Yesterday I received a test shaft for the soon-to-be-revealed (at Super Billiards Expo, Valley Forge) - the new "OB Classic" shaft.
To give some background, some years ago OB cues asked me to test a shaft, the original OB-1. Although low squirt it was too flexible for my tastes and I didn't like the look of the ferrule. I politely sent it back with some comments that I prefered a stiffer shaft.
I play with a Predator 314-2 fit to my Josswest cue. I like most things about the way the Predator plays, but I have been looking for a stiffer shaft with a more solid hit - without giving up the low squirt characteristics of the Predator.
- I tried the new "Z" and it didn't do it for me. Very low squirt but the tip was too small and the shaft too thin, not at all what I was looking for - back on the shelf.
- I tried the Tiger X. Great feel, stiff enough, but not low enough squirt. I did not want to re-train myself how to aim when using english.
So remembering my "want stiffer" comments, a few weeks ago Royce from OB cues contacted me and sent me the new "OB Classic" test shaft.
The Classic is a meaty 12.75 mm with a fairly stiff 16" modified pro taper. There's plenty of meat on the shaft making it quite a bit stiffer than a Predator. It's a solid shaft - no hollow core. It basically feels like a high quality conventional shaft. The ferrule is a short, 1/4" white piece and I believe the tip is an Everest. It weighs in just shy of 4 ounces.
I tried it out and it's a great shaft. Compared to my Predator, the squirt characteristics are the same or possibly even lower. There was no adjustment needed for aiming with english. The feel is very solid. On power shots it performs like nothing I've played with. It's very low squirt with a great sound, and a solid feel. The feeling is the tip is going through the cue ball, not bouncing off it. There will be a short adjustment period - the short ferrule takes some visual adjustment and i want a little harder tip - I think it can be improved by taking a few layers off the tip.
I'm sold. I'm switching to the OB Classic. Check out the new short ferrule in the pic below - the OB is the one in the middle.
Chris
Ps. Adding this edit on June 6, reviewing my original post
- The Everest tip is fully broken in and plays better than ever. I shaved it down to 3 layers showing on the side (not counting the dome) - it's perfect.
- Some players have reported the Classic has a little more squirt than the 314-2. That's probably correct due to the extra stiffness, but I didn't have to make much adjustment and the squirt is manageable.
- The hit on spin shots is so much better, you can really make solid contact with the cue ball.
- I said the original OB shafts were "hollow" where the Classic's are solid wood. The original OB is not actually hollow - the core is filled with a sound dampening foam.
- So far, I haven't heard anything negative about the Classic and a lot of positive.
To give some background, some years ago OB cues asked me to test a shaft, the original OB-1. Although low squirt it was too flexible for my tastes and I didn't like the look of the ferrule. I politely sent it back with some comments that I prefered a stiffer shaft.
I play with a Predator 314-2 fit to my Josswest cue. I like most things about the way the Predator plays, but I have been looking for a stiffer shaft with a more solid hit - without giving up the low squirt characteristics of the Predator.
- I tried the new "Z" and it didn't do it for me. Very low squirt but the tip was too small and the shaft too thin, not at all what I was looking for - back on the shelf.
- I tried the Tiger X. Great feel, stiff enough, but not low enough squirt. I did not want to re-train myself how to aim when using english.
So remembering my "want stiffer" comments, a few weeks ago Royce from OB cues contacted me and sent me the new "OB Classic" test shaft.
The Classic is a meaty 12.75 mm with a fairly stiff 16" modified pro taper. There's plenty of meat on the shaft making it quite a bit stiffer than a Predator. It's a solid shaft - no hollow core. It basically feels like a high quality conventional shaft. The ferrule is a short, 1/4" white piece and I believe the tip is an Everest. It weighs in just shy of 4 ounces.
I tried it out and it's a great shaft. Compared to my Predator, the squirt characteristics are the same or possibly even lower. There was no adjustment needed for aiming with english. The feel is very solid. On power shots it performs like nothing I've played with. It's very low squirt with a great sound, and a solid feel. The feeling is the tip is going through the cue ball, not bouncing off it. There will be a short adjustment period - the short ferrule takes some visual adjustment and i want a little harder tip - I think it can be improved by taking a few layers off the tip.
I'm sold. I'm switching to the OB Classic. Check out the new short ferrule in the pic below - the OB is the one in the middle.
Chris
Ps. Adding this edit on June 6, reviewing my original post
- The Everest tip is fully broken in and plays better than ever. I shaved it down to 3 layers showing on the side (not counting the dome) - it's perfect.
- Some players have reported the Classic has a little more squirt than the 314-2. That's probably correct due to the extra stiffness, but I didn't have to make much adjustment and the squirt is manageable.
- The hit on spin shots is so much better, you can really make solid contact with the cue ball.
- I said the original OB shafts were "hollow" where the Classic's are solid wood. The original OB is not actually hollow - the core is filled with a sound dampening foam.
- So far, I haven't heard anything negative about the Classic and a lot of positive.
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