Here is a very simple test that any player can do with any cue, to help get a feel for how well or how poorly the given cue is designed and constructed. This test is structured for a pool table, but something similar can easily be done on a carom table, too.

Place an object ball on the center spot of a table. Now place the cue ball on the head string (or foot string), such that the two balls form a straight-in shot to the corner pocket.

Next, take your stance and stroke the cue ball in to the object ball, with just enough force so that the object ball barely reaches the pocket. For this test, it is not important whether or not the object ball goes in the pocket.

What is important is for the player to remember what the cue felt like in the hands and what it sounded like to the ears. Next, set up the exact same shot and shoot towards the pocket.

But this time, use a full force, break-shot speed stroke. Once again, remember what the cue felt like in the hands and what it sounded like to the ears.

The cue should feel and sound exactly the same for both shots. If the cue vibrates more during the more forceful stroke, or makes any audible noises like a “tink” or a “groan”, then there is a flaw in that cue’s design and/or construction.

For these vibrations and noises that you feel, is energy from your stroke, being wasted by the cue, which is very undesirable trait. Okay, you’ve decided to go out and spend several hundred (or several thousand) dollars of your hard earned money on a new cue.

But what do you look for? How can you tell you are getting your money’s worth?

Here are a few simple tips. First and foremost, the cue must have a good solid, consistent hit.

Any player can do this test with any cue. But there are also many other things to look for in a cue, to help you determine the overall quality of the cue. In the following paragraphs, a few of the more important ones, such as balance, points and inlays, alignment and symmetry and overall finish will be discussed.

Proper neutral balance is extremely important in a cue. If the cue is front heavy, then weight must be added in the butt to balance the cue at the proper point.

While the cue may indeed have its center of balance near or at the correct spot, there is so much mass on the ends of the cue, that it may feel heavy and awkward (something like a small barbell. Rounded tips on points and inlays should be an indication that a cuemaker decided to not spend the extra time on them.

Also, hardwood points should be deep, full miter cut points. A primary objective of the hardwood point is to strengthen and stabilize the base wood.

This objective is best accomplished with deep, mitered points. Symmetry and alignment are very important points, when evaluating the workmanship and esthetics of a cue.

Here are some tips to keep your cue from warping. Don’t lean your cue up against any surface, such as a wall or the pool table. This can cause the tip of the cue to bend.

Don’t leave your cue next to any heat source, such as a radiator or fireplace. Don’t store it in extreme hot or cold-such as a basement or attic or hot car. It takes little to warp a shaft, so be sure not to leave your cue in direct sunlight.

When storing your cue, store it flat, preferably in a hard cue case. Hard cue cases are always better than soft cue cases, providing greater protection for your stick from extreme Kamagra Soft temperatures and moisture.

Make sure that when you’re storing your cue you don’t need to put any pressure on it. Repetitive pressure on the cue can also lead to warping. Banging the butt of the cue against any hard surface is also not recommended, so be careful Levitra not to drop the cue.

If your cue does warp, a slight warp can be fixed by bending it back into shape. However, don’t overdo this as you can easily further damage the cue. Serious warping will likely require the purchase of a new shaft for your cue.

Never use sandpaper or other abrasive materials on your cue, as this will ruin the finish and playability of your cue. It is important to clean your cue with a shaft slicker or other cloth used specifically for this purpose. Use a slightly moist cloth or tissue to wipe away stains on the cue.

The tip of the cue needs to be maintained to keep a quality shape that will hold chalk. Specific tools are made for this purpose so you can maintain the tip on your own.

Use good chalking technique. The hole in a chalk should be relatively shallow when you chalk, protecting the rest of the cue from it.

Author Bio: Jack R. Landry has played professional billiards for the last 19 years and written hundreds of articles about billiards and pool tables.

Contact Info:
Jack R. Landry
JackRLandry@gmail.com
http://www.PoolTables.com

Category: Recreation and Leisure/Sports
Keywords: Pool Tables