Reddit reviews Cuetec Billiard/Pool Cue Accessory: Bowtie 3-in-1 Billiard Cue Tip Tool (Scuffer/Shaper/Aerator), Single Tool
We found 3 Reddit comments about Cuetec Billiard/Pool Cue Accessory: Bowtie 3-in-1 Billiard Cue Tip Tool (Scuffer/Shaper/Aerator), Single Tool. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
3-In-1 tool that shapes, scuffs and pokes the cue tip so it can hold chalk better and helps to avoid miscuesThe perfect tool for every pool player; easily fits in your pocketScuffer side of the bowtie is to simply roughen up the surface of the tip so chalk will adhere to the tipShaper is used to Contour the tip to the desired dome curvature you are comfortable with. You lightly Scrape the tip using a rotating motionAerator feature is to slightly break up the surface of the tip when it is new or it has been compressed after being used for a while so it will hold more chalk
https://www.amazon.com/Cuetec-Billiard-Pool-Cue-Accessory/dp/B00CGG834G
This tool:
https://www.amazon.com/Cuetec-Billiard-Pool-Cue-Accessory/dp/B00CGG834G/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_200_bs_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=AW4W5JFC89MYX8ZDKW5D
Like I said I have no problem applying chalk with a broken in one of the same brand.
Is $300 for 3 people or for each person? I'm gonna assume $300 each, because at $100 each you're looking at a cheap cue for each person, and nothing else.
I would not spend much more than $125 on the cue because in terms of 'playability' or 'technology'... most cues under ~$350 are fairly similar. The extra money between $100 and $300 buys mostly cosmetic differences. People will argue about this but trust me, you won't know or care about the differences.
Get something made of wood, not fiberglass. Get a real tip that's glued on, not a screw-on tip. Get a 2-piece, not a solid 1-piece bar cue or a 4-piece weirdo novelty cue. Suggested brands: Action, Players. Don't sweat the brand of tip, as long as it's normal leather... Everest, LePro, Boarskin, they're all fine.
For the remaining $200ish:
Absolutely get at least 1 set of Magic Ball Racks. These are cheap compared to a nice wooden or metal rack, and they rack the balls perfectly tight, and the games just go better with tight racks to start. https://www.ozonebilliards.com/product/magic-ball-rack-8-ball-and-9-10-ball-rack-set
Get a tip tool - https://www.amazon.com/Cuetec-Billiard-Pool-Cue-Accessory/dp/B00CGG834G/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_21_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PE97CK1ANCYJCQ928ZF3
Someone suggested lessons which is not a bad idea, but I know that isn't what you're after. Still, if you want to improve and have a lot more fun, for just a little more money, set aside ten bucks for "the 99 critical shots in pool". It's a great book which is basically a quickstart guide to pool.
Are the uni. balls shitty, full of scratches and dings, never rack tight, always looking dull and rough?
Spend the rest of the money on new balls. The best Aramiths you can afford for around $200. https://www.pooldawg.com/product/aramith-premium-belgian-pool-and-billiard-balls-set
I promise this will add more fun to the game for everyone, than making sure everyone has their own case or chalk or whatever. The balls NEED to be decent, or every rack you play will suffer a little. The spreads after the break will be shittier, balls will roll off more, there will be fewer makeable shots, the games will take much longer, people will get more bored waiting, it will feel more random and luck-based because there's fewer makeable shots after the break.
Are the balls in ok shape, but grimy, rarely cleaned, and it's hard to get them to rack tightly? Get some ball cleaner and a nice microfiber towel, polish them by hand periodically, and spend the rest of the money on a tip tool and a break cue. If you keep using your playing cue to break, you'll wear out the tip faster, and tips cost maybe $20 to change by a competent professional, though you can learn to do it yourself. A break cue will help with making those decent spreads and runnable racks, and nobody has to watch their tip flatten or fall off due to repeated power breaks.
Once cues and balls and rack are ok, invest $50 in a basic case to protect your cue and break cue - https://www.pooldawg.com/product/action-2-butt-2-shaft-ballistic-case
edit: I see someone linked one for $20. If it doesn't fall apart then that's a great deal.
If you opted not to get a whole ball set, you will find you add some consistency if you get at least a decent, fresh new cue ball. Some people like the red circle or red dot cue balls, I like the measles ball, which is the one you see in most pro events. It lets you see the spin on the cue ball. Could potentially be helpful once you learn about english - http://www.billiardwarehouse.com/accessories/billiard-balls/pro-cup-cue-ball.html
If you get serious about pool and start learning about jump shots, a jump cue would make a decent investment.
Lessons are actually a great but if you don't want to spend that kind of money, a good pool book or some videos.
Here's the tl;dr:
• $100-125 cue - Action, Players, or Schmelke
• $20 magic ball rack set
• $10 for 99 Critical Shots (or buy used for less)
• $20 for cuetec bowtie tip tool.
• ALL remaining money on the best set of Aramith balls you can afford, unless the uni balls are ok.
• IF uni balls are ok - ~$50 for measels ball, microfiber towel, & ball cleaner.
• $20-$50 for cheap 2-cue case.
• Optionally, break cue instead of the case.
Things you may not need to spend money on:
• Chalk - virtually every place provides this free of charge... if uni doesn't provide this, shame them into buying the 144-pack for 21 bucks :)
• Any sort of wooden, metal or plastic rack... these will get less consistent results than the magic rack, and those $3 plastic POS'es aren't worth it.
Alternative: someone asked about cues in the $300 range elsewhere in this sub. If you can stretch to $400, you can afford cues that are actually constructed differently, with specialty shafts, cues that actually handle a bit differently than the $125 Action or Players stuff. You could forsake everything else and just get a truly nice cue that "plays" as well as what any pro uses.