OB Classic vs. OB Classic Pro...

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Dakota Cues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have been wanting to try a new LD shaft for some time, and I've heard nothing but great things about these shafts, and the service behind them.

I have narrowed my choice down to either the Classic or the Classic Pro, but wanted to get some extra input before pulling the trigger.


First let me say that I am actually going to "Play" with whatever shaft I get, and not just "Try it out". I'm willing to put in the time, and deal with the learning curve to get to the other side, even if the new shaft feels different/strange/bad at first.


That said, my main concern is the tip size on the Pro. I mean 11.75mm is far smaller than anything I've ever used before. Now I've heard a few say that with the conical taper of the shaft, you don't notice it nearly as much since it's not like the first 15" of the shaft is 11.75. I am just a little worried that the "Feel" of the taper going through the fingers of my bridge hand is going to be a little distracting. That's why right now I'm leaning more towards the Classic, BUT that's also why I wanted to get some more input, and maybe hear from some players that have both in their arsenal. I want to use whatever works best, not just what feels closest to what I'm using now!


I guess my burning question is this:


"Is the lower deflection of the Classic Pro worth the extra time (if any) it takes to get used to the conical taper?"


Thanks in advance for the input!!!
 
If you have never played with a 11.75 shaft before and you are happy (at least somewhat happy) with your cue ball control i think you should just go with the classic. Theres been arguments somewhere on the forums awhile back but in the end proved that smaller cue tip size does not provide more spin. I use a OB-2 and i love the smaller end because i can see more clearly but the deflection difference between a ob 1 and a ob 2 is so minimal i doubt the difference is that big between the classic and classic pro.
 
I use a 314-2 before then tried a Z and a classic Pro. I never liked the 11.75 tip so I stayed with a 314-2. Then I read on a write-up here how good this OB shafts are. I decided to get an OB Classic for a spare Joss butt that I have and loved it! Now I'm selling this cue and my extra 314-2 shaft to purchase a uniloc OB classic for my predator player!!! I guess what I'm trying to say is, I never saw a lot of difference from a Z and PRO against my classic. But my classic and 314-2, feels a lot different. I vote Classic.
 
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it took me a little while to get used to the 11.75mm tip, but once I did,... I LOVE that size tip!!!

It's worth the time spent to get used to it!
 
the ob classic pro is a great shaft but make sure u have time to get to know it...... the stiff hit of this shaft is amazing i have so much better cue ball control with this shaft it is truely a piece of work
 
Thanks for the input so far everyone. I really appreciate it.

For those of you that have switched from a larger tip to the 11.75mm one, was one of the biggest challenges overcoming putting unnecessary english on the cb, or was it the feel of the shaft itself???
 
I recently just switched from a stock 13mm shaft to the ob classic pro. I've known since the first time I hit with a friend's z2 shaft that I wanted an 11.75 tip. I feel incredibly accurate with *intentional* spin and exactly how much, etc. I wasn't sure how I'd like the conical taper, but honestly, after about an hour shooting with it, I don't even notice it. I'm not sure I noticed it, the taper alone, ever; when you first pick up the shaft there's so much different about how it looks and feels, it's hard to narrow down those little differences.

As far as deflection goes... I can't speak for the Classic, but with my Pro, I only have to consider it on very large-distances between CB and OB; aside from that, it's not even an issue most of the time. I could be thinking that because my old shaft deflected quite a bit and the adjustments I make now are almost non-existent.

I vote Classic Pro. :)
 
I think this is all going to comes down to feel.

I was using a basic 13mm shaft before I took the plunge and got a LD shaft. This ended up being an 11.75mm tip (Z-2 to be exact).
I did really like this for probably 2 years.
I have to say by the end of the 2 years I not only became a player but also noticed that I had to “pinch” down on this shaft because it was so small.
I then started to play with some of my older shafts and noticed that I did not need to pinch them as much. So I updated and got a 12.75mm shaft.
Now I know that I will never go that small again.

One thing to note is that I am a bigger guy. I would not say that I have huge hands but they are not small. I am about 6’ 1”.
Now I have a buddy who also bought the same shaft I did 2 years ago. He still loves it. He is about 5” 7’ or maybe 5” 8”. So maybe the shorter you are the easier it is to shoot with a smaller diameter tip?

I am sure you will get used to whatever you decide but I thought I would share my experience with you. Hope this helps.

In addition, I have shot with both of these shafts and going from a pro taper to a modified taper will only make a slight difference on the front hand and how this feels.

By the way OB makes a great shaft and regardless of your choice I am convinced you will not be disappointed.
 
Thanks so much for your input again guys. I really appreciate it.


It looks like Pro taper isn't as big a deal as I first thought, and to be honest, now it looks like I'm leaning that way. I like the idea of having a bit better "View" of the shot with a smaller tip, and since I have smaller hands, this might not be a bad fit.


Those of you that like the Pro shaft, are you using the same tip you used on a maple shaft, or are you going harder or softer to fit the stiff taper and short ferrule?

Thanks again!
 
I changed tips when I went to the classic pro, but not because of the shaft. I had recently picked up kamui black soft on my regular player a few months before i bought the CP... so with this one, I got the black super-soft just to see how I liked it compared to the standard black soft. Personally, I think I like the soft better than the super-soft; but I'm in no real hurry to swap out the tips. (note, in case you weren't aware, the kamui's play one grade harder than named. ie: soft = medium for most other brands)
 
Has anybody measured the taper of both shafts? Like the diameter at the tip then 4, 8, 10" etc down the shafts. That would tell me how it tapers rather that just pro or conical.

Rod
 
Rod said:
Has anybody measured the taper of both shafts? Like the diameter at the tip then 4, 8, 10" etc down the shafts. That would tell me how it tapers rather that just pro or conical.

Rod
Click to expand...

From what others have posted, it looks like the Classic Pro is a conical taper, and the Classic has a 15" "Pro" taper.
 
Dakota Cues said:

From what others have posted, it looks like the Classic Pro is a conical taper, and the Classic has a 15" "Pro" taper.
Click to expand...

I think Rod is asking for actual growth dimensions down the shaft. honestly, i know i won't remember to measure, so i won't offer to do it.

however, if you're just looking for some sort of visual reference, maybe this helps...

The conical taper, as the name suggests, is built on the shape of a cone. it's a standard ratio increase in width from point 1 to 2, from 2 to 3, etc. no 2 points are the same width. Pick up a piece of paper, roll it up, then expand one end... looks like a funnel or cone. that's a conical taper.

The pro taper {length} indicates how far down the shaft the width is the same before it grows to the width at the joint. So a pro 15" means from the tip down the shaft for 15 inches the width is identical, then it will start to expand to the joint-width.
 
Anybody else have any input they would like to share on these shafts?

Would really like to hear from someone that has both and could tell me how big the differences are between them.

Thanks again for all the input so far!!!
 
stljohnny said:
I think Rod is asking for actual growth dimensions down the shaft.
Click to expand...

Thanks Johnny, you are correct. Now I know the classic is a 15" pro taper, which I do not care for. That one is out. I play with conical std shafts. I think its bizarre that cue or shaft makers do not include this info. However since the pro version is the small tip its out as well. I would be great to find a 12.75 low deflection conical shaft. I want spine even if it has a little more squirt.

I bought a 314-2 and tried it a for short while. Then put it away for a year. Tried it again and this time I am starting to like it. It starts getting fatter around 6" back. I'm trying to dial in the lack of squirt on low speed draw spin shots, I'm getting closer. I may get there when I have more time. I think my only possibility for a shaft I like would be to re-taper a pred fat shaft. But then that might create another bucket of worms. Not as far as squirt but how much the shaft can be modified. Has anyone experimented with the fat shafts?

Rod
 
Thanks for the input guys.

I just pulled the trigger on a new Classic Pro!

Should have the shaft early next week, so I'll let you know how it goes!
 
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