What's the word on the Stinger jump/break pool cue?
The recently released Stinger by Jerico Cues is distributed by
the National Billiard Academy and manufactured in the USA by
Jerry Powers of Jerico Cues. It is claimed by the aforementioned
distributor that it is "The World's Greatest JumpBreak Cue," and
has been a recent hot topic in the industry by both consumers,
as well as professional players.
What are the selling points of the stinger? 1) The stinger has
two quick-release joints, which can be considered
extraordinarily convenient for a jumpbreak cue since you've
already got an extra joint that you'll need to fool around with
occasionally when making your jump shots. Time efficiency...
That's what I'm talking about. Aside from that, who wants to get
carpal tunnel while playing pool?
2) It comes in a variety of different exotic woods: bocote,
cocobolo, purpleheart, and ebony. The Stinger can also come at a
little lower price as a "sneaky pete" version that makes use of
maple wood. I happen to find the exotic woods very appealing.
Many jump/breaks I've seen tend to be a little plain looking,
but with the fabulous finish on these cues the wood really looks
good. Which brings me to my next point... the finish.
3) Jerry at Jerico Cues has developed quite an impressive finish
that looks fabulous AND protects and seals the wood from the
effects of moisture and dirt. It seals to a depth of about a
millimeter over the whole cue, allowing it to have a great
glossy look to it.
4) It is currently being used by multiple pro players around the
world including: Mike Massey, Kid Delicious, Tony Robles,
Jennifer Barretta, Ronnie Wiseman, Chris Lynch, Edwardo Roldan,
Bill Meima (2004 World Jumpshot Champion), Sarah Ellerby, Randy
Whitehead, Billy Banks, and Lynette Horsburgh (UK Snooker
Champion).
So what's the big hubbub about? Outside of the selling points
listed, the Stinger boasts quite a promise for performance
including a patented tip/ferrule technology, and a special tip
material.
The patented tip/ferrule technology used by the Stinger makes
use of a "stinger" that projects downward through a hole in the
center of the ferrule (imagine a thumbtack). Upon impact, the
shock from the hit travels through the center of the tip and
down the stinger, passing the energy of the impact straight to
the center of the shaft, as opposed to the ferrule.
The tip material used by the Stinger was developed specifically
for the purpose of break/jumping. It is a high-performance
proprietary material that DOES meet the Billiard Congress of
America's specifications for jump/break tips. The tip material
and ferrule material are, unlike the Sledgehammer, separate
components. The tip/ferrule combination used by The Stinger
promises a hit that sends the shock down the center of the shaft
by means of Jerico Cues patented technology.
Ordering information for the new Stinger jump/break cues can be
found on the following page:
http://www.budgetcues.com/jerico-stinger.htm