Cue shaft size, matetial?

The taper is more of a visual and sensory alteration that will affect your perception of how you play than the tip size of a shaft is...

My 12mm and 12.5mm are tapered in a similar way. Might as well be the same shaft... (of course there are other differences between them, which is why I use them for different games in the first place... but again, not sure if that's because they are generally all that different, or what I've been told, experienced and believe about the respective games)

My 12.8mm is tapered in a way that, to me, feels like a log. I also have a 13mm shaft that could easily be perceived as 12.5mm due to the taper.
We are talking about mm of leather which push a ball at the end of the day. It doesn't make all that big a difference unless you decide it does in your brain.

Taper is a shape alteration that affects how it feels and looks in your hand, and therefore has more connection to how you mentally feel. I think people who discuss tip size are perhaps unable to articulate what it really is about their shaft that makes them label it unique from any other.

To be honest, I know nothing about this subject, nor is it something that greatly interests me. But it is interesting to read others thoughts, or hear people jabber on to justify their next purchase in my local hall. I think most of these things are more about taking money from your pocket than they are about making you play any better...
 
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SeniorTom said:
I bought a playing cue ,Pechaurer, really nice wood grain and very simple. It has the standard 13 mm wood shaft included, and that's what I've been playing with for the last month or so. I really enjoy the 13 mm shaft, and also the wood aspect of it, and have a hard time using my 12.4 mm carbon fiber shaft. I have never really shot much with the 12.4 mm carbon fiber shaft, it has been sitting on the sidelines a bit until I have been ready to try it. I don't know if it is the size or the material, but I can't seem to shoot very well with the 12.4 mm carbon fiber shaft. I won't say I shoot lights out with the 13 mm, but I shoot very good with it. My hands are on the large and lanky side, and it seems like a 13 mm fits my bridge hand much better than a 12.4 mm. Is this uncommon? Does anybody else prefer 13 mm and wood shaft? Will the carbon fiber be something I get used to, or should stick with the larger size shaft? I have been playing about a year and a half now.
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I have a couple shafts, their tapers are very similar but one is about 13.25, the other 12.25. I like shooting with the 12.25 but the ball gets away from me. I feel more confident with the 13.25 but it doesn't move the ball around like the smaller. I go back and forth occasionally, guess I like change more than a consistent game. I have way too many shafts to ever have a consistent game.
 
Flakeandrun said:
The taper is more of a visual and sensory alteration that will affect your perception of how you play than the tip size of a shaft is...

My 12mm and 12.5mm are tapered in a similar way. Might as well be the same shaft... (of course there are other differences between them, which is why I use them for different games in the first place... but again, not sure if that's because they are generally all that different, or what I've been told, experienced and believe about the respective games)

My 12.8mm is tapered like a log. I also have a 13mm shaft that could easily be perceived as 12.5mm due to the taper.
We are talking about mm of leather which push a ball at the end of the day. It doesn't make all that big a difference unless you decide it does in your brain.

Taper is a shape alteration that affects how it feels and looks in your hand, and therefore has more connection to how you mentally feel. I think people who discuss tip size are perhaps unable to articulate what it really is about their shaft that makes them label it unique from any other.

To be honest, I know nothing about this subject, nor is it something that greatly interests me. But it is interesting to read others thoughts, or hear people jabber on to justify their next purchase in my local hall. I think most of these things are more about taking money from your pocket than they are about making you play any better...
Click to expand...
I like long tapers. Simple reason being they feel the same regardless how long you hold them. Depends on arm drop too. Snooker, for instance; the obnoxious taper keeps the tip up with that strict elbow pivot. With arm drop, cylindrical would probably be fine.
 
straightline said:
I like long tapers. Simple reason being they feel the same regardless how long you hold them. Depends on arm drop too. Snooker, for instance; the obnoxious taper keeps the tip up with that strict elbow pivot. With arm drop, cylindrical would probably be fine.
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Not really sure on the technical terminology of each taper. I guess the log 12.8mm is more of a conical taper. The others are a quicker taper into a more consistent long straight. I do believe, like I said, the taper and other aspects of a shaft, are far more relevant than tip size.
 
I've got a few shafts below the 13 mm mark but have shot some of my best pool with a 13 1/2 mm shafts my last shaft is a 13.25 mm and I enjoy it a great deal .

A good stroke is a great help no matter what tip diameter you're using its just getting used to what the particular shaft can do and what type of stroke brings the best out of it .
Remember Earl Strickland was shooting with a 15 mm shaft and was kicking butt and taking names against some of the toughest competition in the world .
 
shooter_Hans said:
I know they go even smaller today and I wouldn’t recommend it. 12.5 is probably the smallest I go. This size feels weak on certain shots that deal with draw. I feel it doesn’t have the power to move the ball. I feel like the shaft is going to snap. That’s just me. You have to put a lot of effort.
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Performance of an LD shaft continues to improve down to (as you stated) about 12.5mm
Performance of a non-LD shaft continues to improve down to about 11.0mm

{A non-LD shaft smaller than 12mm is (IS) an LD shaft.}
 
MitchAlsup said:
Performance of an LD shaft continues to improve down to (as you stated) about 12.5mm
Performance of a non-LD shaft continues to improve down to about 11.0mm

{A non-LD shaft smaller than 12mm is (IS) an LD shaft.}
Click to expand...
How does this work? Just diminishing mass?
 
I put my 13mm wood shaft back in the bag for league play last night. It fit like a glove as I shot very well with it, winning 3 of 4 games in my match. I should have won all four games, but I botched an eight ball shot in the final match. I really think my hands don't fit well with thinner shafts, as less flexibility causes too much play in the bridge hand. At least that's my theory. I'm going to give the 12.4 mm carbon fiber shaft another try soon, to make sure that it wasn't just a bad day with the thinner shaft., although, I have always felt more comfortable with a 13 mm shaft since I started playing. I'd love to have the ability to go from one to another and not have difficulty, maybe I'll be able to do that?
 
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