Since getting my latest KW shafts made that I’m playing with less than a month, 3 local players where I play pool have switched from CF to KW shafts. Two have ordered shafts from the cue maker I searched long and hard to find and the other is waiting to sell a couple of CF shafts he’s been playing with. The ironic aspect is he was playing with the 1st version Tsunami shaft and switched to CF that he played for well over a year. Two weeks ago he asked how heavy my KW shafts were and the diameter. I have a 12.6, 12.75 and 12.85mm shafts with Kamui Black Clear soft tips. I told him to pick one and let’s play pool.
4 hours later, he was delighted with my cue maker choice and the Kielwood shafts he built. He didn’t care for the Tsunami KW shaft that he thought felt too light but he absolutely loved playing with my uncored, all wood shafts.
He asked me for my cue maker contact information and told me to let him know he’d be ordering a KW shaft just like one of mine. I see so many players wearing a glove and maybe they like the feel or maybe they just don’t like the feel of a CF shaft.
Personally, I like the feel of a satin smooth wood shaft in my closed and open cue bridge. And the KW shafts after receiving some Renaissance Wax treatment feel better than my orig, maple shafts. My only regret is not being able to install 1/2” ivory ferrules on my KW shafts. I betcha the shafts would play even better than they do now.
The only reason that I got the InFuze KW shaft was that I wanted a new 5/16x14 flat faced shaft with low deflection for one of my cues.
The only "off the shelf" shafts that I found were this one or the Triple60 CF shaft.
I went with the InFuze because I didn't want to spend $600 on a shaft for a cue that I don't use that often (the InFuze is $382.5) and while at it' I get to try and use KW that I haven't before.
The shaft is too heavy for my liking, and it deflects more than my CF shafts.
And I don't know how other KW shafts play but this one will get sticky fast and does require a use of gloves.
you wrote on another thread that you wax your shafts weekly, that's insane in my book. If a shafts need that much maintenance, it's not for me.
At the end of the day, it's still wood and no mater how nice wood feel and how nice the reddish KW looks, If I was in the market for a new cue or shaft, I would go with CF. just a personal preference for reasons that are beyond the playability or feel which I have no issues with at all.
The only wooden shaft cue that I would consider today is in relation to the "cue in car" thread is a CueTec Avid as it's cheap and have a warranty against warpage.
And again, knowing now everything I know and experienced with, I should have just save my money and stayed with what I've had in cases 6 months ago.
