Custom Cue Collectors Playing Cues ?

LOL. The LD haters are out in full force. Funny, how the LD users never start threads about how crappy maple shafts are.

And why would you NOT put an LD shaft any any cue, production or custom if you prefer LD shafts... who the heck would notice or even care ??

Yep, LD's on all my cues, even customs and even my 1941 Willie Hoppe Pro Model, that is an old school cue with new school technology, how cool is that?

Why can't there be two kinds of shafts in the entire freaking pool world. What is the constant fuss about LD shafts that drive folks nuts ?

Yeah, $200 for a shaft, so what, custom makers charge that and then some. I've heard of $300 for maple shafts ? Don't bother me none, and I would not think of knocking someone for making the shaft, or selling the shaft or the guy who bought the shaft.

I mean, do we all want to drive around in Toyota Camry's ;)
 
Here is my take on it.

Regular shafts feel better for sure.

Both shafts require some compensation on shots with side spin. Sometimes that compensation feels better to me with LD shafts, sometimes with regular shafts....so it's kind of a wash there. For many shots using back hand English is more natural and once I practiced with that using English with a regular shaft got a lot easier for many shots...though I still find I do better with an LD shaft on others. So it's a draw here.

Finally, overall accuracy is where I think an LD shaft has the edge. If I had a better stroke I might not notice but I definitely feel like I get a little more margin for stroking error with an LD shaft. If I'm a little off on my tip placement the cue ball deflects less and I have a better chance of still making the ball I aim at. That is the real benefit of an LD shaft to, increased margin for error.

Right now I'm using one. I'd like to not be....I like the feel of a regular shaft and I prefer the idea of playing a custom cue with the shaft that was made for it. But right now, with my game, I'm playing with LD.

It also makes a difference at the moment that my LD shafts are 11.75mm and my maple shafts are 12.75mm....I'm picking up a 12mm shaft today (thanks Shooter08) for my Runde. So I'll be curious how I feel about it after trying a 12mm standard shaft...maybe some of the perceived accuracy difference will be diminished.
 
After a long layoff, I came back to the game about 5 years ago. I tried a P2 for a while and it just didn't light my fire. I also discovered AZB about that time and decided to buy and try different cues when I gave up on the P2. I didn't intend to become a collector, but I have about 30 cues. I have a lot of different pins, so it wouldn't make a lot of sense for me to stick with LD shafts.
Having said that, I think the handful of cues that I like best have similar deflection properties. I find it easy to switch between them.
I had a PFD and more recently a Runde pass through my hands. I couldn't shoot with them. I'm shooting with a Libra at the moment. I also like my Vollmer and my Barnharts very much.
 
I think there is something to finding a cue that just fits your perception for deflection compensation. Logically I think we all get that there needs to be some compensation and finding the shaft that meets your natural inclination for that is probably why people tend to gravitate towards certain setups possibly.
 
I play and collect cues I appreciate (within my means). I cannot imagine using an after market shaft because every cue maker I have talked to, takes such pride in their methods. So far, no disappointment....but then, I still think the ld shaft market was contrived to use scraps
 
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