Are Shafts Overrated and too expensive

Samir_Sinanovic

Samir_Sinanovic

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I think that they are too expensive,and im wondering why are they around 300$-220$ new(Predator,Ob,Vikore Viking) I can see any reason for that price.They dont use any sort of materials that are expensive,or exotic that would cause price to get high,are they fooling us about "Low Deflection"?Is that main reason for sliced piece of maple wood with few rings and plastic parts to be 300$???

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Players Pure X or HXT.
Or a custom cuemakers shaft for about $200-240 is where the value is.
Or used.

I got 2 OB shafts for a trade I did with the OB guys at the BCA trade show, so can't complain about the price :-)
 
I bought a new Tiger Ultra X LD 29" shaft for $140.
I bought a new Tiger Ultra X LD 30" shaft for $220.

I really don't think 1" extra of wood/glue is an $80 difference, but I like the way the shaft plays and wanted a 30" shaft, so I paid for it.

A Mercedes-Benz does the same thing as a Toyota, but people don't buy Mercedes-Benz just because they have transportation needs.
 
DAVE_M said:
A Mercedes-Benz does the same thing as a Toyota, but people don't buy Mercedes-Benz just because they have transportation needs.
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That's like saying people buy certain brand shafts and pay more because of brand recognition rather than playability of the shaft
 
sebroy9 said:
That's like saying people buy certain brand shafts and pay more because of brand recognition rather than playability of the shaft
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Tried the LD's and went back to good old maple. Called Joss for an exact duplicate of my everyday Joss maple player shaft -$140. I'll stick with the maple. Besides I think Predator has evolved into a pure marketing company now not a pool company.
 
Shafts

Samir_Sinanovic said:
I think that they are too expensive,and im wondering why are they around 300$-220$ new(Predator,Ob,Vikore Viking) I can see any reason for that price.They dont use any sort of materials that are expensive,or exotic that would cause price to get high,are they fooling us about "Low Deflection"?Is that main reason for sliced piece of maple wood with few rings and plastic parts to be 300$???

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Your 100% correct, you should just make one yourself, because it really is as simple as you explained it.

That is if you have a lathe , a taper bar or a CNC or some way of tapering the shaft.
The boring bar or tap to make the threads in the shaft the dust control system,
a shop garage or spare bedroom to put all this stuff in.

A way to design and cut the strips of wood in pie shaped pieces or I guess you could laminate flat piece of wood together like Meucci or you could core the solid maple dowel and stuff graphite rod in there or silicone or foam or balsa wood.
So add a gun drill in and a good table and band saw a big air compressor in too.

Don't forget the trial and errors of which glues to use and warping problems laminates de-bonding, weak tenons and ferrules splitting.
 
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sebroy9 said:
I think they do.

They think the 300$ shaft is higher quality but we both know that's not the case.
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Correct :thumbup:

The reason I have a super fancy named Tiger LD shaft, is because I played with one and liked it. I've played with OB and Predator shafts and didn't like either, that's not to say they aren't worth it, but the people that buy it just because it's marketed as the best, is silly.
 
DAVE_M said:
Correct :thumbup:

The reason I have a super fancy named Tiger LD shaft, is because I played with one and liked it. I've played with OB and Predator shafts and didn't like either, that's not to say they aren't worth it, but the people that buy it just because it's marketed as the best, is silly.
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Yes, I would like to know the manufacturers cost of making a Z3 shaft and let everyone know the exact price it costs in factory to make. I bet that would open a lot of peoples eyes. Take a Nike shoe for example, you pay 250$ for a 10$ shoe.
 
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Everything's expensive.
I went to a local hot pillow joint the other evening and had the "Godzilla Special". It cost me twenty-five bucks, but what the hell, I did get a free cigar. :smile:
 
mortuarymike-nv said:
Your 100% correct, you should just make one yourself, because it really is as simple as you explained it.

That is if you have a lathe , a taper bar or a CNC or some way of tapering the shaft.
The boring bar or tap to make the threads in the shaft the dust control system,
a shop garage or spare bedroom to put all this stuff in.

A way to design and cut the strips of wood in pie shaped pieces or I guess you could laminate flat piece of wood together like Meucci or you could core the solid maple dowel and stuff graphite rod in there or silicone or foam or balsa wood.
So add a gun drill in and a good table and band saw a big air compressor in too.

Don't forget the trial and errors of which glues to use and warping problems laminates de-bonding, weak tenons and ferrules splitting.
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Most people do not understand this. I make pens. People ask how much they cost to make. I explain the kit and finishing materials run about $20-$50. My next line is it cost around $10,000 to fabricate....lathes, dust collector, $385 Trend face shield, tools, lights, benches, added a air conditioner to the garage/shop.
 
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DAVE_M said:
You really don't think people actually do that?
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Every frickin' time a local bar player buys a LD Shaft, the first thing
they do is make certain Everyone in the League sees the shaft and
knows how expensive it was.

Yes, many Fancy LD Shafts are purchased expressly for bragging rights.

In my 60+ yrs. of playing with all types of Shafts, I prefer Shafts made
from old, seasoned House Cues. Again, "It's the Indian, not the Arrow".
 
Worth is subjective. The market will dictate the price. If people are willing to pay those prices, then that's the value of the shaft. If someone doesn't like the price, they will purchase a less expensive shaft. Everyone goes home happy. Of course it could all be just the devaluation of the dollar.
 
I'm fine with shafts around $200 for custom or LD....but when they start getting up to $300 like the new Vantage shafts, I just can't see the value there. I spent $185 on my Jacoby and traded into my Tiger. Both are good shafts and I'm happy with them.

I have a Runde on order and I plan to try playing with the stock shafts for a few months, but I'll be hanging onto my Tiger as well so I have the option of going back to it.
 
Samir_Sinanovic said:
I think that they are too expensive,and im wondering why are they around 300$-220$ new(Predator,Ob,Vikore Viking) I can see any reason for that price.They dont use any sort of materials that are expensive,or exotic that would cause price to get high,are they fooling us about "Low Deflection"?Is that main reason for sliced piece of maple wood with few rings and plastic parts to be 300$???

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Low deflection shafts are way overpriced. I did pay $280.00 for my "Edge" made by Jacoby. I will never do it again. I got the "True" shaft from Samsara but the Edge has less deflection. You can get the Edge "Second" for a little less. It has some cosmetic flaws but is just as good as their firsts.
 
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