You hollowed out the carbon-fiber wall for 5.5 inches from the tip. Do you know how thick your hollowed-out CF wall was compared to the CF wall of the Cynergy and Revo shafts?
Some time has gone by since that comment of mine regarding the Z2. Although it's still the lowest production shaft I have personally hit. I don't play with one anymore. ...well generally speaking. I keep that cue in my pool room and play with it rather than putting my competitive player together just for a few swings during the day.
I actually think the word hype is better suited now then ever before. In the beginning it was marketing smoke and mirrors. These days it the users spreading misinformation about what CF actually offers. While the educated know better, the masses are convinced there's some level of performance gain.
Good point. Should have used 'fad' instead. Only gain i've seen in them performance wise is a tad more power. It is easier to drive the cb forward with them. Deflection has been less with all those i've tried compared to maple. Other than that most of the plus's are all convenience/maintenance related.
What wood shafts get as low deflection as Revo or near-Revos?
Who knows why lol If it’s the opposite to you then your not wrong and play with what gives you the confidence to make colored balls go in their intended hole best for you 
I hit every CF I come across and none have bettered the Predator Z2 other than the Cuetec 10.5. ...and yes that includes Revo. In theory you'd think the 11.8 Cynergy should be in the discussion as well, being so close in tip size and to be honest, it's a close 2nd.
Yes, there is this... That tiny gain in power transmission has served me well with my wildly over priced breaker.
You tried one CF shaft and formed an option on all of them. If you want a very low deflection shaft then Predator Revo is what you want. The other CF shafts are no better than the good wood LD shafts. Their popularity is due to more than one feature. You can't assume all CF shafts will be very low deflection, some are very similar to a house cue.
Quit pumping products. Not all CF shafts r created alike! Some deflect like a NERD off of a hot chic and some don't. Buyer beware. BIG TIME!
Thank you.
So what is a good professional setup do you recommend for competing when I don't want to use my customs?
well that depends on a budget
Game changer
Not a surprise . I played lambros before I changed to predator. I was told about the adjustment you have to make changing to low deflection but lambros cues were already low deflection so it’s no surprise. I had no adjustment.
Re reading this I thought the same thing. The op didn’t fall for hype. He tried something new and didn’t care for it and that’s ok. No matter what the difference is in cf shafts if you don’t like the hit then it’s not for you and you’re not going to know unless you try one. If I would have started with cuetec I wouldn’t have liked them either lol I think there’s is the worst I’ve hit with. Other people swear by them . To each his own
No such thing as zero deflection. You'd have to re-write the laws of physics. Some have a lot less than others but ALL shafts deflect the CB to some extent.
Wood OR maple????? Isn't maple WOOD???? Have you even used a CF shaft before?? The differences range from not much to a shitload. Biggest plus for CF is ease of use/owning: no warp, dings, easy to clean, super slick, etc. in many ways its a superior product. Plus the SAME shaft can be produced over-n-over unlike wood where EVERY one is different to varying degrees. You probably still have a phone with a rotary dial, time marches on brother.