Low Deflection or not?

[TwinkleToes]

I play in a lot of tournaments and have been told more than once that my game is pretty solid but would be much better if I would get a low deflection shaft. A very, very good player that I have a lot of respect for...told me that low deflection isn't necessarily any better than most other shafts as long as they are decent. One very good player hit some with my cue and told me that it is pure trash and has wayyyy to much deflection. He also said that if he hit with something like that, he wouldn't be able to play any where near the level he plays at.

Any opinions out there?

 

[Schwinn]

So what cue is it you play with?

 

[HueblerHustler7]

To each is there own.

 

[TwinkleToes]

I play with a George Balabushka copy that is made by Adam Cues. I've been told to get a OB1 or a Mezz Low Deflection shaft.

 

[Sheldon]

It's like this....

Assuming you are able to use a decent cue with a decent tip,
Your game is 98% YOU, and 2% CUE.

Now tell me, WHERE SHOULD YOUR FOCUS BE? :grin-square:

All cues have deflection. A good player adjusts to the amount of deflection that the cue has. Low deflection cues can (in theory) make you slightly more accurate, since you don't have to adjust your aim as much, when you use english. Don't fall into the trap of blaming your equipment, or searching for that magical cue that will turn you into a world beater.... By all means, experiment, and find a cue that works best for you, but don't lose sight of the big picture.

 

[whammo57]

There is no magic that will make you play better. A LD shaft will play differently not better.

Kim

 

[bbb]

yes its the indian and not the arrow
BUT
a low deflection shaft allows one to reduce one variable when shooting with english
its the 21st century
might as well take advantage of modern technology
btw
i play with an ob1 and dont regret the change from a "regular" shaft

 

[StrokeAnalyzer]

One thing I notice regarding players that use a LD shaft. They tend to think its zero deflection. No such thing! Got to compensate for deflection always.

 

[RBC]

One thing I notice regarding players that use a LD shaft. They tend to think its zero deflection. No such thing! Got to compensate for deflection always.

That's funny!

I often hear players with regular shafts say "my cue doesn't have any deflection".

Here's what's happening in both cases. In both examples, the players are shooting shots, with side spin, and not consciously adjusting for cue ball deflection. Therefore to them, their cue has no deflection.

Now then, any player with enough practice and skill, can achieve that level with any cue or shaft. After all, that's the goal in the first place. To get to the point where you don't have to "think" about anything other than the outcome of the shot.

Here's the rub. (there has to be one, doesn't there!)
I don't care who you are, or how long you've played, or how good you are, you will make a mistake. We are all human! This is where low cue ball squirt equipment comes in to play. With a smaller amount of adjustment that your subconscious mind has to make, the errors tend to be smaller. Often, they are small enough to be within the opening of the pocket and you still make the ball.

If we all compensated perfectly on every single shot, not only would we not miss, but every shot would go straight in the center of the pocket. I don't know about you, but mine sure don't all go in the center of the pocket.

Having said that, low cue ball squirt technology, whether it be mine or not, is advantageous to everybody. The good part is, with the choices available today, there really isn't much of a negative side. For the most part, you can get the feel, spin, etc that you're looking for, and there aren't any shots that you can't shoot. Well, except for jump shots, but they are much better with a jump cue anyway.

LD certainly isn't for everyone. But that doesn't mean it isn't real.

 

[RBC]

As for the old "it's the Indian, not the Arrow" thing it's certainly true that it's the player who knocks the balls in the hole, not the cue. But, the equipment must play a role.

Consider this. Me and Tiger woods have a long drive contest. But, he has to use the cheapest worst driver available.

He still wins! (by a long shot too)

But, does that mean he would drive as far and as straight as he would with his tricked out cutting edge technology driver? Of course not. And, he would never be able to perform the same, no matter how long he practiced with it.

You see, it is the Indian, and not the arrow. But, the Indian will always shoot straighter with better arrows than he would with bad ones. It's like trying to drive a nail with a wooden hammer. It's the same guy swinging the hammer, but the results are completely different.

Shoot Straight!

 

[Mikiemopa]

The cue you have is fine, I use to have one, if you want to spend the $200 for a LD shaft , just take care of it and you can almost get your money back if you don't like it. I personally would find a tip and shaft taper you like, that's more important to me. The LD shafts have a longer taper that I like. I just take that everest tip off all these shaft makers put on and put I milkdud on. Happy searching, o ya I shoot with a ob classic.

 

[whammo57]

yes its the indian and not the arrow
BUT
a low deflection shaft allows one to reduce one variable when shooting with english
its the 21st century
might as well take advantage of modern technology
btw
i play with an ob1 and dont regret the change from a "regular" shaft

not believing a word of it.....................

run 526 balls with your LD shaft................... like Willie

Kim...

 

[Canadian cue]

One difference or one negative to low deflection shafts are they are not very good for full cue jumps or masse. The other point is debatable but I have heard it from enough good players to know there is something to it. The hollow in the end of the shaft reduces the feedback felt in the handle. And one last point to consider and that is if low deflection is what you are after it has little to do with a shaft being laminated and all about the hole in the end. So in thoery any shaft could be made to be low deflection. The debate as to if a laminated shaft is better than standard shaft is a totaly seperate argument. Just food for thought.

 

[bbb]

not believing a word of it.....................

run 526 balls with your LD shaft................... like Willie

Kim...

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS
just because willie ran 526 with the equipment available in his day on 5" bucket pockets and i think a 4x8 table has nothing to do with the topic being discussed
if he had an ld shaft he would have run 1000 balls:grin:

 

[RBC]

not believing a word of it.....................

run 526 balls with your LD shaft................... like Willie

Kim...

I'd love to see a 526 by anyone with any cue on today's equipment.

There are a number of reasons it would be a far greater accomplishment than what Willie did when he did it.

First, almost none of the top players play straight pool that much. There aren't many tournaments, and when there are tourney's the races are short and no one needs to run big numbers to win. The same was true back then, but Willie traveled around doing exhibitions all the time and was very comfortable with the situation.

Second, the equipment is completely different. Pockets are tighter, rails are more lively, cloth is faster. Most players back then shot with 20 to 21 ounce cues because they needed the weight to move the cue ball around.

Lastly, with the state of professional level pool in the US, it's the furthest thing from anyone's mind. I remember John Schmidt, arguably one of the most likely candidates, say that if someone would put up big money, then the players would set out to get the cash and it would happen. I'd love to see John do it. He's still one of the most talented players I've ever seen.


As to which shaft? I would say that any player who is capable of doing it, is capable of doing it with either type of cue shaft. There's not too many big stroke shots with lots of side spin (and cue ball squirt) in a good game of straight pool.


Shoot Straight!

 

[bbb]

I'd love to see a 526 by anyone with any cue on today's equipment.

There are a number of reasons it would be a far greater accomplishment than what Willie did when he did it.

First, almost none of the top players play straight pool that much. There aren't many tournaments, and when there are tourney's the races are short and no one needs to run big numbers to win. The same was true back then, but Willie traveled around doing exhibitions all the time and was very comfortable with the situation.

Second, the equipment is completely different. Pockets are tighter, rails are more lively, cloth is faster. Most players back then shot with 20 to 21 ounce cues because they needed the weight to move the cue ball around.

Lastly, with the state of professional level pool in the US, it's the furthest thing from anyone's mind. I remember John Schmidt, arguably one of the most likely candidates, say that if someone would put up big money, then the players would set out to get the cash and it would happen. I'd love to see John do it. He's still one of the most talented players I've ever seen.


As to which shaft? I would say that any player who is capable of doing it, is capable of doing it with either type of cue shaft. There's not too many big stroke shots with lots of side spin (and cue ball squirt) in a good game of straight pool.


Shoot Straight!

very eloquently stated
:thumbup:

 

[poolrod]

I stay real close to center ball, usually a half of tip of english, so OB, or standard quality shafts are no different for me. I play strong with both.

 

[conetip]

One difference or one negative to low deflection shafts are they are not very good for full cue jumps or mase. The other point is debatable but I have heard it from enough good players to know there is something to it. The hollow in the end of the shaft reduces the feedback felt in the handle. And one last point to consider and that is if low deflection is what you are after it has little to do with a shaft being laminated and all about the hole in the end. So in thoery any shaft could be made to be low deflection. The debate as to if a laminated shaft is better than standard shaft is a totaly seperate argument. Just food for thought.

That is not entirely true.Our LD shafts are adjustable on the front end and we make a masse tip. As far as the jump goes, that is the ability of the person performing the jump shot.True, fro some masse shots you need more mass at the tip, hence the heavy weighted tip holder.

 

[Canadian cue]

The jump and masse have opposite requirement then low deflection shafts. You want a stiff and heavy end on the shaft. The jump cue takes care of that for most people but there still is some old school players who think you should be able to jump with your playing cue. I only mentioned this because when weighing your options you should consider all the variables. People talk about low deflection shafts as no neg and all positives I don't believe this to be entirely true. There are trade offs to having a big hole in the end of the shaft. How much of a trade off is totally debatable.

 

[RBC]

That is not entirely true.Our LD shafts are adjustable on the front end and we make a masse tip. As far as the jump goes, that is the ability of the person performing the jump shot.True, fro some masse shots you need more mass at the tip, hence the heavy weighted tip holder.

Neil

I'm curious about this one.

First, I'm not here to knock your cue shafts or the tip holders. They are extremely well made and first class stuff.

I am curious about how so many think that Masse shots are more difficult with LD shafts. I hear it all the time and am blown away by it. Primarily, because LD shafts do tend to spin the ball a little better than most regular shafts, which makes Masse shots easier. After all, a masse is just an elevated spin shot. Amplifying the spin by trapping the cue ball against the table for a split second, and giving it less forward momentum and more spin. It''s all about the speed to spin relationship.

In my experience, and I have dozens or more tell me the same reasons for thinking this way, the problem lies in an understanding of what's happening. Most players, when they try to masse a cue ball with an LD shaft, will spin the cue ball just fine. The problem is they run into the object ball they are trying to go around. The reason is because, in most cases that I've witnessed, they are aiming straight at the ball they are trying to avoid! With LD the cue ball doesn't "squirt" near as much and it goes pretty much straight into the interfering ball.

All you have to do is aim to miss the ball you're trying to miss.

If it sounds simple, that's because it is. It's different, but it's simple.

Try it. Let me know what you think.


Shoot Straight!