Hard vs soft hitting sticks

L

Lightbender

Registered
First post here, been reading all I can and I like it!

Here's the deal: I've been away from pool for about 25 years, wanting to get back into it just for fun. There was a time when I won a few local tournaments, that's history, and it is taking considerable effort to get some semblance of a stroke back. So far, so good, I'll keep at it.

I'm shooting with a Joss (JOS67), factory stick w Triangle hard tip, Kamui chalk and a Schon wearing a 314-2. Not sure of the tip, seems pretty hard.

So, I guess I'm shooting fairly hard sticks, and would like to try something softer. I like what I have (I think), but have nothing to compare it to, and before I get too far down thew road, I'd like to make some final decisions on cues, stick with that and not look back. So what would you guys recommend I try? I' willing to buy if I feel I can resell, and I know that'll cost dollars, but it shouldn't cost much.....at least not as much as shooting for a couple years with the Scon/314-2 and then "discovering" that I like soft. Like to keep my cue cost well under a thousand...

Thank you!

Wayno
 
Welcome to the forum Lightbender. Well written first post. I'm confident you'll get some good feedback on your interest! I've been using the same player for decades and couldn't give you any useful info compared to what so many others here have to offer.
 
Might want to consider softer tips and maybe re-taper of the shafts.

Just a thought. Hit is so subjective you might chase rabbits for a while. At least you know what you have now and where you can go with that.
 
1st order of business for me would be to change the tip to a med or soft and see how you like it.
 
If you are looking for a soft hit I would recommend an OB-1 with a SS Kamui on it.

If you aren't looking for quite that soft a hit I would recommend an OB Classic with a Kamui Soft or Super Soft.

The Kamui Medium hits like a Hard Moori for reference and I find it tends to miscue quite a bit.
 
I would go to the extreme; put an Elk Master on and gradually work your way up through progressively harder tips until you are comfortable. Try playing with each for 10-15 1 hour+ sessions (just long enough to get used to them).
 
zpele...The "feel" of a 'soft' vs. a 'hard' hit has much less to do with the shaft...and almost everything to do with the kind of tip and joint on the cue.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

zpele said:
If you are looking for a soft hit I would recommend an OB-1 with a SS Kamui on it.

If you aren't looking for quite that soft a hit I would recommend an OB Classic with a Kamui Soft or Super Soft.

The Kamui Medium hits like a Hard Moori for reference and I find it tends to miscue quite a bit.
Click to expand...
 
Same joint, same butt, same tip, different shaft = ? ? ? ? Same hit, feel, & playabllity? Obviously someone is confused. It MUST be me.
 
Welcome to the forum. Tell us where you live. There may be a cue collector/builder/flipper close by. They might have a selection you can test hit. If you like them, maybe there could be a deal made.

Good luck!

Larry
 
Welcome to the forums.

Much like you, I was away from the game close to 30 years before taking the game up again.

Given that you have a couple of cue and shaft combinations, I agree with experimenting with tips before changing to another builder/cue.

Triangles and kamui mediums are a little too hard for my game.

I suggest trying a milkdud/dawgdud made by fellow AZr Jeff/pooldawg8. I find them a medium to medium hard hit while being very 'grabby'.

I was lucky in that the room that was near me had a local cuemaker as a Tournament director. Sort of his local 'farm'. I got to hit some of his cues and found a hit that I like.

Good luck in your search. Various tips may be the least expensive experimentation that you can do on your existing equipment.

-after 25 years-welcome back.:thumbup:
 
Thank you!

Ghosst said:
I would go to the extreme; put an Elk Master on and gradually work your way up through progressively harder tips until you are comfortable. Try playing with each for 10-15 1 hour+ sessions (just long enough to get used to them).
Click to expand...

This sounds like a pretty good idea. An Elkmaster on an OB-1 shaft. That should give me an idea of the softest hit I can get on either the Schon or the Joss, both having SS joints. I'm thinking I'll put that on the Joss, because, I gotta say, even though I only have about 20 hours on the Schon/314-2, it just feels good. And the balls just seem to go in as my stroke becomes more consistent.
I'd really like to try a whole different stick with a different joint, because I really don't have that experience. Although, in the end, as some have pointed out, one could spend a lifetime fiddling around and the time is probably more wisely spent on making a choice and getting going on it. But I won't be happy until I try some other sticks. For now, I'll try some softer tips and see where that goes.

Gotta say, this place is an incredible resource and it's folks like you who make it so. Thanks for sharing, it really is appreciated!

Wayno
 
3RAILKICK said:
Welcome to the forums.

Much like you, I was away from the game close to 30 years before taking the game up again.

Given that you have a couple of cue and shaft combinations, I agree with experimenting with tips before changing to another builder/cue.

Triangles and kamui mediums are a little too hard for my game.

I suggest trying a milkdud/dawgdud made by fellow AZr Jeff/pooldawg8. I find them a medium to medium hard hit while being very 'grabby'.

I was lucky in that the room that was near me had a local cuemaker as a Tournament director. Sort of his local 'farm'. I got to hit some of his cues and found a hit that I like.

Good luck in your search. Various tips may be the least expensive experimentation that you can do on your existing equipment.

-after 25 years-welcome back.:thumbup:
Click to expand...
+++++++++++
Thank you, sir, good points! Looks like I have some work to do!

Wayno
 
Lightbender said:
Gotta say, this place is an incredible resource and it's folks like you who make it so. Thanks for sharing, it really is appreciated!
Click to expand...

AZ has a lot of great posters and they are always willing to lend a hand. Good luck in your search for the perfect combination for you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top