After playing with Mezz for a while now and being fortunate to own all the types of Mezz shafts. I`m going to atempt to sum up my experiences with the different shafts.
I`m going to start with the break shafts.
Mezz makes 3 different ones:
1. Deep Impact
2. Deep Impact Pro R
3. Deep Impact Pro H
The Deep Impact is a stiff tapered Maple shaft with a bakelite ferrule, it comes with the Mezz Sonic tip. Tip diameter is 13mm.
This is a great break shaft, the stiff taper transfers lots of energy to the CB.
The Deep Impact Pro R is a maple shaft with a ash wood core. It has a G10 ferrule and uses the Mezz sonic tip.
The tip diameter is 13mm and the taper is the same as for the Deep Impact shaft.
The ash core makes the shaft slightly heavier than the Deep Impact shaft. Mine weights about 4.4oz while the Deep Impact weights 4.2oz
The shaft is stiffer than the regular Deep Impact and delivers more energy, yet the shaft still has some flex.
The Deep Impact Pro H has a Massaranduba core, other than that it`s excactly the same spec as the Deep Impact Pro R shaft. The Massaranduba wood is much denser, my shaft weights just over 5.3oz!
This shaft does not bend at all when you break, so you get maximum power transfer.
Personally I use a SVB type break and I find the "H" shaft actually a bit too stiff for that type of break, so I prefer the "R" shaft.
If you have a very accurate break and have more of the Johnny Archer type of break, the "H" shaft might work better.
For a novice player, the regular Deep Impact shaft is more than good enough.
Now to the Mezz playing shafts:
All shafts I tested is 30" long and uses the Mezz United Joint.
WX/D700: This is the shaft that most Mezz cues comes with, it has a relatively long taper, regular length Nylon ferrule and a 12.5mm tip diameter. The ones I have owned or played with have all had very nice tight grain and a weight just shy of 4oz.
Mezz cals the front end technology ISS and the shaft is indeed a Low Deflection shaft.
It deflects a little less than a 314/2 shaft, but feels like a solid maple shaft.
I find that this shaft works best with a Soft or Medium hardness tip.
Hybrid Alpha: This is Mezz biggest tip diameter shaft, mine measures excactely 12.8mm and weights almost 4.2oz.
It uses the Mezz Hybrid Carbon Core (HCC) technology. The taper is more conical than the other Mezz shafts.
This shaft is stiff! so I find that a nice Soft tip like Zan works best. For me the shaft is too thick and there is not enough flex in the shaft. The HCC technology transfers energy very efficient, I tend to over run position, especially on draw shot with this shaft.
Hybrid Pro II: Mezz top of the line shaft. 12.5mm tip diameter, weights around 4oz and uses the HCC technology, but the taper is much more comfortable (quite like the WX700) This shaft also works best with a Soft tip. Energy transfer is great due to the HCC technology. The shaft deflects about the same as a 314/2 shaft. A great, but quite stiff shaft.
WX900: The newest Mezz shaft, Short ferrule, long taper and 12mm tip diameter.
Deflection is between Z2 and 314/2, but the shaft has the feel of a solid maple shaft.
This is my favourite Mezz shaft. The weight is around 3.8, 3.9oz
Works well with both Soft and Medium tips.
Looking at the Mezz site, I see most Euro and American players use either WX700 or WX900, while the Hybrid Pro II and Hybrid Alpha seems to be favoured in Asia.
Why this is, I don`t know. Maybe tables in Asia play slower, so they need the increased power from the HCC technology?
Other shafts I have tried includes: Z2, 314/2, i2, i3, OB 1, 2, Classic, Pro, Vikore, Lucasi Hybrid, Tiger Pro, Pro X and regular maple shafts from various cue makers.
These shafts are tested in all kinds of configurations, so it`s harder to make direct comparisons.
All the Mezz shafts are tested on my Mezz and Exceed cues, all with the United joint.
I have tried some of the shafts with the Mezz Wavy joint and I honestly can`t feel much of a difference.
I`m going to start with the break shafts.
Mezz makes 3 different ones:
1. Deep Impact
2. Deep Impact Pro R
3. Deep Impact Pro H
The Deep Impact is a stiff tapered Maple shaft with a bakelite ferrule, it comes with the Mezz Sonic tip. Tip diameter is 13mm.
This is a great break shaft, the stiff taper transfers lots of energy to the CB.
The Deep Impact Pro R is a maple shaft with a ash wood core. It has a G10 ferrule and uses the Mezz sonic tip.
The tip diameter is 13mm and the taper is the same as for the Deep Impact shaft.
The ash core makes the shaft slightly heavier than the Deep Impact shaft. Mine weights about 4.4oz while the Deep Impact weights 4.2oz
The shaft is stiffer than the regular Deep Impact and delivers more energy, yet the shaft still has some flex.
The Deep Impact Pro H has a Massaranduba core, other than that it`s excactly the same spec as the Deep Impact Pro R shaft. The Massaranduba wood is much denser, my shaft weights just over 5.3oz!
This shaft does not bend at all when you break, so you get maximum power transfer.
Personally I use a SVB type break and I find the "H" shaft actually a bit too stiff for that type of break, so I prefer the "R" shaft.
If you have a very accurate break and have more of the Johnny Archer type of break, the "H" shaft might work better.
For a novice player, the regular Deep Impact shaft is more than good enough.
Now to the Mezz playing shafts:
All shafts I tested is 30" long and uses the Mezz United Joint.
WX/D700: This is the shaft that most Mezz cues comes with, it has a relatively long taper, regular length Nylon ferrule and a 12.5mm tip diameter. The ones I have owned or played with have all had very nice tight grain and a weight just shy of 4oz.
Mezz cals the front end technology ISS and the shaft is indeed a Low Deflection shaft.
It deflects a little less than a 314/2 shaft, but feels like a solid maple shaft.
I find that this shaft works best with a Soft or Medium hardness tip.
Hybrid Alpha: This is Mezz biggest tip diameter shaft, mine measures excactely 12.8mm and weights almost 4.2oz.
It uses the Mezz Hybrid Carbon Core (HCC) technology. The taper is more conical than the other Mezz shafts.
This shaft is stiff! so I find that a nice Soft tip like Zan works best. For me the shaft is too thick and there is not enough flex in the shaft. The HCC technology transfers energy very efficient, I tend to over run position, especially on draw shot with this shaft.
Hybrid Pro II: Mezz top of the line shaft. 12.5mm tip diameter, weights around 4oz and uses the HCC technology, but the taper is much more comfortable (quite like the WX700) This shaft also works best with a Soft tip. Energy transfer is great due to the HCC technology. The shaft deflects about the same as a 314/2 shaft. A great, but quite stiff shaft.
WX900: The newest Mezz shaft, Short ferrule, long taper and 12mm tip diameter.
Deflection is between Z2 and 314/2, but the shaft has the feel of a solid maple shaft.
This is my favourite Mezz shaft. The weight is around 3.8, 3.9oz
Works well with both Soft and Medium tips.
Looking at the Mezz site, I see most Euro and American players use either WX700 or WX900, while the Hybrid Pro II and Hybrid Alpha seems to be favoured in Asia.
Why this is, I don`t know. Maybe tables in Asia play slower, so they need the increased power from the HCC technology?
Other shafts I have tried includes: Z2, 314/2, i2, i3, OB 1, 2, Classic, Pro, Vikore, Lucasi Hybrid, Tiger Pro, Pro X and regular maple shafts from various cue makers.
These shafts are tested in all kinds of configurations, so it`s harder to make direct comparisons.
All the Mezz shafts are tested on my Mezz and Exceed cues, all with the United joint.
I have tried some of the shafts with the Mezz Wavy joint and I honestly can`t feel much of a difference.
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