List of pro players who stick to wood as their playing shaft
- Thread starter Vahmurka
- Start date
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.
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.
The fiber glass coated shafts played OK.
The problem was before many folks used gloves, is they felt really sticky.
In humid weather they were horrible. Back when they first came out nobody used gloves.
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.
It's a good shaft but the ferrule is too soft and I've seen a lot of them crack. Mine has a nasty scar on it that I have no idea how it got there.
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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.
The only reason that I got the InFuze KW shaft was that I wanted a new 5/16x14 flat faced shaft with low deflection for one of my cues.
The only "off the shelf" shafts that I found were this one or the Triple60 CF shaft.
I went with the InFuze because I didn't want to spend $600 on a shaft for a cue that I don't use that often (the InFuze is $382.5) and while at it' I get to try and use KW that I haven't before.
The shaft is too heavy for my liking, and it deflects more than my CF shafts.
And I don't know how other KW shafts play but this one will get sticky fast and does require a use of gloves.
you wrote on another thread that you wax your shafts weekly, that's insane in my book. If a shafts need that much maintenance, it's not for me.
At the end of the day, it's still wood and no mater how nice wood feel and how nice the reddish KW looks, If I was in the market for a new cue or shaft, I would go with CF. just a personal preference for reasons that are beyond the playability or feel which I have no issues with at all.
The only wooden shaft cue that I would consider today is in relation to the "cue in car" thread is a CueTec Avid as it's cheap and have a warranty against warpage.
And again, knowing now everything I know and experienced with, I should have just save my money and stayed with what I've had in cases 6 months ago.
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
I’ve heard a couple of stories where players use what they’re told to, won’t name any I’ve spoken to in person, but it’s more than one that I’ve personally talked with, and I literally got given a shaft that was ‘forbidden’ to use by a players overlords.
Wasn’t there some public who-ha with Kaci about what shaft he could use?
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
I was given a Hayakawa KW shaft by a pro recently, and lots of players in my local I notice are using one now. Many people on social media here also asking me “what’s this shaft?” Bala bala bala… (was actually given one light and one dark, but I gave the dark one to a friend… pay it forward and all that karma bollocks
)Even players who had a massive, very vocal, chub on for solid maple or carbon. But that’s more to do with the fascination in shiny new things than the quality of play, it serves to remind me how stupid we all are.
The Hayakawa feels very nice to me. Stiffer than my previous maple shaft, but retaining a little bit of whip to it. Smooth as butter, and balances well on my butt. I like it.
Maybe it’s like buying a new car, you see hundreds of identical cars once you start driving your new one.
I've talked with a few actual no-shit staff players. All deny being leaned on to use a shaft/cue. WTF difference does ANY of this make?? The whole point i'm trying to make is : WHY THE F&*K does there need to be a list of players using this-or-that shaft?? What is the point?? Answer: there is none other than maybe to give some people a warm-n-fuzzy feeling knowing that someone uses what they do. Must be so rough to be so insecure because of what cue this/that person does/doesn't play with.
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
Besides fan-girling, I would say such discussion could potentially help decide the actual value of a cue or shaft. Is it really necessary to spend $500 on a $5 carbon tube? Why are so many players using this, that or the other? How much do they get paid to do that? Etc etc
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Funny thing though.....he continues to play world class pool with the cue they FORCE him to play with.....
Becue pays no one to use their cues, I swore when I got back into pool I would never use CF, I am a nobody, no one cares what I use, as the average Joe pool player all I can say is that Becue is a great company and I am fortunate to have done business with them, my Becue is the best hitting cue I have ever owned bar none, Everyone should use what works for them, there is no right or wrong, only what works for YOU, I don't use Becue because it's CF, I use Becue because it is the best hitting cue I have ever owned.
I think is reflective of the human condition that starts out as adolescents. As children, we tend to emulate others we selectively elevate to hero or star status. Maybe it’s a up and coming new young name destined for stardom in tennis, basketball, soccer, baseball, boxing, football, wrestling, track & field, swimming, chess, or some type of competitive endeavor. Maybe it’s someone distinguishing themselves more for their intellect and specialized academic pursuits or perhaps simply because they are a gifted musician or singer. It doesn’t matter what you do to earn the spotlight.
Once you are in it, your future performance and accomplishments not only invite a larger audience of followers and admirers but inspire your most steadfast fans to copy your style, clothes, hair, expressions, favorite foods and also emulate your athletic mannerisms.
Do you know how many Yoo Hoo sodas were sold because of Yogi? Kids would stick out their tongue shooting foul shots because that’s how Michael Jordan did it. Yvonne Goolagong (Cawley) was a reason why young female tennis players would grunt. Jimmy Connors made a lot of young boys use the two handed backhand.
It happens in every sport. Young players to the game emulate others they admire and using equipment endorsed by them is part of the business cycle of sports. Rory McElroy drives the golf ball more accurately and further than anyone except maybe Scottie. Don’t you think people want to play the same driver as those top two pros? Jack Nicklaus made Macgregor Golf a shitload of money by endorsing that brand of golf club. Pool cues really are not any different.
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Flakeandrun
Well-known member
I bought mine used, so I was able to try it before I bought it.How did you know that before you dropped money on it? Who tugged your ear?
Glad you like it and it works for you. You’re right about the subjectivity, and what feels right for a person, and I totally agree with you there.
I didn't need a cue, but I got such a good deal I couldn't afford not to buy it.
Your posts had a lot to do with me trying Becue cues, I really appreciate your reviews and observations of their cues, as a returning player who was away from the game for over 10 years there was a lot of new technology in cues, tips, tools, cases ect., every one has different ideas of what a good hitting cue is to them, you came across as a guy who loved the sport of Billiards and was trying to help others looking at trying CF what your honest and unpaid opinion is of Becue cues, I am trying to pass along my experience as well, you really helped me and I thank you for that, I hope my experience will help someone else like you helped me.
