Age and Deflection

Mike Templeton

Mike Templeton

Confidence........
Silver Member
I'm over 50 now, and my game has suffered a little since a recent layoff. I wonder if I would do well to go with a low deflection shaft, or if it might be better to stick to a maple shaft since my reflexes and hand-eye coordination may not be what they once were.

I was curious to get the opinions of the board.

Mike
 
Mike Templeton said:
I'm over 50 now, and my game has suffered a little since a recent layoff. I wonder if I would do well to go with a low deflection shaft, or if it might be better to stick to a maple shaft since my reflexes and hand-eye coordination may not be what they once were.

I was curious to get the opinions of the board.

Mike
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My take on this Mike is to play with what you like. The shaft nor the cue is going to make any balls for you. That job is on you. You might consider getting your stroke analyzed on video by a qualified instructor in your area and work on your PSRs, eye pattern and mechanics. That may help more than the type of shaft you have on your cue.
 
I really think you need to try one out for yourself and see if you like it and if it suits your game. A lot of it depends on how often you apply english, how much english you apply and how you apply it.

They have a different feel to them for sure. I keep going back and forth and notice benefits and drawbacks of each.

if you have $160-$200 to spare, go for it, pick up a used one see if you like it and sell it if you don't. IMO, go with any predator or a mezz wd700.
 
I would say it depends on how good you were before the layoff. If you were a good player why not return to what you had? If you were not a good player might as well try a low deflection shaft.
 
I originally switched to a Predator 314 roughly 10 years ago because I really liked the taper and feel. All shafts play a bit different, so like any new cue it will take an adjustment period. Another benefit is that if something goes wrong, you can order another and it should play identically (almost). I've been playing with a z2 for a year and I really like it.
 
I bought a predator with a Z2 shaft and it took a lot to get used to. If I can play every day I will use the Predator shaft , otherwise it is too hard to control for me.
 
ld shaft

ok on the basis of eye hand coordination and other results of aging a low deflection shaft should make no difference. With a regular shaft you need to aim for a particular spot and hit it. With a low d shaft you need to aim for a different particular spot and hit it so no difference you will not have a larger hit area with either one.
 
I used to play fairly sporty in my teens and early twenties. Got married, stopped playing for 20 years. Got divorced and took the game back up. Biggest issues are eye sight and reflexes at my age (over 50).

MY take is that you can buy all the latest gear in the world, but the only thing that will make your game better is dedication, hard work, and lots of table time.

When I used to play golf 3 or 4 times a week I went an bought one of them big headed drivers with a graphite shaft. All it did was when I hit a bad shot, it just went farther out in the woods or in the road.:)
 
I started playing when I was about 45, switched to an LD shaft at 55 and never looked back. The technology is too good to ignore. In my opinion those who do not use it are simply unwilling to learn to use new tools as needed.
 
Here's What I've Found

Your age doesn't matter where you're at....I'm pushing 66 and my stroke has never beem better or more consistent and balls pocketed % is great. I use original shafts on all my cues which were made in the 80's & 90's by some great cue-makers.

Baloney on the low deflection shafts as a aid....play with what you've used all your life...your know what the deflection is by now on your cues and deflection is good once your master it. You can never spin the cue ball with a low deflection shaft like with an original manufactrer's shaft.

What's helped me is new eye glasses...made just for pool...yes...that's right...just for pool. My eye doctor figured out a precription to give me maximum clarity at approx 3' distance and up to 12' distance by combining my reading glass prescription with my distance prescription. I'm tellin you the result has been amazing and I've never seen the pool balls more clearly or sharply that I can ever recall.

It's the eyes....not the shaft.
 
Mike,

I quit playing for about 25 years. I make cues and when I started to play again I decided to start with the latest technology.

I use the low squirt Smartshaft that I designed. I really like it and would never go back to a standard shaft. It took a little while to get used to but now seems like an old friend.

I play golf also and am not using a wood club with wood shafts?

Bill Stroud
 
My opinion is that a low deflection shaft will help you. Now...I agree with the other posts that you can't expect a shaft to make up for practice and eyesight, but...deflection can cause you to miss a shot. These new LD shafts have so little deflection that even if you don't judge the squirt properly, you'll be close. With SOME regular shafts you really NEED to know your cue and be extremely good at calculating the deflection...which means putting in more time on the tables
a new LD shaft should let you enjoy the game more without stressing as much when u use English. Just my opinion. Didn't you say u just retired? You can play everyday now-problem solved!!!!!!! Lol
 
Mike Templeton said:
I'm over 50 now, and my game has suffered a little since a recent layoff. I wonder if I would do well to go with a low deflection shaft, or if it might be better to stick to a maple shaft since my reflexes and hand-eye coordination may not be what they once were.

I was curious to get the opinions of the board.

Mike
Click to expand...

Can you still pot long shots without applying any side spin? If no, then LD shafts will not help since you are not moving the cue on a straight line. They just do not exaggerate the problem. If yes, then LD shafts might help. Since you problem may be 1. bad timing, 2. ability of adjusting angle with high deflection shafts, 3. control your power when applying side spin. Or a combination of all the problems.

No matter what the causes are, I would suggest you try some LD shafts. Most players will benefit from them. Less left to right margin means more accuracy. We cannot deny that. With comparably high deflection shafts, a little off centre hit(unintentionally) can easily cause a miss.
 
~jj~ said:
They have a different feel to them for sure. I keep going back and forth and notice benefits and drawbacks of each.
Click to expand...

I switched to Predator shafts a few years ago and they've made a big improvement in my game. I agree with you that solid maple shafts are better on certain shots, but overall I like the Predator shaft as my main playing shaft.

James
 
Mike, I really feel like for an experienced player like yourself, there is very little difference in the ultimate performance of a LD shaft and a regular solid shaft. I definitely prefer the hit and feel of a natural shaft to a LD shaft.

As you may recall, I sold you the one LD shaft I liked enough to buy--the OB1 shaft.

Every shaft plays differently. Find something you like and feel comfortable with, and learn the nuances of that shaft.
 
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