Chinese Cues on Amazon

[BigDazUK]

Apologies for this being my first post, but I've been searching the web trying to find a reason not to buy a cheap Chinese cue from amazon. I'm pretty new to snooker, I only play once a week or so with friends but I wanted to get a new, half decent cue. I'm considering trying to join a local team if I get a little better. I can't really justify spending 100s of pounds at the moment. I've seen lots nice looking cues on amazon and wondered are they too good to be true? things usually are in life.

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post links in here, if not please remove mods. I was looking at this from Cuesoul
Cuesoul Classic Handmade 57" Rosewood 3/4 Piece Snooker Cue with Cue Case and Extension

Or would I be better going to a sports shop and buying a £50 mass produced cue?

[BigDazUK]

Any advice on cues of a similar price would be welcome. Anything under £100 that is good for a new player. Thanks

[tetricky]

Any advice on cues of a similar price would be welcome. Anything under £100 that is good for a new player. Thanks

What sort of specs? At under a hundred quid I'd recommend looking out for an unbadged James butters (I have five). I've never seen another cue I'd rather buy for that money. For a one piece I've paid between £110 and £80, and he did offer some really nice 3/4's a couple of weeks ago for £70-80. If you buy from his ebay account, you can beat the hundred quid mark. It can be up to twice that for a badged one, and I don't personally think there is twice the difference in quality (I have a very good example of one of those too).

[BigDazUK]

thanks for the reply. I'm not entirely sure on specs. I'm 6 foot 2 but would be happy with a standard length cue. I'd prefer a reasonably heavy cue. I've looked but don't seem to be able to find a James butters ebay page.

[tetricky]

You need to look for the seller "joolsbrorunner". He currently has a hidden joint, and it looks like a 3/4 up for sale. I recommend sending him a message and seeing what he would take for them if you are interested. No one pieces currently. He tends to make them around 18.25"....which is a larg-ish standard (and suits me as a 6'er).

[BigDazUK]

I messaged joolsbrorunner to see if he had a buy it now price and he said no. So I guess I'll look elsewhere then.

[tetricky]

This is a significant problem, and supply is not profligate or guaranteed. Therefore acquiring one can be problematic and require patience, but it pays off....and can be a lot less of a wait than ordering a cue from abroad, or waiting for a custom job from a cue maker. I'm biased because he makes cues that really suit me. I look at other stuff, and normally think I'd rather buy another Butters!

...of course it wont be worth it for everyone, and there are lots of nice and very reasonably priced cues around. It's an individual thing and what you feel comfortable with.

....anyway....that reminds me...need a finishing oil coat on the latest one, and when I've finished with the oil I can re-tip. That's the other problem with a Butters...they generally benefit from a bit of extra finishing.

[BigDazUK]

I've been looking at some from ADR147 on here too. He's got some nice looking cues, slightly more than I wanted to pay and without the extras such as case and extension. That's not a huge deal for me. But I'm still considering the Chinese one. I don't mind waiting a few weeks for delivery. I just want something that will play nice and last me many years.

[tetricky]

It may workout for you like that, it might not. I bought a Parris with a similar idea some years ago. It doesn't suit me at all now. Get what you think is right for you and see how you get on. Playing and getting used to a cue as you develop will give you a better idea where you are. Get something nice but not too expensive, that you can get a similar return on if you decide you want something different is a good way to go.

[Ricky2112]

Apologies for this being my first post, but I've been searching the web trying to find a reason not to buy a cheap Chinese cue from amazon. I'm pretty new to snooker, I only play once a week or so with friends but I wanted to get a new, half decent cue. I'm considering trying to join a local team if I get a little better. I can't really justify spending 100s of pounds at the moment. I've seen lots nice looking cues on amazon and wondered are they too good to be true? things usually are in life.


I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post links in here, if not please remove mods. I was looking at this from Cuesoul
Cuesoul Classic Handmade 57" Rosewood 3/4 Piece Snooker Cue with Cue Case and Extension

Or would I be better going to a sports shop and buying a £50 mass produced cue?

Also considering one of these cue of eBay but seem to good to be true. I have a nice one peace but looking for a more portable 3/4 size. Have you heard of anyone buying one of these cues?
Cheers Ricky

[BigDazUK]

Anyone know much about these Mark Richards cues?

MR King 57" Handmade 3/4 Piece SNOOKER CUE

[yinyufei]

Well, I'm Chinese, and I have never heard nor seen this brand. The most famous Chinese cue maker is called LP, their products are not bad, but I assume they are not available in the UK.
If your budget is only around 100 quid, maybe try secondhand ones on eBay or whatever trading website commonly used in the UK , a snooker cue doesn't really suffer from normal use.