You can read this page in CHINESE
There is little doubt that Efren Reyes is probably the greatest all-around pool player in the history of pool. In 2005 he asked me to make him a cue and he waited until I finished the cue 7 months later. We both agreed the cue was loaned to him and when he wore it out, wanted another one, or wanted to use another person's cue he would return the cue to me.
I imagine that with someone of Efren's caliber, thinking enough of a certain cue to ask for one, is quiet a great endorsement of one's cue building ability and quality. Understandably, his endorsement of the quality and hit of my cues is greatly appreciated.
The man that bought the MS 07-0001 also bought the EW 08-0001
On July 31, 2008 he sent me this letter:
"Recently I decided that sometimes I really need to play with more of a Sneaky Pete kind of cue rather than the incredibly beautiful cue that I normally play with from you Ronnie - - my Mammoth Blue Bird cue - - the
first in your Master Series. I wanted one without any rings - just a plain cue - but with the very old growth shafts and your high tech super
low deflection design.
What you made for me is perfect.... the EW 08-0001. This cue has even less deflection than my first cue and the hit is so super. The wood is actually gorgeous - even though you call it your "Ugly Orange" wood.
You don't see that unless you are up close - so people don't come running across the pool hall to see the inlays.
So now I have a "Very" Sneaky Pete. No one would guess that it is the finest cue you can get anywhere in the world.
Thanks"
A fine Chinese fellow hooked up a camera to a computer to perform one test on my MS 07-0004.
He then left the cue in the trunk of his car for a full seven days in Minnesota weather that had wind chill factors between minus 20 to minus 40. You can read his story and the results of his tests at the bottom of page MS 07-0004
You may want to read what a tournament promoter, and good shooter, had to say about this cue on the page MS 07-0005
EW 06-0004 is owned by a lady Pro who is somewhat taller than other women. At the end of 2007 she was ranked number 36 in the world. By February of 2007 she was ranked 43 due to her finishing 17th in the North Carolina WPBA tournament at the end of February.
I fully expect her game to go up at least one level in about 6 weeks and after 3 months up at least another whole level, maybe two more. Her name is Deborah Schjodt. (See above paragraph to see I am vindicated.)
Here are her immediate impressions of the cue after one hour of practice. Practice and play are different. To be good takes hard work, shooting shots you hate to shoot. On August 4, 2006 she writes:
"Hi Ronnie,
I only have 2 words to say about my new cue---WOW-WEE! Bert brought me the cue yesterday and I shot for about an hour with it and it was fantastic! I'm so excited to add new shots to my game that I didn't have before with the "other cue". The weight is perfect as is the diameter of the shaft.
The cue itself is BEAUTIFUL!! The orange wood is very nice. I can't thank you enough for making the perfect cue for me. The spin is amazing. Certain shots that I had to power before I can now hit with an easy, fluid stroke. The way the shot was meant to be stroked. My draw shot is now effortless.
The extra length allows me to follow through more so I get a better reaction from the cue ball. I'm going to have to let up on some shots now that I don't have to power through them. AMAZING :)"
Her words after after 1 week:
"Everything is perfect with my new cue. I'm just adjusting a little to the extra spin I get with it. I'm having so much fun learning new shots! "
After 2 weeks with her new QP Custom Cue:
"As far as I know I don't think anybody makes a better cue than yours. I played again today and am still amazed at all the spin and control I have with it."
I have to say that your cue has less deflection than .........(I took the name of this leading Florida based shaft company out of her letter. She knows about the products of this company very, very well because she shot with their cue and low-deflection shafts for years and years.) I feel I can put way more spin on the cue ball, if I need to, and get better results. Why didn't I have one of your cues 10 years ago? My mistake."
On October 18, 2006 she writes:
"My name is Debbie Schjodt and I live in Orlando, Fl. I currently play on the Ladies Spirit Tour in Florida and also on the WPBA. I am the #1 Amateur in the state and my ranking on the WPBA is 48th. I am also the tallest woman to play on the WPBA at 6'4" tall. I've been playing pool competitively for around 12 years. In that time I felt my game was missing something even though I was playing 4-8 hours a day.
I heard from a friend of mine, that is as tall as me, about QuePerfect Cues and how Ronnie made longer ones for taller players. I hit a few balls with a 64" cue that my friend has from Ronnie and instantly knew what was wrong with my game. I'd been playing with the wrong length of cue this whole time! What a waste! If only I had had one 12 years ago! I got in touch with Ronnie and he was nice enough to make me a 63" cue that fits me perfectly. I received the cue in July and am continually amazed at the difference it has made to my game.
I am now able to control the cue ball more. Especially on my follow shots I didn't feel like I was getting the reaction out of the cue ball that I wanted. I now realize that I wasn't able to follow through properly with the shorter cues.
Also the balance of the cue was off for me too. I was holding the cue very near the butt-end and so I didn't have any weight in the back and that made it feel unbalanced. Now every shot is smoother and more controlled than before. I don't feel like I have to power through any shots.
The spin I get on the cue ball is so amazing. I learn new shots every day now that I have one of Ronnie's cues. My game has come up at least one ball and I've only had the cue for almost 3 months! I encourage all the tall players out there to shoot with a longer cue because I guarantee your game will improve more than you thought possible.
I want to thank Ronnie of QuePerfect Cues for making me the perfect cue and for helping me find what was missing in my game!"
THANK YOU RONNIE!!!"
Mr. Goh, Tuan Kiat (高传杰) shot in the IPT in 2006. He is a former A4 fighter pilot and Pro player originally from Singapore. He is just like me, no nonsense and straight talking. We did not hit it off at first, but to keep blood from seeping from under the door we started getting along fine. Ha, ha. Two honest men can get along and all it took from Mr. 高传杰 Vince Van Goh, the Pro and I were two letters to become friends after getting angry at each other before he even had my product.
I sent him two shafts. He liked them but said they were about the same as the best Predator in low deflection. It seems that he has an extreme and unusual ability to test and to feel what is going on with the cue butt and shaft.
I then sent him two of my old growth QP Prodigy shafts, one normal growth rings and the second high growth rings. Both had slightly different tapers and tip sizes. He chose one as the best he has ever shot with and I greatly appreciate him being willing to test my shafts and find the best tip size and taper for Pro players. You know if you please a Pro with low-deflection and taper, then that will please most normal players.
He settled on the 22 annual growth (22gpi) ringed shaft (old-growth cut between 1820 and 1840) a few months ago (in late 2006) and has this to say. Also on down this page is what Lady Pro, Deborah Schjodt has to say about her QP Custom Cue. Keep in mind that Deborah's cue is only very-low deflection which is one step lower than a Predator. She will have super-low deflection (3 steps lower than a Predator) cue and shafts sometime around the end of June, 2007.
"Hi Ronnie,
...................... It is by far the best hitting shaft I have ever played with, and I have tried many types of shafts out there, including the Predator Z and Z2, the original 314 and 314 2nd edition, Smart shaft, Meucci black dot and red dot shafts, having put in at least 100 hours on each type of shaft.
I have put in about 100 hours of play on that shaft, and the more I play with the shaft, the more I am amazed at what it can do. It's not so much the reduced deflection ................., but it's the predictable characteristics which makes this shaft stand out.
Of special mention is the ease of control of the white ball due to proportional performance versus strength. Another is the power the shaft can generate with stun shots, which can produce far greater cue ball travel with the same strength than other shafts.
………………The shaft behaves very well with extreme spin and is a real pleasure to play with. I have not used the high growth rings prodigy shaft much. It seems to deflect similar to the 1st shaft you sent and does not suit my style of play.
Hope this makes you happy, you have another satisfied customer here.
Regards,
Vince"
高传杰
EW 06-0015 3/16 inch ferruled "Old Growth" shafts
This note was received from a collector of my cues. He sent this to me on February 17, 2007 concerning the hit and super-low deflection of the EW 06-0015 with "Old Growth" hard-rock maple shafts with 3/16 inch ferrules. I and one of my friends have been testing the "old growth" with 3/16 inch ferrules now since October 14, 2006 with them holding up well.
He has already placed words here on this page in 2006, attesting to my very-low deflection cues. This is the man's third cue from me and I am building a fourth for him now.
In this note he is drawing comparison between my old maple very-low deflection shafts and these new super-low deflection shafts.
A lady Pro named Debbie is getting another cue from me with these new type shafts.
"Ronnie,
The cue arrived today. It is VERY nice. I only had a chance to hit a few balls with it, but my initial impression is that the shafts you have been bragging about are even better than advertised. They resonate in a different way, and seem to have a slightly more solid feel at contact, in addition to less deflection. The overall feel to me is superior, but not significantly different. The weight and balance of the cue feels fantastic. The only thing that doesn't feel right is the lack of a wrap. (This is his first cue he ever ordered without a wrap)
I need more time with the new cue, but I'm not sure I agree with your suggestion that Debbie wait until the end of the season to switch. I used to race Porsches, and mine were always the lower dollar/horsepower versions. When I had a chance to drive higher performance Porsches, the transition was easy because I was just dealing with a more competent and powerful version of the same car. I think the new shafts on your cue are like that. Debbie already made the transition from a VW to a Porsche when she switched to your longer cue. I expect she can quickly adjust to and benefit from the added performance these shafts seem to deliver."
On January 12, 2007 Mr. Sota Koike sent the following to me:
"Hi Ronnie,the cue is amazing, I used it for the first time this week and there is literally no cue-ball deflection. It's amazing. But I was practicing straight in long distance shots, (I had not broken with your cue once) and amazing enough I made about 20 in a row. Now before I couldn't make 5 in a row. "
I replied back that while the deflection was exceedingly low it still had some and he was mistaken in thinking it did not have any at all.
He tested and on February 1, he replied:
"The funny thing is I was shooting with the cue today, and I was thinking of ways to improve my game. So I set up straight shots but used as much left and right english as I could to try to make the ball. I did figure out that there is a little bit of deflection but it still beats out the other cues by at least 1 and 1/2 of an inch and that makes a huge difference for my game.
Although right now my game has actually worsened because your cue is so great. I tried playing position shots or cut shots, and every time I have overrun the position due to too much spin, and I keep on missing the cut shots by some margin because I am expecting more deflection than it actually turns out to have. But once I get used to your cue I think my results will improve."
Those words sent to me by Mr.Sota Koike. His game is going to be off for about a month to 6 weeks due to so little deflection and so much extra spin that my cues give. Previous to this he had said the cue did not have any deflection at all, but I told him it did have a little, thus he tested to find out how much. His cue is this one: EW 06-0013
Six weeks later, on March 17, 2007 Mr. Koike said,
"Dear Ronnie
After practicing with the cue for a while my game has gone up a couple of notches. I've beaten many of the players I used to lose to because your cue has allowed me to put some new shots into my game.
I took a lesson from Tony Robles, and I asked him to shoot around with your cue. He shot about 10 shots with massive amounts of right, left, draw, and follow english and he said it was a very nice hitting stick.
Sota"
Placed here June 10, 2007 from a letter to me dated June 8, 2007.
Ever wonder how this cue shoots?
Sure is nice, but does it shoot?
This man has had this cue about almost 2 months on June 8, of 2007. Here is what he said to me on June 8, 2007.
"I have already had many people looking at the cue and the scrimshaw with stares of disbelief at the beauty. It will get lots of attention tomorrow.
It hits better than it looks too."
"Tomorrow" means he was playing with it in a city-wide tournament.
Does the cue look fantastic? He said it looked so good that people stared in disbelief at the beauty, right?
He said it played better than it looked. So it must play very, very, very good, huh? Now do you head-scratches understand? :-)
Do you understand why people are willing to pay $8,000 to be my student for 2 months? They know when they leave they are fully equipped and capable of making one of the best hitting cues in the world.
How to know you are a crab, a person that does not like seeing others happoy or doing well. Go here for the answer.
Back in 2005 a Mr. Becker bought this cue: EW 05-29.
Of course Mr. Becker was happy with his purchase. Even junk-cue buyers are happy when they first get their pretty cues.
But why don't you ever see anything good posted on the junk-cue sites from their customers after the customer has owned the junk for 2 years? The reason you do not see any good thing said years later is because is that the junk-cue buyers started writing 8 to 8 months later telling the junk-cue sellers their junk had warped and they wanted a new cue! The reply they received was this one used by local junk-cue makers: "I like all other cuemakers, do not guarantee the cue not to warp."
Or like Predator told me when $5,000 worth of their junk 314s warped: "Wood moves."
當我價值5000美元的Predator 314球桿前節變形時﹐Predator公司答復道﹕ 木材會變形。
Wood doesn't move if it is cut correctly! So they are admitting they do not cut their woods correctly! And if Predator cut their wood properly, instead of hoping all that glue hides their error of too-fast wood turning, then they would not have caused me to develop a shaft with 3 steps lower deflection than their best product when they hung me with over $5,000 worth of their bad shafts!
This was sent to my by Mr. Becker on February 8, 2007. He received his cue in May of 2005 and is going to buy from me again! Almost 2 years later.
"Sorry I couldn't get back to you on Saturday, I was busy winning a tournament with your cue. I only lost three games the whole tourney. I think your cue has really improved my game. After using it for nearly two years every other cue I've picked up feels dead, and gets less spin."
About one fourth of my sales the last two years have been to customers wanting another QP Cue. And the cue he bought was one I was making for myself. Sure is a beautiful blood-red colored wood. I really like that color. EW 05-29
In September of 2006 after owning a QP Custom Cue for a number of years Mark the banker writes:
"Ronnie, hope this note finds you well and your business brisk. I have been playing with the Prodigy shaft for a number of months now and I must say I love it. I think my game has improved greatly - our league starts soon and we will see if my numbers reflect this view.
Watched as Efren won the big tournament - quite a prize. Hope he played with your cue - wouldn't that be something - even if he didn't (it is) great that he has (already) testified to the performance of your product.
Mark"
This next letter was sent to me by Mark Tonnesen a few weeks later on November 2, 2006. Mark bought the EW 03-07 a number of years ago. The pool league he referred to above is almost over and he did very well.
Mark is a banker (as in making money as a ranking banking official - not a bank pool player) He is a very good player. When he originally bought the EW 03-07 he then lived in Canada and played in a pool league with players like "The Dancing Bear" Martel, Alex Pagulayan (Former world 9-ball champion), Jim wych (Former Canadian Snooker champion), Willie Thormby (The only man outside the British Isles to ever be world snooker champion and who said of the EW 03-07 "Ronnie's best work yet"). Mark knows pool, how to play well, and knows a good cue. Here is a note sent in November 2006.
"Ronnie, I visited your site today and read the testimonial you placed there by me. I thought I should follow-up.
We are seven weeks into our 9 week league season. I am the only undefeated player in the league, they have raised my handicap and our team is in first place. I am positive these results are due to the continued use of a Queperfect cue.
I bought a cue recently made by a famous cue maker - it was expensive but I wanted to see how it hit and compared. It is sitting idle in my cue case, and though it is exquisite, I don't think I will ever play the cue. The deflection of the cue renders it almost unplayable for me who is used to the prodigy shaft. Thanks again for making this game so enjoyable. Mark."
I then correctly guessed whose cue he had. He replied:
"I think you are a good guesser. The hit is very different. Yours is softer and, I think, transfers more feel to my right arm. I think this is the joint but probably that and more. The other cue has a steel joint. The defection is much greater with the other cue but the shaft taper is much different than yours."
The reason I guessed correctly using only one name is that there is a very famous cuemaker who makes very expensive cues and this man studied from a previous famous cuemaker. My cue and his have almost the same hit. If he did not use stainless steel for joints his cue would have my hit. If I used stainless steel joints then I would have his hit. He builds cues exactly like I do, and yet my cues are cheaper, but I do not have a famous name . . . . yet. But even now my cues give better feel than his do. I could put his name here, but will not. So the difference between that man's cue and mine is that mine give a little more feel to the shooter and has lots less deflection. Everything else is the same. Soon the cue making world will realize this and my cues will then be worth lots more than they are now. (Written in 2006)
Placed here June 10, 2007.
I have said this before on my site and will say it again. Some of you scratch your heads and talk to yourselves saying, "How can he get such a high price for his cues? What is it with his cues that make them so much more special?"
Well, for a beginner to get on a forum and brag on a cue does not really mean much, does it? What means a lot is to have someone like Efren Reyes, whom has shot with dozens and dozens of cues, to ask a cuemaker to make him a cue like he asked me to do.
When a person is old enough and has enough money to buy various cues or shoot with many cues for a while . . . well . . . when that type pays thousands for one of my cues, then that also means a lot.
Here is what a man has to say about my cues. He is in his 50s and has owned and shot with many. Here is what he has to say to me on June 9, 2007 as he and I talk about two more cues he wants from me. These next two will be his fifth and sixth QP Cues. :-)
I had just send an email telling him when he goes over four cues he is a collector.
"I had a lot more than four cues before we started this, so I guess I am a collector, but definitely not an investor. I can say that with certainty because I have never sold a cue for a profit. The few I have let go of where to friends at my cost or below. I bought them mostly to experience the differences for myself, and have enjoyed sharing that with others.
評語原話﹕在我開始購買你的球桿之前﹐我已經擁有了許多別人的球桿。我想我算得上一名收藏家﹐但肯定不是一名投資者。我如此肯定是因為我從來沒有為盈利而出售任何球桿。我買給朋友的那幾根球桿每根要價都是原價或更低。 我購買它們是為了體驗不同的球桿性能﹐並很高興能與他人分享。
Then when I got my first cue from you, the playability of all the others paled in comparison. I do think this was partly due to the added length, but that was coupled with the best shafts I had ever felt. I decided that I did not want to play with anything else, and see nothing wrong with making sure I have a lifetime supply. I should probably figure out a way to get rid of all but yours, but I do still find the artistry in some of them interesting."
Maybe some of you can figure it out now, can't you?
I have only had two beginners buy cues from me (they both were grown men in their 50s and wanted the best), so when buyers of my cues speak they have experience to add truth when they tell you I make the best cue they have ever played with. :-)
Mr. Longpre bought the EW 05-65 Roses Cue cue in February of 2006. Here is what he has to say of the cue.
The first letter is written 3 weeks after shooting with the cue on Match 14, 2006.
"Ronnie
I got the joint protector. It really finishes the set. The only problem, my cue doesn't’t fit in any case, but who cares.
Now I'm going to build myself a cue case to match it.
The cue is shooting fantastically.. . extra spin ...I'm getting really good at judging the spin.
I'm banking in balls that I never could have before, I'm drawing the ball 3 rails and throwing balls in like a pro.
Thank you so much for all the work you put into it.I'll keep you posted on my success . . . Can't wait to do business again.
Phil"
Then April 20, 2006 after owning the cue for a whole two months he writes and said:
"Ronnie,What a true piece of art you sent me. The spin that I get with this cue is unbelievable. And the balance I get with the longer cue is fantastic.
I've really started playing much better since I got your cue. Part of that has to be the amount of hours I've put in trying to get used to the
hit (which is indescribable and unbelievable, truly magnificent) and the additional spin. But all the hours have been a joy. I just don’t want to
put my cue down. It has become a second arm for me. I will try to keep you posted on any successes with the cue.Oh and also, it’s stunning to look at. The finish is without flaw, the joint is perfect and I just can’t wait until I order my next cue from you.
Thanks again Ronnie.
Phil"
On May 9, 2006 Mr.Phil Longpre writes:
"Ronnie,
We took first place in our league and playoffs. So far your cue has almost paid for itself in winnings. Thanks again.
I get lots of questions from other players about this unusually long cue and who makes it.
I send everyone to your web site. But honestly I am happy being the only one in Windsor with a Queperfect Cue
Talk to you soon. Great work.
Phil"
The following series of letters are from a man who has two of my 64 inch cues. He bought his first one in 2005 and his second a few months later in December 2005.
以下一系列電子郵件出自一位擁有我的兩根64英寸長球桿的顧客。在2005年他購買了第一根﹐數月後在2005年12月他又購買了第二根。
In April of 2006 Bert writes:
在2006年4月Be先生來信道﹕
"Ronnie,
羅蘭特先生﹐
I have not used the predator shafts for quite some time. When I first compared the shafts that came with EW 05-38, and predator 314 and Z shafts that I was using with my old Weston cue, I thought the deflection on your shafts was equal to or slightly better than the 314, and significantly better than their Z shaft. Your shafts also just felt better than either of the predators. I switched back and forth between them for a weekend last year after you adjusted the taper, decided I liked your shaft better, and have not shot with either predator since.
我已經很久沒有使用Predator前節了。當我最初把EW 05-38所配備的前節與我原來的Weston桿所配備的Predator 314與Z前節做比較時﹐ 我認為你的前節在防止母球偏向性能上比314稍高﹐而比Z高出許多。同時﹐你的前節感覺上比那兩根Predator前節更好。 去年在你幫我調節了前節的錐形以後﹐我用了一整個週末反復試驗﹐最終還是更喜歡你的前節。從此﹐我就再也沒有使用過Predator的前節。
You spoiled me........ which is why I bought the second cue......... and will probably be back for more. I really don't want to shoot with anything else.
你寵壞了我。。。這正是為什麼我又買了第二根你的球桿。。。以後還可能買更多。除了你的球桿﹐我不想再用別人製造的。
Bert"
Previous to the above letter Bert bought the EW 05-38 in 2005 and wrote to me concerning the shafts for the ER 0002, his next cue:
在寫以上信件之前﹐Bert Pharis 先生在2005年購買了 EW 05-38 一桿﹐並來信與我討論他的第二根球桿﹐ER 0002前節的情況﹕
"Ronnie,
羅蘭特先生
.......................... But DO make sure they have the same taper and tip diameter as the shafts from 05-38. Hopefully cutting the shafts to those specs will not create any of the problems with the wood you described. According to my measurements those shafts are very close to identical, . . . . . . . They feel perfect in my hand, so please make sure the shafts on the new cue are the same, or no more than 12.50mm.
。。。。。。。。。請確保它們的錐形與皮頭直徑與EW05-38的前節一模一樣。希望這麼切割不會對木材造成你所描述過的問題。 根據我的測量它們幾乎完全相同。。。。。。握在手裡感覺很完美。所以﹐請你把新球桿的前節也如法炮製﹐直徑不要超過12。5毫米。
I did get a chance to shoot with one of them a bit last week, and really liked the feel. Amazing improvement! And the finish is superb. Now in addition to hitting better than my predator, the shafts feels better too! It will clearly take some practice time to get used to the difference in the way your cue hits, and take full advantage of it's potential. Based on my initial impressions, that cue now meets or exceeds every expectation I had when I first ordered it.
上星期我有機會試打了其中的一根前節。試下來非常喜歡它的感覺。這是明顯的進步﹗做工一流。現在它們不僅擊打性能比我的Predator前節要好﹐手感也更好﹗想要適應你的球桿的擊打性能﹐發揮它最大的潛力﹐需要不少練習。 憑我最初的印象﹐本桿達到並超過了我在訂購它時的每一項期望。
It also makes me very happy that I agreed to purchase ER 0002.
這也使我對於同意購買ER 0002球桿一事感到非常高興。
Regards,
祝平安﹐
Bert"
Previous to this he said on December 21, 2005:
在此之前他曾於2005年12月21來信道﹕
Ronnie,
羅蘭特先生﹐
Played a bit with the cue again tonight. It feels better and more natural with every stroke. I switched back to the 62 inch Weston for comparison at the end of the evening, and for the first time it was that cue that did not feel right in my hands. I think you've spoiled me.
今晚又試了一會兒桿。隨著每一次揮桿它的感覺越來越好﹐也越來越自然。在試桿結束時﹐我換上了我那62英寸長的Weston球桿﹐以便作比較。
有使以來第一次把Weston桿握在手中感覺不對了。我想我被你的球桿寵壞了。
Bert"
An update: In August of 2007 I am working on cue number 6 that this fine, honest, man has purchased from me.
另註﹕在2007年8月我正為這位優秀﹐誠實的顧客製作他向我購買的第六根球桿。
In October of 2004 I sold the EW 04-21 to Mr. Alberta
在2004年10月24日我將 EW 04-21 一桿售於Alberta先生。
Here are the words of Mr. Alberta right after the cue arrived and he shot with it. Then on November 7, 2004 and then the comments in February of 2005 after he had the cue for slightly over 4 months.
以下首先為Alberta先生在收到球桿並經過試用後的來信。然後是他在2004年11月7日的來信。最後是在2005年2月-在他擁有本桿四個月後的評語。
"Hi Ronnie:
你好﹐羅蘭特
I got the cue on Tuesday here. It's absolutely gorgeous!!!!! More beautiful in person than I ever imagined it would be!!! The joint protectors you made are just beautiful too and match the cue perfectly. You are definitely a top notch craftsman!!!
本星期二我收到了球桿。它絕對華麗﹗親眼所見到的它遠比想象中的更美麗﹗ 由你製作的前後節結合保護套與球桿非常班配﹐也非常美麗。你絕對是一位一流的工匠。
I played a few games with it late that night and a few more on Wednesday after work. it definitely plays differently than my Scruggs does. It does seem to get very good spin. I was hitting my inside english shots pretty well with it and I was able to hit some pinch bank shots that were at angles that I wouldn't have even attempted to try before.
收到當晚我用它練了幾盤﹐第二天下班後又打了一段時間。它的擊打性能與我過去使用的Scruggs球桿很不一樣。 它能產生很強的旋轉。用它我可以打出很強的內塞球。還能打出一些以前我根本不會嘗試的角度很勉強的灌球。
I was having a harder time with regular bank shots adjusting to the spin that the cue gets. It gets draw on the cue very easily. It's going to take some time to learn how to hit throw shots with it since deflection is so much less.
在適應新球桿所產生的旋轉的過程中﹐打普通的灌球比以前要困難些。使用它拉低桿非常容易。 但要掌握拋球需要更多時間練習﹐因為它所產生的母球偏向比其它球桿少的多。
Thanks a bunch and I will get back with you in a few weeks after I get some more playing time with the cue."
非常感謝你。過幾個禮拜﹐等我用它再多練一段時間後我會給你去信。
On November 7, 2004 Mr. Alberta said,
"I haven't been playing much of late, but I have put away my Scruggs and am playing full time with your cue now. I can definitely tell that I have something special in my hands with your cue. The less deflection in your cue is very noticeable. It will take some time to get used to it, but I definitely feel my game will improve as I get more accustomed to how the cue plays. I have been getting many inquiries as to where I got the cue and how beautiful it is."
最近我練的不是太多。但我已經淘汰了過去所使用的Scruggs球桿﹐而完全轉為使用你的球桿。把它握在手裡﹐我感覺很特別。 你的球桿所具有的防止母球偏向性能非常明顯。它需要一段時間來適應。但我感到在適應過程中自身的球藝也隨之而進步。 已有許多人向我問起本桿是從何處購得﹐並為何如此美觀。
Then in February of 2005 Mr. Alberta had this to say:
在2005年2月﹐Alberta先生來信道
"Hello Ronnie:
你好﹐羅蘭特
Just thought I'd drop you a quick email to let you know how I'm doing with your new cue. It took some time getting used to it since I only play a few hours a week these days, but I am really playing well with it now after just a few short months. I have especially noticed a big difference in the consistency with which I pocket balls on long straight in shots. I have also noticed a big difference in my ability to use side English on long shots. It's really amazing how effortlessly your cue can move the cue ball around the table. The bottom line is I am playing with much more confidence now and it has translated into more wins in my league. Our fall session just ended and my team came in 1st place with a record of 54 rounds won versus only 2 lost. I only wish I could have had one of your cues 15 years ago when I could have done some real damage with it
想給你寫封短信﹐告訴你我使用了你的球桿後的情況。由於我每星期只練幾個小時﹐它花了我很久去適應。但經過短短的幾個月後﹐我已經用它打的很好了。 我特別注意到了自己在打長距離直線球時準度上的進步﹐和打長距離球時加塞能力的提高。你的球桿能毫不費力地操縱母球﹐這使我感到驚奇。 使用了它﹐我的信心大增﹐並在聯賽中取得了更多的勝利。我們這裡秋季聯賽剛剛結束﹐我們組位列第一﹐並創下了54勝2負的記錄。
真可惜15年前我沒有使用你的球桿﹐否則我的撞球事業會和現在大不相同。
I have been thinking about having you make a "sister" cue to the one you just made me. I have something specific in mind for the design. On your web page that shows the different pieces of wood that you have. Hopefully #6 is still ......" (then he tells the the woods that he wants for his second cue)
我正在考慮請你為我的球桿製作一根姐妹桿。對於它的設計我有獨特的要求。在你的那一頁展示不同木材的網頁中﹐希望第6號木材仍然待售。。。。。。 (注﹕隨後他開始討論關於他的第二根球桿的木材情況)
I will ship a third cue to Mr. Alberta in October-November of 2007.
在2007年10月至11月間﹐我會把為Alberta先生製作的第三根球桿寄給他。
About the first cue (and before his second cue arrived) in March 2006, Mr. Alberta said later on in 2005,
在2005年末﹐也就是在他收到第二根球桿之前(2006年3月收到)﹐Alberta先生來信道﹕
"I should tell you that I am playing exceptionally well right now with the cue you made me. I have been ranked 1st or 2nd in my league all year, I lead the league in run outs and in the last 7 tournaments that I have played in, I have five 1st place finishes and one 2nd place finish."
我應該告訴你如今使用著你的球桿﹐我打得特別好。在全年聯賽中﹐我的排名始終保持第一第二名。 我的清檯次數在聯賽球手裡列為第一。並且﹐在過去的7個比賽中﹐我拿了5次第一﹐1次第二。
Craig had this cue EW 02-06,and this is what he had to say:
Craig先生在 EW 02-06收到他的新球桿時評論如下﹕
Received my cue from Ronnie, and I can't say enough about how well of a great job he did. His attention to what you are asking from him, and what you get, are pretty much what you wanted. His expertise with all kinds of woods, inlays, weight, balance, length, tips etc., and all else that goes into making a pro-class cue are gone over by him in minute detail. He makes you feel comfortable, when you put up your money for a nice cue......he delivers! The extra spin I get with this cue is tremendous, as he said it would. His cues have a personality , unlike any other cue (except the first one from him) that I've owned, and I have quite a few. The extra length of my cues, has added an extra strength to my game. Keep up your artistic talents Ronnie, and thanks for a cue that I am proud to own...Craig"
剛從羅蘭特先生那裡收到了我的球桿。對於他是如何出色地完成為我制桿工作的情況﹐我無法在此一語道盡。 他對於你的各項要求極為重視﹐這正是你想要的。對於木材﹐鑲嵌﹐重量﹐平衡﹐長度﹐皮頭等各種製作一根專業球桿必不可少的原材料他瞭如指掌。 他非常誠信﹐你可以安心把為訂購一根優質球桿的訂金交付於他。正如他事先告訴我的那樣﹐本桿能使母球產生強大的旋轉。 不同於其它球桿的是﹐他的球桿具有鮮明個性。我已經擁有好幾根他的球桿了。這些球桿所增加的長度﹐使我出桿時增加了力度。 請繼續保持你的藝術天份﹐羅蘭特先生。並感謝你為我製作了一根讓我引以為傲的球桿。。。。。。Craig
About 2 years later Craig sent the cue back to me to do some inlays and shorten it a little so he would not keep hitting the close-in walls where he had his own pool table.
大約兩年後Craig先生把這根球桿寄回來給我﹐讓我幫他在桿上安置一些鑲嵌﹐並縮短一些長度。 這樣當他在家中球檯上練球時球桿末端不會時常敲到牆壁。
This letter was sent to me in 2004.
以下來信寫於2004年。
"I mentioned you to Jim Wych, told him to look on your site and see how great your cues were. He was over in London announcing for the Mosconi Cup and spoke to Mika Immonen. Mika told Jim that you 'Make really nice cues.' - good to hear, but not surprising." . . . Mark
我向Jim Wych先生介紹了你﹐並推薦他閱覽你的網站﹐以便了解你所製作的優秀球桿。 當他在英國倫敦主持Mosconi杯撞球對抗賽時曾與Mika Immonen交流過。Mika告訴他你製作的球桿非常出色。 我很高興聽到這樣的評論﹐但並不覺得驚奇。。。。。。馬克
(Mark, who is 6 foot 4 inches tall, can be reached in 2006 at: mtonnesen@tgic.com)
(注﹕馬克先生身高6英尺4英寸﹐在2006年電子郵件為﹕ mtonnesen@tgic.com)
He has the following to say:
他曾來信寫道﹕
"Appreciate your attention to this cue and really look forward to seeing the option. Giving me an option on the cue and the fun of selecting what I want is making this whole process quite enjoyable. Thanks. Mark".
非常感謝你對我的球桿如此重視。希望能早日看到關於它設計上的選擇項目。 能讓我選擇不同的我喜愛的設計﹐是一種令人愉快的制桿經歷。非常感謝。馬克。
(Note: Written in December 2002. Mark also helped me with cue lengths for tall people that shoot with a snooker stance. Thank you Mark and thank you for waiting because of the fire, etc.)
(注﹕以上來信寫於2002年12月。馬克先生還與我共同設計了適合身材高大﹐使用思諾克姿勢打撞球的選手的球桿長度。 非常感謝你﹐馬克。並感謝你因火災等緣故耐心等待你的球桿完工。
Mark's cue originally used to have a 34 inch cue butt and 30 inch Predator shafts ..that is..until I told him I had the Predator brand beaten with even less deflection. I have had much trouble with Predator shafts warping within a year of purchase and them honoring their product, thus I developed my own shaft with even less deflection. He then sent the cue back for me to re-work and put 32 inch super-low deflection Prodigy™ Shafts on.
馬克的球桿本來後節長34英寸﹐配有長30英寸的Predator前節﹐直到我告訴他我開發出了自己的比Predator性能更好的前節為止。 Predator前節在我購買一年之內就變形了﹐而且它們公司沒有誠信。這給我帶來了很多麻煩。 因此﹐我研製了比它們性能更強的前節。隨後﹐馬克把球桿寄還給我﹐由我改進並配備了長度為32英寸的超級低母球偏向級奇跡前節。
I shortened the cue butt to 32 inches, fitted 32 inch super-low deflection Prodigy™ Shafts and put on $160 per gallon clear coat.
在改建中﹐我把後節由34英寸縮短為32英寸﹐再配以長32英寸的超級低母球偏向級奇跡前節。 還為它塗上了每加侖價值160美元的透明漆。
After using my 32 inch Prodigy™ Shafts (Mark's cue is 64 inches long) for months he had this to say in March of 2006:
在使用了經改進後的球桿(配以新的奇跡前節﹐總長仍為64英寸)數月後﹐他於2006年3月來信寫道﹕
"The cue is great. You did such a good job on the refinishing. The new shafts are extremely playable. We have been moving to Winston-Salem for the past month and my table has just gotten set up. I haven't had the time or place to practice as much as I would like to.
我的球桿情況非常好。你改建的非常出色。新前節打擊性能極好。上個月我們搬到Winston-Salem居住﹐並剛剛把球檯裝好。 近來我一直沒有時間或地方實現我想要達到的練球進度。
When I first played the cue I could not believe the amount of spin on the ball. One of my league team mates commented to the house pro how much spin I could generate - it is pretty amazing. ........................
當我剛開始使用改建後的球桿時﹐我無法相信它居然能對母球產生如此強大的旋轉。 我的一位聯賽中的隊友把這一情況告訴了那裡的教練。這真是不可思議。。。。。。。。。。。。
Spinning the ball back the length of the table is effortless. Moving it back just 18 inches takes real concentration (and practice).
如今﹐想把母球拉回整張檯是毫不費力的。而只拉回18英寸卻需要非常謹慎和反復練習。
I find that the deflection on the cue is very low-............. The way you construct the butt section must play a part in the amount of deflection and therefore even the Predator on your butt is less than the Predator I have on other cues." ......Mark can be reached at: mtonnesen@tgic.com
它所產生的母球偏向極低。。。。。。這一定與你製作球桿後節的方法有關。 因為即使配上以前的Predator前節﹐它還是比其它球桿產生的母球偏向要小。。。。。。馬克的電子郵箱為﹕ mtonnesen@tgic.com
Mark is a good enough player to have discovered what I have been saying for years and years. The cue butt construction does have a part in deflection (It also plays a part in how much spin a cue puts to the ball). I, and I think Bob Meucci, are the only cuemakers that say this. In-other-words you can take a shaft from anyone's' cue and put it on a cue butt that I built and the shaft will have less deflection and get more spin than it did when it was on the cue it was originally built for!
馬克是一位優秀球手﹐他發現了我多年來一貫堅持的理論。球桿後節的製作確實會影響球桿所產生的母球的偏向與旋轉的程度。 當今﹐只有我和Bob Meucci先生是這麼認為的。換而言之﹐如果你把一根其它球桿的前節放到我的後節上﹐ 這根球桿就會產生比原桿更低的母球偏向與更強的旋轉﹗
On March 7, 2006 after using my cue for years Mark sent this:
在使用了我的球桿多年後的2006年3月7日﹐馬克來信道﹕
"Ronnie, I think you build one of the best cues in the world and am happy to tell anyone. Please feel free to use my endorsement - just wish it was worth as much as your cue!
羅蘭特先生﹐我認為你是當今世界上最好的制桿家之一。我很樂意對每一人都這麼說。 請隨意引用我的評語作宣傳。因為你的球桿物有所值﹗
Mark."
馬克
One man asked this question before he purchased his first QP Custom Cue.
一位顧客在購買第一根QP球桿前問了這麼一個問題。
"I have been talking with three other cue makers and have decided to get one of your Exotic Wood cues. How do I go about picking out the woods that I want? The woods you mention out of houses: They are legal to own, aren't they?".......David
我有和其他三位制桿家聯繫過﹐但最終決定購買你的珍奇木材系列球桿。請問我該如何向你挑選木材﹖ 你提到過的從老房子拆除中所獲得的木材﹐它們的買賣是合法的﹐是嗎﹖
Note: He named the other three cue makers and I did not put the names. They all three are very well known and one of them (two men working together) I believe to make the most unique cues on the planet.. (December 2002)
注﹕我沒有把他提到的那三位制桿師的名字放在這裡。他們都非常出名。 其中一家(由兩人合作)製作的球桿我認為在世界上是最獨特。(注於2002年12月)
And yes, the rare woods I got out of houses that were built at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century are legal to have since these woods were not illegal when they were cut over 100 years ago when they were just rare and not illegal to own. In late 2004 and February 2006 thousands died in slimy, filthy, suffocating mud as they were crushed in mud-slides in The Philippines. This due to heavy rains and lack of rare woods when the trees on the surrounding slopes had fed the illegal wood trade for junk-cue makers and furniture makers.
答案是肯定的﹐這些取自於一棟建築於19世紀末至20世紀初的老房子的稀有木材是合法的。 100多年前當它們被砍伐下來時﹐儘管很稀少﹐但卻是可以進行合法買賣的。 在從2004年底至2006年2月
期間﹐菲律賓發生的泥石流使得上千株這類樹木因骯髒﹐令人窒息的生存環境而死亡。 造成泥石流的主要原因是暴雨和那些廉價球桿製作商與傢具商非法砍伐週圍山坡上的樹木群。
Other e-mail address will go up as people give me permission to use their names and addresses. Some understandably are very busy and do not want to answer a flood of questions or be harassed by a few Filipinos.
經過顧客的允許﹐我會陸續把他們的電子信箱地址放在網頁上。 可以理解﹐有些顧客很忙﹐沒空回答大量的提問﹐也不願被一些菲律賓人騷擾。
At a show I attended in July 2002 Scott purchased a cue and says:
在我參加過的2002年7月的球桿展示會上﹐Scott先生購買了一根我的球桿。他的評論如下﹕
"Just wanted to say I bought your Shooter cue (model 02-06) from Darren at your show in New Orleans last year and I still love it. It has a very solid hit and plays wonderfully. Everyone I met at the booth, including Ronnie, were first class, knowledgeable, and sincere people"........Scott [Note: Scott can be reached at: scotta@equitrac.com January 31, 2003
去年在新奧爾蘭州的展示會上我向Darren先生購買的你的射手系列球桿(編號為02-06)。至今我仍然非常喜歡它。 它的擊打手感非常穩重﹐性能優異。在展示會上我遇到的每一個人﹐包括羅蘭特在內﹐都非常誠信﹐知識淵博﹐人品一流。。。Scott
注﹕在2003年1月31日Scott先生的電子郵箱為 scotta@equitrac.com
Note: This letter was sent by Scott six months after he had been shooting with the cue. So he has had time to test it under all shooting conditions.
另注﹕在發出本信時﹐Scott先生已經使用了6個月我的球桿。他具有充份的時間在各種條件下試桿。
.
This next e-mail is from a man named Joerg Klein who lives in Hong Kong and was one of the refs for the "Color of Money" shoot-out between Efren Reyes and Earl Strickland back in the late 90s. He has owns a Que Perfect cue now.
以下這封信來自于Joerg Klein先生。他生活在香港﹐曾是Efren Reyes與Earl Strickland在90年代末期金錢本色撞球比賽的裁判之一。 他擁有一根我的球桿。
"Quality: Absolutely no complaints. People that sold me cues before know that I check every detail in a cue and expect perfection. The QuePerfect cue is as perfect in terms of quality as any cue I have owned.
質量﹕絕對沒意見。以前曾經賣給過我球桿的人都知道﹐我檢查一根球桿的每一處細節﹐並力求完美。 從質量上來說﹐QP球桿是我所擁有的最完美的球桿。
Here is what Jim Wych had to say after shooting with his (December 2003) QP cue for a few weeks. These words come from three of his e-mails and he is also endorsing my QP brand.
"Having been playing snooker and pool now for over 30 years, I have never experienced a cue that allows you to spin the ball as much as my new Que Perfect cue. Once I can adjust my game for the extra spin, it is impossible for me not to become a more effective player all around. It is like owning a cue that is taking steroids.
My Que Perfect cue s plays like a dream. The craftsmanship and attention to detail is what sets it apart from any other I've seen. Coming from a snooker background, I have learned to appreciate a great hitting cue and my new cue has exceeded all of my expectations. I would not hesitate recommending a Que Perfect cue to any player regardless of his or her level.
Having a Que Perfect cue is like being blind and falling in love with a woman. When your sight is restored, you see that she is beautiful as well. That's what you get with a Que Perfect cue. A cue that plays fantastic and is a work of art on top of it.
Tons more spin."
Jim is two time snooker champion of Canada. He showed the cue to another snooker champion (The only world snooker Champion outside of the British Isles) who plays great 8 and 9 ball and this Snooker World Champion in the 80s said,
"Ronnie's finest work yet."
Tom Breed had this to say to me Friday April 16, 2004 about the EW 04-14that he bought from me. Yes, the one with all of those inlays. The cue has ivory ferrules and still gets more spin than any cue he has ever shot with and he has shot for years and years.
"I immediately took the cue and began shooting with it. There was some adjustment time as I was putting too much english on my banks and throw shots. I was hitting the cue ball in my normal spot, but your cue just got more spin. AS YOU SAID IT WOULD. Once I was able to consciously make the adjustment, things settled down and I began pocketing balls much better. I guess what I am trying to say is that the cue hits wonderfully. I am thrilled to have it.
The other thing about the cue is that it is simply STUNNING. My wife, (who usually says about every cue---"It looks like a pool cue to me") said that this cue was the best craftsmanship she has seen. She went on about the cue and it's beauty. I stared in amazement at her while she was talking, but I could not do anything but agree. This cue is beautiful and all wood no less.
THANK YOU!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!
As always you know how I feel about dealing with an honest man who does everything he says he will, and then some. You really went out of your way to make sure everything was the way I wanted. I truly appreciate that."
Tom can be reached at: wizard@cox-internet.com in 2004
After shooting with the cue for one week Mr. Breed sent this letter to me on April 22, 2004:
"Hi Ronnie,
I do like the ivory on the cue. I am slowly getting used to the cue and am doing better the more I play (amazing, isn't it???). I still do have trouble on the banks and the short angle banks, the ones you call the pinch. I even let my friend, the college kid, hit some with it at my house. He was in awe.
This cue is truly great!!! Thank you so much. I have been waiting 30 years for a cue this good.
Regards,
Tom....."
Months after having and shooting the cue I made for him Mr. Breed had this to say to me in two e-mails during the month of August 2004:
"I was just checking in to see how things were going for you and yours. I visit your web site frequently and wish to compliment you on your new cues. I especially liked the EW 04-20. It looks like a gorgeous cue.
I am extremely happy with my cue and the way it plays. It is truly a wonderful cue.
Take care. Keep in touch.Tom"
Then after more than one year of shooting with a cue of mine two-time Canadian snooker champion Jim Wych sent the following on December 24, 2004,
"Don't make it a priority, OK. When you do find the time, the 29 inch shaft would be best suited for me. I'm using the one with no wrap and have been for quite a while now, I love it. It is without a doubt, the best playing pool cue I have ever had the pleasure of using - period."
