Fastest Cue in the West

[Particle Physics]

What cue did ROS use for his record speed 147 at the Crucible? I ask because Ronnie is quoted as saying that his Parris cue took his shot making and break building to another level and I wondered if he was using a Parris back then? Apparently, according to Terry Griffiths, a Parris cue has more power and spin and less deflection. How?

[Terry Davidson]

This is done with a slightly more whippy shaft flex. Most cues today are made 'medium-stiff' to 'stiff' but to get that 'snap' you need a 'medium' flex (and of course a good technique to go along with it).

I'm trying out some medium flex cues right now and I can guarantee you with the slightly more whippy shaft I do get more spin on the cueball, even with my lousy technique. Some purists will insist you lose some long ball potting accuracy, but I haven't noticed that as yet.

Terry

[Particle Physics]

This is done with a slightly more whippy shaft flex. Most cues today are made 'medium-stiff' to 'stiff' but to get that 'snap' you need a 'medium' flex (and of course a good technique to go along with it).

I'm trying out some medium flex cues right now and I can guarantee you with the slightly more whippy shaft I do get more spin on the cueball, even with my lousy technique. Some purists will insist you lose some long ball potting accuracy, but I haven't noticed that as yet.

Terry

Well, Judd Trump has a very whippy cue (as discussed) and his accuracy seems fine to me! lol

When you say whippy shaft, is this down to the wood, or the tapering Terry?

[narl]

O Sullivans cue back then was a heavily modified burwat champion jointed through the splices. It was rebuilt and jointed by Parris cues and apparently they'd been doing work to it for years.

[Terry Davidson]

It is actually down to both. If you go for a nearly conical taper, meaning say start at 9.5mm ferrule and then have the taper increase around 1mm for every 3" from the ferrule you'll end up with a butt diameter of around 28.5" for a 57" cue.

Initially, I figured it was primarily the taper only but recognizing that every piece of ash is different. This theory got shot all to hell as I recently received an Andy Travis cue and Andy had done the tape perfectly to what I asked but the cue still seems to be a bit stiff for me. It's a beautiful cue though.

I also have a 58" MW coming with a medium taper according to Mike's expertise and also a 57" Dave Coutts cue coming with Dave's expertise on a medium flex.

It's mostly down to the thickness of the shaft in the 2ft to 3ft area from the ferrule which sets how stiff that flex will be (but again you will have some differences depending on the density of the ash itself). A good cuemaker should be able to take any piece of ash and get you the flex you want.

I know a lot of members on here say they prefer a 'stiff' cue but I think they are going the wrong way and should at least try out a medium flex cue with the right tip size. Also, in the USA the pool players are now saying with a slightly whippier shaft you will get less cueball deflection as the cue will deflect before the cueball. This may or may not be correct, but it seems to make sense to me

Terry

[Particle Physics]

It is actually down to both. If you go for a nearly conical taper, meaning say start at 9.5mm ferrule and then have the taper increase around 1mm for every 3" from the ferrule you'll end up with a butt diameter of around 28.5" for a 57" cue.

Initially, I figured it was primarily the taper only but recognizing that every piece of ash is different. This theory got shot all to hell as I recently received an Andy Travis cue and Andy had done the tape perfectly to what I asked but the cue still seems to be a bit stiff for me. It's a beautiful cue though.

I also have a 58" MW coming with a medium taper according to Mike's expertise and also a 57" Dave Coutts cue coming with Dave's expertise on a medium flex.

It's mostly down to the thickness of the shaft in the 2ft to 3ft area from the ferrule which sets how stiff that flex will be (but again you will have some differences depending on the density of the ash itself). A good cuemaker should be able to take any piece of ash and get you the flex you want.

I know a lot of members on here say they prefer a 'stiff' cue but I think they are going the wrong way and should at least try out a medium flex cue with the right tip size. Also, in the USA the pool players are now saying with a slightly whippier shaft you will get less cueball deflection as the cue will deflect before the cueball. This may or may not be correct, but it seems to make sense to me

Terry

I concur with all of this Terry. My Phoenix is conical going from 9.6mm to about a 29mm at the butt. Ruler straight up the shaft. It's quite a thinnish shaft for me, a fair bit of flex. I'm noticing more power compared to my old cue.

Did your Andy Travis have lots of chevrons and tight grain? I believe that timber with lots of grain and chevrons was slower growing and to me, this intuitively says it's stronger and stiffer all things being equal. My Phoenix only has four chevrons and wide grain. It was a pretty fast growing tree, and I wonder if this has also made it a bit more whippy than otherwise?

Perhaps some cue makers can tell us more about the effect of different grain and timber?

[Particle Physics]

O Sullivans cue back then was a heavily modified burwat champion jointed through the splices. It was rebuilt and jointed by Parris cues and apparently they'd been doing work to it for years.

He says on John's site that he's had three Parris cues, so I'm guessing he's changed his cue three times since that record; that's a fair bit.

[ADR147]

He says on John's site that he's had three Parris cues, so I'm guessing he's changed his cue three times since that record; that's a fair bit.

he has changed much more than that he has had at least 3 parris cues i would think more. he has also had glover cues and robert osborne. it was a burwat champion for that break though.

[Terry Davidson]

PP:

The AT cue which I just got two days ago has fairly tight and straight grain but not a whole bunch of chevrons, 4 I think, no more than the GB cue which has a true medium flex. The other thing is the AT cue has a fairly sharp sound with the hit, almost like hitting the cueball with a pipe or something which I'm trying to find a solution for. It's not bad but it does sound different than my other cues here.

It may be totally wrong, but I think it has something to do with the harmonics in the wood. If I screw in the mini-butt the cue sounds less sharp and really weird if I attach the tele-extension the cue sounds normal so I've asked Andy to make me up a butt plug which I hope will change the sound to a more normal one.

Terry

[vmax4steve]

so I've asked Andy to make me up a butt plugTerry

OOOoouuhhh Maaaaatron !!

[vmax4steve]

This is done with a slightly more whippy shaft flex. Most cues today are made 'medium-stiff' to 'stiff' but to get that 'snap' you need a 'medium' flex (and of course a good technique to go along with it).

I'm trying out some medium flex cues right now and I can guarantee you with the slightly more whippy shaft I do get more spin on the cueball, even with my lousy technique. Some purists will insist you lose some long ball potting accuracy, but I haven't noticed that as yet.

Terry

I would imagine that a more flexible shaft should allow the tip to contact the cue ball for a few milliseconds longer due to the shaft having more give. Same as for a softer tip I suppose, cue ball not bouncing immediately off it due to that lttle bit more give, longer contact equalling better grip. Just need to get used to the feel of it for side spin but plain ball shouldn't make any difference to potting.

[Inoffthered]

according to Terry Griffiths, a Parris cue has more power and spin and less deflection. How?

Good, clever marketing.. ( and a gullible client base? )

Trevor White and Mike Wooldridge cues are easily as good ( and sometimes a fraction of the price ).

[sydneygeorge]

When comparing two cues by the same maker I found that the stiffer shaft ( 1 piece cue ) delivered greater accuracy when playing off the cushion shots than the more flexible cue ( a 3/4 almost the same spec. ) but I found no difference when potting long straight blues.
My over all preference is with the more flexible cue, why ?
Not really sure, but I find there is more " feel " in the shot with the flexible cue,both cues were fitted with Kamui MH tips.

Inoffthered, dear friend, trust me, the price difference between these makers is sweet F..k All when you compare apples to apples.

[narl]

he has changed much more than that he has had at least 3 parris cues i would think more. he has also had glover cues and robert osborne. it was a burwat champion for that break though.

Id love to know when he was using the cue on the parris gallery, just a 1 piece cue with plain black butt that was his new cue for 2006, i can't recall seeing him using it, since around 99 i believe with the exception of the h&o its been all burwat champion styled ultimates. On the webpage this is titled "Ronnies new cue, 2006".

Working_with_Ronnie_11_medium.jpg

[ADR147]

never seen him playing with a plain cue. met him in perth one he had a cue with 4 splices on the bottom.