Going from LD to standard maple - a life experiment

billiardthought

billiardthought

Anti-intellectualism
Silver Member
A quick history - I am 25 years old and have been playing pool 1 to 5 nights a week for the past three years, and really having never played pool before then. My first cue was a players, with the skinny HXT shaft. My next cue was a no name butt with an OB-2 shaft. Next OB cue with OB classic pro shaft. Latest cue is a Schmelke butt with OB pro+ shaft. Never really spent any time with standard maple, why would I? When I left the APA last year I was a 6 in 8 ball and a 7 in 9 ball. I have spent much of the last year playing on 9 foot tables playing one pocket and american rotation, and just generally playing whatever I can. I just recently rejoined APA 8 ball in the summer and so far have a record of 13-3 so I expect to move up to a 7 soon.

Last week I came across a standard maple shaft that fit my Schmelke and I decided to give it a fair shake during my league play last week. I mean 3 years is a long time to just completely deny testing out what is considered to be the most standard equipment on a pool cue, right? My opponent was a 6 so the race was 5-5. I won 5-2 in 12 innings with 1 break and run. I shot 4 defensive shots. I played a couple one pocket matches this past weekend, and performed at or above my expected level while shooting. All with the standard maple shaft.

So I have decided to do what the LD crowd will consider unthinkable. I have an order in with Pat Diveney for one of his sneaky petes with a lakewood shaft. I will be excited to receive it and see how it plays compared to my preconceived and newly uncovered notions about shafts and how they are "supposed" to play.
 
You will love the Diveney...had one...I play with both LD and maple shafts...To me there really isn't much difference they way I play. If I'm in the mood for a small diameter shaft then I grad the LD if not I play with one of my maples..I prefer a very stiff hit so for me most of the time its the maple shafts..
 
I've had a similar experience. I started two years ago and bought a players cue with a standard maple shaft. Shot with it for 8 months. Bought an OB cue with an OB2 shaft. Then I bought an OB 121 with the OB pro shaft. I shoot best with the OB2 but I think it's because I shot with that cue the most. maple shaft has a kamui black soft tip, ob2 has a brown medium, and the OB pro has whatever comes standard from the shop. I switch between all three cues and really don't notice a huge difference. I prefer the OB2 but really think it's just the complete feel of the balance of the cue and the fact I've shot longest with it.
 
it don't matter...

billiardthought said:
A quick history - I am 25 years old and have been playing pool 1 to 5 nights a week for the past three years, and really having never played pool before then. My first cue was a players, with the skinny HXT shaft. My next cue was a no name butt with an OB-2 shaft. Next OB cue with OB classic pro shaft. Latest cue is a Schmelke butt with OB pro+ shaft. Never really spent any time with standard maple, why would I? When I left the APA last year I was a 6 in 8 ball and a 7 in 9 ball. I have spent much of the last year playing on 9 foot tables playing one pocket and american rotation, and just generally playing whatever I can. I just recently rejoined APA 8 ball in the summer and so far have a record of 13-3 so I expect to move up to a 7 soon.

Last week I came across a standard maple shaft that fit my Schmelke and I decided to give it a fair shake during my league play last week. I mean 3 years is a long time to just completely deny testing out what is considered to be the most standard equipment on a pool cue, right? My opponent was a 6 so the race was 5-5. I won 5-2 in 12 innings with 1 break and run. I shot 4 defensive shots. I played a couple one pocket matches this past weekend, and performed at or above my expected level while shooting. All with the standard maple shaft.

So I have decided to do what the LD crowd will consider unthinkable. I have an order in with Pat Diveney for one of his sneaky petes with a lakewood shaft. I will be excited to receive it and see how it plays compared to my preconceived and newly uncovered notions about shafts and how they are "supposed" to play.
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People make a big deal about switching shafts. I think it really doesn't matter if you are an amateur player. Most of the amateur players will never spend long enough time playing pool to make a difference big enough when it comes regular and LD shafts.

In your case if you only have been playing for 3 years it really doesn't matter what shaft you use as long as it is not crooked and it feels right to you. So, I would say pick up what ever you like.

I picked up a regular shaft after playing pool with LD shaft for 3 - 4 years and I can tell you based on my personal experience that it doesn't make a whole lot of difference to players at our level.
 
prad said:
People make a big deal about switching shafts. I think it really doesn't matter if you are an amateur player. Most of the amateur players will never spend long enough time playing pool to make a difference big enough when it comes regular and LD shafts.

In your case if you only have been playing for 3 years it really doesn't matter what shaft you use as long as it is not crooked and it feels right to you. So, I would say pick up what ever you like.

I picked up a regular shaft after playing pool with LD shaft for 3 - 4 years and I can tell you based on my personal experience that it doesn't make a whole lot of difference to players at our level.
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Um...with all due respect...I don't know what "level" you play at, but I am an amateur and I can assure you that the difference between a LD shaft like Predator or OB and a standard shaft is huge. Maybe you don't use much english. If you did, you probably wouldn't be saying what you are saying. I think there are many many amateurs who devote a gigantic amount of time to pool. I mean, if you are an APA 3 or something then what you say may make some sense. Seems like a very odd post.

KMRUNOUT
 
KMRUNOUT said:
Um...with all due respect...I don't know what "level" you play at, but I am an amateur and I can assure you that the difference between a LD shaft like Predator or OB and a standard shaft is huge. Maybe you don't use much english. If you did, you probably wouldn't be saying what you are saying. I think there are many many amateurs who devote a gigantic amount of time to pool. I mean, if you are an APA 3 or something then what you say may make some sense. Seems like a very odd post.

KMRUNOUT
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Edit: reading mistake so deleted
 
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KMRUNOUT said:
Um...with all due respect...I don't know what "level" you play at, but I am an amateur and I can assure you that the difference between a LD shaft like Predator or OB and a standard shaft is huge. Maybe you don't use much english. If you did, you probably wouldn't be saying what you are saying. I think there are many many amateurs who devote a gigantic amount of time to pool. I mean, if you are an APA 3 or something then what you say may make some sense. Seems like a very odd post.

KMRUNOUT
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My post was directed towards OP not towards all the pool players. OP has only been playing for 3 - 4 years, and I still think that to some one who has only been playing pool for 3 - 4 years having a LD / regular shaft don't make a "big" difference. There are some small things that they might notice but it is not going to be a major change. Now, I agree that a LD shaft might help them with some of the shots but it is NOT going to make them jump a level within one week.

On the other hand if you take a player who has been playing for 6+ years and ask them to change their shaft then they might face some problems. If you ask a pro to do it they will face a lot of issues but they might still do it if you decide to sponsor them. It will take them some time but they will adjust to it.

Other thing is now a days even the regular shafts don't have that much of a deflection look at the chart on this page http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/squirt.html.
 
I've been playing pool a long time. I was never a world beater but I could play a little (70 ball runner in straight pool).

Anyway, I purchased a LD shaft a few years back. I played terrible with it for months. It wasn't anything I could put my finger on, my shot making seemed normal, I could load up the cue ball as much as I wanted...but I just played bad in general with it.

Right in the middle of a set I was playing I decided to switch back to my regular maple shaft. It was like someone turned a switch, I immediately returned to my old speed.

I sold that LD shaft a few days later and never tried one again. My point is for some reason, my game seemed better suited to a regular maple shaft. Maybe your game is similar. Go with the shaft you play best with. Confidence is a big factor in pool.
 
I think you should consider counseling before making such a major life experiment like this.
 
billiardthought said:
A quick history - I am 25 years old and have been playing pool 1 to 5 nights a week for the past three years, and really having never played pool before then. My first cue was a players, with the skinny HXT shaft. My next cue was a no name butt with an OB-2 shaft. Next OB cue with OB classic pro shaft. Latest cue is a Schmelke butt with OB pro+ shaft. Never really spent any time with standard maple, why would I? When I left the APA last year I was a 6 in 8 ball and a 7 in 9 ball. I have spent much of the last year playing on 9 foot tables playing one pocket and american rotation, and just generally playing whatever I can. I just recently rejoined APA 8 ball in the summer and so far have a record of 13-3 so I expect to move up to a 7 soon.

Last week I came across a standard maple shaft that fit my Schmelke and I decided to give it a fair shake during my league play last week. I mean 3 years is a long time to just completely deny testing out what is considered to be the most standard equipment on a pool cue, right? My opponent was a 6 so the race was 5-5. I won 5-2 in 12 innings with 1 break and run. I shot 4 defensive shots. I played a couple one pocket matches this past weekend, and performed at or above my expected level while shooting. All with the standard maple shaft.

So I have decided to do what the LD crowd will consider unthinkable. I have an order in with Pat Diveney for one of his sneaky petes with a lakewood shaft. I will be excited to receive it and see how it plays compared to my preconceived and newly uncovered notions about shafts and how they are "supposed" to play.
Click to expand...


Once you go solid you'll never go back....lol
LD is junk.
That and....it's the biggest scam to hit the pool world ever.
You ALWAYS have to compensate for your spin shots LD or not.
May as well have the best of the best with the feel and all.
And not go all numb when you need it the most.
 
9Ballr said:
Once you go solid you'll never go back....lol
LD is junk.
That and....it's the biggest scam to hit the pool world ever.
You ALWAYS have to compensate for your spin shots LD or not.
May as well have the best of the best with the feel and all.
And not go all numb when you need it the most.
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You might legitimately prefer non-LD, but LD is not "junk". It does what it advertises (reduces CB deflection), and that's important to many players.

pj
chgo
 
billiardthought said:
A quick history - I am 25 years old and have been playing pool 1 to 5 nights a week for the past three years, and really having never played pool before then. My first cue was a players, with the skinny HXT shaft. My next cue was a no name butt with an OB-2 shaft. Next OB cue with OB classic pro shaft. Latest cue is a Schmelke butt with OB pro+ shaft.
Click to expand...

It's kind of scary, how similar our histories are: Playing for 3 years. Started with Player's HXT, moved to OB121 with OB2 shaft (with an OB1 and OBClassic along the way) and then a Schmelke with a standard maple shaft.

The differences between the standard maple and OB2 shaft are minor for my style of playing (I estimate I use english on 90% of my shots, but never "extreme" english). I like the way both of them feel.
 
LD shafts

billiardthought said:
A quick history - I am 25 years old and have been playing pool 1 to 5 nights a week for the past three years, and really having never played pool before then. My first cue was a players, with the skinny HXT shaft. My next cue was a no name butt with an OB-2 shaft. Next OB cue with OB classic pro shaft. Latest cue is a Schmelke butt with OB pro+ shaft. Never really spent any time with standard maple, why would I? When I left the APA last year I was a 6 in 8 ball and a 7 in 9 ball. I have spent much of the last year playing on 9 foot tables playing one pocket and american rotation, and just generally playing whatever I can. I just recently rejoined APA 8 ball in the summer and so far have a record of 13-3 so I expect to move up to a 7 soon.

Last week I came across a standard maple shaft that fit my Schmelke and I decided to give it a fair shake during my league play last week. I mean 3 years is a long time to just completely deny testing out what is considered to be the most standard equipment on a pool cue, right? My opponent was a 6 so the race was 5-5. I won 5-2 in 12 innings with 1 break and run. I shot 4 defensive shots. I played a couple one pocket matches this past weekend, and performed at or above my expected level while shooting. All with the standard maple shaft.

So I have decided to do what the LD crowd will consider unthinkable. I have an order in with Pat Diveney for one of his sneaky petes with a lakewood shaft. I will be excited to receive it and see how it plays compared to my preconceived and newly uncovered notions about shafts and how they are "supposed" to play.
Click to expand...

I don't know if I would of ordered a lake wood shaft...... just a good grade of solid maple works for me.

There is allot of mis understanding's when it comes to sporting equipment.
The latest and greatest isn't always the best.

Believe it or not only about 40% of pool players play with a LD shaft according to the polls in cue review section.

Why don't you buy a lathe and start making your own shafts ?
There is allot of things that can be done to a solid maple shaft to make it play the way you want it to....
 
mortuarymike-nv said:
I don't know if I would of ordered a lake wood shaft...... just a good grade of solid maple works for me.

There is allot of mis understanding's when it comes to sporting equipment.
The latest and greatest isn't always the best.

Believe it or not only about 40% of pool players play with a LD shaft according to the polls in cue review section.

Why don't you buy a lathe and start making your own shafts ?
There is allot of things that can be done to a solid maple shaft to make it play the way you want it to....
Click to expand...

If I had the means I would. I live in an apartment and I have never worked with wood though. So for now I will keep purchasing.
 
I play with a Joss stick. I love the taper on the maple shaft. I tried an OB LD shaft but couldn't get used to it. I do use it for 3 cushion though. I went back to the maple shaft and am satisfied.
 
I have been playing pool about 5 years and play at APA 6 level also. I've only ever played with predator. Just last weekend I got a new custom cue and had intentions of getting a predator shaft with matching ring. I started playing with the standard maple shaft that came with his cue and its been less than a week but after a day of playing with it I think I am playing as good or better than I ever have. It definitely has more deflection than my predator but its not terrible other than on some shots and sometimes helpful, sometimes miss shots I feel like I normally made with english. I need more time playing though to decide if I want to keep it or go back to predator but so far I am enjoying it.
 
Good for you man. I started playing about 2 years ago with solid maple and have tried all sorts of stuff since. I can play with an LD shaft or a house cue now. If I end up with a high end custom in the next year or so I'll probably play maple for a while.
 
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