Questions about taper

Quatsch83

Quatsch83

Learner
Silver Member
I haven't been able to find a really good discussion in one thread of different types of taper and how they affect the hit of the cue. If we could start one here that would be great.

My reason for asking is that I just bought a Dale Perry cue on eBay (yes, I know about the controversy with his stuff....let's try to keep that out of this thread) and am not sure what sort of taper to specify.

Right now I have a Cuetec R360 that has a 15 1/2 inch "pro taper." I like it and will probably ask for the same type of taper on the DP. However, I'm pretty new and don't really know much about the different types of taper and how they affect the performance of the cue.

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of longer vs shorter tapers? What classifies as a long taper and what would be considered short? How does taper affect the size of the tip? How does taper affect the stiffness or softness of the hit? What is meant by "pro taper"?
 
I'm a idiot but I'll take a shot at it and if I'm wrong no doubt somebody will correct me.

A snooker cue has a parabolic or conical taper meaning a gradual taper from the joint to the tip. The rate of decline in the diameter of the shaft stays the same. Snooker players tend not to use a lot of side English.

A pro taper is a shaft which tapers dramatically from the joint to a certain point on the shaft and then levels off and is more of a gradual taper to the tip. Earl Stickland is an example of a player who uses a long pro taper. The diameter of the shaft on Earl's cue doesn't change much for about 25 inches. Most pro tapers are not that long, probably closer to 15 inches.

Here is where I may get corrected. A pro taper allows the shaft to flex more and lets you use more English on the ball without having the cue ball deflect as much. Games like 9 ball where you are spinning the cue ball and moving it around the table most players (but not all) use a pro taper.
 
It doesnt matter what taper you tell him you want, he will give you the taper he wants anyhow, so dont get your hopes up, lol.


Joe
 
Quatsch83 said:
I haven't been able to find a really good discussion in one thread of different types of taper and how they affect the hit of the cue. If we could start one here that would be great.

My reason for asking is that I just bought a Dale Perry cue on eBay (yes, I know about the controversy with his stuff....let's try to keep that out of this thread) and am not sure what sort of taper to specify.

Right now I have a Cuetec R360 that has a 15 1/2 inch "pro taper." I like it and will probably ask for the same type of taper on the DP. However, I'm pretty new and don't really know much about the different types of taper and how they affect the performance of the cue.

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of longer vs shorter tapers? What classifies as a long taper and what would be considered short? How does taper affect the size of the tip? How does taper affect the stiffness or softness of the hit? What is meant by "pro taper"?
Click to expand...
FYI, you can find some good info (and answers to many of your questions) on this topic here:


Regards,
Dave
 
snipershot said:
It doesnt matter what taper you tell him you want, he will give you the taper he wants anyhow, so dont get your hopes up, lol.


Joe
Click to expand...

LOL. How correct you are. When you get it you will have to gradually make changes on it until you get it the way you want it.
 
alstl said:
I'm a idiot but I'll take a shot at it and if I'm wrong no doubt somebody will correct me.

A snooker cue has a parabolic or conical taper meaning a gradual taper from the joint to the tip. The rate of decline in the diameter of the shaft stays the same. Snooker players tend not to use a lot of side English.

A pro taper is a shaft which tapers dramatically from the joint to a certain point on the shaft and then levels off and is more of a gradual taper to the tip. Earl Stickland is an example of a player who uses a long pro taper. The diameter of the shaft on Earl's cue doesn't change much for about 25 inches. Most pro tapers are not that long, probably closer to 15 inches.

Here is where I may get corrected. A pro taper allows the shaft to flex more and lets you use more English on the ball without having the cue ball deflect as much. Games like 9 ball where you are spinning the cue ball and moving it around the table most players (but not all) use a pro taper.
Click to expand...

WOW, no i am confused one more time here on the Forum !
I am playing Billiard since nearly 20 years, and maybe like you said in the start of your post i could be completely wrong, too.
But i started out with Snooker, now playing pool since 16 years and play some Carambol, too.
Snooker and Carambolage Cues are like you said, they have a conical taper, starting from the Ferrule as long as possilbe.
Often they are straight for the last 5 inches to the joint, but that´s o.k. !

The big mistake is your DEFLECTION THING !
A conical taper has extremly lesser deflection then a Pro Taper (Pool Players Taper) !
That is one of the big reasons why the "Z" Shaft from Predator has lesser deflection than their "314" Shafts.
But in my mind, if you don´t play with an open bridge hand, it´s terrible to hit with these conical tapers.
They blow up my closed bridge the whole time when moving back and forth. I hate that !
But in case of LESS or let say near NO DEFLECTION, there would only be a European or Conical Taper be the right choice.

best regards,
Erich
 
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