Do you hold the cue in the same place?

[Looter]

Hi all,

After playing snooker for the last 30 years with the same cue I decided to buy a new cue today. The main reason for this was because I had my cue shortened by 3 inches around 10 years ago (I'm only 5ft 4in and thought it would improve my game), and whilst I have played well with it I felt I couldn't perform some shots as well as I wasn't following through like I used to.

Anyway, I've bought a cue that has quite a distinctive grain in the ash that goes near to the top of the cue (a bit like Kyren Wilson's), and when I played a few shots with it in the shop I thought the grain helped me sight the shot. Now that I've bought the cue and spent a few hours playing with it I'm finding it a pain to hold it in the same place so the grain lines up with my shot! I'm wondering if this is just down to playing with a new cue and I should stick to holding it in the same place, i.e looking at my hand and cue and checking it's in the right place before I play my shot, as I'm acquiring a new skill I'm thinking this should become automatic after a while. After checking my hand and cue position I find myself twisting my wrist to line up the grain which I don't think is a good thing. On the other hand should I ignore the grain etc and just get on with the shot?

Thanks for any replies.

[jrc750]

I always hold the cue with the badge facing upwards, altho I don't consciously look at the grain at all

[jamesg19851]

Out of interest, what length was your old cue that you had shortened by 3 inches? Just asking as I'm the same height.

Regarding where to hold the cue I have generally held the cue with the badge up. When I had an ash cue I don't remember lining up hhe shot with the grain pattern.

[Catch 22]

I do ...the heel of my hand rests against the start of the flat part of the butt where the badge goes . Once I'm down on the shot the badge is facing away from my body .
I don't do it on purpose ...it just naturally happens .

My first cue I used to play badge facing into my body and every other cue I've used has been badge facing up .

Weird

[Csmith]

For most shots I do. If the cue ball is close the object ball I may shortened my bridge and move my hand up a bit. I have a piece of electrical tape on my cue which provides a tactile guide to ensure my hand is in the same place. And like others, the badge faces upwards. Mostly because I saw a video a decade ago where Ronnie suggested this. I'm not sure it makes a difference, but it's habit now.

[Looter]

Out of interest, what length was your old cue that you had shortened by 3 inches? Just asking as I'm the same height.

Regarding where to hold the cue I have generally held the cue with the badge up. When I had an ash cue I don't remember lining up hhe shot with the grain pattern.

It was 57in. I read somewhere (think it was Cliff Thornburn's book) that it's best if the cue is roughly level with your underarm, my cue was way higher than this and I used to hold the cue quite a few inches from the end. I'm going for a few hours practise now so will see how it goes.

[Looter]

For most shots I do. If the cue ball is close the object ball I may shortened my bridge and move my hand up a bit. I have a piece of electrical tape on my cue which provides a tactile guide to ensure my hand is in the same place. And like others, the badge faces upwards. Mostly because I saw a video a decade ago where Ronnie suggested this. I'm not sure it makes a difference, but it's habit now.

I might have to look into using electrical tape, thanks for that.

[ace man]

Badge/flat part always faces ceiling in my case. Even when I play with telescopic extension using extended rest.
And it is not only the cue. For example I leave my wallet, phone and car keys on small table by the chair where I sit. Those three items also must have certain part facing the ceiling.
A bit of OCD? Absolutely.

[rdp50734]

Mine has a round badge and I always hold my little finger on it.

I don't know why and the side grain is pretty much on top....

[j6uk]

wherever you hold the cue make sure it dosent rotate as your feathering, bringing the cue back on the back swing, and especially delivering the cue. even the slightest rotation on delivery could take the cue ball off its intended line and/or impart side to the cb

[rich123]

After watching countless video clips and reading some of the excellent posts here on TSF I've developed a pre shot routine which has become habitual and feel it's improved my game. I stand behind the white and determine where the line of the pot, shot is and where I would like the cue ball to be after the shot ....I don't chalk my tip until I am in this position which I find has helped to instill this routine and I have found that along with this pre shot routine I have, without consciously wanting to developed a habit of passing the cue with my bridge arm to my right arm (being right handed) which has somehow allowed me to "feel" the badge plate with my little finger, this happens just before I walk into the shot. Before this I was in the habit of twisting the cue around while down on the shot in a flicking way but there was no rhyme or reason to this just habit. It's funny how other things happen when trying to incorporate good practice into your game, whever this "other things" or additional things are good or bad is open to debate but for me I think the pre shot routine has helped me immensely.

[pottr]

I always hold the cue with the flat down although to anyone setting out, I'd strongly advice you hold it with the flat up.

Whether you're short or not, I wouldn't advise getting a cue shorter than 57 inches for snooker... There's no benefit to a shorter cue unless you're a child.

What Rich123 says about the pre shot routine is important... Practice it until it becomes an unconscious part of your play.

"where do I want the white"? Really should be the only thought you leave room in your head for.