Carbon Shafts have a "bit" better energy transfer as some also already wrote here. That s a fact. But to really make a statement like "i can draw better with a CF" would also need a requirement:
And that would mean, that you re able to execute all the time the stroke with the same speed, acceleration and furthermore hittin the cueball exactly the same point. And this is already tougher for the bigger amount of players.
The fact, that the energy transfer is a bit better can help "a bit"-
I can just say from my point of view, that i don t have no measurable difference. I played a lot cf shafts because i m curious- and ofc also with wooden shafts. On some shots you need a bit less acceleration with a carbon fiber shaft because of the bit better energy transfer. But in my opinion need a really good technique to benefit from this. To play with a really stiff shaft (no matter what material) means also, that the shaft is less forgiving. If you have a technically not really good stroke, you will scratch or slip of the cueball with a super stiff shaft.
I went back to wooden shaft, because it gives me more self-confidence. To know what happens if i play a shot is much more important to me, to maybe draw a shot (maybe!!) 15 cm more back. It is just easier for me personally, to control the cueball with my wooden shaft.
That means of course not, that carbon shafts are less good-- they have advantages like constistency, they never warp, they hold usually for a life time.
the mind is a great part
And I m sure that almost everyone has made the expirience with "a new shaft"- to think, that you ll play immediatley better. And in most cases just for a short time- then reality strikes back
To stay with your material is the key to consistency.
And as a sidenote: In my opinion the tip makes a much greater difference. Shape, grip and hardness of the tip gives me the feeling of "confidence" when i hit the cueball immediatley. And if you try to compare two shafts make sure that you have the same tip on it- in best case also on teh same cue butt. And just testing it for 30 minutes also not really make sense
No shaft on the planet will make you a much better player- but it can give you more confidence. But you need to play a long time, until you will make a new shaft *your extended arm" again after changing a shaft.
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a student came once over and was celebrating his new carbon shaft like the holy gral (what is good, if he really has such a great positive feeling about it!!). - That he could draw the cueball soooo much more back with it.
So we went to the table and tried out what he wanted to do
To have a look how much more distance he ( we?) could draw the cueball back with a power draw shot.
In these 60 Minues there was no difference in "his attempts"- always between 9 or 10 diamonds. with both shafts (a regular shaft and his new super weapon ^^).
In my case i have had the best results with my regular wooden shaft- but the difference was just 15 cm or so- so with my wooden shaft the cueball travveled 11,5 diamonds-- and with the cf shaft between 10-11 diamonds. So not really a big difference. But what far more important for me personally I mis-cued everal times with the carbon fiber shaft. No matter what kind of mistake i maybe made-- this has shown me, that my regular shaft gives me of course much more confidence. and that what counts for me- and should count for everyone else imo.
( the student also mis-cued much more often with the carbon fiber shaft-- but he still said, the carbon shaft is much better for him).
i can just recommend to test a new shaft a bit longer. and really take seriously notes, to see if you have an advantage with it. and this doesn t work while testing a few minutes.
BUT: if you love the famouse "nice to have feeling"- and it would mean more for you than having more success/confidence...it is your decision
