The hybrid slim is one of the stiffest playing tapers I've used. It's like a Schuler pro taper. Coke bottle. I can see why Thorsten likes it. Great for 14.1. There is NO LD shaft that even compares to it, in regards to how it feels.
Thoughts on Lucasi Hybrid and other mid range cues?
- Thread starter Kimmo H.
- Start date
The hybrid slim is one of the stiffest playing tapers I've used. It's like a Schuler pro taper. Coke bottle. I can see why Thorsten likes it. Great for 14.1. There is NO LD shaft that even compares to it, in regards to how it feels.
last i knew, Thorsten does not use the slim, he uses the regular hybrid turned down to 12.2-12.4 (depending on whether you believe him, or the people at Cue & Case).
I've been playing with a Lucas Hybrid now for a couple of years. I chose it because its a reasonably priced LD shaft with an (almost) normal sized tip. Also I do prefer the rubber grip to either cloth or naked.
Did some side by side testing for deflection with a friend who is a "shaft-a-holic" and the 12.75 Lucasi deflects a similar amount to a Predator 314, although doing a true comparison was a bit tricky due to the different tip diameter. I don't remember which version of the 314 it was, but it was definitely closer to that than the 'Z2,' Vantage, or Tiger.
Had an issue with the weight bolt coming loose and making noise, but just popped the rubber bumper off and tightened it up with a hex wrench. No problems since.
Did some side by side testing for deflection with a friend who is a "shaft-a-holic" and the 12.75 Lucasi deflects a similar amount to a Predator 314, although doing a true comparison was a bit tricky due to the different tip diameter. I don't remember which version of the 314 it was, but it was definitely closer to that than the 'Z2,' Vantage, or Tiger.
Had an issue with the weight bolt coming loose and making noise, but just popped the rubber bumper off and tightened it up with a hex wrench. No problems since.
You can't go wrong with a $180 Cuetec R360 for a knock-around cue. If my friends want to join in or I go to a bar, I take the Cuetec.. which stays in the truck and breaks/plays pretty sporty! I had my shaft turned down to 11.75 and it helped it feel more like my main player.
justinb386
Banned
I did not know that the Slim version has a stiff taper. I wonder why they call it a Slim, if it is not actually slim. I did not think the one I was using was the Slim version, because it had a very stiff taper on it. I just imagined that the Slim version would have a long slim taper. I really loved the Lucasi Hybrid shaft though. I really regret letting it go now (on a trade).
Slim refers to the smaller tip.
My 3C cue is 12mm. It's stiffer than any pool cue out there.
Snooker cues are 9-10mm. Stiff.
By stiff taper, I'm relatively sure he means the flex. I also have the slim and it is an 11.75mm tip but a STANDARD taper... a rare bird these days.
What does that mean? It means it's not a conical (or compound conical) taper but it's not a true pro taper either. Modern players would call it a 'short pro' taper. That is, it's the same diameter for about the first 7-8 inches before the taper increases. That is how most American cues used to be (aside from house cues which were conical) until people started to prefer the longer 'pro taper' which maintained constant diameter for the first 10-12 inches, nowadays up to 15 inches.
Yes it does hit very well and as long as you don't have a long closed bridge you don't mind that the 'pro taper' section is shorter than usual. It is relatively low deflection but for me it transfers energy just a bit too well to really dance the CB around in close without going with a very soft tip, which brings its own inconsistencies. But it is nice to be able to go under 12mm without dealing with a conical taper and only a few shafts offer that.
