On The Subject Of Pool Cues

Yesterday evening I was in the local bar with my younger brother(I don't like to refer to him as my little brother because although I may be his senior in years, he is, in actual fact, my superior in height). As we were enjoying a few refreshing lagers, I enquired of my brother weather he would enjoy a game of 8 ball. He replied in the positive and shortly we were engaged thus. The evening wore on and we made our way through several more games and several more lagers. Presently the barman appeared brandishing some fresh equipment in the form of unspoiled chalk and brand new pool cues(they were still encased in their plastic wrapping). Upon receiving my brand new cue I felt that for once I would be able to play a game of pool with a house cue that was straight as a die. In an effort to satisfy the feeling, I performed the shaft distortion test. It is a simple procedure, lay the cue prostrate upon the playing surface then proceed to roll the cue while watching the tip. If the tip traces circles through the air, the cue is surely bowed. I was full confident of tracing the straight line that my cue tip would render across the air. Imagine then my dismay to witness its curving, almost acrobatic tumbling path, as it traversed over the felt. My faith in a cheap, readily available pool cue has been shattered. However, I feel that the experience has been positive and can only serve to strengthen my game. It occurs to me that planning on finding a straight house cue is a fruitless endeavour, hence my game must adjust to allow for this fact. Accepting this I could free my mind and play a with an unprecedented confidence and timing. Shortly thereafter our transport arrived and the evening, just like this anecdote, ended.