Am I the only one that cannot warm up to low deflection shafts?
- Thread starter ron3
- Start date
I think it just boils down to how many years you shot with a standard shaft,
before attempting to switch. If it's over 10 years, you'll have a tough time ahead of you.
Over 20, you can probably forget it entirely.
Your brain has lines of aim burned in from decades of seeing certain common cuts with english.
Now those same cuts require a slightly different line of aim, and your brain hates it.
It feels like you're fighting your own instincts all the time, everything looks wrong,
and you have doubt on shots that used to be 100%.
That doubt and the fact that your brain hates what your eyes are telling you,
can make it extremely tough to warm up to LD shafts.
At the end of the day so if you don't enjoy shooting with them
and don't want to spend another year or ten trying to force the issue...
then just stick with the shafts you're used to. Don't worry that your game
will suffer just because you're not using an LD shaft. Your playing ability
will be 99% your attitude and how you compete and practice,
worry about that more than the shaft.
before attempting to switch. If it's over 10 years, you'll have a tough time ahead of you.
Over 20, you can probably forget it entirely.
Your brain has lines of aim burned in from decades of seeing certain common cuts with english.
Now those same cuts require a slightly different line of aim, and your brain hates it.
It feels like you're fighting your own instincts all the time, everything looks wrong,
and you have doubt on shots that used to be 100%.
That doubt and the fact that your brain hates what your eyes are telling you,
can make it extremely tough to warm up to LD shafts.
At the end of the day so if you don't enjoy shooting with them
and don't want to spend another year or ten trying to force the issue...
then just stick with the shafts you're used to. Don't worry that your game
will suffer just because you're not using an LD shaft. Your playing ability
will be 99% your attitude and how you compete and practice,
worry about that more than the shaft.
Excellent post but I must be the exception. I've played for 35 years with maple and once I made the switch to LD I never looked back.
For me, it was similar to changing from wooden head golf clubs. It's true there are shots metal woods don't hit as we'll but overall, it was more than worth the switch.
In a way i disagree, a serious pool player (money player, or tournament player) should try everything to improve their game, it is the only way to learn the game, plus practice of course. A none serious player, who does not care if he misses three or four times in a game, should not even bother to know what is LD or HD stands for and play with house cue.
I started this post and it seems there is mixed feelings about LD shafts, I am 67 years old and been shooting off and on for 55 years, I went back to my McDermott with a Lepro tip and my games has improved.
Fact is I don,t shoot as well as I once did. eyes, nerves, not as good, and can,t get down on the ball like I once did, but I am still competitive.I am just going to have to say that LD is just not for me.
Thanks guys for all the response. Ron
Fact is I don,t shoot as well as I once did. eyes, nerves, not as good, and can,t get down on the ball like I once did, but I am still competitive.I am just going to have to say that LD is just not for me.
Thanks guys for all the response. Ron
I tried a Predator low deflection shaft for three months and simply could not play with it so I gave up. I presently have a Lucasi with a Hybrid low deflection shaft and I play very well with it. The Predator simply puts too much spin on the ball. The Lucasi shaft does not do that.
Try a Meucci Pro solid maple shaft. The one I have hits way better than my 314-2 and it doesn't have that hollow, dead feel. They have a laminated version as well, but I haven't tried that one.
This shaft has lower deflection than my 314-2, as well.
This shaft has lower deflection than my 314-2, as well.
Undecided
I am undecided and think it is one of those things that shooters adjust to. Some world class shooters use LD shafts and many old pros don't, Reyes, Bustamante, Strickland, Archer, etc. I have a Meucci Black Dot shaft and an OB Classic that I some times use. After I use one for a few hours I am used to it.
I am undecided and think it is one of those things that shooters adjust to. Some world class shooters use LD shafts and many old pros don't, Reyes, Bustamante, Strickland, Archer, etc. I have a Meucci Black Dot shaft and an OB Classic that I some times use. After I use one for a few hours I am used to it.
Its no better or worse, but once you figure them out its easier IMO to aim with sidespin. I played regular shafts for almost 30 years and learned tuck and roll when I was still a kid.
I tried ld shafts several times and hated them, but once I gave them an honest effort to relearn aiming with english as opposed to bhe Ill likely never go back.
And just to comment on some of the pro player who dont play with Predator or OB shafts etc, you would be surprised how many of those players cue tips are in the 11-12mm range. That in and of itself lowers cb squirt compared to a full 13mm tip, so while they dont play a branded ld shaft, theirs is indeed lower deflection comparatively.
Chuck
I really love my Josey Timeless Timber and wouldn't trade it for anything but I have enjoyed playing some very good pool with an OB Classic, 314 2, and a Z2 in the past. The OB Classic was the easiest transition into LD shafts for me by far. I'd say, in the first few hours I was very happy. I was happy from the very first hit. It's all in what feels right for you. Just experiment until you find that shaft that makes you smile when you hit with it...that's the one!
with less spin to calculate the deflection will be easier to judge on longer shots.
I agree, from my experience a harder tip will give a "crisp" hit and won't overspin the cue-ball like a softer tip will. Playing rotation games you want the cue-ball to jump off faster, so a harder tip is preferable - with less spin to calculate the deflection will be easier to judge on longer shots.
I agree, from my experience a harder tip will give a "crisp" hit and won't overspin the cue-ball like a softer tip will. Playing rotation games you want the cue-ball to jump off faster, so a harder tip is preferable - with less spin to calculate the deflection will be easier to judge on longer shots.
I use a normal shaft with a ivory ferrule, I tried the low deflection and hated it.
I am not a Pro either tho. :/
That also depends on the shaft. I love a good LD shaft. Much easier to adjust for english when I really have to stroke a ball. It really comes in handy when I have to stroke a long cut in the corner with inside english. The shot lines up more true. When I have done the same shot with a shaft that wasn't LD, I actually had to aim at the entire ball straight on because by the time it got there, it spun correct. I didn't like that at all. The game should be made as easy as it can be per person.
As well, plenty of shafts aren't created equal anyway. Most shots, it probably doesn't matter between any shaft at all (LD, or whatever). Unfortunately, there do come some shots here and there from a safe, a push, bad shape, etc., that requires one to work hard at a shot. These are the instances I think LD helps most.
These shafts are "low deflection," not "no deflection"
These shafts are "low deflection," not "no deflection" - the problem is trying to determine what part of "low" is going to happen (low is a general term and the high end compared to the bottom end may result in a "half pocket" difference), it's not the same every single time that's for sure. The tip does make a difference, especially when using a soft one.
These shafts are "low deflection," not "no deflection" - the problem is trying to determine what part of "low" is going to happen (low is a general term and the high end compared to the bottom end may result in a "half pocket" difference), it's not the same every single time that's for sure. The tip does make a difference, especially when using a soft one.
