to all the pool sharks out there..

Ken_McCarty

Ken_McCarty

Joined
Aug 30, 2001
Messages
358
I don't know if this should go in gadgets and gear, or here, so feel free to move it as necesary.

I know there are a few of you that shoot pool out there, and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with hampton pool cues? they are a budget cue line, they run from about 40-100$. I've heard they play similar to meucci's, but thats only been from 1 source, and I haven't been able to find anyone else who has shot with them, or any other reviews on the net.

I was just wondering cuz I have one on the way, and want some idea of what I'm getting into.

on a pool related side note:

I was shooting on thursday night, and I went to do a jump shot and severely dislocated my shoulder.. it was almost 2 hours out of socket before I was in a room at the ER, then they shot me full of pain killers, and I sat(well, actually layed down and snored) for about 3 more hours before they finally popped it back in. I popped it out at 11:30pm on thursday, and pulled into my grandmas driveway(which is right across the street from the hospital) at 5am on friday.
so no pool for me for a week.
 
Save your nickels and get yourself a McDermott Ken.

Michael

Oh yeah, did ya make the jump shot??
 
Ken_McCarty said:
I was shooting on thursday night, and I went to do a jump shot and severely dislocated my shoulder...
Click to expand...

You dislocated your shoulder shooting pool? :confused:

Exactly how were you using the cue? Was it a jump shot across someone's skull? :D

Just kidding! Hope the shoulder heals fast so you can rack 'em up soon.
 
...mcdermott...
I'm actually going to get a predator 314 or meucci black dot shaft for this cue in the spring, it has a pretty general pin set(5/16 x 18). I just got sick of my cuetec, and wanted to go back to shooting with wood for a while.

...about the jump shot...
I was just practicing, and I put a lil too much oomph into it, and I had a bad shoulder already(it has been dislocated several times before). my mom talked to the doctor who did my shoulder, and he showed her the before and after x-rays. my shoulder was a good 4 inches out of socket, and the rotator cuff is torn, so I'm going to have to have surgery to fix that, and bolt my arm to my shoulder. fun yay.

I'm going to play pool tonight, I can't stand waiting. hopefull it will stay in one piece this time.. I'll just have to kick and bank instead of jumping from now on:)
 
Gonna masse' this over to Gadgets & Gear. ;)
 
I used to be a pretty serious pool player. For many, many years, especially during my 20's and 30's, I shot several times a week with most of the better players in this area. In fact, in later years I had a regular game every Tuesday night with one of the top-ranked players in the region...(I understand he's retired and is now giving private lessons). For years I insisted on only playing straight pool. Then I got into 9-ball, and that became my game of choice. I was quite good but oddly enough, I rarely gambled...at least not for big money. I just loved to play the game.

I still own a fine quality, regulation-size table, a "Big G" by Gandy...the bumpers and slate come from the same factory that makes Brunswick Gold Crowns.

I more or less stopped playing about 7 years ago...I got too busy when I started my own business. Then when I took up knifemaking, I figured that was the end of my pool playing for sure.

I used to own a very fine custom cue, man it was sweet. It was by Mike Lambros and it was so well balanced for me, it felt like an extension of my arm (Mike's from right here in Baltimore, and is one of the better custom cue makers in the country). I'd owned this cue for years...Paid just $500 bucks for it back before Lambros became so highly regarded for his work,...That was about 14 years ago. It was one of Mike's earliest cues and it's now very much considered to be a collectable.

So one day about 1 1/2 years ago, convinced I was no longer interested in pool, I got the bright idea of selling my good cue and putting the proceeds towards equipment for my knifemaking workshop. A fellow who collects Lambros cues, some guy from California, bought the cue sight unseen...paid top dollar!

And let me tell you, I've had a terrible case of seller's remorse ever since...I mean I've got it bad. I can't believe how often I think about that stick, and how in a weak moment, I was such an idiot!

Definitely one of the stupidest things I've ever done. I will never again have an opportunity to own a stick like that...at least not without shelling out some very big bucks. The only good that came out of my selling the cue is that I did use part of the money to purchase a GRS High Speed Pneumatic Turbo Carver...It's probably my most-used piece of equipment for my detailed knife embellishments.

Now I find myself starting to get interested in pool again (of course). A couple of years prior to buying the Lambros, I bought a "decent" production cue. It's an Adam. Made in Japan, they're considered to be pretty OK...as far as production cues go. I think I paid about $225 for it...and that was over 15 years ago!

Oh well, I guess I can "get by" with that.

But I'll never forget that Lambros....:(


Dennis Greenbaum

Yeah Baby! :cool:
 
Sucks about the shoulder Ken...

Neverheard of those Hampton Cues... the budget cue I recommend to people with shallow pockets is usually made by "Players". They make decent cues and they are a good price.

I shoot with a Balabushka GB1, I think it cost me 450 when I got it but I think they can be found for 350 now. My break cue is a 3 piece Players Sneaky Pete Style... very sweet cue too and relativly inexpensive (I think it was 100).

Anyway, im doing pretty good this session in Pool (9ball league). 6 wins and only 1 loss so far. Did you join a league Ken, or are you just shooting for recreation?
 
Anyway, im doing pretty good this session in Pool (9ball league). 6 wins and only 1 loss so far. Did you join a league Ken, or are you just shooting for recreation?
Click to expand...

right now I'm actually practicing a lot, trying to get better. there is a tournament coming up next month I wanna get in on. I also am starting to shoot for cash on a regular basis, nothing too expensive, but it puts gas in my car. theres nothing like taking the money off some loud mouth frat boy in front of his chick:)

the main reason I went with the hampton cue is that it has the 5/16 X 18 pin set, which is the same as a meucci, and therefor can have a meucci shaft, or a predator 314. the shaft it comes with isnt shabby either, 12 inch pro taper, 13mm LePro tip.

I've also found out that the hampton cues are made by the same company that makes sterling, which has a pretty good reputation as a higher midline cue(100-175$)

I've seen your cue, and as they say a lot in the bali forum "you suck". and grats on your wins in league.
 
Ken_McCarty said:
I was shooting on thursday night, and I went to do a jump shot and severely dislocated my shoulder..
Click to expand...

Dang I bet you've got a sledgehammer break!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:
 
Dang I bet you've got a sledgehammer break!!!!
Click to expand...

3 balls on the break is not an uncommon feat for me:) its just those other 6 after the break that give me trouble:)

it was just the akward angle I was at trying to make the shot and the forced rotation of my already bad shoulder then *pop* out it came
 
Hey Ken-

In the light of day I want to apologize for my rambling, "semi-hijack" of your thread. It was 3:00am, I was tired, and I'm still occasionally smarting over the loss of that cue.

This was your thread, and not the appropriate time or place for me to be carrying on about my lapse in judgement.

Again, my apologies.


Dennis Greenbaum

Yeah Baby! :cool:
 
no problem dude, we all have our moment, and your story entertained me for a bit while I read it, so we are even:)

and to anyone else: if you have a story about a cue that you had, have, or want, lets do it in here. one big happy pool thread:)
 
I typed up a review for another website that I am on(all about pool). here it is guys.
.................

well, I received my cue. initial responses are good, it is very solid and the finish is excellent. the linen wrap(yes, its irish linen, not nylon) is tight and secure, it has a flat bumper and the joint screws together very smoothly. the shaft feels smooth as glass, and doesn't have a glaze/polish on it. the 13mm lepro tip comes pre-shaped at a respectable dome size. I haven't shot with it yet, but I will post again with some performance updates.

**several hours later**

I just got home from shooting with it. very good first time out, it was easy to adjust to from my cuetech. lots of pop on breaks, and it allowed me to pull a lot more english on some shots. the shaft is a little stiffer than I would have liked, but its on calibur with other cues in this price range(players, action). I highly suggest it as a good entry level cue, or break cue for anyone. my only complaint is that the pro taper is a hair short(10-11 inches), when I have a long stroke.

the poolhall didn't have joint protectors to fit it so I have to order some online:(
 
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