I want to try a different low deflection shaft. Please chime in

K

knish4242

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey guys I have been playing with a original 314 shaft for the last 2 yrs. I have been noticing my long shots are getting tougher my position play just isn't the same.

I was playing pretty strong last winter cashed high in some big tournaments. The last 2 months I have been struggling to make a shot. Almost like my mind not in it.

I have been switching back and forth from different cues still using a 314 shaft. Still the same. I thought if I got a different shaft maybe it will be a new start. I would like something close to the original 314 so let me know the shaft that's close to it Ty joe...

Ob, mezz, jacoby hybrid, etc
 
it does not make sense to me. You seem to have been happy with your play for the first 22 months and not the last 2. Possibly something else is going on. Sounds like a bit of a slump. I would check if something in your fundamentals have changed before getting a new shaft.

Good luck
 
If you want to get a new shaft, because sometimes a guy likes to get some new equipment, then feel free to do so, but don't go chasing phantoms, knish. It's not your shaft. It's you.
Play through it and don't worry about it. You'll be right as rain in no time. :)
 
Sometimes a change of equipment can take your attention off "whats wrong", and get you trying out the new toy......which at times has helped me find issues.

I don't think the cue or shaft is the issue, but I guess my point is when you change what you are paying attention to, you find what needs attention.

good luck,

G.
 
knish4242 said:
Hey guys I have been playing with a original 314 shaft for the last 2 yrs. I have been noticing my long shots are getting tougher my position play just isn't the same.

I was playing pretty strong last winter cashed high in some big tournaments. The last 2 months I have been struggling to make a shot. Almost like my mind not in it.

I have been switching back and forth from different cues still using a 314 shaft. Still the same. I thought if I got a different shaft maybe it will be a new start. I would like something close to the original 314 so let me know the shaft that's close to it Ty joe...

Ob, mezz, jacoby hybrid, etc
Click to expand...

Lack of focus would be tough to fix with a new shaft, you should listen to the cuemakers talk in the free TAR roundtable they did, it's on YouTube and I think also there is a link in the TAR website. They talk exactly about what you are saying "oh, I keep missing this shot, I need to try a new shaft or new cue".

What you should do is practice and try to find out why you are missing. I'll give you a hint as to the cause, it's not the shaft, it's the thing that tells the shaft where to hit :smile: Instead of a new shaft, spend the $200 on lessons with a good teacher that can help you adjust to see why you are missing, especially if it's shots you used to make OK before. Maybe you changed how you stand or line up over the cue.

Edit, I posted this without reading the other replies but it seems like that is what others are also saying.
 
I actually think it could be a good idea to try an equipment change. Although the problem isn't the equipment and a new shaft won't be a "magic bullet", making a change in your equipment will make you pay more attention to your fundamentals while you get used to the new shaft. At least for me, any time I change equipment, I always make sure that I am not introducing any of my flaws into the equation, as I want to really see what I think of the new item and not taint my opinion by assigning my flaws to the item.

It may just force you to look more closely at what your problem actually is and be beneficial in the long run.
 
I would suggest finding a nice 9ft table. Setting up the same straight shots with center english. That has told me so much about my stroke. Did you make the ball and what did the cue ball do. I noticed at times I might make the ball but the cue rolled forward or had spin. I might miss but the cue stopped. Just think this simple drill will tell you so much about your stroke and consistency.
 
Do yourself a favor, hold on to the 200 bucks you'd have wasted trying to buy an equipment fix,
and get an ACTUAL fix from an instructor. $200 will buy you a couple of hours of top notch instruction.
You might learn something huge in the first 15 minutes.
 
If you get a new shaft you'll have to adjust your game to play with it. Every shaft has a different feel and to know how it feels in your hand you'll have to try it for yourself.
 
Bias opinion

Sorry I am not a LD FAN.

I shot with a Laminated LD shaft for a year. .
But I wasn't happy with my cue ball control. And my cue was falling apart :angry:

My game leveled off or even got worse because I wasn't getting the correct spin on the cue ball and was trying to over compensate.
Switched back to a solid shaft .
From the very first shot with a solid shaft , I knew I was done with Laminated LD shafts.

Just to be 100% fair to all the companies and the custom cue makers , not all laminated LD shafts are the same. And with the same respect not all solid shafts are the same either.

There are a lot of issues besides how the shaft plays , how does it feel or sound.
Will the shaft hold up, ferrules warping delamination cracking threads on the joint..

Just a thought but maybe you should try a solid maple shaft.

That and You need to play better players. Dig deep;)

There are also non laminated LD shafts , Pretty much anyone with a lathe can convert a solid maple shaft into a LD shaft.

It pretty much comes down to each person and what they like.

Good luck with your choice.

MMike
 
C'mon guys... the man just wants to try out a new piece of equipment to see if it can help him improve. I'm sure he knows that there is no piece of magic wood out there, but we all have to find a way to justify purchasing new equipment that we don't need, right? ;)

I'd suggest trying a 314-2. There will be a difference, but it won't be humongous. Plus, if you don't like it, it should be a pretty quick sell for you on the BST... Predator shafts usually aren't hard to unload.

If you want to get away from Predator, I can't say enough good things about OB shafts. They make a great product. The OB-1 should be close to what you have now, from an "adjusting for squirt" perspective.
 
LD shaft

I would try getting another shaft exactly like yours. The reason I say this is - I have a friend that owns a pool hall. He shoots A LOT. He uses Predator equipment. He says that he notices that after 8 months to a year, his shaft shoots differently. I have seen Predator shafts that seem to get dark lines along the laminations. If the glue is giving way there has to be a weakness that may in fact change consistency.
 
I went from a Mezz wd700 to a 11.8 judd shaft with the "Efren" taper. I have become a better player since, I can't take anything for granted with the Judd shaft. When I try the wd700 I become a frickin caveman, playing stupid position with lots of spin instead of simple shots. I've learned alot from playing with a solidish maple shaft.
 
knish4242 said:
Hey guys I have been playing with a original 314 shaft for the last 2 yrs. I have been noticing my long shots are getting tougher my position play just isn't the same.

I was playing pretty strong last winter cashed high in some big tournaments. The last 2 months I have been struggling to make a shot. Almost like my mind not in it.

I have been switching back and forth from different cues still using a 314 shaft. Still the same. I thought if I got a different shaft maybe it will be a new start. I would like something close to the original 314 so let me know the shaft that's close to it Ty joe...

Ob, mezz, jacoby hybrid, etc
Click to expand...

you might consider trying the mezz WD700 shaft. it's similar to the 314 shafts but with a smaller tip. what ever you do do not,i repeat!!!!, do not sell your original 314 shaft. you're probably just going through a phase and may be over saturated. no matter what you try being able to go back to what you're completely dialed into is a must.
 
I think a friend of his should steal his existing shaft, get it professionally cleaned on a lathe,
maybe sand off the predator logo, and then hand it to him and say "this is a new LD shaft from
that custom cuemaker in our area, Dick Puller. Hit a few balls, see how you like it".

The guy will swear he plays 2 balls better with it, problem solved.
 
CreeDo said:
I think a friend of his should steal his existing shaft, get it professionally cleaned on a lathe,
maybe sand off the predator logo, and then hand it to him and say "this is a new LD shaft from
that custom cuemaker in our area, Dick Puller. Hit a few balls, see how you like it".
The guy will swear he plays 2 balls better with it, problem solved.
Click to expand...


Yea, Dick Puller. I thought that name rang a bell. Poor guy developed an addiction to porn and had to be put away. Damned fine cue maker, too. :smile:
 
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