Butt Thickness

[Son of Cliff]

Hi all

I have had my new Parris Elite cue for a month or so and I am struggling a bit with holding the cue correctly or comfortably which ever it is. I used to hold the cue with the plate on the side, but I had the new cue made so the plate is flat in my hand which is important as I aim with the grain, so this as to be right. (Like Ronnie holds his cue).
The butt is the standard thickness of 30mm, I think I should give it more time so I can get used to the change but I am thinking of getting a new cue with a thicker butt. It is hard to change cues as you never know what is for the best Its a little expensive guessing what will suit yourself.

Regards Mike

[McChen]

hmm...yeah thicker is the harder way to go, if you wanted thinner that would be easy. i prefer a thin butt myself, 29mm. perhaps they can just make a new butt instead of another cue, that would be cheaper.

[Wity]

I cant help but think it's not the thickness but the new grip you have adopted which is your real gripe if you hold the butt so far back with your hand it's actually in contact with the sliced bit.

Blindfold yourself get someone to give you either your old or your new cue to hold. grip it as you did, then as you now do, and then do the same with the other cue. Assuming there's enough simalarity between them to not be able to instantly tell which is which then my guess is you'll not tell them apart. I certainly cant tell a 30mm butt from say a 28mm but my touch is naff anyway.

If you can't tell their thicknesses blindfold then you could get the joint refitted so the v's line up to your liking and revert to what your used to.

If i'm wrong fair enough but if I'm right it'd save you a bundle.

[Blondie]

Hi Mike,

.........and just read your thread, it's an interesting one, and I have a medium cue butt around 30mm/31mm, which works great for me. And as Wity mentioned earlier, just wondering if it maybe worth trying out different grip scenarios with your Parris cue, as by the sounds of it you may not have found the correct grip for the cue yet, or one that feels comfortable, with the butt size you are using.

A grip that works for you, or maybe for me, may not necessarily work for someone else though, although I normally tend to have quite a loose grip, so I can pull the cue back as far as possible, with my wrist dead straight and in line with my forearm. And I also tend to ease the grip of my second and third fingers as the cue swings back too. I've found out previously as well, and lost matches doing it, by sometimes having too tight a grip, which really stops you from being able to pull the cue back far enough.

And this loose style of grip works for me, although my practice partner has what some people would consider to be quite an unorthodox grip in that he tends to have his wrist pointing out to the right, and he grips the cue more with his fingers than the palm of his hand, although this style really works well for him as well with his cue, which has a fairly thick butt, although not sure of exact size. I must admit too, I've tried this grip style as well, and find it's works well for me too, so I tend to alternate as well.

And it is hard as well to work out whether a new cue suits you or not, but I always think you need a breaking-in period of at least 4-6 weeks of regular practice to find out whether the cue is right for your or not. [Sounds alot?, but I think it's worth it because during this time you will be able to get a really good feel for the cue, and hopefully make lots of pots with it, and maybe some as well where it's not just happening for you.] But by not expecting too many miracles, and maybe trying the different grip styles as well, you may find you will feel more comfortable with it.

.............and like the guys' comments earlier, hope this helps a little as well Mike, and good luck with it all....

Lol......xx

[Son of Cliff]

Thanks for your thoughts on the subject I think I will give it a little more time and get some more playing time with the cue. Its hard to concentrate while playing in the middle of the off season

[Watford]

I can the difference between 28 and 30 mm!
My current cue was ordered to be 29-30 when I picked my old cue (which can't be bigger than 31) when having some work done; it felt really fat and I struggled with it.
You just don't have the sensitivity wity!
If someone swopped your cue for a broom handle with some chewing gum on the end would you notice?
I used to hold my cue plate to the side but have been holding plate down for about a year.
I started holding it down on to line up the grain better on my old cue but now I've got a maple so it doesn't matter. I tried hold the cue plate up this week and didn't like it. Maybe you should see if you get used. Otherwise sell you Paris on ebay then get a Trevor White or something and get the grain to run how you want it and the butt exactly right.

[Son of Cliff]

Cheers Watford
These little things are very annoying but I think I will give it some more time with the new cue. I have emailed Trevor White about a new cue but the wife is moaning as she wants new windows for the house, When the finances are in place I will be popping down to Bridgend to see Trevor(should have done that in the first place)

[Watford]

Good move I think!
I love the cue that Trevor made for me!
When I'm rich I might get a copy made as well!

[Wity]

Trevor will do your Windows for you as well I'm sure he's got some good wood nocking round that'll do a better job than pvc ones

lol , least he'd make em to fit most of the double glazing cowboys cant.

[Argee1977]

I have a 28.5mm butt diameter and it feels perfect, i tried a mates 30mm one and i just couldn't get the feel for it.