Looking for a new cue online without a chance to test it, what would be best?

[tyfius]

Hello,

I am in the market for a new snooker cue.

Unfortunately, here on the mainland, there aren't many shops around to try or buy decent cues, let alone cue makers. Most shops sell machine spliced cues in the 50 to 150 euro range. My current cue is from that, but it's showing some real tear and wear after the years and I'd like to upgrade. This means that if I want a kind of decent cue I'm sort of forced to buy something online which isn't really ideal because I haven't had the chance to try them out. So weight and balance will be some guess here. Going on a UK road trip around the shops is not possible either.

I was particularly interested in a Mike Wooldridge cue as I've seen some local player playing with one and if looked and felt quite nice (and if I recall correctly, Nic Barrow has one too), but the £750+ price range with his own custom designed joints and extensions is a bit of putting. Given the fact that I'd need to buy a new 1 piece case and extensions too, I'm looking at somewhere near £1000+ and that's asking a big investment. I'm not sure it's worth it.

I was also looking at a Maximus Ultimate, but comparing prices I have found a large difference between the one listed at Craftsman Cues (£745) and the ones listed at Green Baize (£423 up to £484). Can anyone shed some light on what the major price difference might be? As far as I can tell it's the same cue.

Has anyone bought one online without proper testing (and without a year long wait like JP's cues) and if so, any regrets?

Any advice at all on how to approach this will be quite welcome.

[DeanH]

Looking for a new cue online without a chance to test it, what would be best?

you say mainland but can you say approx where you are (phone app don't not show location)
maybe a member may know of somewhere

I have bought without trying a few times and have been lucky

[tyfius]

I'm based in Belgium. But willing to travel to Germany or Holland if there's something decent. But so far my internet search has turned up empty. A lot of pool and billiards, yes, as they are far more popular here.

[narl]

Mike's cues are really nice, price is on the high side but unlike some cuemakers, his work is top notch.

[qc2]

Stu at Greenebaize would happily test and offer his thoughts on any shortlist you may have of his cues

[Mark187187]

I was also looking at a Maximus Ultimate, but comparing prices I have found a large difference between the one listed at Craftsman Cues (£745) and the ones listed at Green Baize (£423 up to £484). Can anyone shed some light on what the major price difference might be? As far as I can tell it's the same cue.

There is quite a price range for these depending on the amount of splicing and the different woods used in the butt. If you're not fussed about that, then the quality of the shaft will be similar for the £400 and the £700.

I bought a cue untested through Greenbaize and it worked for me. Stu asked what specs I wanted, how stiff a shaft I wanted and how much deflection my current cue had at medium pace full length of the table. He then tested a bunch for me and picked 2 out he thought fitted my requirements. I asked him to chose which one he would go for, and he chose the cheaper of the two. Couldn't have been happier when it arrived. I think he picked better than I probably would have done myself.

[fkhan]

You can contact adr, he has some stunning cues in Mac, Precision etc.

https://www.m.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?...adr147&_sop=16

[Delphiwizard]

I'm based in Belgium. But willing to travel to Germany or Holland if there's something decent. But so far my internet search has turned up empty. A lot of pool and billiards, yes, as they are far more popular here.

I'm a fellow Belgian and i actually have a craftsman cue for sale, contact me in case you are interested, i have no idea what region you are from but maybe possible to let you try it out first.

[balkend]

Hi OP I bought a GBL cue from Green Baize just by being impressed by the photos . It was a GBL front splice Amboyna Burl with Curly Satin Veneer 18.6 oz . I notice the guy who Trump barely beat Tip chai Un Noon uses what seems to be the identical cue almost

[wade]

Fellow Belgian here too
I ordered a Maximus Ultimate at Greenbaize about a year ago. It was made to my specs.
Took a few weeks to get used to it, it reacted somewhat different than the JP I was playing with at the time, shaft is more on the stiff side. But now I'm used to it an knocking in breaks again

About the quality: very high standard, perfect splicing, nice arrows, feels extremely smooth,... I rate it better than the JP (or other cues) I have!

A few months later there was another Ultimate for sale on the site with almost exactly the same specs. Couldn't resist and bought it. Got it a few days later.
Quality is also very good. Just a bit longer and a little bit thinner than my other one. After a few weeks of comparing and trying, I kept on using the first one. It just felt more comfortable.

What specs are you looking for?

I highly recommend Greenbaize, they have a lot of high quality cues in stock to choose from. And if you have questions, Stu is a top lad, just ask him