Customer Comments:

Hi Ron! Got the cue yesterday and shot with it last night. There is not a better feeling cue anywhere. The balance is remarkable without metal everywhere. I love it!! The snakewood sure set it off didn't it? It is a fine looking cue. Thanks for making it for me and I will appreciate it even more as I play with it and get to know it. I wish you the best. You and your work are tops in my book. Archie , East Coast, 2003

Ron, the cue arrived without any problems at all.  I got in about three hours with it this evening, split about evenly between the two shafts. Surprisingly (to me, anyway) I think I may prefer the laminated shaft by a little bit, though obviously I'll know better after several weeks instead of a few hours. You can't imagine how pleased I am...well, maybe you can, I guess, since I'm sure you know how good a product you're producing. The size of the tip and butt, the length, the weight and its distribution, the feel of the hit, even the sound, is exactly what I'd hoped for, though I couldn't have described it. Thank you very much - John , Southern Cal 2003

Hello, Ronald, this is Petr Shoat in Strasborg, France.  I purchased two cues from you in Las Vegas in July 2001.  I am very happy with them.  I just saw your new travel cue on your website and want to order one, 520 grammes, 11mm tips, please.  Please send me the cost delivered to me and I will send a bank chek immediately.  Also, I was in a billiard room in Mannheim Germany last month and met another player with one of your cues, Peter Druckmann.  We introduced ourselves when we recognized each others cues.  See, you are becoming famous here, too.  Petr, France 2003

I've never had a custom cue before and like the idea I have a one of a kind that I helped design. I also hit around with my Lucasi after playing with the custom cue for a while and could not believe how much better the Kilby felt. It was much nicer than the Lucasi and I like the Lucasi. I also compared it to a Huebler I have. I didn't like the Huebler to begin with which is why I got the Lucasi, so the comparison might be unfair. Needless to say, I much preferred the Kilby. So for those of you willing to try something different who see some merit in Kilby's philosophy about cuemaking, give him a shot.  JPB, Idaho 2002

WOW! WOW! and Double WOW! It arrived this morning around 11:00 AM. At 11:01 I was on the table with it. Feels, not just great, but stupendous! Almost like it's alive in your hands. Very stiff, but soft hit - if that makes any sense. I love it. It feels like I've been playing with it forever. I was afraid of a frustrating transition time, but it appears that is not going to be the case. Ron, you really outdid yourself on this one, and you're right, there will be people who will walk up to me and ask about the cue. If you weren't "discovered" before, you will be now. Thanks ever so much. I think we'll be doing another project soon.  (first cue, 2003)  Bob, NJ

What can I say? It's magnificent! Can't wait to hit some balls with it tonight. Indexing the two butt pieces insures that I tighten it properly - nice side benefit. Really looks super - will definitely garner some oooohs and ahhhhs at the PH tonight.  Again a real home run! Can't thank you enough.  Adios, Bob NJ (second cue, 2003)

Hi Ron, Cue arrived this afternoon, I am one very pleased pool player.   Man you are some kind of craftsman, not only does this cue look great, the balance is perfect for my stroke. There is no way this cue can live here without a mate. I mean who will it talk to when the pool table light goes out? I would like another to keep this one company, it is important for your cue to live in a pleasant environment, don't you agree? (second cue on order, Jack, Tampa FL, Oct 2003)

Being a gunsmith I often deal with close tolerances and precision fitting parts, contributing to a quality product. The pool player that is after a superb quality cue that meets and exceeds these requirements would be very pleased playing with a Ron Kilby made cue. I play with four of these quality cues, and I have never felt better about my game.  J. Morgan, Annie Oakley Guns. Tampa, Florida
 

 Mr. Kilby, I've had the cue now for two weeks and it exceeded every expectation.  But there is a problem -- I have to share it with my wife!  So, please build another, same design, same weight -- I don't expect to get this one back in the near future!  Wonderful work!  Raphael, Montreal Canada. (Jan 2004)

Omigod!!!  I know I bent your ear a lot trying to get an idea of the hit, and now I understand why it was difficult!  I've been playing pool 40 years and nothing (!!!) compares to how this cue plays.  I've had it almost a month now and my wife thinks I've been kidnapped!  I've already been offered more for it than I paid!  You said I'd probably order another one -- well, get ready, as soon as I talk my wife into paying the ransom, I want another one!  Hal, Houston (Mar 2004)

Just one word Ron:  FANTASTIC!
This is by far the best balanced as well as best looking cue I have ever seen! Unbelievable...
Many thanks, now as I hold it in my hands I can only say that photos do no justice to this little gem --- not at all...  Peter, Germany (Apr 2004)
 

Mr. Kilby, the cue is everything I had hoped for.  I know we sent many notes to each other on this, but I was still nervous when it finally arrived.  Most of my Korean friends thought I shouldn't order a cue from the U.S., but now they all want to play with it.  Thank you for making it a little shorter, it fits me very well.  I will send you my telephone number; if you can come to Seoul, we shall play together.  Kim S. H., Korea (June 2004)

Ron, I've been playing with the pool cue you made me for almost two months now, and I have never played better.  I'm using the pool shaft for 9-ball and straight, and the carom taper for bartable 8-ball -- what a hammer!  B. Stanley The Great State of Texas (He insisted I put it that way, rk) July, 2004.

Hope you and your family had a very merry Christmas.  I can tell you that it has been very merry around here especially now that I’ve had a chance to put in some hours with my new Kilby cue.  Just amazing!  It is by far the best hitting, best playing cue I own – and I own quite a few fine cues.

            As you know I’ve played a lot of pool over the past 40 years.  Part of the fascination of playing pool is the search for the best cue; the one that best suits my particular style of play.  My first “custom” cue was a $12.00 Rich cue I bought in 1967.  Since that time I have used at different times (several named custom cues – names deleted as a professional courtesy).  I tried each cue before I purchased them and I was satisfied each time as I moved on to the next cue.    

            Before I bought your cue I hadn’t sought a playing cue since 1999.  By that time I had settled on my ivory joint (name deleted) (that I bought in 1984) as my main playing cue.  I was very satisfied with my (name deleted) and I wasn’t looking for anything to replace it.  Cues I bought since then were mostly just high quality cues that I liked the look of (although they all play acceptably well).  In fact I bought your cue mostly because I liked your butterfly points and wooden joint design.  I hadn’t really spent any extensive time at the table with one of your cues; just a couple of hours shooting the bull and shooting pool with one of your cues that belongs to a friend.  I was satisfied that the quality was very good so I went ahead with the order.

            The hit and playing characteristics of a pool cue are very subjective things to judge.  It depends on the combination of many factors (weight, balance point, joint design and material, shaft taper, tip, and much more) that meld into an overall performance that you either like or you don’t.  And this determination seems to vary from person to person.  All I know is that my new Kilby cue matches my style of play perfectly.

            Since I got the cue I have spent over fifteen hours with it at the table and it’s like power steering.  I have never been able to shoot as accurately or as easily with any other cue.  I am also a musician (drummer) and the only parallel I can use to illustrate my experience with your cue is this.  If I have to play all night on a drum kit that isn’t “right” I’m exhausted by the end of the evening.  Not only that but my playing will degenerate little by little over the course of the gig.  Shooting a lot of pool with a cue that isn’t “right” will yield the same type of results over the course of a long session.  I find I can play many continuous hours of pool with my Kilby without losing my edge.  This is a very satisfying experience, which builds confidence as I go.

            I wasn’t even looking and I’ve found my favorite playing cue.  That is unless the next cue I have you make for me can possibly feel any better in my hands.  Thank you very much.

Andy F., East Coast, December 2005