Ash shafts ??

[cuesmith]

I have access to some pretty nice air dried Ash Dowels which seem just about perfect for snooker shafts, at a very reasonable price (compared to hard maple) and was considering picking some up. I was given a few to "TEST" and even though I deliberately rushed them through the turning process, just to get a couple to size, they came out very straight. I've never made any shafts from Ash in the past but I've worked on several over the years and know that a lot of snooker cues were made with Ash shaftwood. I'm just wondering if there still seem to be a market for Ash shafts in the Snooker world?? Any opinions??



just more hot air!~

Sherm Adamson

Sherm Custom Billiard Cues
Cincinnati, Ohio
www.shermcue.com

Edit - Link left in. Not advertising

[snazzydevil]

I'm not a cue connisseur, so I don't have much of an opinion on the matter. I'd play with a broom stick if it had a decent tip.
Whats the difference to play between maple and ash?
And more importantly, whats the price of one of these cues?
Fifty austalian dollars is about as much as i'll pay for a cue. I'm no pro.

I have access to some pretty nice air dried Ash Dowels which seem just about perfect for snooker shafts, at a very reasonable price (compared to hard maple) and was considering picking some up. I was given a few to "TEST" and even though I deliberately rushed them through the turning process, just to get a couple to size, they came out very straight. I've never made any shafts from Ash in the past but I've worked on several over the years and know that a lot of snooker cues were made with Ash shaftwood. I'm just wondering if there still seem to be a market for Ash shafts in the Snooker world?? Any opinions??



just more hot air!~

Sherm Adamson

Sherm Custom Billiard Cues
Cincinnati, Ohio
www.shermcue.com

[Snooker]

I dont think the cue matters. If you have natural tallent you should be able to play with anything, most of todays pro's have cheap cues, look how far Stephen Hendry has got he got his from his local snooker club for £3.

My advise is to save you money, aslong as the cue is streight with a good tip, thats all that matters.

[snazzydevil]

Thats pretty much what I thought. My cue is cheap, it looks nice, i find it comfortable to hold, it's striaight, and most important...it's tip is good.
If I had an expensive cue I probably wouldn't use it. I think some people think that unless they have an extremely expensive piece of maple artwork, that they can't play well. Which is bollocks.

I dont think the cue matters. If you have natural tallent you should be able to play with anything, most of todays pro's have cheap cues, look how far Stephen Hendry has got he got his from his local snooker club for £3.

My advise is to save you money, aslong as the cue is streight with a good tip, thats all that matters.

[Colin]

Hi Guys,

This is my first post here after finding this site on Google's paid listings. I do wish the admin good luck on this site as there is a dire need for a decent snooker discussion website.

Regarding shaft wood types, I do prefer maple as it is usually stiffer and I believe this can reduce cue ball deflection on power shots with side.

The only thing that goes against maple is that it tends to pick up more moisture in humid conditions...but I play with a glove when that becomes a problem.

With ash, you pay the big bucks for flukey shaft pieces that happen to have very regular and nice looking arrow patterns in the grain. These don't aid performance unless perhaps you are dependent on looking down the arrows.

btw: I run my own website with articles on snooker instruction. Plenty of food for thought and it's all free. Don't forget to sign up for the free monthly newsletter too.
www.cuezine.com

Colin

[snazzydevil]

I find that no matter what cue i'm using or whatever the conditions, i need to use my glove. Otherwise it's just too sticky. And it really annoys the hell out of me.

I'll be sure and check your site out this evening. I'd look now but i'm at work and I can't.
Anyway Col, you sound like you know what you're talking about compared to us amatuers. Whats your history? Pro? Coach? PLay lots of comps?

[Colin]

I find that no matter what cue i'm using or whatever the conditions, i need to use my glove. Otherwise it's just too sticky. And it really annoys the hell out of me.

I'll be sure and check your site out this evening. I'd look now but i'm at work and I can't.
Anyway Col, you sound like you know what you're talking about compared to us amatuers. Whats your history? Pro? Coach? PLay lots of comps?

Hi SD,
I grew up with a snooker table at home, went on to play semi-pro pool after uni, did a fair bit of coaching. Basically 30 years in the game though I'm just 38yo.

Studied the physics of the game a lot, organised tournaments and sold sponsorship, wrote for billiard websites and set up cuezine.com a few months ago.

Basically I'm a fanatic who wants to promote the game and make it easier for guys like yourself to become good players by getting the best advice early on.

I had to learn the slow way...through a few crappy books and trial and error. The learning process can be much faster these days.

Cheers mate,

[snazzydevil]

Easier for people like me? But i'm 27 years old. What chance do i have against someone that has been playing since they were 5 years old?

Basically I'm a fanatic who wants to promote the game and make it easier for guys like yourself to become good players by getting the best advice early on.

I had to learn the slow way...through a few crappy books and trial and error. The learning process can be much faster these days.

Cheers mate,

[Colin]

Easier for people like me? But i'm 27 years old. What chance do i have against someone that has been playing since they were 5 years old?

Well I guess I meant for new players....age is not necessarily a big obstacle to becoming a great player. Maybe it's a big obstacle to becoming a pro though.

Many players have played for 20, 30, 40 years or more and have never accumulated a high set of skills.

With hard practice, following good principles a player completely new to the game can become an elite level player within a year. At least in terms of skills. For match experience such as coping with pressure, and learning strategy, that may take longer.

[GreenBaize]

I have access to some pretty nice air dried Ash Dowels which seem just about perfect for snooker shafts, at a very reasonable price (compared to hard maple) and was considering picking some up. I was given a few to "TEST" and even though I deliberately rushed them through the turning process, just to get a couple to size, they came out very straight. I've never made any shafts from Ash in the past but I've worked on several over the years and know that a lot of snooker cues were made with Ash shaftwood. I'm just wondering if there still seem to be a market for Ash shafts in the Snooker world?? Any opinions??



just more hot air!~

Sherm Adamson

Sherm Custom Billiard Cues
Cincinnati, Ohio
www.shermcue.com

Edit - Link left in. Not advertising

for snooker cues Ash is by far the most popular ,i would say about 80% of snooker players in the UK use ash shafts .