Does anyone shoot with both solid maple and LD shafts?
- Thread starter semoquer
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I do and the two realities:
To get your best out of whichever shaft, stick with one.
For me, regular shafts still have brought out my best game as that's how I learned this game.
Freddie <~~~ YMMV
Is squirt the excuse or is it the inability to compensate for it? I like to always place the blame on myself so that there is no excuse for my failure and there is always a reason for me to try to improve.
That said, I agree with you 100%. Consistency is key as most of us don't have the ability to adjust to a new cue as well as we can learn one cue over a period of time.
There are actually quite a few shafts out there that are LD AND solid maple.
Mike Webb's, Players HXT are the ones I know about. I would never switch back and forth between them, don't see how it can not throw your aiming off.
Pretty much the same for me. :grin-square:
Low deflection is low on the c/b but high on the bridge plane.:yes:
I have tried several of the LD shafts, but just really don't care for any of those that I have tried. I will be sticking with the maple shaft myself. Don't have any LD shafts anymore.
That doesn't make sense to me. One is the problem, the other the response (lack of, actually). They are the same thing: the reason the problem is there is uhh...because it has not been dealt with.
I carry my Joss, spare Joss shaft, SS360 shaft and a DP custom cue. I play with all 3 set ups. I usually practice with what I am in the mood for then use that through league night. For me only takes a few racks to adjust.
I think switching back and forth between two shafts is a great recipe for inconsistency.
And it encourages 'equipment excuses'.
"I missed a ball? Oh, shoot, I guess I picked the wrong shaft today".
What happens when you use only one shaft?
Then that excuse goes away and you have to figure out why you really missed the ball.
And it encourages 'equipment excuses'.
"I missed a ball? Oh, shoot, I guess I picked the wrong shaft today".
What happens when you use only one shaft?
Then that excuse goes away and you have to figure out why you really missed the ball.
Slim Limpy
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This is a good question. I play with both a 314-2 and the original full diameter shafts of my Hercek. I know that the predator requires a half ball compensation at medium stroke at 3/4 table length and the Hercek requires a ball and 1/8th. So with either one you have to compensate. An important change i have been working with is back hand English, this is very interesting because i can get more side spin with the standard shaft...
But, changing shafts or playing with both I feel is bad, cause when you planning an aim on the ball your sitting there in yout head going well im playing with this shaft so i need to adjust like this or oops wrong shaft i need to do this. i think in games like 9 and 10 ball where your moving the cue ball around allot and having longer shots maybe the low deflection has an edge but, in the shorter games of 8 ball, one pocket and straight pool i think there isnt s much of a difference. i have thought about this long and hard and have decided to let the predator stay in the case. my cue is balanced better with the original shafts and they just feel better.
Id like to hear what others say about back hand English
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But, changing shafts or playing with both I feel is bad, cause when you planning an aim on the ball your sitting there in yout head going well im playing with this shaft so i need to adjust like this or oops wrong shaft i need to do this. i think in games like 9 and 10 ball where your moving the cue ball around allot and having longer shots maybe the low deflection has an edge but, in the shorter games of 8 ball, one pocket and straight pool i think there isnt s much of a difference. i have thought about this long and hard and have decided to let the predator stay in the case. my cue is balanced better with the original shafts and they just feel better.
Id like to hear what others say about back hand English
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A wise man once said, "A man with one watch always knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never quite sure."
I remember when I first decided to get a predator shaft it took me a good 3-4 months to completely adjust to it. Played with it for a couple years and decided to switch back to a standard shaft. After switching it seemed like it took even longer to make the transition away from the predator.
Most of the shafts I have now are standard shafts but they also have some low deflection properties. For example i like my shafts to be on the lighter side of the scale, maybe 3.2-3.5 ounces. I also like them to have shorter ferrules, 1/4 or 1/2 inch, I think this also minimizes deflection. And I prefer a smaller diameter shaft, 12.2 - 12.3mm. With all these variables in play I feel like I can pull any shaft out my case and not lose a step since I have had them all made to the specifications that I like and any adjustment shouldnt take more than a couple shots to work out.
Since I'm on the topic I have tried several LD shafts just to see what they are like over the years. I have found that the Tiger shafts seem to deflect a little more than my standard shafts. Predators deflect less than mine. And the OB Classic series plays pretty damn close to the shafts I currently play with.
I guess the point is you dont have to have a "low deflection" shaft to have a shaft that exhibits low deflection properties. In my experience one piece shafts are more consistent than any LD brand name shaft I have used. But to each their own. It may take years for a player to really decide what they like in a cue and what they dont. But at the same time one of the most consistent players I know has been playing with the same cue since 1981, so take that for what its worth.
I remember when I first decided to get a predator shaft it took me a good 3-4 months to completely adjust to it. Played with it for a couple years and decided to switch back to a standard shaft. After switching it seemed like it took even longer to make the transition away from the predator.
Most of the shafts I have now are standard shafts but they also have some low deflection properties. For example i like my shafts to be on the lighter side of the scale, maybe 3.2-3.5 ounces. I also like them to have shorter ferrules, 1/4 or 1/2 inch, I think this also minimizes deflection. And I prefer a smaller diameter shaft, 12.2 - 12.3mm. With all these variables in play I feel like I can pull any shaft out my case and not lose a step since I have had them all made to the specifications that I like and any adjustment shouldnt take more than a couple shots to work out.
Since I'm on the topic I have tried several LD shafts just to see what they are like over the years. I have found that the Tiger shafts seem to deflect a little more than my standard shafts. Predators deflect less than mine. And the OB Classic series plays pretty damn close to the shafts I currently play with.
I guess the point is you dont have to have a "low deflection" shaft to have a shaft that exhibits low deflection properties. In my experience one piece shafts are more consistent than any LD brand name shaft I have used. But to each their own. It may take years for a player to really decide what they like in a cue and what they dont. But at the same time one of the most consistent players I know has been playing with the same cue since 1981, so take that for what its worth.
For about 10 years I changed back and forth between a OB Classic on my Viking and a stock Viking shaft. Now I use a Cuetec R-360 which has a LD shaft 90% of the time. I only play on my Valley 7' and even though it has all 6 pockets 4" with RB rails I don't see much of difference between the shafts. After all a 6 1/2' shot is about as long as you have to deal with on a BB. Johnnyt
I'll just add myself to the list that can go back & forth & get back on rather quickly. I have only been playing with LD shafts since June 2012 after 45 years with regular shafts.
I would suggest finding an LD that one likes well enough & then stick with it. Smaller variations of squirt are easier to deal with than when the differences can be large.
JMHO
I would suggest finding an LD that one likes well enough & then stick with it. Smaller variations of squirt are easier to deal with than when the differences can be large.
JMHO
I have a z2, 314/2, and a stock omega shaft. So far it looks like I don't know how to play pool when I use the Z shaft, and I just got comfortable with the 314 after about 50-100ish hours of play. The Omega is comfortable at all times and when I got it I ran a 2pack right out the bag.
I think with my sloppy stroke the most forgiving is the one with the most squirt.
I think with my sloppy stroke the most forgiving is the one with the most squirt.
I use both on 2 different cues, but maybe my LD shaft is not very good, its a McDermott G-Core. The other cue is a Titlist conversion with maple shaft, maybe I don't notice much difference in squirt cause maple shaft is .5mm smaller diameter than G-Core