He never used a glass-coated shaft, he used the all-wood R360. Neither did Earl, he had stock shafts turned down to his preferred size and without the glass. Supposedly A. Fisher used a stock glass-coated shaft when she was with CT.he went from what though? cuetec glassfiber?
Believe that all you want but i've heard from pretty solid sources that neither Predator or Cuetec tells their players what they have to use. These co's want their players to WIN, that's the exposure they want regardless of which shaft they use.If he wants to stay with CT he will use the shaft they say to use again money talks .
The fiber glass coated shafts played OK.He never used a glass-coated shaft, he used the all-wood R360. Neither did Earl, he had stock shafts turned down to his preferred size and without the glass. Supposedly A. Fisher used a stock glass-coated shaft when she was with CT.
In humid weather they were horrible. Back when they first came out nobody used gloves.The fiber glass coated shafts played OK.
The problem was before many folks used gloves, is they felt really sticky.
The story goes the SVB was involved in developing the Cynergy shaft, that it was made for his demands and requirements, so of course he likes it.Story i heard about SVB was that within about ten shots with the Cynergy he was sold, never goin back. No arm twisting involved, he said it was clearly the best shaft he'd ever hit. I'm sure what CT pays him( around 200k/year supposedly) is sweet but he's not going to use a shaft he doesn't like.
Since getting my latest KW shafts made that I’m playing with less than a month, 3 local players where I play pool have switched from CF to KW shafts. Two have ordered shafts from the cue maker I searched long and hard to find and the other is waiting to sell a couple of CF shafts he’s been playing with. The ironic aspect is he was playing with the 1st version Tsunami shaft and switched to CF that he played for well over a year. Two weeks ago he asked how heavy my KW shafts were and the diameter. I have a 12.6, 12.75 and 12.85mm shafts with Kamui Black Clear soft tips. I told him to pick one and let’s play pool.I've been using and experimenting with CF shafts for the last 6 months since I've returned to the game. I bough 4 CF shafts from mid to high levels.
My 2 cents - As someone that knows how to take care of his cues and shafts, doing my own tips and shaft care and don't travel with cues anymore besides driving to the pool hall, I could have just stayed with my wooden Predator 314-2 shafts that I already have that are still in good condition.
Having said that, If I was to buy a new cue, a first cue or an upgrade, or maybe it's just time for a new shaft, I would only go with a CF shaft. and not just that, I would get one of the higher end shafts, as there is a difference in performance and deflection.
A Predator wooden shaft goes for $360, Predator CF goes for $500, The CF shafts will last longer so in the long run, it not more expansive.
Since getting my latest KW shafts made that I’m playing with less than a month, 3 local players where I play pool have switched from CF to KW shafts. Two have ordered shafts from the cue maker I searched long and hard to find and the other is waiting to sell a couple of CF shafts he’s been playing with. The ironic aspect is he was playing with the 1st version Tsunami shaft and switched to CF that he played for well over a year. Two weeks ago he asked how heavy my KW shafts were and the diameter. I have a 12.6, 12.75 and 12.85mm shafts with Kamui Black Clear soft tips. I told him to pick one and let’s play pool.
4 hours later, he was delighted with my cue maker choice and the Kielwood shafts he built. He didn’t care for the Tsunami KW shaft that he thought felt too light but he absolutely loved playing with my uncored, all wood shafts.
He asked me for my cue maker contact information and told me to let him know he’d be ordering a KW shaft just like one of mine. I see so many players wearing a glove and maybe they like the feel or maybe they just don’t like the feel of a CF shaft.
Personally, I like the feel of a satin smooth wood shaft in my closed and open cue bridge. And the KW shafts after receiving some Renaissance Wax treatment feel better than my orig, maple shafts. My only regret is not being able to install 1/2” ivory ferrules on my KW shafts. I betcha the shafts would play even better than they do now.