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**tetricky** · 13 July 2015, 11:37 AM

How you spend your money, kind of depends on a key thing. Are you expecting to end up with a cue that feels good to you, or are you prepared to get used to a cue?

You can buy an objectively 'good' cue, and it be a fine stick...but it may not feel right, or work for you. You need to try a lot of cues, understand what works for you (tip size, weight, balance point, length, butt diameter, how lively the shaft, etc). Look might be a consideration to you, the feel of the finish, the number and arrangement of chevrons......you might prefer maple to ash. It might be important to you that it's hand spliced, or you may not care as long as it plays well for you. It's almost impossible for someone else to tell you what a good cue will be for you.

Try as many cues as you can. Try to get a feel for what works for you. Then buy your cue online to those specifications and hope for the best (or be prepared to get used to it).

I originally bought a parris cue (many years ago now) that was what I thought I wanted in a cue. As I understood more about the game, my game, and I developed my action, that became less well suited for me. I've recently aquired a new cue. It cost me £85 online.....which is a total bargain. The problem is that I've been through around twenty cues to get to that point.

There really is no substitute to trying cues, and choosing one that 'feels right'...and I consider myself someone that can adapt to pretty much any cue. It's just that some 'feel' better than others, the balls go in the pockets with more authority, and position is found more naturally. It's all mental, I'm sure, but it does have an impact.

For some people the aesthetics make a big difference, they feel they have a nice cue, and that gives them confidence in it. For others it's a lump of wood that feels right, or it doesn't. When you find the one, you'll know. when I first hit with my £500 parris purchase, I felt mildly deflated. I spent ten years persuading myself it was the right cue for me, but it wasn't. It's not the one I'd save from a fire now, I'd go for the £85 butters one piece that I now adore.

**Zemian** · 13 July 2015, 12:10 PM

Hi,

i get what you're saying. I would try cues if i had access to any, but where i come from the snooker scene is almost non existent, and also i'm not a member of a club.
So far i've only been playing with the cues they have in the racks where i play, which are cheap, bent ones.
I understand that i might not get a subjectively "good" cue even though i spent 500£ on it, but there has to be som objectively "good" cues and "bad" cues (not well made cues).

So what i'm looking for is a objectively good cue...

**phidavi7** · 13 July 2015, 12:20 PM

i would be willing to sell you my snooker cue, if your interested pm me and we can discuss price, specs etc

**tomwalker147** · 13 July 2015, 12:20 PM

Would you be open to buying a second hand cue? If I was to spend £100 on a cue i'd be looking at a good second hand cue in good condition rather than a brand new one.

May be able to get yourself something of good quality.

**tetricky** · 13 July 2015, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Zemian View Post

Hi,

i get what you're saying. I would try cues if i had access to any, but where i come from the snooker scene is almost non existent, and also i'm not a member of a club.
So far i've only been playing with the cues they have in the racks where i play, which are cheap, bent ones.
I understand that i might not get a subjectively "good" cue even though i spent 500£ on it, but there has to be som objectively "good" cues and "bad" cues (not well made cues).

So what i'm looking for is a objectively good cue...

Well, opinion varies. I bought a job lot of four second hand chinese cues off ebay for £50. At least two were pretty good (one maple) for me, in fact good enough to be the pool cue I carry when I don't want to take my one-piece. I have two or three others that were all second hand purchases around the £50 mark, that play well. There are probably as many that I have bought which I really don't like (but some of those other people really like!).

The cues that you would have to kill me for, and prise out of my cold dead hands, are my Butters cues. I paid an average of just under £100 for each of them, from the great man himself on ebay. They're not easy to aquire...they come up sporadically, and you get what you are given...there's no 'ordering'. They are all listed as 'used' which basically means that he makes them, then has a bit of a go with them, before selling them on.

If I wanted to be sure that my £100 was most likely to be well spent, I'd go for one of those. Of the four that I have bought, they are the four best playing cues that I own....but that might be because Mr. Butters tends to make cues that suit me.

....but they tend to be a bit 'rustic', and for most people they need a bit of sanding, polishing of the ferrules, and oiling, to finish off. Some people will tell you they are rubbish and over-rated. I think they're the best value cues I've ever come across. YMMV.

**strobbekoen** · 13 July 2015, 12:48 PM

if you want a new one, take a look at some of the phoenix machine spliced cues - they're pretty good and in that price range.
craftsmancues sells them.

**tetricky** · 13 July 2015, 12:50 PM

...as well as the 'how it plays' aspect, you need to consider whether you can carry a one piece, or if you need a 3/4 joint. Do you need an SD socket for an extension (I always would)? How are you going to store/carry the cue (and all your bits, like an extension)? What sort of tip (...and ferrule) do you want?

**Homer** · 13 July 2015, 06:59 PM

id recommend a Joe Davis 147 cue. Go for a good condition one at around £50, then spend the other £50 getting it refinished and the ferrule to the size you want and you'll have a gem of a cue.

**tetricky** · 13 July 2015, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by Homer View Post

id recommend a Joe Davis 147 cue. Go for a good condition one at around £50, then spend the other £50 getting it refinished and the ferrule to the size you want and you'll have a gem of a cue.

A good condition one for £50? I'm in the market, if you're selling....

***culraven*** · 13 July 2015, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by Homer View Post

id recommend a Joe Davis 147 cue. Go for a good condition one at around £50, then spend the other £50 getting it refinished and the ferrule to the size you want and you'll have a gem of a cue.

If you have a local cue doctor this is a good shout, you can pick up old one piece cues for peanuts that have great shafts that are generally over sized and clean up really well. Only problem is they won't hold there value, you'll end up with a great cue for £80-£100, but will probably get less than half that if you sell it on.

**Zemian** · 14 July 2015, 09:29 AM

Ok, i don't mean to be rude, but it seems like a lot of people is answering without reading the whole thread (i know, it's normal). We've gone from asking what snooker cues are objectively good (and can easily be bought online, alot of the "online stores" i can find are in really bad condition (fcsnooker.co.uk for example......)).

So what i'm looking for is this:
- an objectively good new (unused) cue
- preferably 3/4 jointed
- preferably with an SD-socket
- preferably with a 9,5 mm tip
- a good, simple (working) online store with fast shipping and good service if needed (no emailing, order forms or stuff like that)
- max £100

I understand that whatever you suggest might not suit me even though it's objectively good, but that doesn't matter at this point of time

**tetricky** · 14 July 2015, 09:39 AM

You actually asked for a responders best suggestion.

In the light of your further comments, I'd be taking your specification, and your money to eBay. Second hand you'll get more for the money. There is no objectively good cue for £100. At that price there is always going to be some level of compromise new...you don't appear to know what compromises to make. Second hand drops a lot of decent cues into to your range, and also provides a mechanism for moving them on if they turn up and don't suit.

**guernseygooner** · 14 July 2015, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Zemian View Post

Ok, i don't mean to be rude, but it seems like a lot of people is answering without reading the whole thread (i know, it's normal). We've gone from asking what snooker cues are objectively good (and can easily be bought online, alot of the "online stores" i can find are in really bad condition (fcsnooker.co.uk for example......)).

So what i'm looking for is this:
- an objectively good new (unused) cue
- preferably 3/4 jointed
- preferably with an SD-socket
- preferably with a 9,5 mm tip
- a good, simple (working) online store with fast shipping and good service if needed (no emailing, order forms or stuff like that)
- max £100

I understand that whatever you suggest might not suit me even though it's objectively good, but that doesn't matter at this point of time

£25 more and you could have a new cue from Green Baize

http://www.greenbaize.com/cues-best-value/

**Neil Taperell** · 14 July 2015, 10:13 AM

^^^^^^^^

Yep that is a great shout .

Would look no further than that , Stu's reputation is great as well .

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Cue to be bought online, budget £100

Cue to be bought online, budget £100

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