Length Does Matter ;)

[vmax4steve]

I guess you are right I am a bad bad person. Always found contradicting MYSELF ... But well now that its done, don't make me regret it yes I understand and still accept and admit that when I lengthened my cue, things changed for me after a little while, however, when the prospects of having a new cue emerged; yes the shine blinded me to in a way - let us hope I get used to it and train myself to play properly with this new cue. Let us just hope !

To be honest Sidd you're not the only one, there are a lot of cue chasers on this forum who don't know that they already have the cue they like, just poor players looking for an instant step up to century break standard, but we all know that it takes graft despite having a nous for the game along with good hand/eye.
For the taller player who hasn't the time like J6 had, to play for hours a day, day after day, week after week, year on year to hone his frame around a standard length cue, then a longer one puts right an awful lot of problems and one can just get down and play almost as easily as the shorter player using a standard length cue.
Even the bloke on youtubes snooker pro tips says so, and he's a proper coach.

To be honest , Vmax is always right !! This guy knows much about snooker !!

No I'm not Ramon, but I know my own game and my own struggles and saw many parallels in Sidd, tinkering with his action when his only real fault was asking for coaching advice when he didn't need it. All his problems were solved with that extra two or three inches of length on his cue, same shaft, same response on the strike but with enough length to keep his shoulder from dropping before the strike, keep a straighter bridge arm and a little extra length beyond the thumb for sighting.
As in his first post on this thread it was a revelation to him how muich easier it was to simply bend down and play with everything in the right place, same thing happened to me when I got my 62 inch cue, no longer cramped around a cue too short for me.

So many people say it isn't needed but to be honest just how many players on this forum who are under five foot ten could play with a cue of 52 inches on a table four inches lower because that's what you're asking a player of six foot two to do.

[Ramon]

To be honest Sidd you're not the only one, there are a lot of cue chasers on this forum who don't know that they already have the cue they like, just poor players looking for an instant step up to century break standard, but we all know that it takes graft despite having a nous for the game along with good hand/eye.
For the taller player who hasn't the time like J6 had, to play for hours a day, day after day, week after week, year on year to hone his frame around a standard length cue, then a longer one puts right an awful lot of problems and one can just get down and play almost as easily as the shorter player using a standard length cue.
Even the bloke on youtubes snooker pro tips says so, and he's a proper coach.


No I'm not Ramon, but I know my own game and my own struggles and saw many parallels in Sidd, tinkering with his action when his only real fault was asking for coaching advice when he didn't need it. All his problems were solved with that extra two or three inches of length on his cue, same shaft, same response on the strike but with enough length to keep his shoulder from dropping before the strike, keep a straighter bridge arm and a little extra length beyond the thumb for sighting.
As in his first post on this thread it was a revelation to him how muich easier it was to simply bend down and play with everything in the right place, same thing happened to me when I got my 62 inch cue, no longer cramped around a cue too short for me.

So many people say it isn't needed but to be honest just how many players on this forum who are under five foot ten could play with a cue of 52 inches on a table four inches lower because that's what you're asking a player of six foot two to do.

honesty,, I think you do!! There are sometimes disagreements, but I love the way you look at the game !! your posts are always useful and some great advices as well!! as far as I'm concerned, this forum should be proud to have you here !!
as for your statement related to sidd's problem!!!! I am agree with you!! the cue length is one of the most important factors in cueing and has to suit ur algmt ( setup )!! IMO.
especially for players who keep thr arm straight during the cueing and not droping their shoulder in the shot after the striking !!

[Sidd]

I agree with you on all accounts Steve but then I saw this beauty and had to get it Yes you are correct that with that cue I was playing really very swiftly and could keep a straighter bridge arm, however, now that I have the new cue- I am trying to get myself used to with it. Lets see- yes I will have and do seem to have some problem with long pots and power shots (shoulder dropping early) but will try to sort it out somehow.

And yes that snooker pro tips guy explained this thing clearly ... but well... lets see about that !

[j6uk]

no player really needs a cue over 59, going to mad lengths screems poor technique. you gotta real it in if you wanna play to a good level and be consistent. been there done it over 25yrs ago

[Sidd]

no player really needs a cue over 59, going to mad lengths screems poor technique. you gotta real it in if you wanna play to a good level and be consistent. been there done it over 25yrs ago

Indeed man !

[Sidd]

Here is what I am up to

With the new shorter cue i.e. 58 inches; here is what I am trying to achieve in order to get myself properly on to the cue while down.

1. I have a boxer's stance rather than straight on and I think with that I can have a bit of cue in front as with boxers my bridge arm can go a bit further up the cue.

2. I have a bent ridge arm to keep some cue after my V and be able to keep a straight vertical cueing arm and I grip from the butt end.

3. I personally think that in order to reduce or eliminate the premature shoulder drop with this shorter cue I have to start keeping my tip as close to the CB as possible so that the actual strike happens before the shoulder comes in action. Practicing this I believe I can achieve this and stop my shoulder drop. I have noticed that I normally have some space in my CB and tip at address say 3 quarters of an inch or maybe an inch... I shall try to learn to cue by keeping tip to the white closely say 1 quarter of an inch ...

Although I will upload a video clip soon ... but this is what I am working on these days.

And yes I am potting nicely so lets see !

[vmax4steve]

no player really needs a cue over 59, going to mad lengths screems poor technique. you gotta real it in if you wanna play to a good level and be consistent. been there done it over 25yrs ago

Not everyone has the time to work at the game as much as you did j6. For the recreational player who is over five foot ten a longer cue cures a lot of stance, cue action and sighting issues
Now look at Sidds latest post and what he is trying to do now his cue doesn't fit his height; he's trying to get his action right down to 1/4 of a inch, right on the edge of playing badly at all times
How much time has he got between his job, his writing, his family and everything else he does in his life plus the fact that he's an OCD and has been through all this over and over again for the past six years.

I'm going to hand him over to you now, best of luck.

[j6uk]

Not everyone has the time to work at the game as much as you did j6.
yes i was determined, dedicated and made sacrifices
For the recreational player who is over five foot ten a longer cue cures a lot of stance, cue action and sighting issues
can you explane why?
Now look at Sidds latest post and what he is trying to do now his cue doesn't fit his height; he's trying to get his action right down to 1/4 of a inch, right on the edge of playing badly at all times
How much time has he got between his job, his writing, his family and everything else he does in his life plus the fact that he's an OCD and has been through all this over and over again for the past six years.
well as far as i know sid aint dedicated and his gassing here is his passtime hoby

I'm going to hand him over to you now, best of luck.
been there done that

hope something clicks for you and your new cue sid

[j6uk]

Not everyone has the time to work at the game as much as you did j6. For the recreational player who is over five foot ten a longer cue cures a lot of stance, cue action and sighting issues

it looks like this thread is gonna fade away, but before it does id like to adress this recreational player long cue thing for anyone look in this direction. again this is a classic bad worker looking to his tools for awnsers. going upto 60" cue says to me the players missing something technically. such a long cue for someone around the 6' mark is not gonna cure anything to do with the above.
iv done the long cue thing and although i played okay with it i was so in and out that when i came up against a proper player they destroyed me with consistency. and looking back, i couldn't compete cus i simply wasn't completing the shot, moving and lunging at the ball.. by all means extened your cue, frustrate yourself with the good bad and ugly. slap the balls around in your own world way, just avoid playing anyone better that you

[vmax4steve]

it looks like this thread is gonna fade away, but before it does id like to adress this recreational player long cue thing for anyone look in this direction. again this is a classic bad worker looking to his tools for awnsers. going upto 60" cue says to me the players missing something technically. such a long cue for someone around the 6' mark is not gonna cure anything to do with the above.
iv done the long cue thing and although i played okay with it i was so in and out that when i came up against a proper player they destroyed me with consistency. and looking back, i couldn't compete cus i simply wasn't completing the shot, moving and lunging at the ball.. by all means extened your cue, frustrate yourself with the good bad and ugly and slap the balls around it your own world. just avoid playing anyone better that you

I think this bloke knows a bit more than you j6, and what he says is true. Three inches on your cue is about the width of your fist and is no big deal as far as balance and feel in the tool you're using, and can take your cue arm to the right place at address with a straighter bridge arm and more cue to sight along just as it does with someone shorter using a standard length cue.

If you have eight hours a day, seven days a week to spend honing your cue action then of course you can get inside a short cue and make it work for you, but if you don't then an extra three inches will be a revelation to you as soon as you first bend down.
There are no shortcuts to reaching a good standard in snooker but why the hell put yourself at a disadvantage right from the start that could take you years to get round it ?

It's not all about you j6, it's not all about what you can do or did to get to the standard you reached; you're dealing with different mindsets and different lifestyles on this forum.
"Haven't put in the work" you always say, hell, some of just don't have time or the inclination to reach pro standard but simply want to play a little bit better when we hit the table once a week.

[rob s]

B

I think this bloke knows a bit more than you j6, and what he says is true. Three inches on your cue is about the width of your fist and is no big deal as far as balance and feel in the tool you're using, and can take your cue arm to the right place at address with a straighter bridge arm and more cue to sight along just as it does with someone shorter using a standard length cue.

If you have eight hours a day, seven days a week to spend honing your cue action then of course you can get inside a short cue and make it work for you, but if you don't then an extra three inches will be a revelation to you as soon as you first bend down.
There are no shortcuts to reaching a good standard in snooker but why the hell put yourself at a disadvantage right from the start that could take you years to get round it ?

It's not all about you j6, it's not all about what you can do or did to get to the standard you reached; you're dealing with different mindsets and different lifestyles on this forum.
"Haven't put in the work" you always say, hell, some of just don't have time or the inclination to reach pro standard but simply want to play a little bit better when we hit the table once a week.

Absolutely spot on vmax, cracking post! Couldn't have said it better myself

[j6uk]

oh really, okay i'll leave that with you then. how talls this lad again? oh and i see hes still using that old cue up to your sholder chesnut, how many players on the tour around six foot use over 59" cue?
why are they still making cues 57-59? whos the 57 cue aimed at?
what top palyer plays with a stright bridge arm these days?

I think this bloke knows a bit more than you j6, and what he says is true. Three inches on your cue is about the width of your fist and is no big deal as far as balance and feel in the tool you're using, and can take your cue arm to the right place at address with a straighter bridge arm and more cue to sight along just as it does with someone shorter using a standard length cue.

If you have eight hours a day, seven days a week to spend honing your cue action then of course you can get inside a short cue and make it work for you, but if you don't then an extra three inches will be a revelation to you as soon as you first bend down.
There are no shortcuts to reaching a good standard in snooker but why the hell put yourself at a disadvantage right from the start that could take you years to get round it ?

It's not all about you j6, it's not all about what you can do or did to get to the standard you reached; you're dealing with different mindsets and different lifestyles on this forum.
"Haven't put in the work" you always say, hell, some of just don't have time or the inclination to reach pro standard but simply want to play a little bit better when we hit the table once a week.

[j6uk]

Not everyone has the time to work at the game as much as you did j6. For the recreational player who is over five foot ten a longer cue cures a lot of stance, cue action and sighting issues

maybe you need me to bring out my certificates?
anyway im struggling with this, please explain how a longer cue is gonna help the above for a once a week player?

[j6uk]

these cues are ones that i made and they are both 57" just like my playing cue. im 6'4 and as we can see im very compact but not cramped.
i did resplice my playing cue a few months ago to 58 but i lost what i liked about the cue originally, so i cut it back to 57
after 35 years of playing and using cues from 15-20oz and 56-61", i feel now that the right length cue for me is around 58.5

[trevs1]

I just want to add to this, just to confirm, that I have not said any cue over 58.5" is too long.

I might have said that once cues get much above 58.5" long, that for many players, the cue can become less reliable, but that would be about it. Fundamentally, there's no real reason why a cue of longer than 58.5" cannot play just fine, but, excessively long cues do tend to be a little more unpredictable than those of a more compact size. Of course, consideration needs to be given to the overall specs of the cue, along with th erigidity of the shaft and so on, but I'll not get into that.

Suffice to say though, in IMO, cues of above perhaps 59" are better avoided, unless you are absolutely massive and need that length.