Anyone try a 31" Shaft ? Thoughts ?
- Thread starter JLange
- Start date
A 31" shaft tends to get "whippy" if the taper isn't right. I've used a 31" shaft with a 15" pro taper and hated it. I have a 30" shaft with a 15" pro taper and love it, although it is not as stiff as a 29" shaft with the same taper. A 31" shaft with a conical taper would be pretty bulky, IMO, and possibly very heavy. It wouldn't be my choice unless I wanted a 62" cue. The joint extensions are handy, because they can be added and removed at will. They do add some weight, but nothing extreme.
I would recommend you try a 62" cue or 31" shaft, before you commit to buying one. The joint extensions run $30-40 and are a cheap alternative to a $150-200 shaft or even more expensive 62" cue.
I would recommend you try a 62" cue or 31" shaft, before you commit to buying one. The joint extensions run $30-40 and are a cheap alternative to a $150-200 shaft or even more expensive 62" cue.
I am actually in the opposite side of this, I got a 30" OB shaft, was not too sure if I liked it, so I traded it for a 29" of the same model.
I won my local weekly tournament twice in a row right after I switched to the 29" shaft from the 30. And went on to win it 3 out of 6 weeks and came in second twice with that shaft. 6 tournaments, 5 of those I won or came in second. And some of those wins I was untouchable, one week I lost 2 RACKS the whole night. 29" shaft for me I guess.
Have you played with a 30" before going to to try the 31"?
I won my local weekly tournament twice in a row right after I switched to the 29" shaft from the 30. And went on to win it 3 out of 6 weeks and came in second twice with that shaft. 6 tournaments, 5 of those I won or came in second. And some of those wins I was untouchable, one week I lost 2 RACKS the whole night. 29" shaft for me I guess.
Have you played with a 30" before going to to try the 31"?
I immediately liked a 30" shaft instead of 29". Not sure how much difference there'd be with a 31". Probably not much since I use an OB2 which has a conical taper (although I've never seen it offered in 31").
I wasn't crazy about the 4" extension, but in all fairness, I didn't give it a lot of break-in time because I wanted to return it to Seybert's within the 30-day return period. Maybe I'd have liked it just fine, but my first impression was not favorable.
I wasn't crazy about the 4" extension, but in all fairness, I didn't give it a lot of break-in time because I wanted to return it to Seybert's within the 30-day return period. Maybe I'd have liked it just fine, but my first impression was not favorable.
I Played With A JW Cue
I owned and have since traded a Joss West cue that had one 29" shaft and one 30.5" shaft and the tapers were the same.......14" pro tapers......and one shaft played great and one played not so great......you guess which one was the better shaft........I sold that cue and I really wouldn't to have shafts over 29" again........the cue ball movement was pretty much the same on 1/2 table shots but full table length shots of 7-8-9 ft away were more difficult with the longer shaft......I still pocketed balls but cue ball position control was much harder using the longer shaft........I recommend staying with standard length shafts.
Matt B.
I owned and have since traded a Joss West cue that had one 29" shaft and one 30.5" shaft and the tapers were the same.......14" pro tapers......and one shaft played great and one played not so great......you guess which one was the better shaft........I sold that cue and I really wouldn't to have shafts over 29" again........the cue ball movement was pretty much the same on 1/2 table shots but full table length shots of 7-8-9 ft away were more difficult with the longer shaft......I still pocketed balls but cue ball position control was much harder using the longer shaft........I recommend staying with standard length shafts.
Matt B.
I would give a joint extension a try. They do add some weight and I did notice my cue has a bit more flex in it but nothing major. That said I love my extension. My next cue will be 62", of course then I'll need a new case seeing how 31" won't fit in my current case.
At least as others have said if you don't like it your not out $200 for a shaft or more. Plus if you don't like the joint extension if you can't return it you can always sell it and not lose much.
At least as others have said if you don't like it your not out $200 for a shaft or more. Plus if you don't like the joint extension if you can't return it you can always sell it and not lose much.
You'll be f'ed up then LOL. Standard 29" shaft to a 30 or 31" LD shaft, you likely will drop a level for a week and will take a month or more of play to get used to playing with any type of spin.
I've recently gone from a 29" OB Pro to 30" OB Pro & like the change. It put the balance of my cue just a tad bit more forward. The ONLY problem I had making the change was that I fouled the cue ball a few times until I got used to it.
The OB Pros are European/conical tapered.
Good Luck & Shoot Well,
Rick
The OB Pros are European/conical tapered.
Good Luck & Shoot Well,
Rick
Shouldn't go over 30"
Most cuemakers suggest that you shouldn't go over 30". I've tried a 31" regular shaft and it was very whippy. I know shoot with a 32" butt and 30" shaft, and it's a nice balance, although I often wonder how a a 33" butt and a 29" shaft might play. My shafts are also under 12.5mm.
Hope that helps.
-R
Most cuemakers suggest that you shouldn't go over 30". I've tried a 31" regular shaft and it was very whippy. I know shoot with a 32" butt and 30" shaft, and it's a nice balance, although I often wonder how a a 33" butt and a 29" shaft might play. My shafts are also under 12.5mm.
Hope that helps.
-R
Just got my new Edge today. I have a Balance Rite and did not like the extra weight. I thought the weight of a 31" Jacoby would be less. I will weigh them and find out. I went in the basement and started breaking in the tip and so far I am happy with the Edge and do not feel it is whippy. I will give it a good test drive tomorrow as I play all day Saturday.
Just discovered the shaft does not fit in my case.
Al
I was instructed that the playing cue should be just above your shoulder when standing next to you. I am six foot two, and was always playing off the butt of my cue which was a standard production cue. for me, the balance right extension made the length just right and more comfortable.
Was that just working for me or has anyone else heard of the top of shoulder measurement as a rule of thumb?
Was that just working for me or has anyone else heard of the top of shoulder measurement as a rule of thumb?
SVB grips the edge of his cue so I doubt it matters...but I'm sure Earl Strickland would have a different opinion.
I'm 6'6"..I've tried longer cues with mixed results...If the cue is balanced properly it will play well. I tried a balance-rite for a day and hated it, cue felt awkward. There are some cuemakers who specialize in custom cues for tall players. Personally I would rather shorten my stroke up a bit and play with a 58-60" cue. I get more control that way, just my experience. I play with a McDermott 60" ovr, 30" i2 shaft... I love it.
Weight of things!!
Ok, weighed the different parts on a pretty good scale and the data was reproducible when weighing the parts a number of times.
Predator SP 8 point butt - 15 1/4 oz or 435 grams
314 cat shaft - 4 oz or 116 grams
314 cat shaft - 4 oz or 115 grams
Edge hybrid - 4 oz or 115 grams ( I rechecked this to confirm my weighing)
Balance Rite extender - 2 1/8 oz or 61 grams
Oh, the joint is uniloc.
Played about an hour with the Edge and didn't have any discernable whippy feeling. I seemed to play well with it. Fried a bunch of hard stokes; forced follow and power draws. I like it so far. Of course, this is all IMHO. Mileage may vary.
I am 6' 1" and like to hold the stick back a bit further than most. I think another variable that could make a difference in feel is your bridge length. My bridge is normally around 12".
Al
Ok, weighed the different parts on a pretty good scale and the data was reproducible when weighing the parts a number of times.
Predator SP 8 point butt - 15 1/4 oz or 435 grams
314 cat shaft - 4 oz or 116 grams
314 cat shaft - 4 oz or 115 grams
Edge hybrid - 4 oz or 115 grams ( I rechecked this to confirm my weighing)
Balance Rite extender - 2 1/8 oz or 61 grams
Oh, the joint is uniloc.
Played about an hour with the Edge and didn't have any discernable whippy feeling. I seemed to play well with it. Fried a bunch of hard stokes; forced follow and power draws. I like it so far. Of course, this is all IMHO. Mileage may vary.
I am 6' 1" and like to hold the stick back a bit further than most. I think another variable that could make a difference in feel is your bridge length. My bridge is normally around 12".
Al
I used to play with a 30" Predator 314 shaft, and loved it. More than I expected, it reduced the number of occasions where I needed to stretch for a shot significantly.
The only reason I'm using 29" now is because I forgot to ask for 30" when I ordered my last cue. I need to stretch more often which means less comfort on those shots and more missed shots.
I've never tried 31", but 30" worked so well, I'd probably go for 30" and not 31" if I could. You could always ask for 30.5"
The only reason I'm using 29" now is because I forgot to ask for 30" when I ordered my last cue. I need to stretch more often which means less comfort on those shots and more missed shots.
I've never tried 31", but 30" worked so well, I'd probably go for 30" and not 31" if I could. You could always ask for 30.5"
As of late SVB started playing full time with a the cuetec butt extension on. It started during the big foot challenge and then he started playing full time with it for other tournaments, Not sure if earl convinced him but the announcers were talking about it and how he was always playing off the back end of the cue before the extension.
After playing with the balance rite, I'm hooked. Unless I get a custom cue made, im addicted to the extra length and how much more room I have on the cue. I did however, adjust the weight bolts in my cue to try and even out the feel of the new forward weight the balance rite added.