Deflection aside, one main reason why I like cf shafts. It's not warped and resistant to dents, dings, etc...
Of these 3 CF shafts, which do you have or would purchase?
- Thread starter Shooter1
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If you have used wood for 50 years, you should look at the Becue Prime II shaft, most people who have used wood for a long time the number one complaint when going to CF is the shaft feels dead, what they mean is there is no feedback, the Prime II shaft has the perfect blend of feedback and transfer of power of Your stroke, CF shafts transfer power more efiiciently than MOST wooden shafts, the problem is you can't look at a wood shaft and tell if it's going to be a good one where good CF shafts are designed to transfer power more efiiciently, cheap CF shafts are tubes filled with foam, check out Becue's website and look at the technology section, their shafts are so smooth I haven't even played with a glove since last April, they even build near 13mm shafts if you like the feel of a bigger shaft, good luck in your CF shaft search, Becue billiard products are built in Italy.
100 % my opinion, too
After trying them all a couple years ago, I decided on the Cynergy, shaft to me it provided the best feel. the others felt dead. I run a HOW medium on it. They're the closest to original Moori tips Tin not foil, I have found. Just my .02
Bad_influence
New member
Every time i've done some research to buy a piece of equipment, and only took the decision just from what i found out on the internet, i was usually disappointed. The thing is, a pool cue is way to individual, and people are buying them, playing them and promoting them for completely different reasons, so most of the advice you get is either from personal experience, but you never know what was on peoples minds when they wrote their advice. . Or it is a bit biased. It is hard to speak the unbiased truth when you have to justify a $500 investment. Even if people are saying exactly what they felt, how do you now that would apply to your style? If i had a bad experience with a product and tell you about it, maybe the company has improved their quality control and the issue I had doesn't happen anymore. Or if I didn't like it because the shaft didn't fit my style or I didn't take enough time to figure it out, there is no way for you to know.
So I've not given up doing research online, and i sometimes buy stuff because I'm curious or because i fell for the advert or the hype. But I always try to find someone who will let me try his cue before I spend the money. Or I buy and sell with a little loss if it turns out its not for me.
So the bet advice i can give you, is not to spend a lot of money before you're sure. Or be prepared to sell what you bought and found out it doesn't suit you. But with an almost new revo shaft you shouldn't have any problems selling it for a fair price.
So I've not given up doing research online, and i sometimes buy stuff because I'm curious or because i fell for the advert or the hype. But I always try to find someone who will let me try his cue before I spend the money. Or I buy and sell with a little loss if it turns out its not for me.
So the bet advice i can give you, is not to spend a lot of money before you're sure. Or be prepared to sell what you bought and found out it doesn't suit you. But with an almost new revo shaft you shouldn't have any problems selling it for a fair price.
I haven't used a V5, but have tried the rest of the CF and a V4. I personally like the SMO the best, but you are somewhat limited in joint pin offerings.
For what you are looking for, I'd say you will probably like the Cynergy the best out of of those options for CF. I'd say you might like a McDermott Defy more, but only if it's third gen/newest.
The SMO wood looks interesting. I've got a JFlowers ambassador in one of my leagues. I'll have to see if he has one I can try out.
If you are around Central Texas, you can try out the options that I have.
For what you are looking for, I'd say you will probably like the Cynergy the best out of of those options for CF. I'd say you might like a McDermott Defy more, but only if it's third gen/newest.
The SMO wood looks interesting. I've got a JFlowers ambassador in one of my leagues. I'll have to see if he has one I can try out.
If you are around Central Texas, you can try out the options that I have.
Try the WSC (We Sell Cues) Jungle 12.5mm. The whole damn cue is under $300.00 (Currently $279.00), and according to Dr. Dave's testing, it has nearly identical deflection as the Revo.
WSC Jungle Carbon Pool Cue - Black https://share.google/HBf83lxqCk0QyfqVJ
I recently purchased a Konllen Maris, with 12.5mm shaft. Used code Josh at checkout. Purchased the cue for $252.00. Seems pretty decent so far...
I posted this in another forum, but some may find it interesting on this thread
Been using a wood shaft for the past 30 years and started using a low deflection wood shaft around 2021. First, it was the Mezz than Predator Vantage, love the hit and feel of the Vantage shaft. Around Sept 2025, I decided to try a carbon shaft as I got tired of fixing the small dings on the wood shaft, first it was a Rhino, hated the feel of the shaft as it has this high pitch sound. A few months after, I decided to get a Predator Revo, Predator Revo felt better, less "ping" on most shots. Been using Rhino most of the time as this is the shaft that I felt comfortable leaving at the locker at the pool room. after a year, I decided to try the Vantage shaft, to my surprise, I did not like the hit and feel of the shaft, it felt dead and lifeless....
edit: the Vantage shaft is a wood shaft by Predator
Been using a wood shaft for the past 30 years and started using a low deflection wood shaft around 2021. First, it was the Mezz than Predator Vantage, love the hit and feel of the Vantage shaft. Around Sept 2025, I decided to try a carbon shaft as I got tired of fixing the small dings on the wood shaft, first it was a Rhino, hated the feel of the shaft as it has this high pitch sound. A few months after, I decided to get a Predator Revo, Predator Revo felt better, less "ping" on most shots. Been using Rhino most of the time as this is the shaft that I felt comfortable leaving at the locker at the pool room. after a year, I decided to try the Vantage shaft, to my surprise, I did not like the hit and feel of the shaft, it felt dead and lifeless....
edit: the Vantage shaft is a wood shaft by Predator
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Ding resistant, not really, I tried a friends CF shaft, and it was dinged like a house cue. He is the type of player that would use his cue to get a ball by repeatedly tapping the ball.
That's either a really thin-walled CF shaft or he's beating the crap out of it.
I came from wood too, though not for 50 years, and that warm feel was the thing I was worried about losing when I tried carbon. Of your three, the Jacoby is the one that felt closest to wood to me — the V4 I hit with had a softer, fuller hit than the Cynergy, which felt a bit firmer and crisper in my hands. I have not hit the SMO, so I can't compare that one fairly. One thing I would add: the tip will change the feel as much as the shaft will. I moved from a super soft to a medium when I switched, and that took a lot of the hollow feeling away for me. If you can, try the Jacoby and the Cynergy back to back on your Schon before you buy — that is what made the choice clear for me, and at around 12.4 the Jacoby felt right.
The tip does change the feel significantly. Especially with breaking and follow shots.
Yeah, that's what I noticed too — the tip made more difference than I expected, especially on follow. Still figuring out which one suits me best on the break.
I find medium good enough for me for a decent break and can play with it with good enough with casual shots. The feel is normal for me personally.
Yeah, medium feels like the safe middle ground to me too. I still notice the tip most on follow, more than anywhere else. Do you break with that same setup, or do you switch to something else for the break?