Sorry for another what cue thread :)

[Jay1]

Hey guys. As per my newbie thread i've only recently started playing again. I wouldn't class myself as being particularly good but love the game and want to improve.

At the minute i'm using my old cheapy BCE Ronnie O'Sulivan cue which I got from JJB a few years ago for about £30quid. I don't think it's a lot of cop and would like to get something a bit better.

The problem I have is that I have nowhere that I can go and try cues out so I'm really banking on getting some reasonable advice from people and taking a bit of a punt.

I had been looking online and keep coming accross the Peradon Century which I kinda like the look of. But I know nothing about it really and have no idea if it is a good choice for the money.

Basically my budget is a max of about £120-130 and this will have to include a case if I go for a 3quarter cue. I already have a 50/50 split hard case that I can use if i go that route though.

So the questions are. 1. is there any advantage of a 3 quarter over a 50/50. and 2. does anyone have any recommendations as to cues I should be considering (inc is that peradon any good).

Cheers for any help
Jon

[Jay1]

Anyone?

[Jay1]

Surely someone must be able to offer some advice? No?

[cudntpotaplant]

Id go for an old cue Jay, maybe burroughs n watts, id definately steer away from machine spliced cues. You can get some lovely old cues now for the price u r willing to pay mate.

[Jay1]

Oh right ok. Thanks for the reply mate. Where would I go about looking for an old cue then?

And as for the join, is there any real difference in playability between cues cut iin diferent places?

Thanks again.

[cueman]

I wouldn't say an old cue would be the best option, trouble is with old cues its finding one in good condition and where to go to purchase one. Other than Ebay where there are usually a few now and then, I don't actually know anywhere you can go and buy one directly.
Also I wouldn't be too concerned about machine or hand spliced cues. The only reason you see more hand spliced cues nowadays is because most pros use them and its in high demand. At the end of the day the only purpose the butt serves on a cue is too weight it naturally and Ebony is usually used as its hard wearing and has natural weight, hand spliced cues cost more because the time needed and accuracy to put the splices on, a machine spliced cue does just the same job only quicker and easier.

Take a look at this cue, http://bluemoonleisure.com/Mastercue%20MS.htm
Its a 1 piece cue with a machine spliced butt and a joint fitted above the splices. Made by Mastercue who make very good quality cues, nicely finished and at a really good price. Its a replica cue of Mark Williams playing cue.
Alternatively I think this is a bargain, http://bluemoonleisure.com/Kirkham%20hand%20spliced.htm. This has extensions with it and you will have about £40 or so to get a decent case as well.

[Jay1]

Thanks for that Cueman. Maybe i'll forget the old cue idea then and stick with something new.

The one thing I know I don't want is a one piece so that rules out your first one. Purely for storacge and carrying reasons though, the split cues are far more convenient.

The second one looks intereseting though, although I'm not too fussed about a full on extension, so I may be able to save by getting a cue without this included. I do quite like the idea of the mini extension though, can see this being very handy.

Are the Peradon cues best avoided then? I haven't actually heard anyone say anything particularly good about them, but all of the online places seem to sell them.

[cueman]

The first one is jointed, its above the splices, I know you didn't want a 1 piece cue. The cue is actually made first as a single piece then the joint fitted, IMO 1 piece cues play better and have a better feel, thats really why I suggested it. I don't think you will find many hand spliced cues any cheaper than the £89 quoted for that other cue, even without the extensions so it really is a bargain and extensions really come in handy.

The reason I don't like Peradon cues is because they are nearly all lacquer finished. I prefer an oil or wax finish as its really smooth and doesn't get that sticky, also with lacquered cues the finish tends to wear away and can be unsightly after a while. Other than that Peradon are OK, probably not as good as the other two though.

[Jay1]

Oh right sorry, I misunderstood, I thought you meant it was a single piece cue

Thats good to know about Peradon, I didn't realise there were differences in finishes like that. I can certainly see where your coming from with the laquered finish and think I will avoid that. I know with my old cheaper cue it had a laquered type finish and it does tend to get a bit sticky.

All in all do you think it is worth paying a little extra for hand spliced or is the difference going to be barely noticable. eg: how about this

http://www.snooker-cues-cuecases.co.uk/p416.htm

[cueman]

That is a decent enough cue Jay for what you are looking for, as I said Mastercue are very well made so you can't go wrong with that. Personally I'm not a fan of rosewood butts, its just the colour is a little off putting for me! Machine spliced/hand spliced, really doesn't matter that much, you might find though that most cue makers tend to use a better quality shaft if its for a hand spliced cue rather than a machine spliced one. IMO that's wrong because you should be using good quality wood regardless but that is another reason you will pay more for a hand spliced cue. You won't feel any difference with a machine spliced cue to a hand spliced one, you can't play with a splice!

[Jay1]

Thanks for all your replies mate it's much appreciated, and I feel as though I'm learning something. I had just assumed I guess that the hand sliced cues would play better, purley just because they are more expensive, but like you say you don't hit the ball with the splice. I guess you will never truely be able to judge one cue agains the other without playing them, but unfortunately I don't have that luxury.

So if it was your money, out of the 2 links you posted and the one I did, which would you go for?

I'm thinking I may give the place a call and ask which has a weightier feel, as I don't think I want something to be too light. Would be interested to see which you would go for though.

[cueman]

Either of the Mastercue's probably. I'm not sure who made the Barracuda cue but its not the original company from the 80's who made really good quality cues. Mastercue are one of the biggest cue makers in the world right now and many pros and amatuer players use them. I have seen nothing but praise about the quality of their cues on other snooker forums so I think that speaks volumes for their quality. Good idea to phone them anyway, just to check stock or waiting times. If you've got a good set of scales it might pay you to weigh your current cue to give you an idea of the weight you'd prefer. Anything between 17-19 ozs should be decent.

[Jay1]

Ok mate, thanks yet again. I was leaning towards the Mastercues aswell, as a few other posts on here have mentioned the quality of them, they seem to have a good rep.

Haven't seen any other snooker forums though this was the first one I came accross that anyone seemed to be using.

[GreenBaize]

Hi Jay ,

I've just mailed you , get back to me when you get the time.
All the best ,
Stu

["OO"]

The reason I don't like Peradon cues is because they are nearly all lacquer finished. I prefer an oil or wax finish as its really smooth and doesn't get that sticky, also with lacquered cues the finish tends to wear away and can be unsightly after a while. Other than that Peradon are OK, probably not as good as the other two though.

You can ask the cuesmith the finish you want.... I asked for the butt to be lacqued and the shaft to be oiled...

Voilà!!

"OO"

ps: you pay, you are the "Butt"!