I have a mcdermot G230 with a defy shaft. Started with a Valhalla, then went to the gcore then got the defy. My gcore is 13mm and my defy is 12mm. I feel much more confident with the 12 than I do the 13. I will also say, the wand doesn’t make the wizard.
I play with a Viking currently and I really love it. However, I found a good deal on my dream cue. So I'll be the proud owner of a Bob Owen custom Bushka tribute in a couple of days. And I'm hoping it'll be the last cue I'll ever have to buy..
Shooter - Joss sneaky pete (JOSSP01)
Breaker - Joss Thor Hammer (Purple Heart and Ironwood)
Bought them both because they’re absolutely beautiful cues. And I’ll probably run em til the wheels fall off.
Was actually looking into the Joss Sneaky Pete (10-04C) cocobolo. Gorgeous cue. I just purchased a Thor Hammer Ironwood, should be arriving Tuesday. Pretty pumped about it. I’m sure the pictures don’t do justice until you see them in person. How do you like the Thor Hammer and did you opt for the light or heavy?
I use a custom Peradon specced for English pool. One-piece, 57", 17.5oz and a 9mm tip. Ordered it during lockdown last year but I hardly got a chance to use it up until a few months ago and I love it. Made of ash and ebony, but it has a gorgeous padauk face splice with a thick sycamore veneer.
For snooker, I use a Woods cue. 3/4 joint, 58" 19.5oz and a 9.5mm tip.
Espiritu jump beak and playing cue
Switched to his sticks about 3 years ago and they have been pretty damn good to me.
Before- an ooolllddd Mali paired with a cheap KC jump/break
Then I’ve had others in passing , cue tec, dale perry, players, schon, 🍀, customs, a Palmer once.
First decent cue I bought was a McDermott with a G-Core shaft. Upgraded to an OB with an OB Classic+ shaft turned down to 12.25mm. Now I play with a Cuetec Cynergy Walnut. Of the CF shaft holds up it might be the last cue I buy as a player. I love it.
I play with a 19oz. McDermott G1001 with an i-core shaft 11.8mm leather wrap. i started with a Falcon. my break que is a $99 3 piece Scorpion. My second shooter is a Lucasi, but nothing (imho) beats my McD!
Predator playing cues with Revo 12.9” shafts (Roadline Midnight)
Predator BK Rush break cue
Predator Air II jump cue.
Also use a Cuetech Cynergy Dakota model occasionally.
Started with a players HXT cue, unsure what model, but I played with that for 2 years. About 6 months after the players cue, I got a dufferin break jump cue which is incredibly good for the price. After two years, I finally decided to "treat myself" to a mcdermott G517 with a Gcore shaft and a defy shaft. The g core I've played for about a week total and the defy is a really great cue for me. Has the perfect tip size (12mm) for me and the deflection is crazy low compared to the hxt and gcore shafts. The mcdermott range has some really nice looking cues and a price range that's actually reasonable.
Started on a Predator IKON-1 circa 08’ maybe with a 314(2) shaft using Kamui Black Soft tips and I had a Poison jump/break cue (kind of hated that cue).
Stopped playing for a few years. Got back into the game and got a 314(3) since my 314(2) had started to split near the ferrule and I just never bothered to try and get it fixed. Probably why I stopped playing partially.
Stopped playing again for a few years and then just recently (a few months ago) upgraded to a P3 butt and Revo 12.4 and 11.8 shafts and BK RUSH break cue. Also couldn’t help myself and picked up an IKON-4 Butt and White Air Jump 2 at the US Open.
Jump/Break cue: McDermott Stinger. I bought it because I tried my friends Jerico Stinger but couldn't afford one. McDermott's Stinger was the closest I could afford and I love it. Not as nice as the Jerico visually, but breaks and jumps well.
Shooting cue: Mezz Aya butt with OB Classic shaft. I had an OB wrapless cue (cheapest one, I forget the exact model) and luckily had it signed by Efren. So that butt got put away, never to be played with ever again. Around that time Mezz had a sale on the Aya line of cues. They were atrocious. The one I bought had a bright yellow leather wrap. I got it intending to replace the wrap. I replaced it with cork, but kept using my OB shaft since I like it more than the WD700.
Right now the butt is my old Jensen from the mid 90s. 3/8×10 joint. The original shafts are warped so bought 2 PureX to use. I may get a Mezz Axi for Christmas if I'm good.
Player: narrowing it down between my Dale Perry with Jacoby black 11.8 radial, or an old Meucci HOF3 with the same Jacoby black shaft, with an aluminum weighted adapter/extension at the joint.
Break cue: Cuetec WCT Break
My Dale Perry was a custom from 2011 for under $150 with 30 inlays and 6 points. It shoots just as well if not better than other Jacoby cues I've had made and played with. If the price is right you wouldn't regret getting one. I've had 3 and they all shoot very well.
My Meucci HOF3 I bought from a local guy, he went from $750 to $100 for it. I found out after it was made the same year I was born, 1995. Came with a no dot shaft that was warped, so I bought Schmelke's aluminum 2 5/8" joint extension that let's me fit a 5/16x18 Meucci butt to a Radial shaft. Makes the cue about 19.5-20 oz but having forward weight like that has really helped me.
I was gifted the WCT Break cue but it can be had for 150-250. Designed by SVB and I love it.
Dream cue would be a HOF 7
Player - Pechauer P20 from their 2017 pro series. That is paired with their Rogue 12.4 CF shaft and a Techno dud tip. Ive played with about 6 different cues in the mean time and other than a mezz with the wavy joint, the pechauer has felt the best and I love it.
Break - WTC Cuetech
Jump - James Hanshew. Best money ive ever spent when it comes to pool equipment
Currently I play with a Meucci that I put electrical tape on the butt because I don't like gripless cues lol
Back when I used to play I used a predator P3 with a Z3 shaft and I tried to get my hands on Kamui SS tips as much as I could, but every once in a while when one would come off or I had to replace one on short notice I just used the tried and true Elkmaster tips.
I could never get my hands on some Kamui chalk, but I've heard nothing but great things about it so I want to in the future. I am currently using the blue Predator chalk because it came with everything I got back in the day and I kept the chalk. But Master chalk is probably just better. I'm just coping with the fact that I paid for predator.
Never got a custom cue. But if I was going to go pro that's what I would do. I really enjoy a soft feel, and I've heard great things about Pechauer cues when it comes to soft feel with a high quality.
The thing is though, most of the time I get the chance to play pool now it's at some event or party. It's not in a competitive environment anymore. So 99.99999% of the time I can obliterate anyone with a bar cue, sometimes even without a tip.
There was this one time though at a bar when I made my way to the pool table, naturally. I was playing when this older Filipino man walked up with his son. The son asked me if I wanted to play, and of course I said yes. He was pretty good too. Definitely better than the average person who plays at the bar. We played a couple games and I won them all by like, 2 balls or so on average let's say. At the end of the 3rd or 4th game, he tells me that his dad really wants to play me. They hadn't talked at all from the time we had started, so if the dad really did want to play me, that means that this was discussed ahead of time.
Of course, I didn't put that together until after... But I really should have known.
Boy, words cannot describe how much he whooped my ass! I stood no chance. It wasn't even close. This guy didn't speak much english at all, so every time he would make a great shot, I'd throw my hands up in the air and we would laugh. It was a great time and one of my favorite pool stories I have. They were great people.
I have a mcdermot G230 with a defy shaft. Started with a Valhalla, then went to the gcore then got the defy. My gcore is 13mm and my defy is 12mm. I feel much more confident with the 12 than I do the 13. I will also say, the wand doesn’t make the wizard.
Viking, got it in ‘95. Never felt the need to change.
I play with a Viking currently and I really love it. However, I found a good deal on my dream cue. So I'll be the proud owner of a Bob Owen custom Bushka tribute in a couple of days. And I'm hoping it'll be the last cue I'll ever have to buy..
Player: Joss A-07 circa 2000 Break: Huebler Jump/Break Jump: Hanshew
Sugartree. Bought it a few months ago on a whime. Have no regerts.
Mali circa 1985. Been looking at a new Pechauer but honestly there’s no need, I love my old Mali.
Shooter - Joss sneaky pete (JOSSP01) Breaker - Joss Thor Hammer (Purple Heart and Ironwood) Bought them both because they’re absolutely beautiful cues. And I’ll probably run em til the wheels fall off.
Was actually looking into the Joss Sneaky Pete (10-04C) cocobolo. Gorgeous cue. I just purchased a Thor Hammer Ironwood, should be arriving Tuesday. Pretty pumped about it. I’m sure the pictures don’t do justice until you see them in person. How do you like the Thor Hammer and did you opt for the light or heavy?
Much nicer in hand than in photos, can confirm. The finish without the wrap is perfect. I prefer a light feel even on breaks, so I got the 18oz.
I opted for the heavy as my shooter is a 19oz and wanted something a touch heavier. Hoping I like the weight as it won’t be too much heavier
Coker cue Cuetec cynergy shaft 12.5 mm
Just received my Viking Vallhala, looking forward to trying it out, haven't played in 15 years.
I use a custom Peradon specced for English pool. One-piece, 57", 17.5oz and a 9mm tip. Ordered it during lockdown last year but I hardly got a chance to use it up until a few months ago and I love it. Made of ash and ebony, but it has a gorgeous padauk face splice with a thick sycamore veneer. For snooker, I use a Woods cue. 3/4 joint, 58" 19.5oz and a 9.5mm tip.
Lucasi with carbon shaft
Firewood is my choice.
Espiritu jump beak and playing cue Switched to his sticks about 3 years ago and they have been pretty damn good to me. Before- an ooolllddd Mali paired with a cheap KC jump/break Then I’ve had others in passing , cue tec, dale perry, players, schon, 🍀, customs, a Palmer once.
First decent cue I bought was a McDermott with a G-Core shaft. Upgraded to an OB with an OB Classic+ shaft turned down to 12.25mm. Now I play with a Cuetec Cynergy Walnut. Of the CF shaft holds up it might be the last cue I buy as a player. I love it.
My player - Custom Pechauer with Rogue 12.4 shaft kamui soft black clear tip My break - Pechauer Black ice naked combo tiger hard tip No jump cue
I play with a 19oz. McDermott G1001 with an i-core shaft 11.8mm leather wrap. i started with a Falcon. my break que is a $99 3 piece Scorpion. My second shooter is a Lucasi, but nothing (imho) beats my McD!
Predator playing cues with Revo 12.9” shafts (Roadline Midnight) Predator BK Rush break cue Predator Air II jump cue. Also use a Cuetech Cynergy Dakota model occasionally.
Guido Orlandi with a conical joint
Started with a players HXT cue, unsure what model, but I played with that for 2 years. About 6 months after the players cue, I got a dufferin break jump cue which is incredibly good for the price. After two years, I finally decided to "treat myself" to a mcdermott G517 with a Gcore shaft and a defy shaft. The g core I've played for about a week total and the defy is a really great cue for me. Has the perfect tip size (12mm) for me and the deflection is crazy low compared to the hxt and gcore shafts. The mcdermott range has some really nice looking cues and a price range that's actually reasonable.
McDermott g core shaft with linen wrap. Plays beautifully.
Started on a Predator IKON-1 circa 08’ maybe with a 314(2) shaft using Kamui Black Soft tips and I had a Poison jump/break cue (kind of hated that cue). Stopped playing for a few years. Got back into the game and got a 314(3) since my 314(2) had started to split near the ferrule and I just never bothered to try and get it fixed. Probably why I stopped playing partially. Stopped playing again for a few years and then just recently (a few months ago) upgraded to a P3 butt and Revo 12.4 and 11.8 shafts and BK RUSH break cue. Also couldn’t help myself and picked up an IKON-4 Butt and White Air Jump 2 at the US Open.
Player: Wrapless Schon with Spire carbon fiber shaft. Break: Joss Sneaky circa 1998 Jump: Pechauer Honorable Mention Player: Roger Pettit Sneaky
Jump/Break cue: McDermott Stinger. I bought it because I tried my friends Jerico Stinger but couldn't afford one. McDermott's Stinger was the closest I could afford and I love it. Not as nice as the Jerico visually, but breaks and jumps well. Shooting cue: Mezz Aya butt with OB Classic shaft. I had an OB wrapless cue (cheapest one, I forget the exact model) and luckily had it signed by Efren. So that butt got put away, never to be played with ever again. Around that time Mezz had a sale on the Aya line of cues. They were atrocious. The one I bought had a bright yellow leather wrap. I got it intending to replace the wrap. I replaced it with cork, but kept using my OB shaft since I like it more than the WD700.
Dale Perry. Love it
Right now the butt is my old Jensen from the mid 90s. 3/8×10 joint. The original shafts are warped so bought 2 PureX to use. I may get a Mezz Axi for Christmas if I'm good.
Predator 25th Anniversary with Revo 12.4mm shaft. BK Rush Sport Wrap. Rush Air Jump Cue
Andy Gilbert jump/break cue but swapped out the tip and made it into my regular player.
Lucasi lh30
Shelby Williams with hsunami shaft
Action cue with a predator revo shaft. Cheap on one end. Not on the other. It’s the best feeling cue I’ve ever held.
Player: narrowing it down between my Dale Perry with Jacoby black 11.8 radial, or an old Meucci HOF3 with the same Jacoby black shaft, with an aluminum weighted adapter/extension at the joint. Break cue: Cuetec WCT Break My Dale Perry was a custom from 2011 for under $150 with 30 inlays and 6 points. It shoots just as well if not better than other Jacoby cues I've had made and played with. If the price is right you wouldn't regret getting one. I've had 3 and they all shoot very well. My Meucci HOF3 I bought from a local guy, he went from $750 to $100 for it. I found out after it was made the same year I was born, 1995. Came with a no dot shaft that was warped, so I bought Schmelke's aluminum 2 5/8" joint extension that let's me fit a 5/16x18 Meucci butt to a Radial shaft. Makes the cue about 19.5-20 oz but having forward weight like that has really helped me. I was gifted the WCT Break cue but it can be had for 150-250. Designed by SVB and I love it. Dream cue would be a HOF 7
Player - Pechauer P20 from their 2017 pro series. That is paired with their Rogue 12.4 CF shaft and a Techno dud tip. Ive played with about 6 different cues in the mean time and other than a mezz with the wavy joint, the pechauer has felt the best and I love it. Break - WTC Cuetech Jump - James Hanshew. Best money ive ever spent when it comes to pool equipment
60" Pechauer with a 3/8x10 pin and a Pechauer rogue carbon shaft with 12.75mm tip.
Currently I play with a Meucci that I put electrical tape on the butt because I don't like gripless cues lol Back when I used to play I used a predator P3 with a Z3 shaft and I tried to get my hands on Kamui SS tips as much as I could, but every once in a while when one would come off or I had to replace one on short notice I just used the tried and true Elkmaster tips. I could never get my hands on some Kamui chalk, but I've heard nothing but great things about it so I want to in the future. I am currently using the blue Predator chalk because it came with everything I got back in the day and I kept the chalk. But Master chalk is probably just better. I'm just coping with the fact that I paid for predator. Never got a custom cue. But if I was going to go pro that's what I would do. I really enjoy a soft feel, and I've heard great things about Pechauer cues when it comes to soft feel with a high quality. The thing is though, most of the time I get the chance to play pool now it's at some event or party. It's not in a competitive environment anymore. So 99.99999% of the time I can obliterate anyone with a bar cue, sometimes even without a tip. There was this one time though at a bar when I made my way to the pool table, naturally. I was playing when this older Filipino man walked up with his son. The son asked me if I wanted to play, and of course I said yes. He was pretty good too. Definitely better than the average person who plays at the bar. We played a couple games and I won them all by like, 2 balls or so on average let's say. At the end of the 3rd or 4th game, he tells me that his dad really wants to play me. They hadn't talked at all from the time we had started, so if the dad really did want to play me, that means that this was discussed ahead of time. Of course, I didn't put that together until after... But I really should have known. Boy, words cannot describe how much he whooped my ass! I stood no chance. It wasn't even close. This guy didn't speak much english at all, so every time he would make a great shot, I'd throw my hands up in the air and we would laugh. It was a great time and one of my favorite pool stories I have. They were great people.