Captain Francis Minguad-----First A little cue history
Billiards was already a popular activity when Captain Francois
Mingaud, one of Napoleon's officers,
was sent to the Bastille as a
political prisoner. He must have had a spacious cell, because he somehow
managed to
have a billiard table installed.
Daily experimentation to
improve his game led him to ask for permission to stay on in prison to
continue his work on a better style.
Billiards owes him a tremendous debt.
Cues had developed over time to a tapering shape, which explains it's
name, cue, derived from the French word for "tail" spelled 'queue'. About
1790, Captain Mingaud created a new cue that became exceedingly popular.
Using a file, an unusual tool for a prisoner, he rounded the square end of
the stick and was then able to make shots that were much more difficult
than any ever seen before. In 1807 he made a further improvement by adding
a leather tip to the cue.
After leaving prison Mingaud made a career of
displaying his billiard skill and new cue in Paris and was a driving
force
in popularizing the game across Europe.
BUYING YOUR FIRST POOL CUE: WHAT TO LOOK FOR 1. WHY SHOULD I BUY MY OWN POOL CUE?
The mental aspect of pool is easily the most critical. By using a different cue
each time you play, you never quite alleviate the thought in your mind that the
cue in your hand is somehow “not quite right.” Once you’ve found a “good” cue
that you are happy with, you are able to focus more on stroke, stance and
pocketing the ball.
2. HOW MUCH SHOULD I SPEND TO GET A “GOOD” CUE?
Spending less than $100 on a cue is risky. Cheaper cues don’t “hit” well, tend to
warp easily, and are usually not constructed well. Starting at around $100, you
start to find cues that are well - made and durable
3. WHAT MAKES A “BETTER QUALITY” CUE?
A better quality cue is made from finer cuts of wood {usually birds-eye maple
that is aged naturally instead of being chemically hardened}, wrapped with
authentic Irish linen and a stainless steel joint. The weight of these cues is
evenly distributed, creating a better balance.
4.WHY IS ONE CUE $150 AND SIMILAR MODELS , TWICE
AS MUCH?
Generally, within a line of cues consisting of the same basic materials, the
difference lies in the in-lay work, artistry. Hence, the more decorative the cue is
the higher the price is. Nonetheless, the performance of the $150 cue could be
the same as the cue costing $300.
5. HOW DO I KNOW WHAT WEIGHT CUE IS BEST FOR ME?
Your own feel for a cue is the best guide, but 19 and 20 oz. cues are
recommended. As a player improves, his/her preferred weight decreases.
However, this does not hold true for everyone. Personal preference takes
precedence.
Now go check all these builders out and get that special
Cue |
