On Which side to hold the cue?

[Guy3103]

Hi Everyone,

I'm playing with a cue that has a butt that is not rounded (don't know how its called). The other day while practicing I noticed that the arrow like chevrons are on the side of the nameplate/disc. Since then I'm holding the cue with the nameplate facing upwards which basically has me looking through the arrowed chevrons while aiming, something I never noticed or payed attention to before.

Before, I held the cue with the nameplate facing leftwards, having my finger tips on it. Obviously I'm more comfortable holding the cue this way since this is what I got used to over the years.

My question is whether it is very important to hold the cue with the nameplate facing upwards and what it gives? I'm still hesitant on going on trying to get used to holding the cue this way.

My 1st post in the new year so Happy New Year to you all!

[hotpot]

Welcome to the forum guy , it does,nt matter at all . its what you feel comfortable with . Judd Trump is the only player i can think of that holds the cue with the badge facing sideways and he seems to bo doing ok .

[tomw]

I saw this weekend Stephen Hendry also holds his cue "sideways".
Which is quite remarkable, because he plays with an Acuerate and you get the low(est) deflection when you hold the cue "upwards" (so Chris Henry told me when I bought mine)...

[deant1982]

Hi Everyone,

I'm playing with a cue that has a butt that is not rounded (don't know how its called). The other day while practicing I noticed that the arrow like chevrons are on the side of the nameplate/disc. Since then I'm holding the cue with the nameplate facing upwards which basically has me looking through the arrowed chevrons while aiming, something I never noticed or payed attention to before.

Before, I held the cue with the nameplate facing leftwards, having my finger tips on it. Obviously I'm more comfortable holding the cue this way since this is what I got used to over the years.

My question is whether it is very important to hold the cue with the nameplate facing upwards and what it gives? I'm still hesitant on going on trying to get used to holding the cue this way.

My 1st post in the new year so Happy New Year to you all!

Doesn't matter in the slightest.. Try to hold the cue the same every time (where feasible). Mark Williams (apparantly) holds his with the chamfor (flat bit) facing down so the "arrows/chevrons" are on the top. It makes no difference.

Welcome to the forum guy. It doesn't matter at all . Its what you feel comfortable with. Judd Trump is the only player I can think of that holds the cue with the badge facing sideways and he seems to bo doing ok.

Exactly. Trump holds his cue the same as I hold mine. Personal preference is all it is. To me, it feels more comfortable, and I have never liked looking down "arrows" so it works out for me this way.

I saw this weekend Stephen Hendry also holds his cue "sideways".
Which is quite remarkable, because he plays with an Acuerate and you get the low(est) deflection when you hold the cue "upwards" (so Chris Henry told me when I bought mine)...

Hendry doesn't use an "Acuerate" any more. After Acuerate, he had an "LP" I think it was, and is currently using a Parris Ultimate 3/4, with curly maple and rosewood splicing similar to his old connie.

[tomw]

I don't think you looked well this weekend... the trademark "Acuerate-line" above the logo was clearly showing!

As a matter of fact, Stephen has a brand new Acuerate. The (Belgian) Eurosport-commentator said he spoke to Chris Henry just before, and Stephen was very happy with this cue. (it showed, he was playing very well I think)

[DeanH]

With my old cue I had the flat (or chamfer) downwards but when I got a new cue it definitely felt much better and hit better with the flat up
As others all said, it is personal preference and what you feel with that particular cue.
all the best
cheers

[thelongbomber]

The flat bit, or chamfer, that shows up on a lot of cues was originally designed to let you slide the cue along the table in order to pot a long distance ball back before Joe Davis's day. Then someone smart invented a rest and the chamfor/bevel never went away.

Turns out it actually can play a bit of a role in your cue action. Depending on how you learned to cue, and to open/close your hand during your cue action, your chamfor might come to some use. I played my best and learned my fundamentals with the chamfor facing up. Now I can't seem to play without a chamfor on my cue.

When cueing, your hand is meant to open as you swing back, and close as you swing through (and close as late as possible really so as to catch the cue at the very latest point). The bevel starts to actually play a very important role because the opening/closing of your hand can be affected by the flat bit.

If you don't know how to use it, try it with the bevel down, and then with the bevel up. I think cue makers intend the bevel to be down in most cases, and line up the chevrons of the cue so it's facing down.

[the nugget]

Stephen Lee might also hold his with the bevel sideways also

[Luke Hooper]

i used to always hold my first cue with the badge sideways, so it fitted in the groove of my hand as it was most comfortable... when i went into the Parris shop about 2 years or so ago now i was testing out cues and John showed me that the best way was to hold the cue and aim down the chevrons... i tried this for a while at first and found it so weird that even after i bought my cue from there... i tried to hold the badge sideways like with my old cue but it just didn't feel right so i used to switch back to my first cue....

i eventually thought id just get used to it and see how i go... now i can't hold it any other way lol... you can kinda see whether or not you are cueing straight or gripping the cue too tight, as if the chevrons twist as you cue through, you're not delivering the cue straight... so its a much better way to do it in my opinion...

[pottr]

I can't play without one and I have to hold it facing down... I use it to judge where to grip the cue on shots of different lengths.

One of the cuemakers on here could tell us for sure but it was my belief that the cue was supposed to be held with the flat facing upwards?

[Terry Davidson]

The theory is the flat on the butt should match the chevrons on the ash shaft. In the straight up or straight down position it means the shaft is a little more stiff in flex in the sideways direction (against the grain) but I'm not really sure there's any player around who can tell the difference.

I hold mine so the butt is comfortable in my hand as I hold my cue quite far back at the end of the butt and I have the flat against the side of the fingers which seems to be more comfortable.

Terry

[pottr]

Comfort it seems is certainly the key.