Crical Pro- great Amazon deal

 
IDK what the sale was before, but these are super cheap. Plus hassle free returns because it's Amazon. I forgot which one I liked from the other thead a couple weeks ago:(

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garczar said:
I got the CL-3, matte black with 'Crical' logo on it. I was just curious what a sub-$175 cf cue plays like. Vids i've watched all positive.
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I play with a guy on Fridays that has a Crical. ( not sure which model) He seems to have no problem spinning or drawing the CB. I'm curious now and will have to try it out.
 
I’m ready to pull the trigger on the CRICAL with an 8” extension. Just waiting to hear your review.
It seems to be too good to be true but CF and Asia continue to surprise me, bought 2 Rhinos.
 
skogstokig said:
what these brands have done is they've pulled the curtain on the insane CF shaft pricing of predator and cuetec.
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I don't have much experience with CF shafts, but I am getting into it and experimenting.

I have a Rhino, which we can refer to as a mid-level shaft, and a Cuetec, which we can refer to as a high-end shaft, and I also have a Revo on the way.

There is quite a difference between the Rhino and the Cuetec:
Both shafts weigh about the same, but the Rhino is longer and more rear-heavy. making the Cuetec balanced better, in my opinion.
Both are 3/8X10, but I did get the flat (modified) version of the Cuetec. This fits the Cuetec on all my 3/8x10 butts, while the Rhino will fit only a few of them, and on some it does fit but very tightly.

The fit of the Cuetec on my cues is nicer; it's 21.3mm at the joint, while the Rhino is 21.5. The Cuetec is more flush with the butt at the joint (it's just something that bothers me...), and another thing regarding the fit is that the Rhyno feels uneven around the joint, meaning that it's probably not 100% centred (I see that on two different Rhino shafts that I have).

Playability:
In terms of deflection, I need more time to test and compare between the two and to a 314-2 shaft as well, but they all feel very similar. I guess if there is a difference, it'll show more on long hard shots. So I'm still on the fence when it comes to deflection.

What I did notice is that the Cutec delivers more power and more spin than the Rhyno; I can draw easier and move the CB faster and make it travel a greater distance with less effort (both tested on the same butt).

The Ryno did improve after putting a hard tip on it but still not as good as the Cuetec with a soft tip. I'm going to change the tip on the Cuetec as well and continue testing and comparing them.

My biggest issue is that I still play better with the Predator 314-2 shafts that I have, and I have a lot of them... I'm more consistent, more accurate with pocketing the ball and better with CB control.

It's probably just a matter of getting used to CF, but I haven't played for over 10 years, so I'm kind of starting over, and I'm not sure it's a getting-used-to thing; maybe it's my stroke, and the 314-2 is more forgiving... Here comes the Revo. I've ordered a 12.9 Revo to see if the shaft thickness will make a difference for me; the 12.5 CF shafts do feel a bit thin in my hand. We'll see when it gets here.

I'll be happy with a CF shaft that performs exactly like the 314-2 and just provides me the durability and consistency; I don't need it to play better and make me need to re-learn how to aim with side spin.

Another reason for getting another shaft is that the second Rhyno shaft that I got has a 5/16x14 joint (I did get the oversized one), but it doesn't fit all my butts with this joint.

All these fit and finish issues do make me stay away from cheap CF shafts. It might work fine if you buy a full cue with its shaft, but I wouldn't spend a dime anymore on those shafts to try to fit them on my cues, and I don't need another cue...
 
skor said:
There is quite a difference between the Rhino and the Cuetec:
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Another difference is taper. The Rhino has about 9" of pro taper while the Cuetec Cynergy has "hybrid conical".

In my 10.5mm Cynergy, taper goes from 10.5mm below ferrule; 10.8mm @ 3" from cue-tip bottom; 11.6mm @ 6"; 12.4mm @9" and 13.0mm @ 12".

Rhino's taper is 10.5mm below ferrule; 10.5mm @ 9.5"; and 11.3mm @ 12".
 
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skogstokig said:
what these brands have done is they've pulled the curtain on the insane CF shaft pricing of predator and cuetec.
Click to expand...
I mean, maybe.

My father has a Konollen Carbon Fiber that was priced pretty cheap from Amazon he bought as a beater. Hit decent and was put together well but wasnt low deflection at all.

Was a pretty good cue for the price though Incredible beater/trunk queen.
 
skor said:
I don't have much experience with CF shafts, but I am getting into it and experimenting.

I have a Rhino, which we can refer to as a mid-level shaft, and a Cuetec, which we can refer to as a high-end shaft, and I also have a Revo on the way.

There is quite a difference between the Rhino and the Cuetec:
Both shafts weigh about the same, but the Rhino is longer and more rear-heavy. making the Cuetec balanced better, in my opinion.
Both are 3/8X10, but I did get the flat (modified) version of the Cuetec. This fits the Cuetec on all my 3/8x10 butts, while the Rhino will fit only a few of them, and on some it does fit but very tightly.

The fit of the Cuetec on my cues is nicer; it's 21.3mm at the joint, while the Rhino is 21.5. The Cuetec is more flush with the butt at the joint (it's just something that bothers me...), and another thing regarding the fit is that the Rhyno feels uneven around the joint, meaning that it's probably not 100% centred (I see that on two different Rhino shafts that I have).

Playability:
In terms of deflection, I need more time to test and compare between the two and to a 314-2 shaft as well, but they all feel very similar. I guess if there is a difference, it'll show more on long hard shots. So I'm still on the fence when it comes to deflection.

What I did notice is that the Cutec delivers more power and more spin than the Rhyno; I can draw easier and move the CB faster and make it travel a greater distance with less effort (both tested on the same butt).

The Ryno did improve after putting a hard tip on it but still not as good as the Cuetec with a soft tip. I'm going to change the tip on the Cuetec as well and continue testing and comparing them.

My biggest issue is that I still play better with the Predator 314-2 shafts that I have, and I have a lot of them... I'm more consistent, more accurate with pocketing the ball and better with CB control.

It's probably just a matter of getting used to CF, but I haven't played for over 10 years, so I'm kind of starting over, and I'm not sure it's a getting-used-to thing; maybe it's my stroke, and the 314-2 is more forgiving... Here comes the Revo. I've ordered a 12.9 Revo to see if the shaft thickness will make a difference for me; the 12.5 CF shafts do feel a bit thin in my hand. We'll see when it gets here.

I'll be happy with a CF shaft that performs exactly like the 314-2 and just provides me the durability and consistency; I don't need it to play better and make me need to re-learn how to aim with side spin.

Another reason for getting another shaft is that the second Rhyno shaft that I got has a 5/16x14 joint (I did get the oversized one), but it doesn't fit all my butts with this joint.

All these fit and finish issues do make me stay away from cheap CF shafts. It might work fine if you buy a full cue with its shaft, but I wouldn't spend a dime anymore on those shafts to try to fit them on my cues, and I don't need another cue...
Click to expand...
no shaft can impart more spin than another. tip offset is what determines spin. i've played both a Cynergy and a Rhino and the only difference i could tell was the sound. Deflection was so close it was a non-factor. no idea what 'more forgiving' means in a pool cue. i think you overthink this stuff.
 
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