Anyone Use A Rhino Carbon Fiber Shaft?

[Paul Bell]

Spent a few hours with it. I have been playing with a defy 12 and the Rhino I ordered was a 12.5. It actually shot pretty well. Not a lot of difference between the McDermott Defy

McDermott designed Defy to be different from others' carbon fiber shafts (read Revo). It uses a carbon fiber that has a shock-absorbing material in it. McDermott advertises Defy's softer and quieter hit than others. McDermott's website states:

SmacWrap, originally designed for the aerospace industry, absorbs vibration and dampens noise resulting in a confident hit with a soft feel and quiet sound.​

​

Another less-helpful part of the shock-absorbing material, however, is it absorbs energy. Find YouTube videos of the lesser energy transferring efficiency of Defy versus other shafts in a bounce test on a pool table (Defy didn't bounce). Dr Dave and Bob Jewett use a version of the bounce test to determine energy transfer efficiency of cues.

Its not hype --- McDermott has made Defy different from other carbon fiber shafts.

Have you noticed any differences in Rhino versus Defy since your first few hours with them?

 

[skor]

My buddy has one and says he can't really tell the difference between the Rhino and the Revo.
YMMV

There is a difference and it’s noticeable

 

[JolietJames]

There is a difference and it’s noticeable

He has too many cues and plays with all of them. One man's opinion.
I will say that when I play with a CF shaft, the amount of deflection is affected by the smoothness of the stroke.
If I'm quick rather than smoothly accelerating, I get more deflection.

 

[skor]

He has too many cues and plays with all of them. One man's opinion.
I will say that when I play with a CF shaft, the amount of deflection is affected by the smoothness of the stroke.
If I'm quick rather than smoothly accelerating, I get more deflection.

I have a Rhino and a Revo and an SMO and a Cynergy.
I can tell the differences.
Look for some of my posts about the Rhino.

 

[JolietJames]

Its not hype --- McDermott has made Defy different from other carbon fiber shafts.

Have you noticed any differences in Rhino versus Defy since your first few hours with them?

I really wanted to try the Defy when it came out.
The sticky finish made it unusable for me so I abandoned the shaft after a couple shots.
Do they still put that gel coat-like finish on their shafts?

 

[Paul Bell]

Do they still put that gel coat-like finish on their shafts?

I don't know.
But they have changed the finish over the years. Here are posts from May 2023 at

4

Thread 'McDermott finally fixing the "tacky" defy problem... Hopefully.'

May 11, 2023

I purchased a defy shaft with a cue of the month. Regardless of what everyone says, I prefer the hit and feel over just about every shaft. Deflection difference is negligible when you get into the revo, cuetec, black, defy etc. shafts. That being said, the defy shaft became unusable because it was so effing tacky. I tried the slick cue stuff, pledge, 3 different gloves... It didn't matter. I chalked it up as a lose and bought a Jacoby Black. Which I really like but prefer the hit and feel of defy still.

Long story longer, I decided to email McDermott and told them that the shaft is...

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I decided to email McDermott and told them that the shaft is unusable do to the tackiness. They emailed me back saying that they can put a permanent graphene coating on it that helps significantly. Also attached a shipping label which is awesome. They said the coating will be on all defy shafts starting in June.

bought my Defy shaft back in January. I could never get it smooth. I sent it back to McDermott last week and got it back yesterday.
It's good now, it doesn't have the shiny finish. It looks like any other cf shaft and is quite slick.
Hopefully it stays that way.

 

[cigardave]

If you're undecided on Rhino carbon fiber shafts, watch Dr. Dave's video on YT that tests less expensive CF shafts like Rhino. I like mine.

 

[GideonF]

If you're undecided on Rhino carbon fiber shafts, watch Dr. Dave's video on YT that tests less expensive CF shafts like Rhino. I like mine.

My only issue with Dr Dave’s video is that he deliberately ignores hit, sound and feel. He does this on purpose because those are irrelevant to him. But those subjective things do matter to most players.

So what do you think on them?

 

[cigardave]

My only issue with Dr Dave’s video is that he deliberately ignores hit, sound and feel. He does this on purpose because those are irrelevant to him. But those subjective things do matter to most players.

So what do you think on them?

Not sure if he feels they're irrelevant... but rather, they're subjective as you pointed out. He's a test engineer and he loves to measure the quantitative characteristics of pocket billiards equipment and compare them to like equipment.

I like carbon fiber shafts for their low deflection and their durability... no dents/dings/etc. No need for a glove either. Just a simple swipe with a isopropyl alcohol-wetted paper towel and the shaft is super slick.

I'm not a big fan of the Crystal tips that Rhino shafts come with... so I swapped those out with some old Talisman Medium Pro-s that I had laying around. I like their more solid hit feedback better than the softer feedback of the Crystal medium tips.

 

[VTEC John]

I don't give deflection a thought with my Rhino + Kamui tip, but I'm away from home for 2-3 mos now playing with a wood shaft and I have to compensate for deflection.