Quality???

[sonnic]

I am looking at upgrading my VM34 from viking and have seen a lot about these new Cuetec cues. How do they measure up against the Viking or McDermot cues? do you like the cue does it play well?

[PowerOfOne]

I use cuetec but not the latest shaft.

Are you asking about the Slim taper true glide or the new vortex. I don't know anyone using the vortex. http://www.cuetec.net/vortex.htm

[Tanar]

Cuetec was first cue that I bought. I got lucky and had a wood shaft on the cue. Their origional shafts seem to get really sticky and if you are used to playing with a wood shaft, Cuetec is not your answer. Overall, I say they would be a good starter cue. I have not heard anything about their Vortec shafts and if you want to get a 314 put on there, you'll have to visit your friendly neighborhood cuesmith to have it fitted.

[dags_lax]

I have an older Cuetec cue and while it shoots ok the joint collar on the but is loose. You can spin it around. While it doesn't seem to affect the playability (I only used it as a break cue and haven't used it in few years now) it think that it is indicative of the overall quality of some of these newer mass market cue manufacturers.

Check out the thread at http://www.seyberts.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1262 to see what I think about some of the newer cue manufacturers.

[PowerOfOne]

good link dags.

I love mycuetec SST but I do grow tired of answering questions about wearing a glove. -you touched on the reason, the true-glide is much better but not good enough to go "sans" glove like the website says. (This stick surface felt slick/woodlike at the store and then within an hour of playing it was noticable)

What I like most on the SST is the way you can play english shots easily. With my 19oz/nickle taper/lepro tip I can apply all english (left, top left, bottom left...) just by lining my shot up for a center hit - keeping the bridge firmly planted and moving the butt end. Then I never have to account for squirt!

I've had luck using this technicue with Viper's as well.
Soon I will get the predator and will have to learn this stick. (Many of the best players I've seen use predator shafts - sorry cuetec)

[FuzzyMemory]

What I like most on the SST is the way you can play english shots easily. With my 19oz/nickle taper/lepro tip I can apply all english (left, top left, bottom left...) just by lining my shot up for a center hit - keeping the bridge firmly planted and moving the butt end. Then I never have to account for squirt!
Wouldn't only moving the butt end screw up your stroke (with any cue)?

[PowerOfOne]

It doesn't screw up my stroke but it works best if once you are done aiming, hold your focus only on the target point (not the cue ball).... I want to learn a predator because I think a consitant stroke gives the best chance of improving in the long run.

If anyone is thinking of using the pivoting technique - the bottom left and bottom right english often works with any house cue. (I also read this later in an article in billiards digest where a pro used both traditional technique and the pivot)

I see alot of players use a variaton of this where they leave the butt still and slide the bridge to a new location.

[dags_lax]

What ever work for you is great. Many very good players have unconventional strokes. To me it would seem very awkward aiming in one direction shootin in another.

[PowerOfOne]

The transition was not painless!I received my sneeky peete w/z shaft/black collar a week ago and I'm loving it. I've been practicing with it and the english shots seem easier to aim. When I got the new stick I went with the Talisman pro M tip and my cuetec has a lepro.

As for my old cuetec:
The extra bonus is now I have a very good stick for breaking. For League I made balls on 3 of 4 breaks and twice planted the head ball in the side. And I had one Break and runout. (This is all out of character for my breaking recently)

I just thought you guys might want to know how the cuetec to z-shaft transition is going

Mcdermott -- Can never go wrong with owning one. Compare price with quality and their comfortability of use-- only Mcdermott. By the way I own four Mcdermotts and one Cuetec that I never shoot with.