Changing shafts or cues to adjust to table speed???

[King Kong]

Hello Everyone,

I was playing the other day away from my home table and the table conditions were really fast compared to home. Does anyone know if changing shafts to a shaft with a thicker ferrulle/taper or switching to a heavier cue or lighter cue would help with the speed control?

I ask this question because most pro tournaments use new cloth, that is usually super fast and players are struggling to adjust to the conditions. I have seen Nick Varner and others change shafts and sometimes cues in mid-match to adjust to the conditions.

If any pro's or anyone knows if this theory is currently being used today and by whom I would love to hear about it and which adjustments.

The UPA and Pool industry really needs to set some standards. It seems like every venue has their equipement different. Some with 860 some with 760 some with plain jane cloth. Some with the table low to the ground because the table mechanic never adjustrd the table levels up and some with the table legs all the way up. Some double or triple shimmed and some with a huge opennings or even worse (Missing table bolts).

Would Larrry Bird play ball with the rim 6 inches too low or too high from stadium to stadium. They go out and check all these things before play begins. THe UPA is not on top of these details and I wish they were!!!!

 

[Bruce S. de Lis]

Think CHANGING STROKE SPEED would be CHEAPER....

 

[King Kong]

Think CHANGING STROKE SPEED would be CHEAPER....

I see your point and I excluded the obvious. I wrote this because I thought it was of value and would not post anything If I thought it was not of value. Golfers never change their natural swing they change clubs!

In golf, Caddys and golfers change clubs all the time. They compensate for conditions with club selection. If the wind is against them or the greens are wet the ball will roll short and/or travel a shorter distance. As such, they move from a 7 iron to a 6 iron to compensate.

In The Billiards book by Willie Hoppee on Page 62 it says

"[The effect of the Nap] On many tables a different curve when playing with and against the nap is noticeable. THere is a little more friction going against the nap, but this should only on ocassion a slightly greater curvature in the same direction as when the ball is travelling with the nap."

This expert says their is a difference due to table conditions and in the old days they were not playing on 80/20 or 70/30 blends of wool and nylon. it was 100% wool if I am not mistaken? The nap or friction of the higher wool content results in slower conditions because the friction coefficent is higher for wool then nylon. Compensating for these factors is not only smart but logical. Playing with a thicker/stiffer shaft creates less english or action on the cue ball. Playing with a thinner more whippy shaft causes more engilsh on the cue ball. Making it better for slower tables.

I have several cues and use a 12 3/4 to 13 shaft. I have two shafts and I notice I play better with the thinner one on slower cloth and better with the thicker shaft on faster cloth.

I posted this to get additional thoughts on this topic and see if I was all alone on this view.

I am aware of the games evelution from the playing cue and a fellini case to a playing cue, Jump cue & break cue of today in a 4 by 8 case. The cue or club selection for each of these uses has evolved. Why wouldnt the playing cue and shaft selection evolve as well. The pros all say stay with your cue but mention nothing about shafts.

In the old days Joss Cues was making 7 to 8 shafts a year for Mike Sigel to play around with and experiment. I am not sure of the numbers but heard it before from Danny James I believe? I could be wrong thou!

Does anyone know if the pros switch shaft diameter to adjust for playing conditions? They are on new cloth all the time at tournaments and new cloth has less friction coefficient then worn. The dirt and chalk build up on the surface and slow the balls down over time.

That is why I mention tournament table standards as important and the UPA or some governing body needs to set the standards. With the standards absent then cue or shaft selection becomes more important and the first to adapt or compensate wins.

You may even be able to brush the table against the nap to slow it down some? or with the nap to speed it up depending upon what you prefer?