Just bought a new shaft. Hope i didn't make a mistake

N

nahog99

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Alright so I have been playing with a schon cue and an ob classic shaft for a while now. I heard that the new ob plus shafts are amazing so I ordered a new OB Classic+ shaft. As i did with my last one, I had it sent to schon so they could put their specific joint on it(it has a pretty large pilot) just to make sure its a perfect fit.

Well after a couple weeks schon called me and said they had my blank ready to go but didn't know if I wanted a 29 inch or 30 inch. Don't ask my why, but for whatever reason I said 30 inch.

I'm very analytical and maybe I'm over thinking this but do you think it is going to ruin my cue? The idea of a longer cue is appealing to me but from everything I've read it should be split 30/30 or 29.5 and 29.5. This is the biggest concern of mine, that the shaft is longer than the butt. Will it be more forward weighted now or rear weighted? My other concern is that it might be more "whippy" than I like. The main reason i went with the classic is because its a stiff hitting shaft. I also read on another thread here from someone that had been making cues and to make a longer shaft requires the whole taper and everything to be re-engineered(in his opinion). Also, would it be more susceptible to warpage?

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience in this regard? I've been so excited about getting this new shaft and now I'm worrying myself. Also, if anyone knows, are all OB partial shafts able to be made 29 OR 30 inch? Or is there some sort of design difference. I ask because on OBs website it is a 3 week special order for a 30 inch shaft. Someone set my mind at ease!
 
Will B

nahog99 said:
Alright so I have been playing with a schon cue and an ob classic shaft for a while now. I heard that the new ob plus shafts are amazing so I ordered a new OB Classic+ shaft. As i did with my last one, I had it sent to schon so they could put their specific joint on it(it has a pretty large pilot) just to make sure its a perfect fit.

Well after a couple weeks schon called me and said they had my blank ready to go but didn't know if I wanted a 29 inch or 30 inch. Don't ask my why, but for whatever reason I said 30 inch.

I'm very analytical and maybe I'm over thinking this but do you think it is going to ruin my cue? The idea of a longer cue is appealing to me but from everything I've read it should be split 30/30 or 29.5 and 29.5. This is the biggest concern of mine, that the shaft is longer than the butt. Will it be more forward weighted now or rear weighted? My other concern is that it might be more "whippy" than I like. The main reason i went with the classic is because its a stiff hitting shaft. I also read on another thread here from someone that had been making cues and to make a longer shaft requires the whole taper and everything to be re-engineered(in his opinion). Also, would it be more susceptible to warpage?

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience in this regard? I've been so excited about getting this new shaft and now I'm worrying myself. Also, if anyone knows, are all OB partial shafts able to be made 29 OR 30 inch? Or is there some sort of design difference. I ask because on OBs website it is a 3 week special order for a 30 inch shaft. Someone set my mind at ease!
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I think it will be fine. SW shafts are longer then the butts and they play great.
 
When you get it, give it a kiss & think in your mind that you were just received a MAGIC WAND & you won't miss much anymore. After about a minute, you'll ask why you didn't do this many years before.

If it rolls across the table like a crooked snake, still play with it like it was a MAGIC WAND, maybe that's what us crooked stroke players need. A crooked stick to negate our crooked stroke, so we can play better... Ha Ha Ha.

Good Luck... I hope the first scenario plays out well for you.
 
ceebee said:
When you get it, give it a kiss & think in your mind that you were just received a MAGIC WAND & you won't miss much anymore. After about a minute, you'll ask why you didn't do this many years before.

If it rolls across the table like a crooked snake, still play with it like it was a MAGIC WAND, maybe that's what us crooked stroke players need. A crooked stick to negate our crooked stroke, so we can play better... Ha Ha Ha.

Good Luck... I hope the first scenario plays out well for you.
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Haha, thanks.
 
I ordered a 30" OB2 (not +) a few months ago because that's the only size Seybert's had with a "stitched" collar (matches the OB cue).

Before it arrived I wondered the same thing you're wondering. "Did I make a mistake?"

Short answer: No. For some reason the 30" shaft just feels better. I'm glad I made the impluse buy! And any future shaft I buy will be 30".
 
It shouldn't make much difference unless you hit the wall in back of you when you are stroking.:smile:
 
They usually have them pre-made as partials. The taper, ferrule, and tip are pre-set and crafted. The base is left as-is so a cue maker can thread for their pin preference and cut for length.

It's not that they extend the taper an 1" at the top. You should be fine. If not, you can probably have the shaft cut and reduced to 29". I could be wrong, but that's what I think.

-Doug
 
You'll be fine.

I've been buying 30" Predator shafts to go with my 29" butts for years because I am tall and my hand would slip off the back of the butt on some shots. Then I got a 30" butt to go along with the 30" shafts. And of course I have thousands of hours in with 29" Predator shafts and 29" butts.

Short answer, except for my hand not falling off the back of the butt, I never noticed any difference in hit, play, sound, etc., in any of the configuratoins.
 
We just took an OB-1 plus to a cuemaker for a custom ring, made it 30" (partials are 30.5)
Standard Everest tip, and it is an exceptional playing shaft.
I prefer the OB-1 taper, but I also prefer Schon shafts with my Schon cues.
If you don't like the way it plays you will be able to sell a 30" Schon OB Classic plus on AZ, and recoup most of your cost.
I think you made some smart decisions overall.
 
I concur as most of my cues are longer than considered normal length. I have used 30/30, 29/30 and 29.5/29.5 for about 15 years and much prefer them over what is considered normal (29/29).

I have settled on 29.5/29.5 for my two dedicated playing cues for the last few years.
 
cuesblues said:
We just took an OB-1 plus to a cuemaker for a custom ring, made it 30" (partials are 30.5)
Standard Everest tip, and it is an exceptional playing shaft.
I prefer the OB-1 taper, but I also prefer Schon shafts with my Schon cues.
If you don't like the way it plays you will be able to sell a 30" Schon OB Classic plus on AZ, and recoup most of your cost.
I think you made some smart decisions overall.
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Thanks for the reply. Sounds like i really should have nothing to worry about other than getting used to the extra length, which I actually think might be good for me since I use a pretty long bridge most of the time and hold the stick pretty far back.
 
Be fine

I believe we over think this shaft stuff. Some of the worlds best players players played and still play with regular maple shafts and it would not matter if they used a 29" or 30" shaft on a 29", 30" or 31" butt, they would still be world class players. All a 30" shaft will do is give you one more inch of reach. I have a couple of 30" Diviney Lake Salvage shafts, a 30" OB Classic, and a 31" Meucci Black Dot. All are usedon a couple of 31" butts. I prefer the Diviney shafts even though I shoot fine with the others. Just use your best technique and practice with it and tell yourself you have a really good shaft.
 
I love 30" shafts.
Who ever came up with 58" is where a pool cue has to be anyway???
Just cause it works for one person.....
 
nahog99 said:
Thanks for the reply. Sounds like i really should have nothing to worry about other than getting used to the extra length, which I actually think might be good for me since I use a pretty long bridge most of the time and hold the stick pretty far back.
Click to expand...

One night at league I sold a new Schuler shaft to a guy who's old original Schuler shaft was an inch shorter, probably from a repair.
He did foul the cueball a few times, but then again, he is a B- player who would rather talk politics than play pool.
 
I find if I shoot with a 30'' my stroke feels weird for awhile till my brain
adapts. I found I as missing shots due to the tip hitting the ball sooner
than I was accustom to, due to the longer length.
Give it time, if your brain doesn't like it, sell it, somebody would like
it. Goodluck
 
Long ago I bought a used cue with a 30" shaft and I was surprised how much it reduced the need to stretch uncomfortably for shots. It may only be 1" extra but I really, really noticed that. Otherwise I liked it a lot.

Then when I ordered my next custom I intended to order 30" shafts and forgot to mention it in the order. I wish I had.
 
One thing not mentioned....will it fit in your case with joint protector installed?
Shouldnt be a problem with most cases, but something to consider.
 
All my playing shafts are 30"...wouldn't play without one. I also have an OB classic on my Schon, great fit, same Schon joint. You will like it...
 
Call eARL

Call that Strickland guy up and ask him if an inch on a shaft makes a difference.....
 
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