How should I store my cue?
This is one of those questions that rarely crops up, for me I tend to worry as a cue supplier and some of the responses should keep me up at night!
When people come directly to us to pick a cue up I always ask if they have a case to put it in as I like to see what they have; on the odd occasions I have had a few buy £300+ cues with the intention of buying a case later and just sticking the cue under their bed in the mean time.
So many don’t realise that the cue must be stored in something that is straight, has some insulation properties and free from an environment that has condensation or somewhere that may be next to a heat source or even on the window ledge getting cooked from the sun.
Years ago when I didn’t know any better, I left my Burwat Champion 1 piece cue in the back of a Datsun 100a, I would have been around 18 years old and knew nothing. The next morning, after a frosty night I went back up the club to get the car and take my cue indoors; yep, I left my cue in the car, nippers eh?
That lovely cue was never the same. Even after the frost the cue was actually wet, then warped, then went whippy; that night destroyed a decent cue and when I look back now I cringe; fortunately I know more now and also understand the pain of losing a playing cue.
To give you another example of strange behaviour I had a really picky trades guy pop round and spent over an hour choosing a cue and case and eventually found the right mix after asking an incredible amount of questions to get the right one. “The cue needs to be 18.15 ounces as I couldn’t play with one that’s 18.2 ounces” etc etc. Eventually he found the right combination, spent around £500 on a cue and case and left. I looked out the window to make sure he backed onto the main road ok and saw him throw the cue and case up into the back of his transit van, I could have cried. It takes all sorts.
I change a lot of tips for local guys and every now and then I get a cue turn up and it’s actually wet. When I ask if the cue spends it’s life in the car I am amazed at how many say yes (and no, they are not all 18 year olds with a Burwat Champion cue lol).
I then try and dry the cue, re-tip it and give some advice which might help better protect it!
So what should we consider when trying to look after our cues? You may or may not agree with the following but at least you can run your eyes over the points and some of them may help so I hope it will at least prompt some thinking!
Some Do’s and Don’ts
- Always ensure your cue is stored in a decent cue case
- Ensure the case is stored on a flat surface or if the case has a hook, hang it
- Ensure the cue isn’t forced down by a cue towel in the case that may affect it’s straightness
- Try and make sure the chalk is protected so it doesn’t go all over your cue shaft
- Put any loose items into a bag in your case so they don’t damage the cue
- If you can protect your tip in the case then great
- Don’t lean your cue against a wall; lot’s drop and crack or snap!!
- Do not store your cue in a car
- Don’t leave your cue near a heat source e.g. a radiator or exposed to the sun
- Do not store your cue somewhere that is exposed to lots of moisture e.g. damp places or conservatories
I’m sure there are few other tips out there so if you know of any then feel free to message me and I’ll add them to the list ( info@snookercrazy.com ); hopefully there was something of use in the list for you.
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