Length Does Matter ;)

[Leo]

I'm as tall as J6 and use just under a 58" But I'm sure I could play just as well with a 58 3/4 but anything over 59" will just danafe your game imho.

[j6uk]

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.

please can you explain that?

[trevs1]

please can you explain that?

No, not really, because I don't want to get into any further argument on it.

[vmax4steve]

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?

I don't give a damn about certificates, they prove nothing more than having paid the money to complete a course.

Watch the video, if the explanation you need isn't there then you're not really listening to anything outside your own narrative, which is something that comes across in a lot of your posts BTW. I'm not against anything you say you have done or can do, but as I said before it's not all about you, human beings are diverse and have differing needs and as a coach and teacher this is something you need to learn.

Please let's not get into any bad language or mud slinging as is normal for you with those whom you disagree with, I know I haven't put the work in but I struggled with a normal length cue when I took up snooker yet my form leapt from average twenty break player to making an 80+ within six months of getting my longer cue.

The reasons why are all explained in Neil Maxman's video but I worked this out for myself thirty years ago and reaped immediate rewards. Maybe if I had put the work in afterwards I could have gotten to be a regular century break player but I didn't play snooker until I was 27 and my lifestyle was pretty much defined by then. Snooker was a once or twice a week thing and I had no unrealistic dreams of The Crucible.

[j6uk]

I don't give a damn about certificates, they prove nothing more than having paid the money to complete a course.

Watch the video, if the explanation you need isn't there then you're not really listening to anything outside your own narrative, which is something that comes across in a lot of your posts BTW. I'm not against anything you say you have done or can do, but as I said before it's not all about you, human beings are diverse and have differing needs and as a coach and teacher this is something you need to learn.

Please let's not get into any bad language or mud slinging as is normal for you with those whom you disagree with, I know I haven't put the work in but I struggled with a normal length cue when I took up snooker yet my form leapt from average twenty break player to making an 80+ within six months of getting my longer cue.

The reasons why are all explained in Neil Maxman's video but I worked this out for myself thirty years ago and reaped immediate rewards. Maybe if I had put the work in afterwards I could have gotten to be a regular century break player but I didn't play snooker until I was 27 and my lifestyle was pretty much defined by then. Snooker was a once or twice a week thing and I had no unrealistic dreams of The Crucible.

can you say more? if not cool man

[vmax4steve]

can you say more? if not cool man

Please watch the video...................pretty please It's all in there.

[j6uk]

im happy to discuss anything that you see, can you not just say what you mean?
if not to help me it could be something other members and guests could learn from

Please watch the video...................pretty please It's all in there.

[vmax4steve]

im happy to discuss anything that you see, can you not just say what you mean?
if not to help me it could be something other members and guests could learn from

You've actually been there j6, used a 61 inch cue to great effect but went back to a 57. I on the other hand went up to a 62 and stayed there. I think it may actually be 61 & 1/2 now due to a ferrule problem.

My cue was specifically made for me by a bloke called David Hart who advertised in Cue World magazine in the 80's. It's dimensions were 62 inches long, one piece, ash shaft with plain ebony butt, 19 oz's, 10mm brass ferrule and the taper and balance on it is relative to its length.
I had it split to 3/4 and the length is now about a ferrule shorter than it was, put a maple and walnut inlay into the butt myself, and it's now 20 oz's but it doesn't feel any different.

The main problem that taller players face is actually getting down into a stance that gives them enough shaft to look along to sight the shot in the same way that a shorter player can with a standard length cue.

The taller you are, the longer your arms, the lower you have to get, the more you have to bend your bridge arm to enable a decent length of stroke without your cue arm being forward of the vertical at address. Because you also need enough length of cue over your thumb to sight there is a great tendency to push the cue forward while holding it right at the very end at all times, which means the cue's balance is a little forward as well.

The taller player will tend to have his cue action right on the edge of dropping the shoulder into the shot to enable enough cue over his thumb for good sighting. An awful lot of practise will give good enough technique to develop a cue action to play this way, but timing will be crucial and exact, something the social player doesn't have the time and probably the inclination to work at.

An extra three inches on the cue means more cue to sight along, the bridge arm can therefore be pushed out a little straighter allowing the cue arm to stay vertical at address or even a little behind vertical and the cue doesn't have to be held right on the end so it's natural balance can be felt and utilised.

To take a perfect example of what I have described above, have a look at Mark Williams and see how his action is right on the edge of going wrong. He was a fantastic player at his peak, but now as he says so himself he doesn't put in the practise he used to, therefore his timing is now a bit hit and miss and he tends to drop his shoulder into the shot before the strike far too often. If he had a cue just two inches longer he could have that elbow position just a little behind the vertical and find it easier to time the shot so that the shoulder doesn't come into action before the strike.

For the taller social player who obviously doesn't practise hard it's a win win scenario as everything will naturally fall into place without having to think about it at all.

That's all I have to say on this subject, you may disagree but frankly I don't care, I have my own mind and give my own opinions, this one just happens to be shared by Neil Maxman on his snooker pro tips videos on youtube and I haven't found any of his videos to give bad advice. Top coach in my opinion.

[Byrom]

I can see things wrong with the advice he gives on length of cue because he generalises -

You can be small with long arms and reach and you can be tall with a shorter reach - Also he does not equate stance into this a boxer stance or square on stance or mention which lead leg all play a part as well as where the player likes to hold the cue.
You might also have a longer bridge and a longer back swing or you might be more compact with a short action.

[j6uk]

You've actually been there j6, used a 61 inch cue to great effect but went back to a 57 er kind of but you need to read back. I on the other hand went up to a 62 and stayed there. I think it may actually be 61 & 1/2 now due to a ferrule problem. and i think you missed out
My cue was specifically made for me by a bloke called David Hart who advertised in Cue World magazine in the 80's. It's dimensions were 62 inches long, one piece, ash shaft with plain ebony butt, 19 oz's, 10mm brass ferrule and the taper and balance on it is relative to its length.
I had it split to 3/4 and the length is now about a ferrule shorter than it was, put a maple and walnut inlay into the butt myself, and it's now 20 oz's but it doesn't feel any different.
cue sounds alright man, and if youd cut it down to 59, im sure with a few lessons youd pop your cherry
The main problem that taller players face is actually getting down into a stance that gives them enough shaft to look along to sight the shot in the same way that a shorter player can with a standard length cue. i dont follow this, i mean how much do you need? i use between 7-9 over hang

The taller you are, the longer your arms, the lower you have to get, the more you have to bend your bridge arm to enable a decent length of stroke without your cue arm being forward of the vertical at address. my cue arm is vert and in the reds im holding the cue an inch in Because you also need enough length of cue over your thumb to sight there is a great tendency to push the cue forward while holding it right at the very end at all times, which means the cue's balance is a little forward as well. well the cue may come under your chest a bit on a so called power shots but nothing that cant be controled

The taller player will tend to have his cue action right on the edge of dropping the shoulder into the shot to enable enough cue over his thumb for good sighting. no, not if you know what your doing An awful lot of practise will give good enough technique to develop a cue action to play this way, but timing will be crucial and exact, something the social player doesn't have the time and probably the inclination to work at. well timing is everything in sport and if you dont feel you have time to evelope that then a longer racket aint gonna do nout

An extra three inches on the cue means more cue to sight along, the bridge arm can therefore be pushed out a little straighter allowing the cue arm to stay vertical at address or even a little behind vertical and the cue doesn't have to be held right on the end so it's natural balance can be felt and utilised. this i dont get cus this again is about timing

To take a perfect example of what I have described above, have a look at Mark Williams and see how his action is right on the edge of going wrong. He was a fantastic player at his peak, but now as he says so himself he doesn't put in the practise he used to, therefore his timing is now a bit hit and miss and he tends to drop his shoulder into the shot before the strike far too often. If he had a cue just two inches longer he could have that elbow position just a little behind the vertical and find it easier to time the shot so that the shoulder doesn't come into action before the strike. sorry man but you nor i can tuck into a two times world champ, this lads so sound techniclly, the screen you see dont do him justis

For the taller social player who obviously doesn't practise hard it's a win win scenario as everything will naturally fall into place without having to think about it at all. no, how? i cant make sense of this man

That's all I have to say on this subject, you may disagree but frankly I don't care, maybe if you would of cared things could of been different I have my own mind and give my own opinions, this one just happens to be shared by Neil Maxman on his snooker pro tips videos on youtube and I haven't found any of his videos to give bad advice. Top coach in my opinion.

yeah from that clip hes alright i guess but hes wrong on cue length if he thinks a player around 6 foot needs a cue over 59

[Terry Davidson]

What would be the shoulder height for a guy 6ft 4in with normal length of arms? As I'm 6ft and use a 58" cue and have about 1in of butt out the back of my grip hand I will have to see if my cue comes to my shoulder. Frankly, I've never checked this out.

The other point which I feel should be mentioned is if any player over 6ft should use a 60-62in cue how come none of the pros are using that length as even the tall pros all have 58in cues (unless I've missed something). These pros have been at this game for almost a century now and I just cannot believe if a longer cue is so helpful then why haven't one or two of them staggered into this discovery?

Yes, a 6ft player could easily use a 61in cue but he would probably be gripping it 3in or so from the end of the butt and that's even when his bridge arm is straight.

The other thought is when the average man was less that 6ft everyone used 57" cues. Now the average height is at 6ft and a lot of players use a 58" cue and have a perfect set-up. Besides which I think the bridge forearm should be bent just a little bit anyway.

j6 - I did notice in your video you did seem to be a little compact as I saw you had about 9" out past the 'V' of your bridge and I know 9-12" is the recommended length. I have about 12" outside with my forearm bent slightly and the grip about 1" from the end of the butt with 58". I drop that 12" down though when I'm in the balls or on any shot less than say 6ft or so combined length. I use the full 12" on long shots and long safety play.

[Leo]

What would be the shoulder height for a guy 6ft 4in with normal length of arms? As I'm 6ft and use a 58" cue and have about 1in of butt out the back of my grip hand I will have to see if my cue comes to my shoulder. Frankly, I've never checked this out.

The other point which I feel should be mentioned is if any player over 6ft should use a 60-62in cue how come none of the pros are using that length as even the tall pros all have 58in cues (unless I've missed something). These pros have been at this game for almost a century now and I just cannot believe if a longer cue is so helpful then why haven't one or two of them staggered into this discovery?

Yes, a 6ft player could easily use a 61in cue but he would probably be gripping it 3in or so from the end of the butt and that's even when his bridge arm is straight.

The other thought is when the average man was less that 6ft everyone used 57" cues. Now the average height is at 6ft and a lot of players use a 58" cue and have a perfect set-up. Besides which I think the bridge forearm should be bent just a little bit anyway.

j6 - I did notice in your video you did seem to be a little compact as I saw you had about 9" out past the 'V' of your bridge and I know 9-12" is the recommended length. I have about 12" outside with my forearm bent slightly and the grip about 1" from the end of the butt with 58". I drop that 12" down though when I'm in the balls or on any shot less than say 6ft or so combined length. I use the full 12" on long shots and long safety play.

Say someone is 6ft 2" and the length of their arm is 28 inches and another player is also 6ft 2" yet his arms are 32 inches long then in theory person 2 should really be looking for a longer cue then person 1 would they not?

[OmaMiesta]

Im a pretty short guy, about 5''7 and play with a 58'' cue. I think it all depends on how far you hold the cue down the butt. About a inch distance for me allows a 90 degree form with my arm/cue action. I read that its actually better for taller people 6 feet and above to use shorter cues 57"-58" and for shorter people to use longer but honestly I think it all comes down to how much practice you put in with what ever cue you use. You can develop a technique with anything as long as its consistent.

[jrc750]

... I read that its actually better for taller people 6 feet and above to use shorter cues 57"-58" and for shorter people to use longer....

Well that sounds logical

[vmax4steve]

[QUOTE=Terry Davidson;836038]

The other point which I feel should be mentioned is if any player over 6ft should use a 60-62in cue how come none of the pros are using that length as even the tall pros all have 58in cues (unless I've missed something). These pros have been at this game for almost a century now and I just cannot believe if a longer cue is so helpful then why haven't one or two of them staggered into this discovery?
Ever thought that the pros have been playing with standard length cues since they were very young, put in a hell of a lot of hard practise and honed their game around their cues ? which was one of my points BTW Oh and I believe Neil Robertsons cue is a 59, read it on this forum somewhere.

Yes, a 6ft player could easily use a 61in cue but he would probably be gripping it 3in or so from the end of the butt and that's even when his bridge arm is straight.[Quote=Terry Davidson;836038]

About two inches from the end for me because that's where the cue feels balanced which was another of my points BTW, my cue arm is about an inch back from the vertical at address and I have twelve inches of cue over my thumb.

Thanks to j6 for sucking me in with his 'help me and others' bollocks and then dismissing everything I posted yet again with 'not putting in the work' and 'don't know what you're doing' and all those little statements to the same effect. Got to be the most arrogant, self righteous person on this forum; but that's the last time, won't get fooled again.