cue weight...

[petieboinyj]

hello again ....question...
what weight should i be using in order to get better...i use a 20 oz cue now but i dont know...should i go down to a lighter cue ...maybe a 18 or 19???

[spartan]

I would try the 19. It is a good weight to start with. You can try lighter and heavier cues and decide which weight you like best. 19 oz has worked for many great players.

[skor]

The thumb rule that I use to advise to players about the weigh is Get the lightest weight that you still feel comfortable with
The general consensus is that lighter is better BUT what good would a light cue do if it doesn't feel right, although I do belive that one can adjust and get used to any weight after a while.

Finding a cue at the exact weight that is specified on a cue it's a very hard task, the actual weight is never the exact weight.
I would suggest to look for a cue between 18.5 to 19 oz, I think it would be better if the cue is 18.8oz then if it would be 19.2oz

[dags_lax]

I prefer a lighter cue butt for me balance is more important than weight. I like a cue that is more forward weighted. It feels more comfortable on the occasions when it it is necessary to jack up the butt. Of course this is just my opinion. Others may like the weight towards the butt as it may help to keep the stroke from wobbling side to side. A heavier cue with a forward balance may feel lighter than a light cue that is weighed towards the butt.

But whatever your preferences may be, Skor's advice is right. Go with the lightest cue that feels comfortable for you. All other things being equal, joint, tips stiffness of the shaft, a lighter cue will give a little better feedback on the hit.

[petieboinyj]

if you guys dont mind me asking...what are your levels at??
like A B C players??? or like in a scale from 1 to 10....just curious..
and please guys...lets be honest..

[skor]

It's hard for me to tell you my level since in the last few years I've competed only in events that did not have any handicap systems.
I would rate my self as a B player, last few times that I played people that were visiting me and that they are APA SL-6 (8ball), I kicked their behind.... so if I was playing with the APA then I think that my SL would have been a 6 or maybe even a starting 7.

I also maintain the cues of all the members of the Official Israeli team that are representing Israel in all official tournaments.

I hope this helps 8)

[petieboinyj]

thats awsome..i didnt know that but now that i do..im very impressed..im a apa sl 7 so you would probably kick my ass too lol.

[txplshrk]

I started playing pool with a 21 Ounce. I used that for several years while in the military and got really good with it. I then started to get serious about my game, and I realized that most people with an 18 or 19 ounce had better control of the cue ball. I was over powering my cue ball and causing a lot of long leaves. I then shot with some 18 - 19 ounces and found that 18.5 on my McDermott was about right. Wish someone would have taught me that earlier. I have been shooting with that for about a year now, and it is unreal how much better I am at leaving the cue ball where I want it. I would suggest trying different weights and finding one that feels comfortable to you. I have some cues that came with my table, and I adjusted the weight in all of my cues that came with the table. I shoot really well with the 17 ounce but the balance is different than my McDermott. So that probably explains why I shoot good with 18.5 on my McDermott, but a 17 with my house cues.

[Black_Cat_5791]

S/L 6 APA 8-BALL FORMAT. 8)

GETTING BETTER EVERYDAY 8)

Black Cat 8)

[dags_lax]

Our league system isn't APA so we don't have a numerical ranking system. What we do have is a committee of players that classifies players by looking at league standings, tournament results, the players history, and a subjective "feel" for the players game. This committee seems to have more respect for my game than I do as they have me on the A list.

[txplshrk]

I play in a BCA (or so called BCA) league and they go by a handicap. I don't know if it is exactly how BCA is supposed to be done, but that is how this league does it. Ratings are from 1-10 with 10 being the highest. No one in my league is a 10, but there is one that is getting pretty close. I am an 8 by this system.

[DZ314]

I am a BCA 8 in 8 ball as well. :P

[nathar]

In APA I am currently a 4 in both 8 & 9-ball. But after the week I've just had I think that is about to change. I beat a SL6 in 8-ball this week in 3 straight games in less than 10 innings. Needless to say, he was not a happy camper. And that with a lot of accusations of sandbagging being thrown around. For the most of the last session in 9-ball I was ranked a 5 until I hit a bad run of matches. Now I believe I am ready to go back up to a 5 and stay there. 8)

[mechmat]

How many sessions have you played? Have you had a lot of really great nights like that? When they figure your rank they're supposed to throw out your best and worst match so your rank will be indicative of your average play. So if that's your best match to date, it won't count but if you've had other really good matches they will come into play in your ranked matches.

The only time I've ever heard of people being bumped up because of one match was at sectional and national tournaments when the spotter decided they were playing too good for their rating.

[nathar]

I've been playing 8-ball for almost 2 full years now. And I have been on a pretty nice run as of late, routinely beating higher ranked players rather convincingly. And I shoot alot of defence too. And I know all about getting bumped up at the regionals. That was when I went up from a 3 to a 4. Funny thing was though, that the next week in league I was back down to a 3. :? I still don't get it. As for 9-ball, I am only in my 2nd session. My first session I was all over the place. I went from a 3 to a 2 to a 4 to a 5 in the first 5 weeks. When I got bumped up to a 5 was following a loss. :? I shot a lot of defence in that game. My captain told me that that was probably the reason why I went up. I think after this session and part of next session my 9-ball ranking will probably stabalize out some.

If I'm thinking correctly it's your best and worst over your last 20 matches right? 10 or 20 I'm not sure. If it's 20 then my last match will definetly count. Last session I played a 7 while I was still a 3 and won 2 straight games in 6 innings. He wasn't happy either. :twisted:

[nathar]

Yep, went up to a 5 in 8-ball. Not sure about 9-ball yet. won't find out about that until later this week. 8)

[mechmat]

Good job. Usually when you get moved up past the first couple of sessions it means you're playing 2 ranks above what you were ranked, so you're probably playing like a 6.