way back as it's designed to hold 2 complete cues anyway.

What I've found with it is this (besides using it as a training tool with my students). When I'm having a bad day and can't figure out why I'm not smooth and stable, I get out the 360 and because it provides INSTANT feedback I'm usually able to sort out my problem in quick time.

Just shooting the spots (doing 4 lengths of the table) is a big help with it.

Terry

[wipeman]

The new model is definitely centre-jointed and it appears to be a fairly well made cue for the price. I believe the length is a standard 58" but it is a training cue and not meant for actual use (although you could use it if your delivery was that good).

As I've sold my own, I will definitely be ording another one and get it delivered to me while I'm in the UK to save a bit on shipping and customs. I have to deliver 2 cues to buyers so I imagine I'll have spare room in my case on the way back as it's designed to hold 2 complete cues anyway.

What I've found with it is this (besides using it as a training tool with my students). When I'm having a bad day and can't figure out why I'm not smooth and stable, I get out the 360 and because it provides INSTANT feedback I'm usually able to sort out my problem in quick time.

Just shooting the spots (doing 4 lengths of the table) is a big help with it.

Terry

Glad that you report that it's well made for the price, and that it is useful. It certainly sounds useful so I'll probably take a punt.

It seems to come in two models - the UK snooker/pool (9.5mm tip) and the US pool model (13mm tip). This site shows the butt designs of the two models (scroll down for pictures). The UK model has the fancy spliced butt which is presumably (correct me if I'm wrong) a "walnut-effect" splice of the stick-on variety?

I usually play with a 59" cue but hope this won't present too much of a problem.

[Terry Davidson]

wipeman:

It's definitely not stick-on splices, but real ones which is why I mentioned it was good value for the money.

I would recommend the snooker/UK pool model rather than the larger tipped US pool model unless you happen to be primarily a 9-ball player.

I don't think the 58" should present any problems for you and unless your at 6'4" in height it might actually help you out as you might have a cue a little to long.

Terry

[wipeman]

wipeman:

It's definitely not stick-on splices, but real ones which is why I mentioned it was good value for the money.

I would recommend the snooker/UK pool model rather than the larger tipped US pool model unless you happen to be primarily a 9-ball player.

I don't think the 58" should present any problems for you and unless your at 6'4" in height it might actually help you out as you might have a cue a little to long.

Terry

Hi Terry
Thanks for your advice. Looking again at the pictures I can see it does look quite smart - not sure why I jumped to the conclusion that it would be stick-on or some artificial splicing.

I will definitely go for the UK model. I'm a mere 6'1" but I got a 59" cue (just measured it and in fact it is more like 58 3/4" !) as I prefer not to be holding the flat part - is it called the chamfer? - when I hold the cue so I leave a bit of cue sticking out the back as it were.

Seems like a good idea anyway. Once one has arrived and I've had a go with it then I'll pass my own findings onto the forum for the benefit of all.

Thanks again
W

[wipeman]

wipeman:

It's definitely not stick-on splices, but real ones which is why I mentioned it was good value for the money.

I got mine in the post this morning. Might be a while before I get to have a try with it, but will let you know what I find out. :snooker:

In order to put to bed the "real splices or not" question, they are not real. Look closely and you can see that the splices are printed (at least mine are).

However, it is a training cue so it isn't that important. The money you pay is for the (presumably lengthy and frustrating) work that has gone into establishing what sort of spring to put into it!

Definitely centre-joined two piece. Mine was made in China.

[pottingpinks]

Tried one of these for the first time the other day.
To be honest didn't find it as difficult to use as I had been expecting, I reckon I could win a few frames in the local league with it judging by how it played though as expected it did tend to go into "wobble-mode" a bit when I tried a few power screw shots, which is definitely not one of the strongest points of my game (tend to lose accuracy sometimes) so that seemed to correspond.

Also it felt very light with the rest though still seemed to perform OK in that respect.

I've concluded I must be cross-eyed though as alot of the time the cue was remaining solid as if I was cueing straight but I still missed the pot so I must have some aiming issues!!

[nrage]

I used Terry's one in Glocester when I was there for some coaching. I was also surprised how little trouble I had with it, in fact the first long blue I played with it went right into the heart of the pocket .. much to my surprise and Terry's consternation (as we were expecting it to break and show up my cueing fault). I practiced with it for an hour or two and I think it has helped me straighten my cue action somewhat. I also had some trouble with it 'breaking' on deep screw as well, and noticed it felt lighter in the shaft than my own cue (which is 18.2oz).

You might not be cross eyed, you could be cueing across and adding unintentional side with a perfectly straight cue action.

[dantuck_7]

Hi all, I've had a go on one of these today - probably used it for close to 2 hours and the main type of shot I've noticed it starting to wobble on was hard stuns, so I'm probably gripping too tight on these.. as you all say it definitely promotes a lighter grip. I also setup fairly easy long shots with the object ball close to the pocket maybe 6-10" away... sometimes I have a tendency to cue across these and the shots I missed I could definitely fell the cue breaking up slightly.

Not sure what to make of it to be honest! Myabe I'm playing okay at the moment for there to be any major faults in my action :-)

[jorock63]

I totally agreed with you,I owe one too and my students is using them for warmups.




jo ong

wpbsa/ibsf coach

[kennethkoo]

A great training cue to help improve one's cue action. Gave it a try a few days ago and while the cue did not 'break' as i have predicted when i was playing with it, It has provided me a better insight on how to cue better. A few friends of mine on the other hand had a hard time hitting the cue ball itself. they were either gripping the cue too hard or did not keep the cue parallel at all time while cueing.

[peterpackage]

Guys, i am going to do the ultimate experiment with the Purecue

I am going to ONLY use this cue to play during the off season (now until March 2012). My regular cues need re tipping and i am just not going to get that done.

I am already playing pretty good with the purecue