does anyone else have problems drawing the cueball with a zshaft?

scottycoyote

scottycoyote

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
just got one this week (great transaction with bamacues id like to mention)........got a chance to shoot with the shaft today and overall i like it........except durn i cant seem to draw the cue with it. My normal shaft is just a tad under 12.5 so the zshaft at 11.75 is smaller but not incredibly so......i mean i notice it but i kind of like it, it makes me feel like im much more precise with my hit, the cueball seems bigger when you put that smaller tip on it. It spins the ball around pretty good except there isnt a reverse......anyone else run up against this or is it just me? Normally i can really draw the cueball well, its probably one of the things i do best so this is perplexing.
 
Bring it down to Charlotte with you and we'll see if we can figure out what the problem is. I'm guessing you are doing something different with the new shaft. You may have it figured out by then.
Steve
 
With my 314 shaft,,,,

I never had an issue with draw but I could not masse with my regular 314 shaft.

If I came into a shot that required a masse I used my Gilbert J/B cue.

Eventually I got to using another cue.

Ken
 
pooltchr said:
Bring it down to Charlotte with you and we'll see if we can figure out what the problem is. I'm guessing you are doing something different with the new shaft. You may have it figured out by then.
Steve
Click to expand...
yep it will be in my bag steve, thanks
 
When you changed to that shaft you altered the set up of you cue...The balance may have changed, the weight may have changed, and the deflection of the shaft is probably different than what your used to..

The bottom line is you need a slightly different timing on the hit to get the same results that you naturally got with your other set up...

I contend that the effects are similar to what happens with Golf shafts...different flex points...(AKA kick points), different stiffness, different weight all have effects on the hit of a golf club (with the exact same head, grip and length of shaft)

I would imagine that the cue shaft has some similar effects......Even though the strike is different in relation to the way the shaft is used, I would imagine that the flex of a shaft provides some of the snap through the CB that creates spin.

I would bet that Mike Massey has specific set ups he prefers for his maximum draw shots...not that he can't draw with any cue...but I would bet he draws better with certain cues...(that fit his stroke tempo and release timing)

Just changing the tip can have an immediate change on the amount of draw with the exact same stroke as used before.
 
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Softer ferrule?

The Predator shafts have softer ferrule material than a lot of other cues don't they?. I ask because I'm not sure, but I've hit with a first generation 314 and felt the ferrule way very soft. This could affect your interpretation of the hit, especially if the tip is also softer. If you've always preferred a stiff hit and recently switched to the Z shaft, the softer ferrule/tip and more flexible shaft might be throwing you for a loop. Backspin is one of those shots where you need total confidence, maybe you just need some more time to adjust. I'm sure you'll figure it out, I've heard there's an adjustment period when switching to any Predator shaft.

KLOPEK
 
z shaft

Hey Scott,

I have the I3 by McDermott, and it is supposed to be their version of the Z shaft. I have also shot with the z shaft. I think with the smaller tip I am able to get even more draw, and for me it was a matter of not getting too low on the ball. If I am at the bottom of the ball with that small tip I can really get that cue ball to back up. I am sure when your in NC they can figure it out. I bet your just not used to the set up yet and its more of a mental thing, so your stroke is a bit off. Give it time man.
 
I think you need to look into the balance point of your cue with the new shaft.

In my opinion, one thing about buying a production shaft on the aftermarket and just attach it to your butt is that there is no telling how it would affect the balance, which plays a big part in the stablibilty and power transfer, of your cue.

Richard
 
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I agree with breaknrun, I think it's in the timing. I played with a Z for more than a year and drawing was not a problem. In fact, I felt it gave me more action.
 
It's totally you dude, just experiment a little you'll get the groove back and then some. The smaller tip just makes the hit more precise, with the larger tip your probally hitting the cueball in totally differnt spot which is causing the difference in performance. A good stroke and clean follow thru will do wonders. Just give it a week or so of practice.

Black Cat :cool:
 
scottycoyote said:
It spins the ball around pretty good except there isnt a reverse......
Click to expand...

What does that mean - sideways spin is "pretty good" but the ball won't spin in reverse? If the ball will spin in reverse "pretty good", then it must draw pretty good.
 
Simplify

the magic of draw is friction.

___________________________
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Read a table... friction is the key.

Soft tip for thicker felt (if you want to have any draw at all [especially if you don't have a stroke]) very slow table.

Medium tip for a subjective dead rail, moss cloth, slow table.

Hard tip for a table you can understand consistantly, and then work from there.

-------------------------

In my humble opinion, the ability to draw is not of the shaft... alone.

First, one has to understand constant of friction, of a desired surface, to gain any advantage. i.e. reading a table.

Second, knowing when to walk away.
 
Ronoh said:
the magic of draw is friction.

___________________________
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Read a table... friction is the key.

Soft tip for thicker felt (if you want to have any draw at all [especially if you don't have a stroke]) very slow table.

Medium tip for a subjective dead rail, moss cloth, slow table.

Hard tip for a table you can understand consistantly, and then work from there.
Click to expand...

And if you can't change tips at will, just rub some cue chalk all over the cue ball.

Of course, any table with crappy cloth and rails is likely to come with dirty cue balls. Things tend to even out.
 
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Dhakala said:
What does that mean - sideways spin is "pretty good" but the ball won't spin in reverse? If the ball will spin in reverse "pretty good", then it must draw pretty good.
Click to expand...

ok thanks for the positive comments everybody.........i think ur right i just need more table time with it.

What i meant dhakala was i can get english on the ball really well, as well as top.......i just couldnt get any draw (reverse). It spins the ball similar to my ob-1, not quite as much though.
 
scottycoyote said:
just got one this week (great transaction with bamacues id like to mention)........got a chance to shoot with the shaft today and overall i like it........except durn i cant seem to draw the cue with it. My normal shaft is just a tad under 12.5 so the zshaft at 11.75 is smaller but not incredibly so......i mean i notice it but i kind of like it, it makes me feel like im much more precise with my hit, the cueball seems bigger when you put that smaller tip on it. It spins the ball around pretty good except there isnt a reverse......anyone else run up against this or is it just me? Normally i can really draw the cueball well, its probably one of the things i do best so this is perplexing.
Click to expand...

I bought one 2 years ago and had the same problem. What worked for me was to play it closer to the center then I used to.
Justin Nuder
 
The Z shaft is stiffer and thinner then most conventional shafts. Logically you should get more spin. THat is one of Predators marketing points and its true. YOu are focusing more energy in a smaller area of the cue ball. When I first bought my Z shaft the problem was adjusting to the extra foot of top and bottom that I didnt intend to put on. Couple weeks and you will get used to it and never want to shoot with anything else. Of course if your stroke isn't straight to begin with you may amplify this problem with this shaft. This may cause you to mis balls and you start to think its the new shaft.
 
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