Thanks to all for the feedback. From your opinions I am going to try the OB Classic---besides, it's AMERICAN MADE.
314 vs. OB Classic --- Deflection
- Thread starter Tennesseejoe
- Start date
That was TATE that got the Classic early for a trial-run. I had one on order that was due on 3/18, but they shipped early and I got it on 3/08.
Maniac
I just got back from the SBE with an OB Classic, a 314-2, and Mezz WD700.
Here are my initial findings.
Of the three, the 314-2 has the best taper for me. The cue really goes through my hands nicely. On inspection, I though the taper would have been pretty flexible, but it's actually pretty stiff.
The Mezz has very low squirt, noticeably lower (by the Aim & Pivot Method) than the other two. The other two are pretty close but my OB Classic has just slightly more squirt than the 314-2. I do have the fatter shaft for the OB Classic, so the thinner shaft would have lower squirt. I suspect it would be lower than my 314-2 (which isn't fat) but that's just a suspicion.
The OB Classic for me had the best feel from a sound and vibration point of view. Through most ranges of spin and speed, the hit sounded pretty close to equal for the OB Classic. The other two compartively start to ping differnently at different spins and speeds. That's not necessarily a bad or good thing. It just is.
All three certainly qualify for very low squirt. I have the most trouble shooting with the Mezz WD700 currently. It's squirt properties are so low that it does feel unnatural for me as of this moment. That's a pretty common phenomenon for someone like me. I have the best time shooting with the OB Classic, especially at contact. The whole shooting experience is pretty enjoyable with this shaft. And, as I said earlier, the 314-2 taper feels best through my hands, but doesn't match up at contact compared to the OB Classic. Each has its strength.
I also was breaking with all three. The 314-2 was the best breaker in my hands. YMMV, of course as is true with all of this post.
Fred <~~~ thumbs way up for the OB Classic
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Fred,
Glad you like it. We just got in 3 more Classic shafts and I am pleased with the consistency - they're all identical.
I just got an OB break shaft (with the Samsara tip) to fit my X-breaker. It's more flexible than the ultra stiff conventional, high squirt shaft that was on the X breaker. I'm getting a much better launch and more control.
I don't know if you've tried the OB break shaft yet, but I'm sold on it too. They are coming up with a "Classic" version of the break shaft - but to me it would be hard to beat their current break shaft. It took me about a week to get dialed in on it - now it's amazing when I have the timing and angle working. The shaft has a dampening effect - it doesn't give the feeling of harshness when breaking and the noise is relatively quiet.
Chris
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Stylez777
New member
I forgot to try out the OB classic when I was at the SBE. Kinda upset I didn't.
I did get to play around with a Predator 314-2 and I don't understand why so many people rave about it. I felt it was the worst shaft I ever hit with. Firstly on every shot I tried (center ball, top bottom side english) I felt like the shaft was a tuning fork it vibrated so much. I was really shocked because just before the show I had got a 314-2 partial I was going to get fitted for a spare butt and now I want to sell the shaft, that how much I disliked it.
I play with an OB-1 which does vibrate some but just feels so much better then a 314-2 (again to me). I cam from using a Tiger X Ultra shaft that had little to no vibration when I hit with it and that shaft played very well for me also. As for deflection properties I don't get too caught up in numbers since real world playability all 3 are probably very close.
I also tried the WD700 on a Mezz demo cue and man that thing hit sweet (again to me) I bought a Mezz cue with the WD700 shaft so the more I get to play with it the more I'll see if I like it better or the same as my OB-1. Though form what I hear and have been told by many people that the stiffest hitting LD shaft made is the Hybrid Pro II, I hear no other shaft hits as stiff as that one and it's deflection properties are very close to a Z2 shaft (also it's 12.5mm you don't have to go up to a 13mm to get a really stiff hit). I have not hit it myself so I don't know first hand. I want to get my hands on one to actually see for myself.
I did get to play around with a Predator 314-2 and I don't understand why so many people rave about it. I felt it was the worst shaft I ever hit with. Firstly on every shot I tried (center ball, top bottom side english) I felt like the shaft was a tuning fork it vibrated so much. I was really shocked because just before the show I had got a 314-2 partial I was going to get fitted for a spare butt and now I want to sell the shaft, that how much I disliked it.
I play with an OB-1 which does vibrate some but just feels so much better then a 314-2 (again to me). I cam from using a Tiger X Ultra shaft that had little to no vibration when I hit with it and that shaft played very well for me also. As for deflection properties I don't get too caught up in numbers since real world playability all 3 are probably very close.
I also tried the WD700 on a Mezz demo cue and man that thing hit sweet (again to me) I bought a Mezz cue with the WD700 shaft so the more I get to play with it the more I'll see if I like it better or the same as my OB-1. Though form what I hear and have been told by many people that the stiffest hitting LD shaft made is the Hybrid Pro II, I hear no other shaft hits as stiff as that one and it's deflection properties are very close to a Z2 shaft (also it's 12.5mm you don't have to go up to a 13mm to get a really stiff hit). I have not hit it myself so I don't know first hand. I want to get my hands on one to actually see for myself.
i play with the hp2 shaft and also own the wd700. deflection wise mezz says hp2 is lower, but i can't really tell the difference compared to the wd700. they are both pretty low. hp2 is stiffer though, it is wonderful!
i tested out my ob classic some more tonight and it definitely deflects noticeably more than the ob-1 and the 314-2. some people on here say the ob classic deflects the same as ob-1, but in my testing i was a bit disappointed in terms of LD performance. i expected a tad more deflection because when you sub a plastic ferrule for wood, it is always going to weigh more and thus more deflection, but i was hoping the increase would be very minimal. perhaps there is some variation between the shafts or mine is defective in some way. i was actually thinking of machining off the pad in my lathe to check if the shaft really was cored with the balsa, the increased deflection is that noticeable. my ob classic is right in the middle between an ob-1/314-2 and a regular shaft. i tested one out at the OB booth at SBE and that shaft during brief testing seemed to have much lower deflection. need to investigate some more....
i tested out my ob classic some more tonight and it definitely deflects noticeably more than the ob-1 and the 314-2. some people on here say the ob classic deflects the same as ob-1, but in my testing i was a bit disappointed in terms of LD performance. i expected a tad more deflection because when you sub a plastic ferrule for wood, it is always going to weigh more and thus more deflection, but i was hoping the increase would be very minimal. perhaps there is some variation between the shafts or mine is defective in some way. i was actually thinking of machining off the pad in my lathe to check if the shaft really was cored with the balsa, the increased deflection is that noticeable. my ob classic is right in the middle between an ob-1/314-2 and a regular shaft. i tested one out at the OB booth at SBE and that shaft during brief testing seemed to have much lower deflection. need to investigate some more....
dru
Registered
Can you elaborate? In such a way that prevents me from going out and buying one asap if possible?
Well when I bought the ob2 at first I liked it but never really loved it. I always felt like it hit soft and I never liked the way it hit the ball. When I tried the Classic Pro I felt the whole stroke from start to finish. It felt more natural and seems to me like it has as much if not more control. As far as squirt is concerned I would honestly guess its about even although I think the classic pro has less. But I dont have both shafts in my case one is with Tommy Gedris getting a matching ring put on it. Hope this helps you, if any other questions feel free to ask.
Chris,
Does the OB break shaft jump as well as the X-breaker shaft? I have on of the 1st Hillbilly models and it jumps really, really well. I like the jumping better than the breaking.
Thanks for sharing.
Dave
I don't think the OB break shaft is even intended for jumping. It's damn good for breaking, though.
For jumping, X-Breaker is fantastic. Sometimes I wish I hadn't sold mine.
Dave,
No because it has a leather tip. It's a super hard leather tip, but phenolic gets the ball airborne better. It does jump but not as effortless as the orifginal X Breaker did. I would say it jumps about as good as a Stealth AT-1 with a leather tip.
I don't know if you remember the X Jumper, but I had one and I saved the shaft - ash with a phenolic tip. I didn't like the handle. When I jump I use the shaft from that with the long part of the butt of the X breaker - now that's a jump cue!
I've given up on jump/break combination cues - too much of a compromise.
Chris
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The OB Classic is averaging 3.9 ounces for a finished 29" length with a Radial insert. Typical 314-2's are in the 3.5 - 3.6 ounce range.
The additional weight of the shaft is obvious to me.
Chris
314 vs. OB Classic---Deflection
I have a OB Classic shaft (4.0 oz.) coupled with an OB cue butt 108 model (15.1 oz.) with a 5/16 X 14 joint. It plays great! AND (IMHO) is perfectly balanced...it seems to just float in my hands!
I have a OB Classic shaft (4.0 oz.) coupled with an OB cue butt 108 model (15.1 oz.) with a 5/16 X 14 joint. It plays great! AND (IMHO) is perfectly balanced...it seems to just float in my hands!