taking snooker back up again

[grantlowery]

after losing intrest i took a break from snooker about 2 years, im starting to think about taking it up again, im just wondering what cue to get i used to have a mastercue 147 3 quater joint with all the extensions, i sold it after i stopped playing, i want to spend about 130 max i would like maple mainly becasue i prefer a whiter shaft but they are very hard to get hold of in my area, i live around an hour from craftsman cues in yorkshire have you got any suggestions?

thanks

[..KiD DyNaMiTe..]

Go for Master Cue again I got the Pro-Butt Series 4, buy a cue off the internet

http://www.planetsnooker.com/mastercues.htm

[cueman]

depends really on what you want from a cue. Just because you had a mastercue 147 model before doesn't mean to say that if you bought another one that it would be as good. I'd wait until after Xmas because I don't think Craftsman will have that many cues in stock. Also they don't tend to have many cues in maple so if you are definitely looking for a maple cue I'd look elsewhere.
Mastercraft cues do good quality cues in ash or maple. My mate has a 1 peice maple cue from mastercraft and its a very well made stick. They are pretty reasonably priced too and you could definitely get what you are looking for with £130 to spend.

Just a note though, maple does play differently to ash so be prepared to adapt to it.

[grantlowery]

i need to make sure i try the cue out first i dont want to buy a cue without trying it out. its not really the playabiltliy of the cue its the asthetics are prefer a lighter colour shaft, i find it more appealing

[cueman]

I totally agree with what your are saying but I think you are going to struggle to find somewhere that has many, if any, maple cues for you to try out. Most cue manufacturers will make up most of their cues in ash so unless someone knows any different I think you might be struggling to find what you're looking for.

[grantlowery]

i think i will still get an ash cue, but maybe look for a cue with a lighter coloured ash, definately get just a plain ebony but though had enough of exotic veneers lol

[ADR147]

best idea would be to visit craftsman and try a few out because its always best to try a cue if you can. ukrit from mastercue has vanished of late and the quality of their cues is not what it once was, the last batch i got had uneven splices, joints falling out etc etc.. so i would avoid them. you could try o'min - actually i have one on ebay just now!

[Watford]

I agree 100% with ADR if I had £130 to spend I'd def go to Craftsman and try a few out. Last time I was there I saw a few nice maple cues so at least you could give one a good try there.
Or you could ebay!
I've heard some good things about O'min but never played with one!

[grantlowery]

ive had a century cue from craftsman and it was very quality, i really like the plain ebony but look so i think im going to get the 147 cue it just fits my eye

[ADR147]

I agree 100% with ADR if I had £130 to spend I'd def go to Craftsman and try a few out. Last time I was there I saw a few nice maple cues so at least you could give one a good try there.
Or you could ebay!
I've heard some good things about O'min but never played with one!

o'min are superb cues - truely a higher standard then you get elsewhere, for the same quality here you would need to go to robert osbourne or trevor white and your bill would be double.

[ADR147]

ive had a century cue from craftsman and it was very quality, i really like the plain ebony but look so i think im going to get the 147 cue it just fits my eye

what length and tip size? - try their classic range it will save you some money!

[grantlowery]

i think im going for their standard range, they offer alot more weights, sizes ans tip sizes, im only sure of the legnth 58"

[ADR147]

they will sort the length weight and tip size on more or less any cue free of charge.