Are low deflection shafts really a good thing?

Women's Underwear

j2pac said:
" If he thinks he's pitching better because he's wearing women's underwear, then, he's pitching better because he's wearing womens underwear."

So are you saying to try playing pool while wearing women's underwear and see if you play better? :grin:
 
imax said:
So are you saying to try playing pool while wearing women's underwear and see if you play better? :grin:

DOESN'T WORK......:cool:

NOW ONTO THE ACTUAL QUESTION....... I REALLY PREFER A LOW DEFLECTION SHAFT OVER STANDARD MAPLE. I WILL ALSO SAY IT HAS TO BE A GOOD LOW DEFLECTION SHAFT, NOT JUST ANY SHAFT WILL DO. I WENT THROUGH ABOUT 40 PREDATOR ORIGINAL 314 SHAFTS BEFORE I PICKED THE 6 THAT I HAD MATCHED TO MY PLAYING CUE.

I'M NOT A GREAT PLAYER BY ANY MEANS, BUT IF IT MAKES IT EASIER TO POCKET, AND EASIER TO MOVE THE CB, ISN'T THAT A GOOD THING? I'D RATHER MAKE BALLS THEM MISS THEM, IT MAKES THE GAME MORE FUN.

I WILL ALSO SAY THAT I HAVE HAD SOME STANDARD MAPLE SHAFTS THAT ALSO HAD VERY VERY LOW DEFLECTION, SO IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO WITHOUT THE TECHNOLOGY/HYPE. I'VE ALSO KEPT THOSE SHAFTS WHEN RESELLING THOSE CUES. (CAN'T EVER HAVE TOO MANY GREAT SHAFTS)

I CAN ALSO SAY........ THAT NOW THAT I AM ADJUSTED TO LOW DEFLECTION, IF I PICK UP A CUE WITH HIGH DEFLECTION, I CAN'T MAKE A BALL, AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE ME WEEKS TO LEARN HOW TO ADJUST BACK TO A REGULAR SHAFT.

MARCUS<---LOVES HIS ORIGINAL 314'S
 
I bought a Predator Z about a year ago, and I can honestly say my game has definitely improved. But, my question is what have I sacrificed by using this shaft. I found it much easier to pocket balls and put that extra spin on the ball. But, when I've gone to a conventional cue I literally can't hardly make a ball. So have I really helped myself in going with this product? Has anybody else experience the same. Also, I can't hardly convince myself to buy another cue unless it has the same joint that my shaft will work on. Or have I just become a LOW DEFLECTION JUNKIE!

It's all a matter of getting used to something and sticking with it....
If you play good with a low deflection shaft then why change?
You will need good fundamentals and stroke in order to improve regardless of the shaft you are using.... The only difference is in the aiming point when applying side spin. Take any shaft with the same taper, flexibility and diameter of the Z shaft and you'll get the same action from it.... deflection or squirt is only something that happens with side spin!!!

Some people will tell you that a one piece maple shaft feels better, IMO it all BS.... it is what you are used to that feels better!! I've been playing with the Predator 314 shafts for 10 years, I've tried other low deflection shafts and I got a bunch of regular shafts and guess what I think feels better...
 
after you get used to playing with both that adjustment time is a few hours. it won't be 100% but you'll be able to do enough to play. i've switched from LD shafts to standard maple shafts and after all the bs is said and done as long as you're adjusted to it you'll be able to do the same things with just about what ever. pick what ever makes it easier for you and stick to it. the more adjusted to it you become the less it'll matter what it is
 
leehayes said:
I think the jist of the question was regarding laminated shafts just using the term low deflection.
No, the question was about low deflection shafts, period. Nobody until you mentioned anything about laminated shafts. Low deflection isn't affected significantly by the laminations.

Fred
 
pros and cons of low-squirt cues

bankshot76 said:
I bought a Predator Z about a year ago, and I can honestly say my game has definitely improved. But, my question is what have I sacrificed by using this shaft. I found it much easier to pocket balls and put that extra spin on the ball. But, when I've gone to a conventional cue I literally can't hardly make a ball. So have I really helped myself in going with this product? Has anybody else experience the same. Also, I can't hardly convince myself to buy another cue unless it has the same joint that my shaft will work on. Or have I just become a LOW DEFLECTION JUNKIE!
FYI, you can find detailed answers to these and other questions concerning low-squirt cues here:


Regards,
Dave
 
Cornerman said:
No, the question was about low deflection shafts, period. Nobody until you mentioned anything about laminated shafts. Low deflection isn't affected significantly by the laminations.

Fred

Actually fred the guy who started the thread was talking specifically about a z shaft...that is a laminated shaft.
 
I think that this subject was covered off in this thread already.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=89627
Having said that, despite the argument you'll get from others, I still think that the switch from predator to a standard maple shaft isn't that hard. You might have to be a bit more fluid with a standard Non-LD shaft, but it doesn't mean you can't make the cue do what you want it to. Right now, I have three catagories of cue: Predator (LD), Smart Shaft, incl Tiger Ultra (MD) and Micarta/Maple Standards (RD). All are what you might call LD, but there is a difference between them. The key is that the difference is very slight, making transition easier.

tim
 
leehayes said:
Actually fred the guy who started the thread was talking specifically about a z shaft...that is a laminated shaft.
... but a Z shaft is not what many people think of as a "lamination," with thin, flat sheets (e.g., the Meucci laminated shafts). I don't think most people would describe gluing together radial pie-shaped segments to form a cylinder as lamination; but, as we have seen, definitions change with usage (e.g., with "English").

Regards,
Dave
 
dr_dave said:
... but a Z shaft is not what many people think of as a "lamination," with thin, flat sheets (e.g., the Meucci laminated shafts). I don't think most people would describe gluing together radial pie-shaped segments to form a cylinder as lamination; but, as we have seen, definitions change with usage (e.g., with "English").

Regards,
Dave

My error then....I have always heard predator cues referred to as laminated. But then maybe I assumed something here.
 
Shafts for breaking

Not to thread jack; however, while the doctor is in the house, I have a question for him. His article/link referenced above states that he likes the J&J Break Jump Cue. If cost were of no concern, would the J&J Break Jump Cue be a better choice than a T3 or BK2 breakshaft for breaking? I realize personal preference comes into play. I would like to hear opinions about shaft construction?
 
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leehayes said:
Actually fred the guy who started the thread was talking specifically about a z shaft...that is a laminated shaft.
No, he was specifically talking about low deflection (aka squirt) and whether low deflection shafts are really a good thing (hence, the title of the thread).

Whether he personally uses a Z shaft was a side note. Whether the Z shaft is laminated, pie spliced, or ground up pulp glued back together is inconsequential to the thread. If there's some confusion, you may want to revisit the million "low deflection" threads.

Fred
 
Cornerman said:
No, he was specifically talking about low deflection (aka squirt) and whether low deflection shafts are really a good thing (hence, the title of the thread).

Whether he personally uses a Z shaft was a side note. Whether the Z shaft is laminated, pie spliced, or ground up pulp glued back together is inconsequential to the thread. If there's some confusion, you may want to revisit the million "low deflection" threads.

Fred

No need to be a jerk Fred. This is a friendly forum.
 
leehayes said:
No need to be a jerk Fred. This is a friendly forum.
Yes. Of course. No need to be a jerk. Must be friendly. Friendly forum. Yes.

Fred <~~~ needs to be shown where he was a jerk... this time
 
spread the love

Cornerman said:
Yes. Of course. No need to be a jerk. Must be friendly. Friendly forum. Yes.

Fred <~~~ needs to be shown where he was a jerk... this time
I wish we were all in a physical room together ... I would suggest a group hug.

Dave:grin-square:
 
Is low deflection a good thing

I have owned low deflection shafts predator and ob1. I spent hours trying to make myself adjust and couldn't.

I think because I learned on standard shafts and I am older I developed twists and grips in my stroke which gives me similar action before there were so called low deflection shafts.

Imo there is no such thing as a true low deflection shaft. Yes, if you have a level cue and put sidespin with a predator it will go straight but elevate slightly or a twitch here and there (long shots and kicking especially) the deflection is great.

Standard shafts have more deflection on some shots than low deflection shafts but less on other shots. Pool consists of many more strokes and angles than what is produced on a machine that only shows deflection one way- one stroke.

In my experience there are shots that are easier with a low deflection shaft and shots that are easier with a standard shaft. I am not putting down low deflection shafts, they just don't fit the strokes I have developed over the years.

I believe the learning curve to get to the same level of play would be much quicker with a low deflection shaft and if I was just starting to play that is what I would use.

As said in prior posts if this is what you choose stick with it. The problem you have switching sounds the same I have switching from a standard shaft.

I have seen some pros switch to them and never miss a beat. I don't know how they do it? Stick with what works and what your comfortable with, but for me, squirt is my friend.:smile:
 
I shoot with the McDermott I2. I started out using a standard McDermott cue with a radial pin. I like the feel of the hit. Every so often the end of the cue would vibrate on me. Maybe I hit the extreme edge or the verge of miscue, but I would get a vibration at the end of the shaft and I didn't like the feel of it even though I pocketed the ball. With the I2 I don't get any of that give. I figure out where I want to hit the CB and stroke through it, and never get that negative feedback. For me being a novice the feedback I get from the I2 is much more to my liking. I can put more spin on the ball than I know what to do with, yet... They say english is like salt too much is a bad thing, and with the I2 I can use all I need and then some.

:thumbup:
 
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