I just don't like the InFuze Kielwood shaft

[skor]

I have this shaft for a few months now, I try to play with it here and there but I just can't get the hang of it.
I like the taper for a 12.5mm shaft, it doesn't feel like a noodle in my hand like other shafts with 12.5mm tip but with a longer taper.
I like how it looks, I don't like the tip I have on it but this I can fix... It's also a bit too heavy for my liking but I did find a couple butts in my collection that it balances nice and I can work with that.
I don't like its deflection characteristics and that's the BIG thing for me, every time I think I got it, I miss balls with English, switching shafts fix it on the spot.

I think that this is a big issue with "lower deflection" shafts, it's not just this one.
With standard shafts that deflect "normally" it's easier to compensate, and you do it the same for every shot, so once you learn the pivot point of the shaft, you're good to go.
With "real" low deflection shafts, they are also easy to tame, and you know that you only need to compensate for deflection on a hard shot which don't come up that often (at least on the tables that I play on) or when elevating the cue which in those cases it's better not to apply any English at all... so 99% of the shots, just stay parallel to the line of the shot and your OK. but those "lower deflection" shafts are not here or there...

For me, the reference point for low deflection shaft is the Predator 314 shaft (which I still like to pick up here and there). anything that deflects more, is just crap, a waste of money and the guessing game is endless, maybe not and issue with 5 inch pockets on a forgiving tables, but on a 9ft. with 4.5 inch pockets or under, with jumpy rails, just forget about it...
Most top brands CF shafts are as good as the 314 or better.
I think that the InFuze shaft is supposed to produce lower deflection than regular solid maple Kielwood shafts, maybe I'm wrong but I just do get how people like them... correct me if I'm wrong here. Or maybe regular Kielwood shafts just deflects as regular solid maple shafts.

Today I had a 3 hours session and used the Revo 12.9 shaft and it was just fine. after a break, I started a second session, this time with the InFuze shaft (on the same butt), I played with it for an hour and finally after missing to many shots I gave up and switched back to the Revo and my game got back on track.
I think that today was the last chance for this shaft. gonna pack it in one of my storage cases and let it join some of the other shafts I don't use... I feel that it's getting to be a waste of table time to try to get used to it. Too bad, it looks really nice on my Jacoby.

 

[Sir Scratchalot]

Just the opposite for me. I have 8 cues I play and play well with, all with shafts ranging from standard maple to Kielwood to carbon fiber. My best playing cue is a McDermott with the PureX inFUZED 12mm shaft. I love that shaft and find it a delight to play with. I also have 2 other Kielwoods I like a lot & a Sawdust carbon fiber that are near the same level as the PureX to my mind.

 

[jeephawk]

I'm not good enough to really notice the difference apparently, but just had my table recovered, new cushions and cloth, re-leveled and the guy who did it is a very accomplished player. He noticed my unassuming looking Pat Diveney Sneaky Pete with kielwood in the rack after he was done and asked if he could hit a few shots. He set up a bunch of shots, and some tough cuts, and he was visibly impressed with the low deflection of the shaft, so based on that I'd have to say it's pretty darn good, lol. It is my favorite cue and I can't explain why, so maybe that is an element.

 

[Burns]

I started playing pool again earlier this year after a long, 15 year hiatus. I'd never used LD shafts before, but figured it was a good time to switch and learn again on one of those. I went with a 12.4 Revo. It took a little to get used to, and I eventually found I got used to it, and got much of my old game back quickly. I realized that there were some things that a couldn't do as easily as I used to, like swerve shots, and short safeties. My ball potting was good, though. I didn't like the feel much, either. It was too sterile.

When I saw the Infuzed spliced Kielwood shafts, I thought it would be worth a try, as it would give me back the feel but still be very low deflection. It arrived this morning, and due to my main cue with the Revo being a 3/8-10 modified pin, I had to use the Infuzed on my old favorite player, a Varney custom with regular 3/8-10 pin. It's a 12.5mm shaft, btw. I immediately noticed a huge difference in energy transfer, which put a smile on my face for a while, hitting nice long draw shots and follows with much more spin and better speed control than the Revo. I was quickly humbled when I used some more extreme English, and found that the shaft isn't quite as low deflection as I'd hoped. It will take some getting used to, to adapt for the slightly higher deflection, but overall I prefer the feel. I only played with it for an hour today before my match, where I used my Revo, but I will put some hours on it this week and see how it goes. It could make for a good backup shaft, or it could become my preferred shaft. Time will tell, and I'll update when I reach a conclusion. It is very high quality, and Really looks beautiful. I got a great deal on it through a sponsored pro, so even if it doesn't work out, I may be able to recoup most of it if I were to sell it.

 

[skor]

When I saw the Infuzed spliced Kielwood shafts, I thought it would be worth a try, as it would give me back the feel but still be very low deflection. It arrived this morning, and due to my main cue with the Revo being a 3/8-10 modified pin, I had to use the Infuzed on my old favorite player, a Varney custom with regular 3/8-10 pin. It's a 12.5mm shaft, btw.

There are two types of InFuze shafts:
1. Spliced maple - 10 pieces of maple, similar to the Predator 314/Z shafts
2. Kielwood - this a solid piece of torrefied maple
If you got the spliced shaft then it's not kielwood or if you got the kielwood then it's not spliced.
Both shafts are cored with a carbon fiber rod at the front end of the shafts, that's the idea behind the InFuze

I wonder why the shaft doesn't fit your modified 3/8x10 cue, most after market shafts tap the threads in a way that it would fit. Have you tried to screw it on the other butt?
I have a Rhino CF shaft with 3/8x10 threads that fitted some of my 3/8x10 modified butts but some didn't fit, I tapped it myself to get it looser and it fits them all now.

What's the weight of the shaft?
I got mine with 5/16x14 joint and it's 4.3oz which is too heavy for me

 

[boogieman]

I tried one at the Brunswick display area. I think it hit as good as anything, though I only gave it 5 shots. I was not a fan of the soft tip that was on it, I think with a milkdud it would tune right up.

 

[Burns]

There are two types of InFuze shafts:
1. Spliced maple - 10 pieces of maple, similar to the Predator 314/Z shafts
2. Kielwood - this a solid piece of torrefied maple
If you got the spliced shaft then it's not kielwood or if you got the kielwood then it's not spliced.
Both shafts are cored with a carbon fiber rod at the front end of the shafts, that's the idea behind the InFuze

I wonder why the shaft doesn't fit your modified 3/8x10 cue, most after market shafts tap the threads in a way that it would fit. Have you tried to screw it on the other butt?
I have a Rhino CF shaft with 3/8x10 threads that fitted some of my 3/8x10 modified butts but some didn't fit, I tapped it myself to get it looser and it fits them all now.

What's the weight of the shaft?
I got mine with 5/16x14 joint and it's 4.3oz which is too heavy for me

It is most definitely a 10pc spliced Kielwood shaft w/carbon core, not just the regular maple It is tapped for 3/8-10, not the 3/8-10 modified pin. Some manufacturers make it so it works on both, others don't. It fits fine on my 3/8-10 jointed Varney cue, but not my modded pin cues. It's fine, I used it today for several hours on the Varney, and the combination is great. It came with a Kamui brown Medium tip. Took about an hour to get used to it, and it is much nicer to play with than the Revo. I may get another in the smaller diameter, too. I find the deflection to be almost as low, but not quite the same as the Revo. It's only in the most extreme use of English that I'll notice it, but it's just a slight adjustment. The way it worked for me today, I'll likely be keeping the Revo as the backup and getting this one tapped for the modified pin, which makes it work on both styles. One benefit that I didn't even consider is that a wood shaft is much more visible than a black CF shaft, and makes it much easier to sight shots when keeping my eyes on the object ball.

What type of shots are giving you trouble?

 

[skor]

It is most definitely a 10pc spliced Kielwood shaft w/carbon core, not just the regular maple It is tapped for 3/8-10, not the 3/8-10 modified pin. Some manufacturers make it so it works on both, others don't. It fits fine on my 3/8-10 jointed Varney cue, but not my modded pin cues. It's fine, I used it today for several hours on the Varney, and the combination is great. It came with a Kamui brown Medium tip. Took about an hour to get used to it, and it is much nicer to play with than the Revo. I may get another in the smaller diameter, too. I find the deflection to be almost as low, but not quite the same as the Revo. It's only in the most extreme use of English that I'll notice it, but it's just a slight adjustment. The way it worked for me today, I'll likely be keeping the Revo as the backup and getting this one tapped for the modified pin, which makes it work on both styles. One benefit that I didn't even consider is that a wood shaft is much more visible than a black CF shaft, and makes it much easier to sight shots when keeping my eyes on the object ball.

What type of shots are giving you trouble?
View attachment 868679View attachment 868680

this is a new shaft, wasn't around when I got mine. good to know.
I wonder if there is a difference in deflection performance compared to the one piece shaft.
The weight of your shaft is perfect! I wish mine was like it.
Enjoy it.

 

[Burns]

this is a new shaft, wasn't around when I got mine. good to know.
I wonder if there is a difference in deflection performance compared to the one piece shaft.
The weight of your shaft is perfect! I wish mine was like it.
Enjoy it.

Yeah, come to think of it, the pro I ordered it from had just posted a video using a prototype version of it at the time I ordered it. So it likely only came out a month or so ago. I would say the if a Revo is a 10/10 for Low Deflection, this is a 9. Very close. The taper is also really nice. I had tried the Predator Centro, and this one is closer to the Revo in terms of deflection. That's just my thoughts after 2-3hrs of play, so I'll update after maybe a month or so.

 

[JasonATX]

I wonder why the shaft doesn't fit your modified 3/8x10 cue, most after market shafts tap the threads in a way that it would fit. Have you tried to screw it on the other butt?

It's probably not deep enough to fit the length of the joint pin. Pretty sure I had to go to 38mm depth to fit my modified pin on a few shafts (SMO, Rhino, McD i2, etc).