What is your favorite SHAFT and WHY? (Predator, OB, Venom2, Gcore, other)
- Thread starter PoolChump
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Nothing fancy please. Standard maple Joss. Tried the fancy stuff and never saw the magic. The skies did not part. I have two identical Joss maple shafts. I could interchange them after every game and never know the difference. The game for me is to strive for consistency.
I've tried most of the popular ld brands and used OB for quite a while. When I first switched over to ld shafts I thought they were amazing because of the spin you can impart but as my game progressed over the years I have found I take mostly center ball shots and position the cueball on an angle to impart spin. My stroke has also developed and I no longer see a big difference between the spin a ld shaft can impart to the cueball and the spin a good maple shaft will impart.
To be honest I have found that the tip is really the biggest deciding factor (I.e., hardness and shape).
I currently use a very old growth solid maple shaft and don't like the feel of ld anymore. It's weird for me to say that as for years I was the biggest supporter of ld shafts but over time I've realized that it doesn't really matter what you play with as long as the taper, weight, and tip are to your liking.
To be honest I have found that the tip is really the biggest deciding factor (I.e., hardness and shape).
I currently use a very old growth solid maple shaft and don't like the feel of ld anymore. It's weird for me to say that as for years I was the biggest supporter of ld shafts but over time I've realized that it doesn't really matter what you play with as long as the taper, weight, and tip are to your liking.
Good news sir,
Two years ago we had a conversation on this subject (mostly disagreement...) You were a big ld fan back then. Really good for you that you can't tell the difference now.
Irving Crane, Luther Lassiter, Willie Mosconi and myself were just discussing this very topic the other day at the pool hall.
We all agreed that standard rock maple shafts worked just fine. :wink:
best,
brian kc
We all agreed that standard rock maple shafts worked just fine. :wink:
best,
brian kc
I use the standard Maple shafts that came with the cue. The only exception is my playing cue which has a G-core on it. I was using a McDermott/Snap-On promotional cue that I got from my dealer that had a G-core and I became accustomed to that shaft so when I bought my McDermott D 19 and had it re-finished I had them build a G-core. I have a Predator on a different cue and I really dont notice much squirt difference between the G-core and the Predator. Maybe I am too deft to notice a difference but the object ball goes in the pocket and the cue ball spins around the table on the intended path so I think I am using it properly.
he said the hamburger was delicious and he will gladly pay you tuesday....Please tell Wimpy I said hello, and that I want the $27 he owes me...
Funny, nobody seems to like the tips, chalk, cloth, balls, bridges, and in many cases the tables they played on back then,,,, god forbid if a few of us amateurs don't like the shafts from 100 years ago
. I love LD but don't have any problem with folks that prefer maple, just not sure why it bothers others so much that we don't all like the same type of shaft ?
Funny, nobody seems to like the tips, chalk, cloth, balls, bridges, and in many cases the tables they played on back then,,,, god forbid if a few of us amateurs don't like the shafts from 100 years ago
I love LD but don't have any problem with folks that prefer maple, just not sure why it bothers others so much that we don't all like the same type of shaft ?
It is kind of the same as politics. Some people are very passionate and think that their was is the only way and everyone should agree with them. Those who do not agree are crazy.
Then you have others who like what they like and are cool with the fact that others prefer something else.
Personally, I love my Predator pre-cat 314. My game jumped a couple balls when I switched from the Schon shaft to LD. Have never thought about switching back. Love the way my cue plays the way it is. Current setup for 12 years and counting.
Funny, nobody seems to like the tips, chalk, cloth, balls, bridges, and in many cases the tables they played on back then,,,, god forbid if a few of us amateurs don't like the shafts from 100 years ago
I love LD but don't have any problem with folks that prefer maple, just not sure why it bothers others so much that we don't all like the same type of shaft ?
RJ;
youve known me long enough to know I'm a live and let live kinda guy.
but just couldn't resist the oppty presented here.
and, btw, some of my best friends are LD users. :thumbup:
:thumbup:shafts, like all other pool gear, are totally subjective judgements.
best,
brian kc
Diviney Lake Salvage shaft.
I like the Lake Salvage shafts Pat Diviney made for me. They are 12.5 mm for the first 18 inch's and 30" long. Maybe l like the thought of using old submerged wood.
If given the correct care I doubt I will ever wear them out. They feel good and stiff to me and it is like I can feel the hit of the cue ball with each stroke. It is a feel I don't get with other shafts.
I have a Meucci Black Dot and a OB Classic shaft made to the same specs. If use them for a few hours I get the feel for them and do ok. But the Divney Lake Salvage shafts are definitely my favorites.
I like the Lake Salvage shafts Pat Diviney made for me. They are 12.5 mm for the first 18 inch's and 30" long. Maybe l like the thought of using old submerged wood.
If given the correct care I doubt I will ever wear them out. They feel good and stiff to me and it is like I can feel the hit of the cue ball with each stroke. It is a feel I don't get with other shafts.
I have a Meucci Black Dot and a OB Classic shaft made to the same specs. If use them for a few hours I get the feel for them and do ok. But the Divney Lake Salvage shafts are definitely my favorites.
I have some OB's, Predators and regular stock maples. I honestly can not tell the difference in the dark. Perhaps a pro can tell the difference. I can't.
I do like the Predator Fat. I like the thickness. The fat shaft changes the feel of the cue that it's on.
I do like the Predator Fat. I like the thickness. The fat shaft changes the feel of the cue that it's on.
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RJ;
youve known me long enough to know I'm a live and let live kinda guy.
but just couldn't resist the oppty presented here.
and, btw, some of my best friends are LD users. :thumbup:
shafts, like all other pool gear, are totally subjective judgements.
best,
brian kc
I know, but I quoted your post to make my points
Man, there are 2 camps, and one camp seems to hate folks that use an LD shaft. Heck, the damn shafts cost pretty near the same amount, so who cares really :thumbup:'I mean, we don't care if someone uses a diff brand cue, a diff band tip, chalk, bridge, glove etc., but man, we gotta use the same shaft as Mosconi or else
I know, but I quoted your post to make my points
I mean, we don't care if someone uses a diff brand cue, a diff band tip, chalk, bridge, glove etc., but man, we gotta use the same shaft as Mosconi or else
hate's a pretty strong word, RJ.
I'm guessing most people, me included, don't really give much thought to what shafts others are using, as far as passing judgement on them. With that said, I'm also sure there are a smaller % of folks who think people who feel they need to play with LD shafts are kool-aid drinkers.
I had a very well known pro player over my house recently who uses predator 314 shafts and he started out playing with a cue I have with a standard maple shaft. He was missing *a lot* of shots by 1/4 to 1/2 diamond, no kidding. We we both amazed at his inaccuracy.
He then switched over to a setup with a 314 and he immediately began drilling center pocket shots from everywhere. We both figured that this showed just how dialed-in and comfortable and confident he is with using a 314 shaft.
I think it's all what you get used to. I imagine he could be just as dialed in (or very close) if he used standard maple shafts exclusively.
He obviously prefers shooting with a predator 314 and will get no argument from me. :smile:
best,
brian kc
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Now that's a beauty combo right there! The majority of people likely don't have the disposable income to make that happen though.
Personally I'm a Mezz 700 fan with a Zan hard tip. Just feels most comfortable to me over anything else I've tried
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Same Sorta
I use a Searing Shaft on my Runde, the shaft was made for a Szamboti. I agree with the rest of Kens comments verbatim.
I use a Searing Shaft on my Runde, the shaft was made for a Szamboti. I agree with the rest of Kens comments verbatim.
With my two Lambros cues I like the Lambros shafts
With the four Richard Black cues I have I like the Richard Black shafts.
With the Carmelli I like the Carmelli shaft.
With the three Rundi cues I like the Rundi shafts....
With the.....oh well, you get it.
No LD's for me, thank you very much.
As to the why part of your question, I prefer the shafts that
come with each cue because I'm playing the cue the way it's
designed to be played and felt and I like solid maple shafts
because they have the feel I am used to and like.
I think shaft selection is mainly a generational and availability issue. Along with many others, I started shooting pool when ld shafts were pretty much everywhere. It goes like this, new guy goes online to buy a cue and the vast majority of the selections come equipped with ld shafts, he starts shooting with ld shafts, end of story.
The second part is availability. I can go online and buy any ld shaft I please. It's quick and easy. I can't really go online and see a selection of non ld shafts. I for one, would love to try a non ld shaft, but, I've got to research a builder, get the shaft made, wait, and wait some more. Unfortunately, my generation wants things now.
The second part is availability. I can go online and buy any ld shaft I please. It's quick and easy. I can't really go online and see a selection of non ld shafts. I for one, would love to try a non ld shaft, but, I've got to research a builder, get the shaft made, wait, and wait some more. Unfortunately, my generation wants things now.