Im Done!!!!!

pooljunkie4ever

pooljunkie4ever

Grab Life by the BALL!
Silver Member
With my OB-1 Shaft, tired it for around a month, playing around 15-20 hrs a week. I just can't get the feel for it, if you know what I mean. The ball squarts off funny to the extent that I am miss the pocket by a diamond on long shots.
For instance, I was practicing this Tuesday, arrived at the hall around 6:00, played with the OB shaft for about an 1 hour. I couldn't run easy racks out, granted I was playing on the tough Diamonds, but still I would make 1 or 2 balls than miss. Finally I told myself, ENOUGH!!!, I am giving up on the shaft.
I pulled my old shaft out and it was totally different, call it confidence or knowing exactly where to strike the Object ball,whatever, but I started pocketing balls and running out.
Just writing this to inform people that are borderline on purchasing one of these, if you are playing well with you current shaft, continue using it! That is what's best for your game.
My accessment on this shaft is: Sponge hit, IMO Soft, I tried to strike the
Object Ball in the no deflection point, but with my years of playing a certain way I couldn't find this point. Everytime I thought I was putting throw english on the ball, the Object Ball would just go a different line to what
I had in mind, I really had a big problem with this issue, pretty fustrating.
I am in no means knocking the shaft. What can be good for someone can also be bad for someone else.
Has anyone else expierence this kind of affect with this shaft?

PS, One thing is for sure, you can get more action with this shaft. That is not part of my game, I try to move the CB a little as possible with very little
english. Maybe that is why this shaft just wasn't for me.
Good shooting and thanks for you time.
 
THUMP. Another consumer has just fallen off the OB-wagon.

Quick, I'll get the mind control drugs. Someone go grab the strobe light.
 
wonder what the next flavor of the month will be? The next great item to turn a bad player into god in one simple purchase and a little practice with it?
 
Shawn Armstrong said:
THUMP. Another consumer has just fallen off the OB-wagon.

Quick, I'll get the mind control drugs. Someone go grab the strobe light.
Click to expand...

Shawn, lots of people I know have never heard of the OB-1. Those who have are interested in shooting a bit with it.

In the FWIW category, a local Chicago shortstop the other night shot with it for a bit and then started doing some stroke shots and never missed a ball... "Man, this cue doesn't miss." Another Chicago shortstop shot with it several weeks ago and really liked it...

Thumps will come and go. I personally don't like the hit it produces, but I sure do like potting balls more consistently.

Maybe when the customized Schmelke sneaky is ready I'll switch over to it. (Having it made with an 11 mm tip and long, 15 inch taper, 1/4 inch ferrule.)

In the meantime, potting more balls and getting adequate shape is the most important thing to me, and the OB-1 is helping me achieve this.

Flex
 
Sounds like you gave it a shot...I have had a couple of cues that did me like that too.

That is why they make Almond Joy and Mounds.
 
cubc said:
wonder what the next flavor of the month will be? The next great item to turn a bad player into god in one simple purchase and a little practice with it?
Click to expand...

You mean someone is actually working on producing a mass marketed whiz bang stroke and a new brain to complement it?
 
I find that the more time and experience you have at the table, the less accepting you may find yourself to be of other types of equipment. One of the local guys who has been shooting for over 30 years has all kinds of cues and can easily afford any $1,200 cue he wants, and has fine small collection, yet when he really wants to play a good game, goes back to his Joss with whittled down shaft.
 
Just having some fun, Flex.

Whenever a new product hits the market, EVERYONE runs out and buys it, and revels in how WONDERFUL it is. Recent examples - X-breaker, Gulyassy Sledgehammer, BK2, Predator Air, OB-1, Z shaft, X-shaft. I don't see the same people running out to get lessons to make up for lack of fundamentals.

I played a kid a few weeks ago, and we were shooting a few shots. He was playing english on everything. When I asked him why he juiced the ball so much, he said he used the OB-1. He then asked me to hit with it. Whenever I try out a cue, I could care less about how it makes balls, or how much spin it puts on the ball. I hit two shots with a cue. I play a 4 diamond length stun run through shot. I then play a 3-4 diamond distance shot and try to draw the cueball back 4-6 inches. It took me 20 attempts to make these shots with the OB-1. Constantly over followed the SRT shot, and had a whale of a time trying to get the OB-1 to bring the cueball back anything less than a foot.
 
Is it OK that I take lessons with Scott Lee and shoot with a 314 1st generation (call me old skool!) and a Sledgehammer break cue?
 
cubc said:
wonder what the next flavor of the month will be? The next great item to turn a bad player into god in one simple purchase and a little practice with it?
Click to expand...
I sell magical cue dust that was brewed by pixies if you want to buy some.

It's called "Obi-wan". It puts the force into your cue.
 
So long as you're done with it, try something. Get some 80grit sandpaper, give it a little concave shape, and shape the tip with it moving up from the ferrule to the top center of the tip as you slowly roll the shaft.

Be aggressive with the sandpaper to the point that it really picks up the leather a lot. Take some shots now, and I'm guessing it will feel like a whole different stick. If it does, consider some tip experimenting.
 
pooljunkie4ever said:
With my OB-1 Shaft, tired it for around a month, playing around 15-20 hrs a week. I just can't get the feel for it, if you know what I mean. The ball squarts off funny to the extent that I am miss the pocket by a diamond on long shots.
For instance, I was practicing this Tuesday, arrived at the hall around 6:00, played with the OB shaft for about an 1 hour. I couldn't run easy racks out, granted I was playing on the tough Diamonds, but still I would make 1 or 2 balls than miss. Finally I told myself, ENOUGH!!!, I am giving up on the shaft.
I pulled my old shaft out and it was totally different, call it confidence or knowing exactly where to strike the Object ball,whatever, but I started pocketing balls and running out.
Just writing this to inform people that are borderline on purchasing one of these, if you are playing well with you current shaft, continue using it! That is what's best for your game.
My accessment on this shaft is: Sponge hit, IMO Soft, I tried to strike the
Object Ball in the no deflection point, but with my years of playing a certain way I couldn't find this point. Everytime I thought I was putting throw english on the ball, the Object Ball would just go a different line to what
I had in mind, I really had a big problem with this issue, pretty fustrating.
I am in no means knocking the shaft. What can be good for someone can also be bad for someone else.
Has anyone else expierence this kind of affect with this shaft?

PS, One thing is for sure, you can get more action with this shaft. That is not part of my game, I try to move the CB a little as possible with very little
english. Maybe that is why this shaft just wasn't for me.
Good shooting and thanks for you time.
Click to expand...

It's not just the OB-1, it can be ANY shaft. I agree that a player should not fight a shaft with characteristics mismatched to their stroke. If it doesn't work for you after a week or two, eject the damn thing. Just get rid of it before it really hurts your game. No one shaft is right for all players.

Chris
 
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I also had my OB-1 a month ago, I been playing with it. Still don't get the feeling of it. I miss balls. I misscue sometimes with the draw... beside my draw shots are not really good as before. but I'll keep it for another month since I don't own my old shaft/cue now. and if I want to giveup for the ob-1 i must order a 314 before giving up... I still sure I feel the draw shots more than this..
 
I suppose it can vary from person to person, but for me it takes a good 8 months to a year with a new cue or shaft before I really feel comfortable with it (and that's practicing 30 hours a week)
 
Tim5000 said:
I suppose it can vary from person to person, but for me it takes a good 8 months to a year with a new cue or shaft before I really feel comfortable with it (and that's practicing 30 hours a week)
Click to expand...

Dayyyumm.

Try taking some lessons from Scott Lee; Your head will be spinning for decades!

It's for the better, I promise.
 
Tim5000 said:
I suppose it can vary from person to person, but for me it takes a good 8 months to a year with a new cue or shaft before I really feel comfortable with it (and that's practicing 30 hours a week)
Click to expand...


That equates to approx 960 hours of playing? Wish I had that kind of time to practice/play. Seriously though, that seems like quite a long time to establish a comfort level? On the other hand, I was very surprised how quickly someone at the level of John Schmidt has been able to adapt to the OB-1. I have been trying one, for about a month and so far I haven't been able to get used to it. A return to my Josey shafts is probably in my near future.
 
Let me start by saying, I wasn't looking to buy something that will elevate my game to the "Magician", LOL, there is no such thing. I have been playing for quite a while and I only have 3 cues. These cues have been with me for about 10+ years. I am not the type to listen to all the hype,but this time I will admit I fell for it.I had a chance to purchase the shaft at 50% off, so I did, can't ask for a better deal. Any way, just giving my opinion about it.
Happy shooting, Season open today:D
 
TATE said:
It's not just the OB-1, it can be ANY shaft. I agree that a player should not fight a shaft with characteristics mismatched to their stroke. If it doesn't work for you after a week or two, eject the damn thing. Just get rid of it before it really hurts your game. No one shaft is right for all players.

Chris
Click to expand...

Totally agree. Laminated shaft or Solid Maple Shaft. Having the proper taper to match your playing style and properly groomed tip is the key.
 
I would think some people who have been playing for the last ten years (me for one) would never have played with anything except laminated shafts. My first cue had a prototype flat laminated shaft that Bill Dominiak made for me (the only flat laminated shaft he ever made ,I believe). I then purchased a couple of Meucci cues with the much maligned "black dot" shaft, then a predator sp with a 314 and then an ob-1 for the sp. The differences between these shafts were not dramatic though I still seem to play best with the flat laminated shafts.
I wonder if the change to a non laminated shaft would be as difficult for a player that has never played with one as the many players who are trying to go in the other direction are finding it. Newer players who grow up with this equipment are going to view it quite differently than Shawn Armstrong does. I have to say that I agree with his ridicule of some of the claims made by players using this equipment and the people selling it. There is no magic cue. It obviously hasn't stopped me from looking for one though.:D
 
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Ignore this thread people! This is merely propaganda perpetuated by the Predator Corporation. It's obviously a conspiracy to without the undisputable evidence that the ugly OB-1 is far superior anything else out there.

Everybody sing with me, "KOOMBAYAH, MY LORD, KOOMBAYAH!"
 
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