Flat laminated shafts--opinions, please

brechbt

brechbt

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm interested in opinions on flat laminated shafts from those who own or have tried them. You see them popping up on a variety of cues. Chuck Starkey seems to use them a lot, and I think I've seen Greg Sirca use them too (wouldn't swear to that, though), and their cues are well-regarded.

I'm curious about how they play compared to other engineered shafts and to "regular" plain wood shafts. I'm also concerned in theory about them--it would seem that the flex characteristics would differ if the shaft were flexed in parallel to the laminates, vs. perpendicular to them. In other words, I'd think that the shaft would play differently depending on how you have it oriented in your hand. Comments, please. Thanks.
 
brechbt said:
I'm interested in opinions on flat laminated shafts from those who own or have tried them. You see them popping up on a variety of cues. Chuck Starkey seems to use them a lot, and I think I've seen Greg Sirca use them too (wouldn't swear to that, though), and their cues are well-regarded.

I'm curious about how they play compared to other engineered shafts and to "regular" plain wood shafts. I'm also concerned in theory about them--it would seem that the flex characteristics would differ if the shaft were flexed in parallel to the laminates, vs. perpendicular to them. In other words, I'd think that the shaft would play differently depending on how you have it oriented in your hand. Comments, please. Thanks.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, Meucci insists that for the highest consistency that the black dot be rotated to the top before shooting (on their flat laminated black dot shafts,) as they say the shaft will be better that way.

Although I haven't tested whether or not they play better or not with the dot on the top, they might. If it were really important to me to know how much differently they might play if rotated in another direction, I'd test them.

An easy test that you can perform with any shaft is to shoot the cue ball from the spot up table and back down, trying to get the cue ball to contact your cue tip. Once you groove that, as you probably already have, shoot the same shot but rotating your cue and shoot the shot and see if you detect any difference with the cue ball rebound. If you detect a consistent rebound, whether left or right off the top cushion, you'll know that some unintended english is being applied with the shaft rotated that way. Adjustments are in order, obviously.

This test can be used on any shaft to check for unwanted english, provided your stroke is pure.

I imagine that folks for whom these things are very important may have tested them, as I have for one of my shafts that is slightly warped. Guess what I found out? The rotation had litte to no effect on the way the cue ball rebounded. Why? Who knows, but I know that even if there is some unintended english that creeps in, that it is negligible for the shot I mention. Perhaps with a power shot a difference can be discerned. Have I tested for that yet? No, perhaps one day I will.

Am I worried about it? Not at all.

Flex
 
Thanks for the replies. Still interested in the perspectives of those who own or have played with them. I'd forgotten about the Meucci's, so there should be plenty of folks out there with some experience with this type of construction.
 
I've shot with a lot of flat lam shafts and I'll say that it depends on the number of layers. Meucci and a few others use 35 layers per inch and to me its just too whippy and flimsy. I've also noticed that those shafts, especially Meucci shafts are prone to warpage. I've shot with others in the lower 20 layers and in the teens and thought they hit rather well. I would have a preference though to the radial laminated shafts due to the 360 degree consistency of the hit. Flat lam shafts will have a variance depending upon which way the layers are facing. Its not a huge difference but prefer no difference at all. Thats what I've noticed in my experience.

Dave
 
I have an 18 ply as an extra shaft for My player. Can't say alot about the differences in It & a good quality standard maple shaft, except It may be just slightly stiffer, altough I don't really notice It much. I can say I make the transision between the 2 very easily, and I'm one of those people who usually is not a natural in that way & need time to ajust to a new cue to feel confident with It. It seems a hair more consistent, but I'm not sure how much of that is in the laminated design, and how much is simply from the shaft being easier to keep the grain lined up on each shot. I guess If I only had a choice between junk maple shafts & flat lam.s then I would go with the laminated.:)

Greg
 
shaft preference

i use ob-1, predator, tiger, solid maple and flat laminates. i have found the best seller for the money is the flat lam. its about 1/2 the cost of the predator. i also believe the predator with my wood pin gives the best hit, but best hit is up to the guy with the cue in his hand. i have had many playes close their eyes, handed them a cue, and let them hit with different cues and shafts. 99.99% cannot tell with out looking at the cue or shaft the difference between any of the above shafts.. if you can spend an extry $100.00 go with the predator. if not, go with the flat lam. i think for the money the flat laminated shaft is the best buy. keep your head down. chuck
 
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