Low Deflection Shafts

G

Greg Buban

Newoldtimer
I read here more than I participate but with the wealth of knowledge and experience out there...I'm shopping for a low deflection shaft for my Joss. Predator 314 or OB? I've hit the Predator but not the OB but I'm sure many out there have.
 
I'd slightly favor a OB even though i play with a predator. OB custmer service seems top notch (not knocking predators, never had a problem so far), and i have hit with an ob1 once and like the way it felt slightly more than my 314.... just never got around to picking one up.

I dont think you can go wrong though, both great products. Really. My only beef is predator seems to be going a bit too big, and quality control may be suffering (i have one of the original 314's). But that is more conjecture. I just really like the "size" of ob1 (not too big, or too small) and their service.
 
Call JOSS. They were making their own and I believe still are. It's just not advertised. Just a thought. As far as I remember they were actually cheaper anyway.
 
sammi sam said:
try mezz hybird..........
Click to expand...

tap tap...the hybrid pro II are nice! That's what Ernesto used to win the 2011 US amateur championship, although its just user preference :p With the hp2, Ernesto said that he could really punch a shot and not have the cueball deflect off.

Mezz WD700 is nice too.
 
Um!

mr2_serious said:
tap tap...the hybrid pro II are nice! That's what Ernesto used to win the 2011 US amateur championship, although its just user preference :p With the hp2, Ernesto said that he could really punch a shot and not have the cueball deflect off.

Mezz WD700 is nice too.
Click to expand...
Unless he change real recently Ernesto is playing with an OB classic pro. I know because I had him order it from Royce. Now I havent seen him in a couple of months so he might have switched, but he loved it and was playing lights out with it, but I could be wrong.

FC
 
sammi sam said:
try mezz hybird..........
Click to expand...

Predator 314-2 couldnt be pried from my hand for some time, then I tried the OB Classic @ S.B.E., and immediately had to purchase it ,because of the feel, as for deflection, there about neck and neck..

That being said the Z-2 smokes both of them in the low deflection dept. ,but not in feel vs OB Classic..

I am going to buy a Mezz hybrid pro 2 here very shortly,because of all the good things I here about them.. I had the opportunity to play with the og hybrid by mezz,and was impressed.
Mezz HP2 are said to have equal deflection ,with some claiming the hybrid 2 has slightly less deflect than a 314-2,, but what really intrigues me is the much stiffer hit I hear Hybrid Pro 2s have, hence the reason for my quote.

If your just changing over to a LD shaft, Id say go with the OB Classic,as it possess qualities of a standard maple shaft,with LD that wont disappoint .

But if you dont mind having to change your game up, and re-learning what you already know to some degree, imo the mezz hybrid pro 2 will be the last LD shaft you need to buy, Though if your like myself, you love variety, which is why I have so many LD shafts in my arsenal...

Best of Luck with your search,, and may the Billiard Gods bless you with the stroke of the Late Great Mosconi.......:thumbup:
 
Last edited:
Jmo!

I have had the pleasure of playing with the whole line fo OB shafts and they would be my choice. I have play with predator and tiger for a short time as well and they are very solid shafts in their own rights. But being a spin pool player consistant cue ball deflection is what I got from the ob 1 and 2. Then Royce created the OB classic and that provided me with the crisper hit along with the lower deflection properties of the OB1&2. My advice is whatever you choose to play with, give a full chance before you move on. All to often I see people play with a low deflection shaft for a couple of weeks then say I just cant play with it. I would suggest you setting at least a solid 2 to 3 months. After that make your determination. Just a humble suggestion. Thanks

Frank C
 
I am surprised no one has mentioned the tiget x-pro. I haven't hit a lot of these, but I have hit the tiger, and it had a very solid feel with pretty low deflection. I have also hit the new jacoby highbrid edge which hit pretty solid but had slightly more deflection from what I could tell in the times I had them.
 
mantis99 said:
I am surprised no one has mentioned the tiget x-pro. I haven't hit a lot of these, but I have hit the tiger, and it had a very solid feel with pretty low deflection. I have also hit the new jacoby highbrid edge which hit pretty solid but had slightly more deflection from what I could tell in the times I had them.
Click to expand...

OP wants pro-taper by the looks of it and X-pro has Euro.
Some people think the X-pro shaft is too thick.
I only took a few shots(around 20) with it but it was impressive and would pick it over z^2 and OB's, if I was into this type of taper.
 
There are a lot of LD shafts out there and it seems more and more are poping up from various cuemakers. Predator, OB, Tiger and Mezz seem to be the most popular and that could be for several reasons. Those are the ones you hear about most but Meucci, McDermott, Cuetec and many others are making some for their line of cues. Several cuemakers are turning them out and a few months back I got to try one of Doug Patricks. A friend of mine had one made and after hitting a few balls with it I really liked the way it felt. I ordered one and everyone who has tryed it likes it as well. Im sure Doug could make one for just about any cue and imo its well worth at least trying one out.
 
fcee06 said:
Unless he change real recently Ernesto is playing with an OB classic pro. I know because I had him order it from Royce. Now I havent seen him in a couple of months so he might have switched, but he loved it and was playing lights out with it, but I could be wrong.

FC
Click to expand...

FC I sold him the HPII he is playing with now. He's definitiely using the Mezz.
 
Chopdoc said:
Call JOSS. They were making their own and I believe still are. It's just not advertised. Just a thought. As far as I remember they were actually cheaper anyway.
Click to expand...

I got an email from Dan today saying that he hasnt made them in a while, doesnt know anyone who might have some and doesnt have any scheduled to be made.
 
D_Lewis said:
I got an email from Dan today saying that he hasnt made them in a while, doesnt know anyone who might have some and doesnt have any scheduled to be made.
Click to expand...

Too bad. I'm now using cue-maker designed LD shafts and they are far and away above any I've tried from third party makers.
 
D_Lewis said:
I got an email from Dan today saying that he hasnt made them in a while, doesnt know anyone who might have some and doesnt have any scheduled to be made.
Click to expand...


Cool. I wasn't sure, I knew he did before. Good info. :thumbup:
 
Another option

A lot of shafts out there these days are playing with minimal deflection. The technology is better every year. I was in vegas for APA Nationals this past August and tested a lot of shafts. I've had a Meucci Red Dot for some time now and was content playing with it but did get a tiny bit more deflection than I wanted. I tried the Predator Z-2 and predator 314 2nd gen which I liked a lot but what made me go a little weak in the knees was the Lucasi Hybrid Zero Flex Slim Low Deflection, diameter is 11.75. Diameter equals the Z-2 with less deflection. I can shoot a table length shot with left or right and it contacts the object ball as if I was shooting center on the cue ball. This was brand new on the market when i bought it in Vegas. Oh yah, I also bought the 314 2nd gen. I'm a pool cue Hor, LOL.

My new meucci I got last month came with a Black Dot. The nice thing is my Lucasi is interchangable to multiple sticks. I have a 5/16-18 joint which matches Meucci and many other manufacturers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top