Masse Cues – Do you need one to make massive shots?
Massive shots are those amazing pool shots that seem to defy the laws of physics. In a massive shot, the cue ball is hit with so much spin that the ball deviates from a straight line and follows a curved path. Professional trick shot artists or art pool players are particularly good at these shots, but is it possible to hit these shots without a special cue?
A massive cue differs from a normal pool cue in many ways. While a typical pool cue weighs around 18 to 21 ounces, a batter cue can weigh anywhere from 22 to 30 ounces. Also, the sign is much shorter, around 44 to 48 inches. Lastly, it is much stiffer with a large tip. However, these numbers are only approximations, because many massive signals are custom made. If you develop a relationship with a cuemaker, he or she can help you build the cue that suits their technique.
All massive shots have two basic cue ball moves, slide and spin. The slip is the cue ball’s original path of travel, a straight line. It is the immense spin that makes the ball curve. On a massive shot like The Passing Lane, where the cue ball curves around the object ball and hits it into the pocket on the rail, the curve occurs over a greater distance with very little initial slip. This shot can be done without a batter stick because the slide is short and the curve is long.
On the other hand, The Big Kahuna’s hit is made much easier with a heavier batter cue. This shot slides a tremendous distance from one diagonal corner to the other before sliding down the short rail to the other pocket. For the cue ball to slide that far, the cue must hit the ball very fast from a nearly vertical position. Using a mass cue makes it easier to apply enough force (F = ma) to slide the ball AND give it enough spin to bend it into another pocket.
The simple answer to whether you need a massive signal to hit massive shots is no, you don’t. However, there are certain sophisticated massive hits that would be quite difficult to master without a specialized signal due to the first law of physics, F = ma. If you need more strength, you should use a more massive signal. So if you’re a pool player with a casual interest in the masses, you don’t need to buy another cue. If you plan to get more serious about artistic billiards, we highly recommend that you consider purchasing a Masse cue.