I don't consider this a review as much as an opinion.
Over the past few years I have purchased and been given many shafts to test. Some have been returned, some have been kept, some are still used and some are sitting in the closet.
I get asked the question all of the time, "What is the best shaft to use?". The answer seems to be "Whatever, helps you do the job you are trying to do."
In recent years, I have migrated to OB Cue shafts and still continue to use them. Recently I went back to an original Mike Bender shaft which I have been playing quite well with.
Since I am trying to play better on a bar table, I have been experimenting with different shafts, like Steve Lomax's shafts and now Andar LD Shafts.
These shafts are little large in diameter than what I have been used to using. They are both 13 mm at the tip.
I haven't had a chance to test out Steve Lomax's shafts except at a recent tournament and I like what he has to offer.
Right now, I am playing with an Andar LD shaft. It's a hard rock Maple shaft with a hole drilled in the top of the shaft to offer some lower cue ball deflection. It does just that. While I don't think it has the lowest cue ball deflection properties of any shaft out there, it does and OUTSTANDING job on LD. It may seem that I like everything that I try out and from an inquisitive standpoint, I do.
The conclusion that I have come to is that each piece of equipment has special properties that are to be valued and the Andar LD shaft is a good shaft. While I have only played with it for three days, it is allowing me to bank better than ever. That could be due to the large tip diameter. The larger shaft size and slightly increased cue ball deflection (very slight) is something that I think I can get used to and will continue playing with this shaft.
One of our local good players has used the shaft for about an hour of play and likes it quite well.
I noticed what some cuemakers call a "sugar" blemish in the shaft, supposedly something that happens to some maple wood but I call it an distinguishing mark.
Otherwise the shaft is INCREDIBLY SMOOTH and I like the taper. Since I have measured the taper, I don't know how much of it is a straight taper and how much is conical. I think it leans a little more toward a pro taper than a conical taper.
What is really remarkable is the ability of the cuemaker to make an almost identical collared shaft from a photograph & specfied size for a Bender cue and a fit and finish that is hard to distinguish from the original shafts.
It has a 5th tip but I don't know what that is at the moment. :embarrassed2:
The ferrule is 11/16" long and seems to be made from a regular ferrule material.
The shafts are made in Indonesia. They are relatively inexpensive and you can order one and learn more about "AXIO's" cues by clicking here.
I am eager to try the shaft out in competitive circumstances. I might even go over to the Corner Pocket and spank Jamie Farrell with some heavy weight. :thumbup: ( or take one
)
Either way, I like to test out my equipment under competitive circumstances and it doesn't get any more competitive than playing against Louisiana's best pool player.
Over the past few years I have purchased and been given many shafts to test. Some have been returned, some have been kept, some are still used and some are sitting in the closet.
I get asked the question all of the time, "What is the best shaft to use?". The answer seems to be "Whatever, helps you do the job you are trying to do."
In recent years, I have migrated to OB Cue shafts and still continue to use them. Recently I went back to an original Mike Bender shaft which I have been playing quite well with.
Since I am trying to play better on a bar table, I have been experimenting with different shafts, like Steve Lomax's shafts and now Andar LD Shafts.
These shafts are little large in diameter than what I have been used to using. They are both 13 mm at the tip.
I haven't had a chance to test out Steve Lomax's shafts except at a recent tournament and I like what he has to offer.
Right now, I am playing with an Andar LD shaft. It's a hard rock Maple shaft with a hole drilled in the top of the shaft to offer some lower cue ball deflection. It does just that. While I don't think it has the lowest cue ball deflection properties of any shaft out there, it does and OUTSTANDING job on LD. It may seem that I like everything that I try out and from an inquisitive standpoint, I do.
The conclusion that I have come to is that each piece of equipment has special properties that are to be valued and the Andar LD shaft is a good shaft. While I have only played with it for three days, it is allowing me to bank better than ever. That could be due to the large tip diameter. The larger shaft size and slightly increased cue ball deflection (very slight) is something that I think I can get used to and will continue playing with this shaft.
One of our local good players has used the shaft for about an hour of play and likes it quite well.
I noticed what some cuemakers call a "sugar" blemish in the shaft, supposedly something that happens to some maple wood but I call it an distinguishing mark.
Otherwise the shaft is INCREDIBLY SMOOTH and I like the taper. Since I have measured the taper, I don't know how much of it is a straight taper and how much is conical. I think it leans a little more toward a pro taper than a conical taper.What is really remarkable is the ability of the cuemaker to make an almost identical collared shaft from a photograph & specfied size for a Bender cue and a fit and finish that is hard to distinguish from the original shafts.
It has a 5th tip but I don't know what that is at the moment. :embarrassed2:
The ferrule is 11/16" long and seems to be made from a regular ferrule material.
The shafts are made in Indonesia. They are relatively inexpensive and you can order one and learn more about "AXIO's" cues by clicking here.
I am eager to try the shaft out in competitive circumstances. I might even go over to the Corner Pocket and spank Jamie Farrell with some heavy weight. :thumbup: ( or take one
)Either way, I like to test out my equipment under competitive circumstances and it doesn't get any more competitive than playing against Louisiana's best pool player.