Is it worth getting an OB-1 for a lucasi?

I had a lucasi and had a 314-2 made for it. After a while of playing with it and comparing it to other cues that were a lot higher end (Schon, Jacoby, Ed Young, Southwest etc.) I noticed something that I did not like about it. Lucasi's I've come to find are very back end weighted. By that I mean the balance point is towards the back of the cue. So I took the advice of a friend and removed the weight bolt. Walla, there was an instant difference, it was now more evenly balanced like those other high end cues. The only sacrifice was that I had a little bit lighter of a cue, no biggie. Some people don't have any respect if you're not carrying around a custom cue, or a cue that costs more than $500. But Lucasi's are not bad. Like I said, the only issue I had with them was the balance point. I think one advantage to having a less expensive cue is you don't have to worry about it so much as if it were a $2500 one when you have to go to the bathroom or buy some drinks or something like this. So bottom line, I think the shaft is the most important part of the cue, but the butt is also important because it determines the weight and balance of the cue. Do I think that putting a 314-2 or an ob-1 on a lower end cue is a waste? As long as the cue has the weight and balance that you like I don't think it is such a big issue.

P.S. I also have a Viking, and had an ob-1 made for that. But unlike the Lucasi, it already had a great balance and feel so I didn't have to mess with it.
 
JCIN said:
I think the low delection shafts make the most sense for someone just learning. Why spend all the time learning to play with deflection then switch to something completely different? Just does not make sense to me. IMO if you like the OB1 shaft and the way it plays go for it, as long as the butt is straight and you like the way it balances that is all that matters.
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Good point. A strong local player once told me. Get a cue and marry yourself to that cue. His point was, if you're always switching equipment, and cues, or shafts, it is going to have a serious detrimental effect on your game.
 
David Beck said:
I've always thought that. However, Meucci's Black Dot experiment results are quite perplexing.
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What experiment is that?

I think the only thing that matters about the butt is how it feels to you, and that personal preference is acquired through familiarity with what you've got. So the butt doesn't matter until you've formed these preferences, and even then it's easy to change your preferences to match what you want next.

I agree with one comment about low-squirt shafts: it's preferable to start with them right away so you don't have to re-groove your aim later on. My suggestion to choose lessons instead was based on the assumption that money is a factor now. If you're starting out and need to choose between lessons and a low-squirt shaft, I'd recommend lessons.

pj
chgo
 
madhaterm3 said:
first post... i've been reading around for a week or so.

I just bought a Lucasi L-EWR. I like the cue better than any of the others i've played (doesn't say much... KC cue, viper, and a cuetec. It has a leather grip which i love because my hands get all sweaty when I'm playing...

Anyway.. the OB-1 cost the same as the whole cue .... Is the handling mainly in the shaft/tip or what role does the butt play?

thoughts?
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In a word...........NO
 
madhaterm3 said:
first post... i've been reading around for a week or so.

I just bought a Lucasi L-EWR. I like the cue better than any of the others i've played (doesn't say much... KC cue, viper, and a cuetec. It has a leather grip which i love because my hands get all sweaty when I'm playing...

Anyway.. the OB-1 cost the same as the whole cue .... Is the handling mainly in the shaft/tip or what role does the butt play?

thoughts?
Click to expand...

The shaft is important, but that doesn't necessarily mean an OB-1 is right for you. I tried one and didn't like it at all. Gave it away, didn't even resell it.
It is a matter of what works for you, I try it before I bought one.
JMHO.
 
Wow.. a lot of responses, thanks everyone! A lot of good insight.

I would have no clue where or how to find someone with a OB-1 shaft to try it out. I live in Iowa...

I do practice at least 1 hour a day. Pool is entirely my passion. In the last tournament I made it pretty far. To the end of the tree on the loser side (double elim) and lost in the last match before the loser winner plays the winner winner.. I wonder if that made ANY sence... lol. Regardless most of my sucking I chock up to being so nervous. Since I played with this new cue I actually performed significantly better and was less nervous. The balence on it is great for me, I had it taken down to 18.5 oz with the stock shaft and the balence point is exactly where i feel it needs to be.

i think that i will get an Ob-1 just based on a lot of the reviews on here. if i dont like it atleast someone else will want it from seeing them get sold quickly on the for sale forums.
 
olauzon said:
it appears you live in se iowa, so you must be referring to spin on a cue ball. with that it also appears your league isn't all that tight, or your son is on his way to hustle you for allowance
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LOL! ........... No, our league really isn't all that "tight". There is probably only about a dozen A type players, and a couple of guys who are at/near the Master level. And yes, he will probably be hustling me for allowance within the next year at his pace of improvement. The guys who I've played with for many, many years that have seen my son play this past year keep telling me he's gonna be kicking my arse within the next year or two. He has a very strong game for someone who has really only been playing for just over a year now. :D

And yes, he only uses center ball control at this point but I think with the responses I've gotten here I'm going to have him practicing/playing english with an LD shaft starting tonight. I see many, many 2-3 hour practice sessions in his near future.
 
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Patrick Johnson said:
What experiment is that?

I think the only thing that matters about the butt is how it feels to you, and that personal preference is acquired through familiarity with what you've got. So the butt doesn't matter until you've formed these preferences, and even then it's easy to change your preferences to match what you want next.
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http://www.meuccicues.com/blackdot-chart.htm Shows differing results with the same shaft and different butts.

Videos of the test can be found here: http://www.meuccicues.com/BlackDot.htm
 
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