Craftsman

By Frank Almanza

I’m always amazed when I stop to watch an experienced carpenter at his craft. The way he measures, cuts his stock, and swings his hammer. All his movements have precise motions, designed to eliminate unnecessary movements and are done with such precision. The hammer is held at precisely the correct spot, so that he can utilize it's design to it’s utmost. It is swung in a manner to get maximum exact swings. Holding the hammer at the location that it was designed to be held at, is what allows him to maintain such precision.

When one gets paid by the item, or the job, it is necessary for one to become as efficient at his craft as he possibly can; thus one learns to use his tools to the best of his ability. Wasted movements and incorrect handling of his equipment, will cut down on his efficiency. The more items or jobs he can produce in a given time, the better he is rewarded monetarily.

It is said that a craftsman is as good as his tools. Learning to use them correctly is not an option, it is a necessity. This is true with all craftsmen in all professions. Do you consider yourself a craftsman with your tools at the table? Let’s see. Now the Barber speaks…

The American cueist of today has many fine products on the market, and many of you have a good deal invested into some of them. The question is, are you getting your monies worth by using them correctly?

A lot of time has gone into the design and production of these cues to get them just right. If you want to get the maximum worth out of your cue, take some time and learn a little about them. There are some books that will explain about the joints, wraps, balance point and where to hold them for best results.

The cue was designed to help you do what needs to be done on the table. By not letting the design help you, you will only make the task more difficult. Look for the balance point of your cue and try to grip it one good hand behind that and keep it as level as possible. It is not always possible to do so, but do it whenever you can.

Holding your cue at the proper spot, will allow you to get the feel of the cue ball. It is important to be able to tell how heavy the cue ball is, and what power is required to have it move to a designated location. The hit on the cue ball must travel through the cue, into your hand, and on through your arm so that you can become in tune with it. Also with some of the weight behind your hand, it will let you deliver a smooth stroke and also let you follow through. To deliver the proper stroke on most shots, your cue stick must react like a piston. This can only happen when the stick is held correctly.

I see so many people hold their cue in so many ways except the correct way. One of the most common incorrect ways is to hold it at the very end of the butt. Maybe I can see this if the individual is a very tall person and the cue is not custom built for that person. Some times we need to hold it further back from it’s natural position because the cue ball may be where we need to stretch for it and find it unnecessary to use the mechanical bridge. There are limitations to stretching and we need to know them. Learn to use the bridge. In most cases, it only takes a few hours to get comfortable with it. Try it!

When you get into your car seat or your office chair, I’m sure you take some time to adjust your seat to fit your comfort needs. The same thing holds true for your cue stick. I have always found it necessary to modify a new cue so that it would be tailored for my specific requirements. The modifications involved are, weight, length and size of the shaft, type of wrap, and also important, the type of tip. The length of our cue stick is very important. If one wants to handle it properly, it must fit our body correctly.

Inlays and all the other embellishments that are put on many cue sticks, not only make them more pleasing to look at, but also increase the value of the cue. The truth is, these things don’t make them play any better, but you know how we are, we all like to have nice things. Nothing wrong with that.

When you’re done with your session for the day, take time to wipe down your cue with a clean cloth. Take care of your equipment. All investments should be well taken care of. Take pride in the equipment provided to you by the establishments that you patronize. Treat the tables and cues as if they were yours. When you feel the urge to play, and you go to your favorite game room, it’s nice to have good equipment to play on.

For me, I seem to have a more confident attitude at the table when the equipment I am using is to my liking. Nice table, good cloth, clean balls, and my cue stick in good working order. Maybe it’s just psychological, but with these conditions, I certainly seem to put out my best game. Ever notice how good your car runs after you just had it washed, even though nothing was done to the engine? Same thing.

Final thoughts: You don’t need to be a professional to look like one. We can all look good at the table. Handle your tools the proper way, and there’s no limit to your progress, all depending to how much time you want to invest. If you want to get the job done, you must first look like you can do it. Good luck and good playing.

 

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