Help picking new shaft.
- Thread starter Bustah360
- Start date
I'm pretty sure the most natural hit would be straight grained hard maple.
Another vote for a natural shaft.
But if you gotta go LD, any of the major brands are fine choices.
I'd suggest you give your $ to Tiger Products, a longtime sup[porter of AZB.
Is it not possible for you to try friend's cues?
But if you gotta go LD, any of the major brands are fine choices.
I'd suggest you give your $ to Tiger Products, a longtime sup[porter of AZB.
Is it not possible for you to try friend's cues?
Can you explain a little more about what exactly you mean by "natural hit". I think that could really go either way. Squirting/deflecting is the "natural way a CB goes when being hit with english" LD is the "natural way a CB moves in ones mind when being hit". Or are you talking about what LD shaft comes closest to the "feel" of a standard shaft? So can you clarify? I might be able to help.
I meant by the most natural feeling to that of a maple shaft. I've seen LD shafts feel like I'm shooting with something hollow as a straw. I actually had a 2nd maple shaft made for my cue, but don't think one can be made LD less than the 12.3 I'm shooting with without sacrificing too much whip on it.
My first choice as far as LD shafts are concerned would be a Mezz WD700.
It depends on what you want;
A) you could get a natural hit by using a natural maple shaft that has been turned down to 11mm at the tip and it will also be a LD shaft.
B) you could use any of the LD manufactured shafts from 12.5mm to 11.5mm tips and guess whether the shaft has a natural hit or not.
A) you could get a natural hit by using a natural maple shaft that has been turned down to 11mm at the tip and it will also be a LD shaft.
B) you could use any of the LD manufactured shafts from 12.5mm to 11.5mm tips and guess whether the shaft has a natural hit or not.
Try a Players HXT shaft, 11.75 mm, about $100 with a Kamui Soft or $80 for a 12.75 version.
I have had 2 LD shafts I liked the hit of, a Mike Webb shaft that he made a couple of for a friend of mine, and the Players HXT shaft that's on my son's new cue. He has the 12.75 mm one, which feels thicker than that to me, but you can probably turn that down to a 12.3 or less, or go with the 11.75mm model which looks to be a bit over that anyway based on some feedback I got from other owners. They tend to be over the listed diameter a bit.
Those two shafts, after trying several 314 and OB models over the years have the closest match to a regular maple shaft. The OB had a nice hit to it, but felt a bit whippy.
The HST does not have a huge amount of LD properties, it's a bit in the middle range. Mike Dechaine tried it and missed two shots by a diamond when he aimed the same way he would with his Predator stick. But it does deflect less than all the regular shafts I use with my cue.
I have had 2 LD shafts I liked the hit of, a Mike Webb shaft that he made a couple of for a friend of mine, and the Players HXT shaft that's on my son's new cue. He has the 12.75 mm one, which feels thicker than that to me, but you can probably turn that down to a 12.3 or less, or go with the 11.75mm model which looks to be a bit over that anyway based on some feedback I got from other owners. They tend to be over the listed diameter a bit.
Those two shafts, after trying several 314 and OB models over the years have the closest match to a regular maple shaft. The OB had a nice hit to it, but felt a bit whippy.
The HST does not have a huge amount of LD properties, it's a bit in the middle range. Mike Dechaine tried it and missed two shots by a diamond when he aimed the same way he would with his Predator stick. But it does deflect less than all the regular shafts I use with my cue.
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This was my main complaint about the 1st generation LD’s. (to me) McDermotts “I” shafts “hit” like a “standard” shaft. When I 1st used one (the I-2) I didn’t know it was an LD shaft. But as I will always say “there is no magic pool equipment” the best you can do is balance it and make it “feel” right to a particular player. You may think McDermott equipment all hits like garbage or the greatest feeling ever, it is the most personal of things.
I like the OB Classic (I think the OB Classic Pro is the 11.75 version). Also, if you can find one, the TX-8 version (11.75) of the Universal Smart Shaft if very good. I've had one of those for a long time and refuse to sell it. Those are about the only two I have tried that I really like.
Call OB cues they will make the collars to fit anything you request.
We can do a custom collar for you at no additional charge in about 2 weeks.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
I do appreciate that, but the last time I hit with an OB shaft although it did feel easy to get used to, it was too soft a hit for me.
Try the classic or classic pro! The soft hit is the first line of shafts called OB-1 & OB-2.
You probably hit with the OB1. I too never gave OB a second thought as the hit was just too soft and mushy for me.
However, I tried the OB Classic at the SBE, and WOW! I really like it. The hit feels far more solid than a Predator 314-2, and deflection is extremely close. The OB Classic pro is 11.75 mm and hits about the same as the OB Classic, but with even less deflection. I wasn't 100% crazy about the OB taper, so I smoothed it out a tiny bit on my lathe. Now I have even less deflection, and a great feel. I am extremely happy with this shaft...I had played with Predator for at least 10 years. A Kamui black soft tip really took it over the top. Best setup ever!!
KMRUNOUT
Than get an OB Classic as it has a stiffer/harder hit... problem solved..An OB shaft will NEVER, and I mean NEVER "feel" or "sound" like my Burton Spain cue..... but it don't matter, because the sound of the balls hitting the pockets is just a tad sweeter to me.........
I 2nd that,, WD700 is a very nice LD shaft,, decent feel, medium hit , and low deflection..
As a couple of other posters mentioned, I am guessing you hit with either the OB-1 or OB-2 with wooden ferrules which do have a very soft hit. The OB Classic and OB Classic Pro Shafts have conventional white ferrules on them and have a firm, crisp hit.