Cheap CF Shaft?
- Thread starter 130K
- Start date
I started to use the Rhino shaft. I was looking for something cheap just to see if I like the feel of CF but didn't want to go crazy Temu cheap, so I won't get the wrong impression.
I wrote a first impression review that you can read here
I don't have any experience with other CF shafts. I played with Predator 314 shafts for many years, and when it comes to performance, I can say that they play very similar; I didn't have to adjust my aim at all.
I'm very happy with it, and I don't see myself investing $500-$600 on a shaft; the Rhino goes for under $200; I just ordered a second one for another joint I have on other cues.
I wrote a first impression review that you can read here
I don't have any experience with other CF shafts. I played with Predator 314 shafts for many years, and when it comes to performance, I can say that they play very similar; I didn't have to adjust my aim at all.
I'm very happy with it, and I don't see myself investing $500-$600 on a shaft; the Rhino goes for under $200; I just ordered a second one for another joint I have on other cues.
How cheap? 50 ish bucks on Temu. Spiral wound. Konllen too it seems.
Paul_#_
Well-known member
The three JFlowers carbon fiber shafts differ in type of carbon fiber (aero-grade A, AA or AAA) type of technology (standard, advanced or next generation); ringwork present or absent, amount of deflection, tip (standard to Kamui black clear soft to Taom Fusion), and price ($200, $250 or $400)
Last edited:
Are all CF shafts spiral wound? I seem to recall the expensive ones are layered up differently.
Two ways they make the tubes is filament wound and flag-wrapped. Both methods can yield fine shafts. Newer/higher-end stuff is usually filament wound these days. I seriously doubt anyone could tell two shafts apart just by how the tube was made.
So the flex differences are undetectable? What about strength? Shaft breakers might wanna know. Can't embarrass themselves with a cue they can't bust.
Their all different. Like i said i doubt anyone could tell two apart based on how the tube was made. Any more than that and you're gonna need to go find an engineer. Call Predator or Whyte and pick their brains.So the flex differences are undetectable? What about strength? Shaft breakers might wanna know. Can't embarrass themselves with a cue they can't bust.
Last edited:
I've had the JFlowers/Konllen and Rhino. Both are nice IMO. But no match to a Revo if you are used to its aim.
I've been on the Predator bandwagon since the late 90s. Before switching to the Revo from the 314-2 I had, I tried the J-Flowers (which was co-branded Konllen at that time). It was a nice shaft, but the aim was too different. I went to the Revo and felt right at home from the 314's I've been playing since the 90's.
I also tried the Rhino (1 year after getting the Revo), for fun because it was so cheap. Again, a very nice shaft. But no match for the aim of the Revo if you are soundly used to it.
This is my own review on youtube. Watch out for the comments, a bunch of J-Flowers shills are claiming the shaft was fake because it was co-branded JFlowers and Konllen. It was not fake.
I liked the Rhino better than the J-Flowers/Konllen.
I've been on the Predator bandwagon since the late 90s. Before switching to the Revo from the 314-2 I had, I tried the J-Flowers (which was co-branded Konllen at that time). It was a nice shaft, but the aim was too different. I went to the Revo and felt right at home from the 314's I've been playing since the 90's.
I also tried the Rhino (1 year after getting the Revo), for fun because it was so cheap. Again, a very nice shaft. But no match for the aim of the Revo if you are soundly used to it.
This is my own review on youtube. Watch out for the comments, a bunch of J-Flowers shills are claiming the shaft was fake because it was co-branded JFlowers and Konllen. It was not fake.
I liked the Rhino better than the J-Flowers/Konllen.
Paul_#_
Well-known member
Your video is three years old.
What JFlowers shaft did you review? The model Classic, Crown or S.M.O.?
Are the newer JFlowers shafts better than the one you reviewed?
________
_________________
Was does 'not all that easy to play' mean exactly? I ask because i've tested out a bunch and other than the sound they all play pretty close to each other. Some deflected a little different but none were 'hard' to play with. The 159buck Rhino i had played every bit as good as $400+ Revo/Cynergy/BeCue shafts. A lot of the big name cues have big ad campaigns/player sponsor deals and that goes into the price. After using the Rhino for few months there's no way i'd ever spend more on a cf shaft.
I had all the info in my video. Including the spec card it came with. I have no idea what it was now from memory. I don’t think there were multiple models when I made my video.
Benelli
Well-known member
This... I have a $500 custom-made CF shaft for an oddball joint size, a Jacoby Black CF shaft that was $400, and seven Rhino CF shafts in every joint size I own. And I can tell you with zero doubt the Rhino's play just as good as any of the others. So good in fact they are pretty much the only CF shaft I will buy now.
And the best part is now that they have an Amazon store I can get a shaft in two days from Amazon and not have to deal with Rhino's craptastic shipping!
Just get a Rhino and get back to playing.
Sorry I was a bit flippant on my last answer…. When I did my YouTube review 3-4 years ago, I’m pretty sure there was only one model. I have no idea if that model is now called “classic”, or if it’s gone completely and the 3 in your screenshot are all new.
The SMO is def new, that came out after they signed Earl and Shaw to their team, which was about 1 year ago.
The jflowers/konlen and rhino I had was nice and smooth, Like the Revo I ultimately settled on. In contrast, the cue tech cf I tried about 5 years back was a bit rougher in the hands.
If I was not in the predator ecosystem, I’d probably get the rhino today.
Oh, both cheap cf shafts I had had a quality issue. The jflowers/konleen one in my YouTube video had a slight warp to it, shown in the video.
The rhino had a radial thread and it was not concentric with the butt. Butt was a schmelke. A genuine Revo shaft with the same thread was concentric with the butt.
I also know 2 local players who switched to the rhino a year ago when they came out, and both broke them. I think one at the joint, and one at the ferrule. Both are really good players, one a 625, one a 670.
They both switched back to something else.
All that said, I’d still go with a rhino today if I was not married to a certain aim like I personally am with predator.
The rhino had a radial thread and it was not concentric with the butt. Butt was a schmelke. A genuine Revo shaft with the same thread was concentric with the butt.
I also know 2 local players who switched to the rhino a year ago when they came out, and both broke them. I think one at the joint, and one at the ferrule. Both are really good players, one a 625, one a 670.
They both switched back to something else.
All that said, I’d still go with a rhino today if I was not married to a certain aim like I personally am with predator.
Paul_#_
Well-known member
Some complained about the brown Rhino tip months ago but it now comes with a different blue tip. The new one was fine for me and looks nice with its clear pad.
See https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/rhino-cf-shaft-yes-no.562423
See https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/rhino-cf-shaft-yes-no.562423