A Tale of Two OB-2s....One Is Not Like The Other

mosconiac

mosconiac

Job+Wife+Child=No Stroke
Silver Member
I am fortune enough to own two OB-2 shafts. I bought the first one used with the intent of giving it to my wife if I didn't like it. Sorry Melissa, but you're stuck with the hand-me-down 314. :D My second OB-2 was delivered directly from OB less than 2 weeks ago.

I am posting three pics of my two shafts. It's easy to see that the two shafts are VERY different. :eek:


Q1: Does anyone know if OB changed the formula midstream?

Q2: Were the first OB-2s just reworked OB-1s?


NOTE#1: The ferrule on the "old" shaft is longer just like the OB-1 ferrule. The "new" shaft has a very short ferrule like the Z2.

NOTE#2: The ferrule on the "old" shaft is just under 12-1/4 mm. The ferrule on the "new" shaft is 11-3/4 mm. An OB-1 is 12-3/4mm just like a 314.

NOTE#3: The tapers are totally different, the "old" OB-2 tapers down immediately after the joint and stays skinny all the way to the tip. The "new" OB-2 has a nearly straight taper from joint to tip.

NOTE#4: The weight of the "old" shaft is 3.62oz and the "new" shaft is 3.79oz (the thicker taper leads to more weight although the tip is smaller).

NOTE#5: The "old" shaft has the same logo as an OB-1. The "new" OB-2 has a new logo with "OB-2" proudly displayed. This new logo may signify the production change.

NOTE#6: I understand that I could call OB, but it is Easter weekend and I'd rather poll my buddies here on AZB on my day off instead of waiting until Monday. :thumbup:

04-09-09ComparisonofOB2s001.jpg


04-09-09ComparisonofOB2s003.jpg


04-09-09ComparisonofOB2s004.jpg
 
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I just bought a new OB 2 at the DCC back in Jan. and it looks like the one you have. The other one that is not marked OB 2 looks just like the OB 1 that i have. I hope this helps.
 
could it be possible when u bought the first one used that they could have sent u a regular ob-1.

because i had an ob-1 for my schon and that looks just like my ob-1
 
The first shaft is definitely thinner than an OB-1....I had before these. Other than that, it looks exactly the same as an OB-1...as you guys have pointed out.
 
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It is very possible that whoever sold you the used OB2 sanded down an OB1 to a thinner diameter and called it an OB2.

If OB did actually use overstocked OB1s for OB2s I am sure they would have labeled them OB2.
 
If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a duck.

Basically you're saying this:
"Hey I bought an OB-2 used, but it has an OB-1 ferrule, an OB-1 taper, the OB-1 logo, and happens to be taken down to precisely the minimum diameter an OB-1 shaft can safely go to."

Hmmm :)
 
your old 'OB2' is actually an OB-1, for several reasons. Like you pointed out, the ferrule, the taper, the tip diameter, the logo. One of the designs of the new OB-2 is that is has a smaller hole for the sound dampening foam, so it has more wood, and a slightly stiffer hit, and probably more weight.
One of the things you probably wouldnt have noticed is the 'grains' or in this case the orientation of the laminated wood pieces. If you look at the new ob2, you'll notice around the joint end, that all the glue lines for the laminants are almost equally apart, or very close together, while the old one varies distances. OB Cues switched over to the new grain pattern technique over a year ago, which means that your old 'ob2' was made before they started producing the real OB-2. I'll try to explain in diagrams later.
 
Mosconiac,

I think most of the replies are correct. The shaft on the left looks like an OB-1 that has been retapered to a smaller diameter. If you would like to send it to us, we can verify for sure, but it certainly looks that way.

Now, the differences between the OB-1 and the OB-2, other than the tip diameter, are on the inside. The 2 uses a smaller core. The reason for this is simple, wall thickness. On the OB-1 we recommend a minimum diameter of 12.25mm in order to keep the wall thickness substantial enough to hold up under the impacts of play. The OB-2 uses a smaller core throughout in order to maintain that consistent wall thickness with the smaller tip size. Of course, in the middle of the shaft where the outside diameters are pretty close to the same between the 2, the 2 has a thicker wall and is therefore a little stiffer.

Your OB shaft on the left appears to be an OB-1. If that is the case, and it is smaller than 12.25, then the wal thickness is down pretty low. Although we don't recommend it, I have seen many that were under 12mm and still holding up. These shafts also had the lowest squirt or deflection of any of our cue shafts due to the reduced mass from the thinner wall thickness.

We will be back in the office on Monday, feel free to call me if you have any questions.

I hope I have helped!


Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
 
Thanks for chiming in, Royce. Can't ask for more than hearing from the man himself!

It looks like I have an OB-1.5 :), but its OK...I still like the shaft. It seems to play fine. I'll just have to live with the fact that it may have a shortened life from being thinned down. It's a secondary shaft to my OB-2 anyway.

EDIT: I forgot to ask...do all OB-2s have the new logo?

I'll also take the opportunity to thank you for developing innovative & great playing products. Manufacturers such as yourselves are vital to the game...just like the first guys to make metal shafts for golfers.
 
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obgen1.jpg

First builds of OB Shafts.


obgen2.jpg

New builds of OB Shafts.

I may be wrong, Royce feel free to chime in on the pics and correct/comment on the accuracy of the diagram.
 
Thanks Hellfish, I can see how the second alignment would lessen the "feathers". Good illustration and good solution by OB.
 
I couldn't tell you what the marking was on mine since I ordered a partial and had it sent to Keith Kustom Kues to have the collar matched.

I would put the first as a prototype...but I am sure that was said already.
 
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tjlmbklr said:
Good theory but I think that would be impossible since the walls of the ferrule on the OB's are too thin for that to work.
Click to expand...

It's still possible to sand it down, dont think it could be a prototype. The taper sounds too similar to a OB-1 to be prototype, couldve just been modified OB-1 and sold to him as OB-2.
 
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