Not a collector cue

[pwd72s]

Taiwan pro shows his playing cue. Cost? $30,000 USA..

[rwest]

I could see how a highly decorated cue could get expensive, but is there anything else in the materials, construction or design that would make it so expensive?

Maybe another way to put it is if you just made a great cue that was completely plain, how difficult would it be to make? Could it be done quickly and therefore theoretically inexpensive?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by rwest

I could see how a highly decorated cue could get expensive, but is there anything else in the materials, construction or design that would make it so expensive?

Maybe another way to put it is if you just made a great cue that was completely plain, how difficult would it be to make? Could it be done quickly and therefore theoretically inexpensive?

Yes, quite possible to make a plain looking cue that plays well. Quickly? The lathe work can be done quickly, but "wood moves"...meaning, needs curing time between trips...this varies from wood to wood. The more expensive custom cues take time to build...production cues, not so much. Then there is that player preference thing. Some like a stiff hit with more power, others like a softer hit...everything enters in. Shaft material, joint type, tip, ferrule, all of it. Inexpensive? Well, you pretty much want to avoid cues sold in big box stores...the cheap imports. Anything less that say $200, is usually not that good. But I'm not saying all imports are bad...there are good production cues, some pretty $pendy, made in both Japan and Tiawan.

Very generally speaking, inlays have little to do with the hit. However, the construction used in the bottom half can have a lot to do with the hit. Full splice, half splice, cored, etc. "Points" can either be inlayed for little effect, or spliced in which does affect feedback. Then there is also a variety of hits delivered with different wood types. Oh, and I forgot to mention weight bolts and their placement and how they affect the balance.

So...to answer your question? It's complicated.

The pros? Ko is an exception with his $30,000 cue. Most of them play with production cues, often selected because of who offers the best sponsorship deal. In a match between Ko and USA's Skyler Woodward, it's usually a coin flip. Yet Skyler recently changed sponsors, plays with probably the cheapest cue on tour...less than $500. Woodward did admit he needed time to adjust to the new cue. ALL cues, whether advertised "low deflection" or not, deflect from the aiming path when english is applied. Over time, a decent player adjusts to the deflection of his cue...this seems to be the advantage of the new carbon fiber shafts...less deflection and manufacturer consistancy in the amount of deflection.

It's complicated....the game and the equipment.

(edit) Skyler's "what's in the bag" interview: