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Length Does Matter ;)
All right then 
I just got my cue last night from the cue-maker and he really had done a good job. The cue had a new ferrule and a new elk master tip. The length is now exactly 60 inches and he has put a screw in the butt and has made me a nice little 6 inches mini-butt.
I went in last night to try it out as I was really waiting for it. I did not had much time so just played three frames and came back. Today I plan to go for a longer time. The following are my initial impressions:
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1. The weight has been added a bit. Not much but just a few 0.something ounces. the cue felt a bit heavier but not much and I shall easily get used to with it.
2. The balance point has not really shifted forward and the balance feels right, in fact I felt more cue power while playing some strokes.
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Steve (Vmax) you were so bloody correct my dear mate. I just loved the feeling this longer cue gave me. Although deep down I was not expecting any major difference from merely 2 inches but man you were SPOT ON about it. The best thing that I felt are as under:
A. I have more cue to look at after the V while at the address position. This gives me a higher sighting advantage- something I have never ever felt before given that I have always played with 57-58 inches cues. it was amazing honestly amazing and I felt so much in control of how I looked at the BOB from behind the cue.
B. I have at least half an inch behind my grip hand when it is vertical at address and a good 11-12 inches after the V. I do not have to twist, mold, angle, adjust my stance around the cue.. I can just go down naturally and even have my bridge arm almost straight with a very very little bend in it and still be able to stand properly and in a relax manner.
C. You were so so right mate when you said while the cue is new and I go down I might touch the CB hahahha I did that really. Did a foul like this three times but then I got used to it and adjusted.
D. I now do not have to intentionally get my cue tip nearer to the CB like before, but now when I am down my tip is as near to the CB as possible by default. This in turn helped me make my shots with ease and without the need for extra follow through which I used to do in order to drive the CB. Since the tip is almost touching the CB at address I can play the shot nicely and drive through naturally without having to extend the cue a lot and hence I am quite so very certain that this will help me greatly in reducing the chances of dropping the elbow before striking the CB. This is the greatest advantage that I observed. This will help me stop worrying about dropping the elbow Ha-Ha because now I know I will not be dropping it before the strike and hence if it drops after the strike, I do not need to care for it- this shall in turn free my mind from one of my biggest flaws
Happy man I am really.
E. One of the most astounding revelations I had was this: my rest play has improved DRAMATICALLY. Previously I was struggling a lot with rest play but last night wow I made all rest shots to my satisfaction including stuns and angles screws off the rest What I noticed was that when down on rest there was so much cue in front of me that I felt confident in terms of sighting. Very nice this element in particular.
These are my initial observations. I played well and not too good because of the following two things:
i. I was playing with a brand new tip and it will take some time in bedding in completely.
ii. Since I use the drive and not pecking hence as Dell Hill says and Coach Gavin agrees that for such players the second finger grip is better given that it relaxes the first finger and that helps upon driving/delivery and also that the same was recommended for me by Terry here including trying to get the palm touch the cue at address as my wrist used to twist upon delivery and further that whenever I do up and down the spots I see slight left hand side imparted on the white and Steve Davis said in his article that for those who impart unintentional side that could be perhaps due to the back three fingers coming back on to the cue in delivery and they should try the Alex higgins grip..... Due to all these elements I have decided to stick tot he second finger grip where my palm touches the cue at address as my final final thing and so since I am trying this grip now.. it will take some time for this new grip to become cemented in my technique... So I am giving it that time however I am keeping myself relax and trying my best not to think about it while down at the shot. Also I could feel that I was keeping my second finger rather tight on the cue as I am not used to with this grip and for some time it will not feel natural and that is why my second finger was rather tight. But i will get hold of it soon.
Above all, I feel light nice and easy, liberated and free... I am sure that after all this I shall try not to think about technique any more and just concentrate on my game and potting and soon get my natural feel and start making those 40 and 50 odds and then hopefully be able to beat my 67 and move on to 70 and 80 and then one day inshallah (if God willing) I shall make my dream century.
Thank you Terry, thank you Steve, thank you all other members around and thanks TSF
I just got my cue last night from the cue-maker and he really had done a good job. The cue had a new ferrule and a new elk master tip. The length is now exactly 60 inches and he has put a screw in the butt and has made me a nice little 6 inches mini-butt. I went in last night to try it out as I was really waiting for it. I did not had much time so just played three frames and came back. Today I plan to go for a longer time. The following are my initial impressions:
======================================
1. The weight has been added a bit. Not much but just a few 0.something ounces. the cue felt a bit heavier but not much and I shall easily get used to with it.
2. The balance point has not really shifted forward and the balance feels right, in fact I felt more cue power while playing some strokes.
======================================
Steve (Vmax) you were so bloody correct my dear mate. I just loved the feeling this longer cue gave me. Although deep down I was not expecting any major difference from merely 2 inches but man you were SPOT ON about it. The best thing that I felt are as under:
A. I have more cue to look at after the V while at the address position. This gives me a higher sighting advantage- something I have never ever felt before given that I have always played with 57-58 inches cues. it was amazing honestly amazing and I felt so much in control of how I looked at the BOB from behind the cue.
B. I have at least half an inch behind my grip hand when it is vertical at address and a good 11-12 inches after the V. I do not have to twist, mold, angle, adjust my stance around the cue.. I can just go down naturally and even have my bridge arm almost straight with a very very little bend in it and still be able to stand properly and in a relax manner.
C. You were so so right mate when you said while the cue is new and I go down I might touch the CB hahahha I did that really. Did a foul like this three times but then I got used to it and adjusted.
D. I now do not have to intentionally get my cue tip nearer to the CB like before, but now when I am down my tip is as near to the CB as possible by default. This in turn helped me make my shots with ease and without the need for extra follow through which I used to do in order to drive the CB. Since the tip is almost touching the CB at address I can play the shot nicely and drive through naturally without having to extend the cue a lot and hence I am quite so very certain that this will help me greatly in reducing the chances of dropping the elbow before striking the CB. This is the greatest advantage that I observed. This will help me stop worrying about dropping the elbow Ha-Ha because now I know I will not be dropping it before the strike and hence if it drops after the strike, I do not need to care for it- this shall in turn free my mind from one of my biggest flaws
Happy man I am really.E. One of the most astounding revelations I had was this: my rest play has improved DRAMATICALLY. Previously I was struggling a lot with rest play but last night wow I made all rest shots to my satisfaction including stuns and angles screws off the rest
What I noticed was that when down on rest there was so much cue in front of me that I felt confident in terms of sighting. Very nice this element in particular. These are my initial observations. I played well and not too good because of the following two things:
i. I was playing with a brand new tip and it will take some time in bedding in completely.
ii. Since I use the drive and not pecking hence as Dell Hill says and Coach Gavin agrees that for such players the second finger grip is better given that it relaxes the first finger and that helps upon driving/delivery and also that the same was recommended for me by Terry here including trying to get the palm touch the cue at address as my wrist used to twist upon delivery and further that whenever I do up and down the spots I see slight left hand side imparted on the white and Steve Davis said in his article that for those who impart unintentional side that could be perhaps due to the back three fingers coming back on to the cue in delivery and they should try the Alex higgins grip..... Due to all these elements I have decided to stick tot he second finger grip where my palm touches the cue at address as my final final thing and so since I am trying this grip now.. it will take some time for this new grip to become cemented in my technique... So I am giving it that time however I am keeping myself relax and trying my best not to think about it while down at the shot. Also I could feel that I was keeping my second finger rather tight on the cue as I am not used to with this grip and for some time it will not feel natural and that is why my second finger was rather tight. But i will get hold of it soon.
Above all, I feel light nice and easy, liberated and free... I am sure that after all this I shall try not to think about technique any more and just concentrate on my game and potting and soon get my natural feel and start making those 40 and 50 odds and then hopefully be able to beat my 67 and move on to 70 and 80 and then one day inshallah (if God willing) I shall make my dream century.
Thank you Terry, thank you Steve, thank you all other members around and thanks TSF
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