aiming and deflection... for a newbie

[ddadams]

I'm pretty new when it comes to pool but have been taking it fairly serious (as far as wanting to get better and practicing).

Anyways I started with a house cue, obviously, then went to a McDermott with a G core and got used to that and loved it. Now I have a Josey custom with his regular shaft and am still getting used to it.

After really trying to understand deflection between the cues I do prefer the Josey 100% but am wondering on others opinions for shafts.


I feel like I would still prefer / should logically prefer something with even less deflection. Why? Because with just basic aiming I don't feel like you should have to adjust your angle when using severe english just because of deflection.. I feel like that defeats the purpose of aiming. In my opinion aiming where you're supposed to should be just that... Am I wrong?


Anyone care to guide me in the right path? Even though this is all subjective, I'm just asking for opinions. Afterall I don't know jack compared to probably 90% of you.


Are Keith's TT shafts lower deflection? Anyone have experience with a Josey custom and his regular vs a TT and vs a predator shaft he's tapered?


I really don't like the feel of a laminated shaft AT ALL in my bridges. Like, not even a little. I suppose a glove would fix this and am not objecting using one if this would help.


How about Sugartree cues and the standard shafts Eric uses for those? Yeah I'm new but I appreciate a lot of things in life that are made by hand and don't mind spending the money on a few cues to get something that feels perfect for me. Anyone have experience with a Josey and a sugartree? Comparisons as far as deflection?



Anything helps. Thanks for listening to me ramble.


Edit: the term for the type of aiming "system" I use is ghost ball / back of the ball aiming, maybe I should include that... I haven't looked at other styles or 'systems' as logically (be it flawed or not) this makes the most sense. For me.

 

[8pack]

I'm pretty new when it comes to pool but have been taking it fairly serious (as far as wanting to get better and practicing).

Anyways I started with a house cue, obviously, then went to a McDermott with a G core and got used to that and loved it. Now I have a Josey custom with his regular shaft and am still getting used to it.

After really trying to understand deflection between the cues I do prefer the Josey 100% but am wondering on others opinions for shafts.


I feel like I would still prefer / should logically prefer something with even less deflection. Why? Because with just basic aiming I don't feel like you should have to adjust your angle when using severe english just because of deflection.. I feel like that defeats the purpose of aiming. In my opinion aiming where you're supposed to should be just that... Am I wrong?


Anyone care to guide me in the right path? Even though this is all subjective, I'm just asking for opinions. Afterall I don't know jack compared to probably 90% of you.


Are Keith's TT shafts lower deflection? Anyone have experience with a Josey custom and his regular vs a TT and vs a predator shaft he's tapered?


I really don't like the feel of a laminated shaft AT ALL in my bridges. Like, not even a little. I suppose a glove would fix this and am not objecting using one if this would help.


How about Sugartree cues and the standard shafts Eric uses for those? Yeah I'm new but I appreciate a lot of things in life that are made by hand and don't mind spending the money on a few cues to get something that feels perfect for me. Anyone have experience with a Josey and a sugartree? Comparisons as far as deflection?



Anything helps. Thanks for listening to me ramble.


Edit: the term for the type of aiming "system" I use is ghost ball / back of the ball aiming, maybe I should include that... I haven't looked at other styles or 'systems' as logically (be it flawed or not) this makes the most sense. For me.

There is know way around deflection, ld shafts help but you will always have to deal with deflection.
Would be nice to be able to run a table and stay in the center of the cb
but it just cant be done.(not all the time).

Remember
When using center ball hits things will look more rite to be rite .
When going outside of center on either side things must look wrong to be rite.At least most of the time.

 

[ddadams]

There is know way around deflection, ld shafts help but you will always have to deal with deflection.
Would be nice to be able to run a table and stay in the center of the cb
but it just cant be done.(not all the time).

Remember
When using center ball hits things will look more rite to be rite .
When going outside of center on either side things must look wrong to be rite.At least most of the time.

You know, I've really struggled with this and I think something for me has been off as far as basic fundamentals with my aiming as I keep second guessing myself when it doesn't look right.

Guess what?

When I second guess myself to "correct" it and make it look right again... I always miss. It's never straight in anymore.

I think I need to just get past that as well.



Surely a LD shaft or a lower deflection shaft than what I'm using at the moment would help, at least minimally?

 

[8pack]

You know, I've really struggled with this and I think something for me has been off as far as basic fundamentals with my aiming as I keep second guessing myself when it doesn't look right.

Guess what?

When I second guess myself to "correct" it and make it look right again... I always miss. It's never straight in anymore.

I think I need to just get past that as well.



Surely a LD shaft or a lower deflection shaft than what I'm using at the moment would help, at least minimally?

The best thing you can do is drills .Practicing spinning shots in and also using inside english. Choose a angle repeat the shot at different speeds and at different distances.There's no way around it you have to know how to address the aiming line.Most of the time you will be thick or thin of it.

 

[ddadams]

The best thing you can do is drills .Practicing spinning shots in and also using inside english. Choose a angle repeat the shot at different speeds and at different distances.There's no way around it you have to know how to address the aiming line.Most of the time you will be thick or thin of it.

I figured as much :thumbup:

I guess it'll be a slight learning experience every time a new shaft or cue comes into play in the future then. Fun enough for me

I still kind of want to buy and try a TT and possibly perhaps a predator shaft. Maybe a sugartree cue in general as I really love Erics work, even if I won't play with it. Maybe it'll feel better for me. I dunno. I do need to start doing drills to establish an eye-deflection relationship with greater english shots regardless of any of this, though.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I don't feel like you should have to adjust your angle when using severe english just because of deflection...

You can't avoid coping with some cue ball deflection - every shaft produces some. Life is unfair.

I really don't like the feel of a laminated shaft AT ALL in my bridges.

Laminations don't have anything to do with reducing cue ball deflection.

pj
chgo

 

[iusedtoberich]

You should try a predator 314-2 or z-2 shaft, IMO. The reason I suggest this is they are considered the benchmark of the lowest deflection. Other low deflection shafts are compared to predator all the time.

I'm not stating they are the best, just that they are the benchmark of comparison.

Also, the predator shafts laminations are absolutely flawless in feel. You should never feel them through your bridge fingers.

 

[ddadams]

You should try a predator 314-2 or z-2 shaft, IMO. The reason I suggest this is they are considered the benchmark of the lowest deflection. Other low deflection shafts are compared to predator all the time.

I'm not stating they are the best, just that they are the benchmark of comparison.

Also, the predator shafts laminations are absolutely flawless in feel. You should never feel them through your bridge fingers.

I'm retarded. I had never seen one up close and assumed they were laminated all the way and felt like the really cheap graphite cues that sporting goods stores sold for like $15. The kind of feel where it just stuck to your fingers the whole time.



I just tried to find pictures and it looks like the lamination is right at the bottom of the shaft. That's the same as my Josey shaft.


Unless this is just a high gloss finish on the bottom and not lamination which is what it reminds me of.... Which it probably is now that I think about it.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I'I had never seen one up close and assumed they were laminated all the way and felt like the really cheap graphite cues that sporting goods stores sold for like $15. The kind of feel where it just stuck to your fingers the whole time.

You're misunderstanding what laminating is - it isn't adding an outer layer of some other material; it's making the shaft out of multiple pieces of wood glued (laminated) together - like plywood, for instance. It doesn't change the physical feel of the shaft at all.

pj
chgo

 

[ddadams]

You're misunderstanding what laminating is - it isn't adding an outer layer of some other material; it's making the shaft out of multiple pieces of wood glued (laminated) together - like plywood, for instance. It doesn't change the physical feel of the shaft at all.

pj
chgo

I had assumed it was like laminating a driver's license or anything paper LOL


Shows how new I am to everything.. :embarrassed2:

 

[BilliardsAbout]

DD:

Don't mistake the benefits of a low deflection shaft for the permanent benefits of a gentle hold on the cue stick, a near-level stick, adequate chalking between shots and the other things that greatly reduce deflection and enhance playability overall.

Better a good touch on an old house cue than banging away with a $500 Predator cue.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

DD:

Don't mistake the benefits of a low deflection shaft for the permanent benefits of a gentle hold on the cue stick, a near-level stick, adequate chalking between shots and the other things that greatly reduce deflection and enhance playability overall.

Better a good touch on an old house cue than banging away with a $500 Predator cue.

None of these things reduce deflection (squirt).

pj
chgo

 

[peteypooldude]

None of these things reduce deflection (squirt).

pj
chgo

The ld predator shaft doesn't REDUCE deflection at all or am I mis-reading? Just curious

 

[Yoda4962]

My opinion on what will help

It's my opinion that all these things can be solved and your game will take off when you get lessons from a pro. If this is at all possible, then do it.

Most amateur players would prefer to struggle for ten years, than pay a pro and benefit from their knowledge. Don't be one of those...!


Good luck

 

[PGHteacher]

....... a gentle hold on the cue stick, a near-level stick, adequate chalking between shots and the other things that greatly reduce deflection........

???????????????? what?

I know I removed some words and I have noted that with dots(periods), but it sure sounds like you are saying that a loose grip, a level cue and adequate chalking will reduce deflection.

 

[8pack]

???????????????? what?

I know I removed some words and I have noted that with dots(periods), but it sure sounds like you are saying that a loose grip, a level cue and adequate chalking will reduce deflection.

If your talking about the chalk,I have heard this to.Im not sure why maybe if the tip can grip the cb more is has less deflection.Not sure though.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

The ld predator shaft doesn't REDUCE deflection at all or am I mis-reading? Just curious

You must be misreading. Low deflection (LD) means reduced deflection.

To be clear, we're talking about cue ball deflection (squirt), not shaft deflection (flexibility).

pj
chgo

 

[Patrick Johnson]

...maybe if the tip can grip the cb more is has less deflection.

I don't think there are meaningful gradations of tip/ball "grip"; it's either a good hit with no significant tip/ball slippage or it's a miscue with catastrophic slippage - with nothing much between.

But I'm not real sure of this, so I hope Dr. Dave or Bob or somebody with actual knowledge will correct me.

pj
chgo

 

[peteypooldude]

You must be misreading. Low deflection (LD) means reduced deflection.

To be clear, we're talking about cue ball deflection (squirt), not shaft deflection (flexibility).

pj
chgo

It went over my head, I have always factored cb deflection or squirt into the equation . I never think about shaft deflection at all. I'm not sure I should start. Anyway thanks 4 the clarification

 

[claymont]

You're so off-base...you should be banned from posting

DD:

Don't mistake the benefits of a low deflection shaft for the permanent benefits of a gentle hold on the cue stick, a near-level stick, adequate chalking between shots and the other things that greatly reduce deflection and enhance playability overall.

Better a good touch on an old house cue than banging away with a $500 Predator cue.