I like to have two identical shafts too, more for convenience. If one tip gets too worn, I can play with the other shaft until I have a chance to get the tip replaced.
Basically, I use it as a back-up and never have down time with my cue.
Is a second shaft necessary?
- Thread starter The Piper
- Start date
I like to have two identical shafts too, more for convenience. If one tip gets too worn, I can play with the other shaft until I have a chance to get the tip replaced.
Basically, I use it as a back-up and never have down time with my cue.
Same here. Every once in a while if I'm having a bad day, I'll change shafts to see if the increased concentration required of different equipment helps..... 50-50 shot.....
As to the tip coming off in a big game.... I used to help out at a pool hall a buddy of mine owned. 2 regulars were playing 500 a set 9 ball, when one guy misses a shot he stands up ramming the end of his shaft into the light on accident. Tip gone. He had a spare, so I took his main shaft in the back and put a new tip on for him while they kept playing. I work pretty quick, so I had it back out to him within 20-30 minutes. He ended up beating the other guy out of 2500 that night.
When they were done, I joked to him not to forget to tip the houseman. He flipped me a 100 before he took off. I might hold the record for the most expensive retipping job in history....
Chuck
Looking at your sig line, might I guess that fly fishing is that other hobby? If that's the case, you already know that all fine bamboo fly rods come with two tips. Why should a fine cue not come with two shafts?
Looking at your sig line, might I guess that fly fishing is that other hobby? If that's the case, you already know that all fine bamboo fly rods come with two tips. Why should a fine cue not come with two shafts?
Haha good point. I don't fish with bamboo, but good point. I still have a couple of months to decide, but I was looking at O'neil cases and trying to figure out when the hell have I ever used the second shaft on any of my cues.
Spend the extra money and get 2 shafts. Once you get your new cue play with both shafts and i'll bet you will like the way one of them plays over the other shaft. Make that your primary shaft to play with and keep the other shaft in your case for a back up. You may think that you'll never sell the cue now, but down the road things may change and your cue will be worth more and easier to sell if you have 2 shafts. It's up to you, but my advice is to have the cue maker build two matching shafts for your cue when it's built.
2nd shaft necessary?
Playing conditions such as fast or slow tables can be tamed with the right shaft weight and/or hard/soft tip. That makes having a 2nd shaft much easier to adjust than to work through the situation with only one shaft.
Playing conditions such as fast or slow tables can be tamed with the right shaft weight and/or hard/soft tip. That makes having a 2nd shaft much easier to adjust than to work through the situation with only one shaft.
Like Paul Harvey said ... " and now for the rest of the story"
You didn't really need a custom cue either.
Depending on the thread you can always get extra shafts if you're in a pinch to use something on ebay for around 40 bucks. Taper it the way you like with this invention called sandpaper, and replace the tip with what you like. :thumbup:
I'm in favor of 2 Shafts
As a main player, it's nice to have a 2nd as the back up. Having it made at the same time as the cue I think is better. It's usually from the same batch of dowels, which means you have a better chance of it being the same coloring, and age. No 2 shafts are a like, but I think your chances of it playing the most similar to the 1st shaft are greater, when all the components are the same, and they age the same.
Who knows what could happen to one shaft. ALWAYS better safe then sorry! Order a back up plan!
+ 3rd shaft at a different length/dia. (Snooker style!) :thumbup:
As a main player, it's nice to have a 2nd as the back up. Having it made at the same time as the cue I think is better. It's usually from the same batch of dowels, which means you have a better chance of it being the same coloring, and age. No 2 shafts are a like, but I think your chances of it playing the most similar to the 1st shaft are greater, when all the components are the same, and they age the same.
Who knows what could happen to one shaft. ALWAYS better safe then sorry! Order a back up plan!
+ 3rd shaft at a different length/dia. (Snooker style!) :thumbup:
Ortmann is one notable player who uses entirely different tips for rotation games and 14.1. He has a much flatter radius on the straight pool tip, and I'll assume it is a different hardness as well. I think there would be an advantage to have two shafts made as identically as possible by the same maker in this case, so the only adjustments needed would be for tip characteristics. This is just one reason to have two shafts for the same cue, I'm sure there are many more.
Necessary? No.
I do, however, have two playing shafts and two break shafts in my travel case (shown in my avatar).
A Tiger Ultra X LD and a McDermott G-Core. Both are 29" and 12.75mm, but are totally different.
Then I have two identical break shafts, one maple & one purple heart. The maple shaft was free, though.
I do, however, have two playing shafts and two break shafts in my travel case (shown in my avatar).
A Tiger Ultra X LD and a McDermott G-Core. Both are 29" and 12.75mm, but are totally different.
Then I have two identical break shafts, one maple & one purple heart. The maple shaft was free, though.
the truth is, we all have more than one cue, so an extra shaft for "just in case" might be overkill
I am sure it happens, but I have never seen anyone need the extra shaft. If you travel a lot and play, it might make sense, but for local stuff, I can't see it. of course, it's fun to have two.
I am sure it happens, but I have never seen anyone need the extra shaft. If you travel a lot and play, it might make sense, but for local stuff, I can't see it. of course, it's fun to have two.
I've had a tip pop off while playing and just switched over to the other one. Second shaft is a nice backup. Also, for jump-break cues, it's nice to have a second shaft with a leather tip on it as well.
A downside to having an extra one is that you need a bigger case. Especially if you have 2 shafts for each cue.
If you have high dollar cues extra shafts can help for resale. I have 4 for my Richard Black and 2 are still brand new, unchalked and unused. So if I ever sell that cue the new owner will have 2 brand new shafts from the same maker without having to order them.
-td
A downside to having an extra one is that you need a bigger case. Especially if you have 2 shafts for each cue.
If you have high dollar cues extra shafts can help for resale. I have 4 for my Richard Black and 2 are still brand new, unchalked and unused. So if I ever sell that cue the new owner will have 2 brand new shafts from the same maker without having to order them.
-td
No need for 2nd Shaft If
If you can shoot good pool with the butt of your cue when the tip falls off your "only shaft".
Get the second shaft. It is nice to be able to try different tips and you can compare tips without have to replace the one on your only shaft.
Don :thumbup:
If you can shoot good pool with the butt of your cue when the tip falls off your "only shaft".
Get the second shaft. It is nice to be able to try different tips and you can compare tips without have to replace the one on your only shaft.
Don :thumbup:
If you are a professional pool player, you can buy two or more shafts of various sizes amd makes for various purposes. Otherwise, one shaft is sufficient.
When you buy a cue with two shafts (especially a custom cue), you will find a slight difference between the two shafts...one will "feel" better to you and become your primary (unless you're using after market LD shafts). That will be your "player" and the other shaft will be your backup, especially if down the road you need to get a new tip or replace the ferrule and don't have time or opportunity to square it away--you can use your back up.
I used to laugh at guys that brought back up playing cues (butts, shafts, etc.), until I had a cue start to come apart on me at the A joint, right in the middle of my first match in a big tournament. I've NEVER seen a cue do that and would have never thought it possible (obviously a structural flaw that finally reared its ugly head after three years of daily use). I carry three shafts for my cue, out of fear of having a tip come off, but who would thnk you'd have a major malfunction with the cue itself? I was torn between picking out a jacked up house cue, playing with my break cue or just heading out to the car...My first opponent (one of those guys I used to laugh at for carrying three cues around) felt sorry for me and lent me his spare Diveney full splice to finish out the day with (a real gentleman, and a no kidding good guy). That Diveney hit sweet, too...:smile:
I used to laugh at guys that brought back up playing cues (butts, shafts, etc.), until I had a cue start to come apart on me at the A joint, right in the middle of my first match in a big tournament. I've NEVER seen a cue do that and would have never thought it possible (obviously a structural flaw that finally reared its ugly head after three years of daily use). I carry three shafts for my cue, out of fear of having a tip come off, but who would thnk you'd have a major malfunction with the cue itself? I was torn between picking out a jacked up house cue, playing with my break cue or just heading out to the car...My first opponent (one of those guys I used to laugh at for carrying three cues around) felt sorry for me and lent me his spare Diveney full splice to finish out the day with (a real gentleman, and a no kidding good guy). That Diveney hit sweet, too...:smile:
This is where my question comes from.
I have an original McDermott 2x4 case with the outside pockets etc. Used that case for YEARS, and still do. But one day, I went through all the pockets and realized I really was just carrying too much crap. (Two or three tip tools, mushroom grazer, sandpaper, a BOX of chalk, two magnetic clips for my chalk, two focus balls, etc. etc.)
So fast forward, I have some cash squirreled away, plus a lucky scratch ticket, and I am ordering this custom cue from a local maker, and he asked how many shafts I wanted etc.
Well I'm used to playing with an Aftermarket Predator 314 Shaft. I bought a Blemished one 8 years ago (I don't know if they still do it, but they used to just make an engraved line below the 314.) So the fact that I MAY get an after market shaft for this cue is also a weighing factor. Plus, I have never ever used the other shaft of my cue. EVER.
Anyway, Long story short. I told the maker Just 1 of his special shafts. And since I don't play as often as I used to, I figured I would just get a 1 butt, 1 shaft box case, and in the little compartment keep my magnectic chalk holder, shaft cleaner, and tip tool. Super simple, compact, efficient. For a weekend warrior.
If I need a boomstick for breaking, I've just gotten used to using a house cue and scuffing the tip and chalking heavy.
I have an original McDermott 2x4 case with the outside pockets etc. Used that case for YEARS, and still do. But one day, I went through all the pockets and realized I really was just carrying too much crap. (Two or three tip tools, mushroom grazer, sandpaper, a BOX of chalk, two magnetic clips for my chalk, two focus balls, etc. etc.)
So fast forward, I have some cash squirreled away, plus a lucky scratch ticket, and I am ordering this custom cue from a local maker, and he asked how many shafts I wanted etc.
Well I'm used to playing with an Aftermarket Predator 314 Shaft. I bought a Blemished one 8 years ago (I don't know if they still do it, but they used to just make an engraved line below the 314.) So the fact that I MAY get an after market shaft for this cue is also a weighing factor. Plus, I have never ever used the other shaft of my cue. EVER.
Anyway, Long story short. I told the maker Just 1 of his special shafts. And since I don't play as often as I used to, I figured I would just get a 1 butt, 1 shaft box case, and in the little compartment keep my magnectic chalk holder, shaft cleaner, and tip tool. Super simple, compact, efficient. For a weekend warrior.
If I need a boomstick for breaking, I've just gotten used to using a house cue and scuffing the tip and chalking heavy.
I like having the extra shaft for many of the reasons already discussed. I also enjoy having 2 shafts made by the same person with the same specs that I can try different tips on. If you want to try a new tip and you don't like it ... bam, you have your original one still and can wait to pop that new tip off or give it some practice only time to wear in while still playing with your regular shaft in money games or league. Heck, even if you like the new tip, you will have your original one to play important games with while getting comfortable with the new tip and the way it plays. Plus with the 2 shafts being very similar, you will really be able to tell the difference when trying out a new tip, as you've reduced other variables.
No, you don't need a second shaft.