Do carbon fiber shafts make the game easier?

[Patrick Johnson]

I believe that CF transfers more energy to the cue ball, so you will get more spin/draw/follow from the same stroke with CF than you will with wood.

Picking my usual nit about this:

More energy means more RPMs, but also more speed - and since the spin-to-speed ratio is what's important for most spin effects, you don't really get "more spin" except when the CB is significantly slowed/stopped by the OB (like with follow/draw).

And you can produce the same effect with any cue by simply hitting a little harder.

pj
chgo

 

[CharlesUFarley]

Picking my usual nit about this:

More energy means more RPMs, but also more speed - and since the spin-to-speed ratio is what's important for most spin effects, you don't really get "more spin" except when the CB is significantly slowed/stopped by the OB (like with follow/draw).

And you can produce the same effect with any cue by simply hitting a little harder.

pj
chgo

Not sure what nits you're picking...We said essentially the same thing. In my post. I specifically said "with the same stroke", you will get a bit more action out of CF.

 

[Dockter]

Had CF been available back then you don't think players like Mosconi would have used, or at least tried, them? I've given four cf shafts a fairly good try-out and they really don't play much different. As said before energy transfer "may" be a little greater. Deflection is about same as a quality wood LD shaft. To me the durability and super-slick finish are the big plus's.

100% agree. I've now used the Revo, Go2, CueTec and Defy. So far the CueTec is my favorite (I'm guessing because the white ferrule and still has about the same deflection I'm used to being just a mm or 2 worse than the z2). Other than possibly giving someone a bit of a confidence boost so they are going further from center and getting more action I don't think they are a lot different then wood (besides the feel), I just like the fact I can wipe it down and put it away. That being said I somehow got a scratch in the Defy, bad part of carbon fiber is there's no pulling that out.

 

[jrctherake]

Simple question, but to clarify:
Would a person who switches to a carbon fiber shaft (Predator, Cuetec, Jacoby etc.), play at a higher level afterwards, with the same amount of practise as before, after he has gotten used to it?

Yes and no and for a lot of reasons that have been :deadhorse:.

Jeff

 

[jrctherake]

The great Willie Mosconi never heard of a Carbon Fibre Shaft, I would take Willie's skill over any piece of equiptment.

I'm as big of a Willie fan that you could possibly find. I assure you that nobody respects what WM was able to do more than me.

Having said ^^^^^^^^, what Willie or anyone for that matter, was or is able to do has absolutely nothing to do with what the OP ask.....nodda.

Jeff

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Not sure what nits you're picking...We said essentially the same thing. In my post. I specifically said "with the same stroke", you will get a bit more action out of CF.

I saw that - I was defining "action". More RPMs and speed often doesn't produce more spin effect.

pj
chgo

 

[RADAR]

Absolutely yes, you look at all the champions they either use carbon,kielwood or ld wood. Very few playing standard maple shafts. If so they are not winning the majority of the tournaments either.

 

[garczar]

I believe that CF transfers more energy to the cue ball, so you will get more spin/draw/follow from the same stroke with CF than you will with wood. It does not improve your aim or your accuracy.

When I switched from a Z2 to a REVO, my draw stroke became a bit hard to control, particularly when I need to just draw a foot or two from a distance. it's easier for me to draw 15 feet than it is to draw 1.5 feet, if that makes sense.

You might a bit more ball speed but the shaft won't increase the spin-rate. Only thing that does that is tip offset.

 

[JoeyInCali]

Absolutely yes, you look at all the champions they either use carbon,kielwood or ld wood. Very few playing standard maple shafts. If so they are not winning the majority of the tournaments either.

How is kielwood any different ?

Those Taiwanese aren't hurting with their SW shafts.

 

[poolguy4u]

Hmm... maybe because you like it better.


I doubt all of this.

pj
chgo

.



Well if you were a better player, you'd know.

You don't play good enough to know the slight differences.






.

 

[garczar]

.



Well if you were a better player, you'd know.

You don't play good enough to know the slight differences.






.

What an asinine statement. They don't you make play better or make the game any easier. There are wooden LD shafts that are just as,if not more, low deflection and have been around for years. They don't/can't make pocketing easier or improve speed control. I can't speak for other makers but a Predator rep. told me the biggest plus for them is the durability. They're basically indestructable in normal use. Maybe an idiot on a bender might break one.

 

[ceebee]

Go Customs has a +/-.3mm, +/-.01" straightness guarantee. CF is the future.[END-QUOTE]

Most folks would deny a shaft with 0.020" wobble. and they have a plus or minus 3/8 inch stroke...

HaHaHa....

 

[garczar]

Go Customs has a +/-.3mm, +/-.01" straightness guarantee. CF is the future.[END-QUOTE]

Most folks would deny a shaft with 0.020" wobble. and they have a plus or minus 3/8 inch stroke...

HaHaHa....

Good point Charlie,

 

[S.Vaskovskyi]

So if Europe wins, then wood is better than carbon fiber; and if America wins, CF is better than wood.

My actual point was not so on the surface.
Ok, Do you think it's just a coincidence that in the team from the continent where pool is treated as a sport the best players who strive for the consistency in their performance and that's why paying much more attention to what helps them most with this task?

There are so many nitty-gritty detailes when it comes to the topic "consistency in performance on the highest level".
All these top european players grew up and reached the level they are at now with certain equipment. These players do have very busy schedule when it comes to the tournaments, travelling a lot. So throughout the years they created certain organized training process putting their time and working on certain aspects of their game. Well if it worked for them for so many years do you think they are interested to let more variables in this process especially when they are on top?
Did you hear the expression " why climb into an engine that works great?"
BTW the only player who switched back from c.f. to a wooden shaft in team USA is just picked J.Bergman after his stellar performance during last International Open. Just some observation and it could be quite an accident...
Sometimes there are no easy answers to some questions...

 

[Patrick Johnson]

You don't play good enough to know the slight differences.

lol

Yeah, that's probly it.

pj
chgo

 

[ceebee]

Well, I been playing with maple for 60 plus years. I did have an 8 piece Pie-lam shaft, that I let go & I wish I had that one back. Guido made the one I've had for 3-4 years & that's the one I'll have, when I go. I did try a REVO, at the last tournament. It felt good, but I didn't buy it. My cue has one of Guido's Conical Joints in it & it's as close to perfection as i can feel. I'm done looking...

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Had CF been available back then you don't think players like Mosconi would have used, or at least tried, them? I've given four cf shafts a fairly good try-out and they really don't play much different. As said before energy transfer "may" be a little greater. Deflection is about same as a quality wood LD shaft. To me the durability and super-slick finish are the big plus's.

My point is most players today do not play at the level of Willie Mosconi. When your great at anything, yes different equiptment might make you greater, by a tad or small amount.

When you have a field of sprinters say, yes a special or lighter runnig shoe migh make one run the 100 year dash say in 9.55 Second beating the others who are only running the 100rd. In 9.6 - 9.7 seconds.

Trust me you can give the average person a Dental Office with the latrest greatest equiptment, but with out training, and experience. The guy or gal is not a dentist.

For those who don't get the point, it the Indian, not the Bow & Arrow that feeds the family.

 

[trob]

Picking my usual nit about this:

More energy means more RPMs, but also more speed - and since the spin-to-speed ratio is what's important for most spin effects, you don't really get "more spin" except when the CB is significantly slowed/stopped by the OB (like with follow/draw).

And you can produce the same effect with any cue by simply hitting a little harder.

pj
chgo

Not that I think it makes it easier But the harder you hit the ball the more difficult it is to be accurate. Try the old stroke drill hitting the cue ball the length of the table and back to your tip.. the harder you hit the ball the more challenging it is. In golf they teach you to go up a club. In other words if its going to take everything you got with an 8 iron to get there pull out the 7 instead. If you don’t have to swing as hard you’ll have a better chance to hit a good shot. So using that bit of common sense doesn’t make it easier if I can get more spin without hitting it harder?

 

[trob]

I'm as big of a Willie fan that you could possibly find. I assure you that nobody respects what WM was able to do more than me.

Having said ^^^^^^^^, what Willie or anyone for that matter, was or is able to do has absolutely nothing to do with what the OP ask.....nodda.

Jeff

Exactly..He had a god given talent that none of us bangers could dream of having. Stop comparing what we use to play the game to what a great professional uses.

 

[Z-Nole]

Where can I get a shaft with extra deflection? That’s how I roll.