How do LOW-COST CARBON FIBER SHAFTS Perform Compared to the Best?

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For me I think it is stroke related also as at times in practice I shoot them great, while at other times in practice when I am struggling with getting a straight stroke, I occasionally will get a ball that takes off at an unexpected angle and I take the shaft off and go back to my trusted wood shafts.
A Reddit poster's comments on the Rhino used in Dr Dave's video:

Schon Extension from Budget Billiards

I got the extension set today.
I've ordered the 8 inch extension and an additional bumper for a second Schon cue. They sent me a total of 4 bumpers...

Installation:
The bumper replaces both the original Schon bumper and weight bolt. So it might change the weight and the balance point of the cue.
The bumper weighs 23 grams (0.811oz)
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Removing the original bumper and weight bolt:
Not an easy task....
Once removing the screw that holds the bumper, it was hard to actually take the bumper out, very tight fit and my cues are a bit old so I guess it made it even harder but finally I was able to take them out.

On my STL3, The weight bolt came out fairly easy. The one in my LTD cue was glued and I used a soldering iron to heat the glue in order to be able to screw the bolt out but finally was able to get the job done.

On my LTD, there was a short and light bolt, together with the bumper and screw the weight is 21 grams (0.74oz) so replacing the bumper and bolt with the extension bumper hardly made a change to weight and balance.

On my STL, the bolt was longer and heavier, together with the bumper and screw the weight is 51 grams (1.8oz), so there is almost a full 1oz difference in weight and of course a shift in the balance point. It doesn't feel that big of a deal as the cue's specs still remain in the scope of my comfort zone. Maybe after I'll try it for a while, I might get a bolt to insert there before the bumper.

fit and Finish
The extension bumper looks and feel nicely constructed.
The extension tube itself is very light and it's bumper allows to stack extensions to it.
It feels a bit cheap (it is...) and the finish is not perfect but maybe it's just my luck... there are a few dings in the CF tube, not a big deal for me but it is a bit of a bummer to get something new and it is a bit damaged. it was all packed nice it's not something that happened in shipping.
The extension width is the same the butt end, maybe half a millimeter smaller but it's not something that one can notice when using it. there is a small gap due to the curve of the butt end, pretty normal.

Bottom Line:
I was happy to find an affordable option for an extension for my Schon cues. Not a lot of options out there to begin with.
I would suggest if you are worried about the changes to weight and balance point, to first remove your bumper and bolt and weigh them to see how big the changes might be if any. As you can see I probably covered here both extreme options....

OK, off to the pool hall

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How do LOW-COST CARBON FIBER SHAFTS Perform Compared to the Best?

I definitely agree. I was thinking myself when i bought the Rhino WTH is wrong with this shaft. i could fire balls in at times then at other times the deflection was like a front heavy cue with a Ivory ferrule times 2. I changed the tip to a ultraskin fire medium and it made a big difference. For those that was wondering about the sound etc. of the Rhino. Here is my video of why i switched to a Raven. Sound #1 cant take that hollow ting sound. Balance point #2 there is absolutely no weight in about 22 inches of the front of the shaft. The tip on the Raven definitely isnt the best either. The one great thing about the Time crystal tip is it holds chalk really really well. Login to view embedded media
The Must shaft is a big change from the standard Rhino shaft in weight balance. I have Rhino shafts in 5/16"x14 and 2 in Radial, one regular one, and a Must version. Very noticeable balance difference. In the standard Radial version as there is a weight directly in front of where the butt screws into, where as the Must version has their weight considerably forward. Both shafts weigh the same. One thing not talked about with the Must Rhino shafts is there is also a different taper from their standard shafts. All this talk of most all carbon shafts are basically the same seems not to be true, as while both of my Rhino radial shafts are the same dia, The Must version as vastly different, not only in balance but also in the actual shaft design.

Early Impressions Of The Diamond Professional

GCIV - 4.5 corners & 4.75 sides.

Diamond Professional - 4.75 corners and 5" sides.
The Diamond is hardly "slightly" larger; 0.25" difference is quite a difference.
Having said this, that's measuring from point to point on the Diamond. Between the facings it's more like 4.65 corners and 4.85 sides.
Pockets are always measured point to point. I was debating a guy on Facebook that his table had 4.25" pockets based on the pics he posted. I wish I were making it up. He died on that hill.
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How do LOW-COST CARBON FIBER SHAFTS Perform Compared to the Best?

For me this was an eye opening informative video. Thank you DR Dave, you do so much for us, and it is greatly appreciated. First observation for me was, there just doesn't appear to be that big of a difference on softer hits. Next the tip effect. I only have experience with a Jacoby V3 12.7mm, and about 4 Rhino shafts, 3 regular and one Must, all 12.5mm. I purchased the Must, not because of it's touted lower deflection, but because of it's more forward weight balance, that it has.
This tip effect is eye opening, and explains what I have experienced at times, with all my carbon shafts and why I am not comfortable using them full time. For me I think it is stroke related also as at times in practice I shoot them great, while at other times in practice when I am struggling with getting a straight stroke, I occasionally will get a ball that takes off at an unexpected angle and I take the shaft off and go back to my trusted wood shafts.
Along with this I replaced the tips on my Rhino shafts to softer ones, and on the Must shaft, went to a really soft tip, Ultraskin Pro. That tip really mutes the hit and I was considering on changing it anyway, so I'm going to cut it off today and put on a harder one to try
My wife uses the Rhino on her Schon and loves it, for it's deflection no, strictly because of its smoothness. She uses very little left right english.

I’m glad you liked the video. I prefer harder tips for all the reasons here:


I don’t care much about the sound or “feel” of the hit. I care only that the CB goes where I want with the speed and spin I want.

More aiming fodder for the cannons.

Mensabum’s cue-ball-to-pocket contact-point aiming method was argued across 150 posts here in late June 2024. Some explained how Mensabum's method was inaccurate and inferior to a parallel-shift aiming method. The two methods determined the same object-ball contact point but differed on the cue-ball contact point.

YouTuber and peace maker, @Ringo_6, advocates both aiming methods. He describes Mensabum’s method as the the most practical aiming method, See the Dot, Pot the Ball, and the parallel method as the most reliable aiming method, Master the Parallel Point Aiming.


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How do LOW-COST CARBON FIBER SHAFTS Perform Compared to the Best?

Could those weird Rhino shots be laid on that funky microfiber tip? What i saw looked to be a tip issue not a shaft issue. I don't see how the shaft could cause those results. Good vid. Looks like once you get down to these smaller diameters the differences are basically nil.
For me this was an eye opening informative video. Thank you DR Dave, you do so much for us, and it is greatly appreciated. First observation for me was, there just doesn't appear to be that big of a difference on softer hits. Next the tip effect. I only have experience with a Jacoby V3 12.7mm, and about 4 Rhino shafts, 3 regular and one Must, all 12.5mm. I purchased the Must, not because of it's touted lower deflection, but because of it's more forward weight balance, that it has.
This tip effect is eye opening, and explains what I have experienced at times, with all my carbon shafts and why I am not comfortable using them full time. For me I think it is stroke related also as at times in practice I shoot them great, while at other times in practice when I am struggling with getting a straight stroke, I occasionally will get a ball that takes off at an unexpected angle and I take the shaft off and go back to my trusted wood shafts.
Along with this I replaced the tips on my Rhino shafts to softer ones, and on the Must shaft, went to a really soft tip, Ultraskin Pro. That tip really mutes the hit and I was considering on changing it anyway, so I'm going to cut it off today and put on a harder one to try
My wife uses the Rhino on her Schon and loves it, for it's deflection no, strictly because of its smoothness. She uses very little left right english.

What to do with a broken Gus Szamboti?

To extend this cue, I had an idea to add a decorative buhka ring just below the collar. Not sure if that's a good idea, but waiting to hear if this could be done. I wanted the forearm slightly cored to accommodate an ebony extension that will also house the collar and ivory joint.
My vote would be to keep it as original as possible...even if it went a little shorter.

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