Carbon Fiber Shafts should be Banned

Minnesota Phat

Minnesota Phat

Active member
The other day I got a chance to shoot with one of these pieces of crap, and all I can say is: UGLY.

I always knew that they looked ugly, but they also sound truly awful. My pool-loving soul recoiled at the very first impact of the cue against the cue ball, and that horrendous hollow "plink" sound.

Carbon fiber shafts and phenolic break tips are the aluminum baseball bats of pool - sure, they perform well, but they look like crap, they sound like crap, and they are a sign of everything wrong with billiards in America.

In England they have respect for tradition, and great snooker players make a lot of $$$ using snooker cues made out of real wood - no gimmicks, no B.S., no eyesores, and no plinking pieces of carbon fiber garbage.

I'd rather shoot with a broomstick than with a carbon fiber shaft.

Carbon fiber shafts should be banned from every money game - agree or disagree?
 
td873 said:
I don’t like it so it should be banned is not a very persuasive argument.

I disagree. Technology impacts everything. Get on board or get left behind…

-td
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So do you think MLB should start using aluminum baseball bats? They look like crap and sound like crap, but hey, they last forever, and they make it easier to hit a baseball, right?
 
Minnesota Phat said:
The other day I got a chance to shoot with one of these pieces of crap, and all I can say is: UGLY.

I always knew that they looked ugly, but they also sound truly awful. My pool-loving soul recoiled at the very first impact of the cue against the cue ball, and that horrendous hollow "plink" sound.

Carbon fiber shafts and phenolic break tips are the aluminum baseball bats of pool - sure, they perform well, but they look like crap, they sound like crap, and they are a sign of everything wrong with billiards in America.

In England they have respect for tradition, and great snooker players make a lot of $$$ using snooker cues made out of real wood - no gimmicks, no B.S., no eyesores, and no plinking pieces of carbon fiber garbage.

I'd rather shoot with a broomstick than with a carbon fiber shaft.

Carbon fiber shafts should be banned from every money game - agree or disagree?
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I'd do better worrying about keeping my head clear and in the game rather than worrying about my opponent's equipment.
 
Minnesota Phat said:
The other day I got a chance to shoot with one of these pieces of crap, and all I can say is: UGLY.

I always knew that they looked ugly, but they also sound truly awful. My pool-loving soul recoiled at the very first impact of the cue against the cue ball, and that horrendous hollow "plink" sound.

Carbon fiber shafts and phenolic break tips are the aluminum baseball bats of pool - sure, they perform well, but they look like crap, they sound like crap, and they are a sign of everything wrong with billiards in America.

In England they have respect for tradition, and great snooker players make a lot of $$$ using snooker cues made out of real wood - no gimmicks, no B.S., no eyesores, and no plinking pieces of carbon fiber garbage.

I'd rather shoot with a broomstick than with a carbon fiber shaft.

Carbon fiber shafts should be banned from every money game - agree or disagree?
Click to expand...
Completely disagree. I shoot a Meucci with their Carbon Pro shaft, 12.25, and a McDermott with their Defy Shaft. Both are quiet, no "ping" and very solid hit. You do have to get used to the additional spin you can impart. What's wrong with a solid hitting, low deflection, super slick shaft that will never warp?

Don't like 'em? Don't use them. Looks are a matter of opinion. I think they look much better than "blued" maple shafts but I don't choose a shaft for looks. Not all CF shafts are created equal. The Meucci has the perfect hit in my opinion. The Defy has a filled core I believe. The Defy hits with no vibration at all and is coated with a finish that makes it like glass. I find the Meucci to be slicker with the natural CF.

If your complaints are looks and sound, why are you afraid to play against a CF shaft for money? Do you think they are an unfair advantage? You didn't mention that you hit the ball straighter or with more ability to control the cue ball so what's your problem? Tradition? Meet the future.
 
MajorMiscue said:
If your complaints are looks and sound, why are you afraid to play against a CF shaft for money? Do you think they are an unfair advantage? You didn't mention that you hit the ball straighter or with more ability to control the cue ball so what's your problem? Tradition? Meet the future.
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I'd lose against just about anyone using just about any kind of shaft - it's not about that - it's about the uglification of pool.

You're telling me that there's some carbon shaft that only looks ugly, and doesn't sound ugly? I'll believe that when I hear it.
 
Minnesota Phat said:
The other day I got a chance to shoot with one of these pieces of crap, and all I can say is: UGLY.

I always knew that they looked ugly, but they also sound truly awful. My pool-loving soul recoiled at the very first impact of the cue against the cue ball, and that horrendous hollow "plink" sound.

Carbon fiber shafts and phenolic break tips are the aluminum baseball bats of pool - sure, they perform well, but they look like crap, they sound like crap, and they are a sign of everything wrong with billiards in America.

In England they have respect for tradition, and great snooker players make a lot of $$$ using snooker cues made out of real wood - no gimmicks, no B.S., no eyesores, and no plinking pieces of carbon fiber garbage.

I'd rather shoot with a broomstick than with a carbon fiber shaft.

Carbon fiber shafts should be banned from every money game - agree or disagree?
Click to expand...
Broomsticks are ugly! They should be banned!
 
For the "get with the times" people - OK then, why do we bother with the outdated concept of having a human being use his or her own muscles to hit the cue ball?

Why don't we just have a machine-driven cue with a laser sight that is hooked up to an overhead camera?

Why even bother to have human competitors? We could just rig up a machine that shoots perfectly every time, and that will navigate itself around the table via a conveyor belt system.

Fully-automated pool is where it's at - robots can make far better shots than people can! Get with the times, people - holding a pool cue yourself is soooo 2021.
 
garczar said:
They said much the same thing when steel replaced hickory then again with cf shafts appeared in golf. CF does not make the game easier. Don't like it don't use but a ban is just ridiculous
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Would you also say that MLB should not ban aluminum baseball bats?
 
No
Minnesota Phat said:
Would you also say that MLB should not ban aluminum baseball bats?
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t even close to same thing. Even college modified the bats to get ball speed down. The reason alum. bats are banned in majors because they ARE a huge advantage. Pitchers would require a screen like in batting practice. Canseco hit a 600ft HR in high-school with aluminum. The comparison is as lame as the ban idea.
 
Minnesota Phat said:
Mask mandates, vax mandates, and farting in elevators.
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Farting in elevators is an art form.

One night I was working as supervisor in the Control Tower of a large international airport. I had a Wendy's chiliburger for lunch (Wendy's plain double with cheese disassembled and covered in Wendy's chili and some diced onions, sublime junk food). Then I was stuck in the tower for over 4 hours due to short staffing. I could feel the pressure building to the explosive point but managed to contain myself long enough to brief my relief and bolt for the stairs, down one floor there is a very small bathroom designed for controllers to quickly relieve themselves. I didn't want to occupy and defile that space so I jumped on the elevator and headed down several floors to the third floor which is an unoccupied mezzanine with a large empty bathroom.

I allowed myself a sigh of relief as the empty elevator doors closed. The Port offices occupied the adjacent floors and at 9pm I knew they were closed and empty so I relaxed and thunderously relieved the excess pressure. Just then the elevator stopped and the doors opened to reveal that it was shift change time for the ornamental Asian ladies who work in the duty free gift shops. Over a dozen of them shuffled onto the elevator. chatting with each other like little birds in their native tongue. As the doors closed I heard one little Ewwww! Then silence. Thinking fast I glared at them accusingly, as if to say "which one of you little dollies crapped her pants"?

It was all I could do to keep from busting up laughing as I waited for the doors to open on my floor so I could escape to the nice quiet crapper.
An art form I tell ya.
 
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Minnesota Phat said:
For the "get with the times" people - OK then, why do we bother with the outdated concept of having a human being use his or her own muscles to hit the cue ball?

Why don't we just have a machine-driven cue with a laser sight that is hooked up to an overhead camera?

Why even bother to have human competitors? We could just rig up a machine that shoots perfectly every time, and that will navigate itself around the table via a conveyor belt system.

Fully-automated pool is where it's at - robots can make far better shots than people can! Get with the times, people - holding a pool cue yourself is soooo 2021.
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Btw, there’s a guy on youtube who did exactly this. Built a robotic pool system. And he plays against real people via that dang interweb thingamabob.


You have to admit this ^ is way cooler than you’d thought it would be.

Also, yes machines are near-perfect and lately machines even create art that mimic human tastes and form and that art sells for a pretty penny, but it doesn’t take away anything from the joy we humans get creating art, just like it can’t (and shouldn’t) of sinking balls by shooting with a broomstick.

Like someone said, not all CF shafts are made with the same process. As far as looks, totally subjective but who doesn’t like black?!? If cf shafts had to be some neon purple-pink-blue swirl, I’d agree. But then again to another person maybe neon swirl is beautiful. Totally subjective.
 
IMO the biggest plusses to cf shafts is the super-slick finish and the toughness/durability. Unless someone's an idiot you can't damage one. I've tested quite a few and spent the longest with a Cynergy. I didn't play any better. MAYBE a tad more energy-transfer/power but even that was quite small. I'm still rocking my Mezz HybridPro wood shaft but i don't knock those that have and like cf. What else you gonna ban? The newer/better phenolic balls, hi-tech chalk, gloves, extensions? Please.
 
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