Low Deflection Shaft

[Schwinn]

Stick with it. You won't regret it.

The best way to adjust is to start by going back to the center of the cue ball, and then bring in the side spin a little at a time.

I've had many do this and have it work for them very well.

First, just throw some balls out on the table and start shooting them in, but don't use any right or left, just low and high. It doesn't have to be in any order or grouping, you just want to shoot some cut shots. Do this for a good 10 or 15 minutes.

Next, now that your brain is accustomed to aiming for no squirt or deflection (it's that way because you've been only shooting up and down the center axis), start to use some side spin. Start with small amounts first and then move up to more off center.


Most find that the adjustment is pretty quick. Probably in part because they realize that they don't have to hit the cue ball so far off center to get where they need to go, but also because their brain is already lining them up more for center ball than for side spin. With the reduced squirt, a lot of the shots will go in. When you're brain sees the shot go in, it realizes it doesn't have to compensate so much and adjusts pretty quick. I've seen some need to do this a few times before they really see a change, but many others get there really quick and only have to do it once.

Just remember this. Anytime you change a cue or shaft, whether it be LD or regular or whatever, it will most likely be different than what you were playing with. That difference will require you're subconscious to change to the new equipment. Changing to LD is only different in the amount of adjustment, not the fact that you have to adjust. I see people who have trouble because they are trying to do something extra or special to adjust because it's LD. That extra something they are trying to do just messes things up. They would be better off just chalking it up and hitting balls. They will adjust to it just like the have adjusted to every cue they have ever picked up for the first time.


Shoot Well!

Ver good advice from the maker of your new shaft. Give this a try. I love playing with the OB 121 with the pro shaft. Very powerful and well designed. Stick with it for another month at least.

 

[naji]

I have been playing the past few years with standard maple shafts at various diameters (12.25mm up to 13mm). I hadn't picked up a cue for a while and decided I wanted to play again. I figured I'd buy an LD shaft since I was most likely going to have to learn my stroke over again. I remembered playing with my friends' OB-1, OB classic, and Z2 shafts. I was impressed with the OB classic and its feel, really close to my maple shaft without the deflection. Z2 just felt like a sponge with a delay in the impulse. I didn't think getting used to the lower deflection was going to be difficult. I got my new cue in the mail with the OB classic pro and went back to the pool hall. For 4 days I've been playing like absolute crap. Granted, I was never that good before but running a rack of nine ball was a 1 in 4 occurrence for me. 8 ball it goes down to maybe 1 in 5. I picked up my old Joss cue and all the sudden I'm playing like I did a year ago. Kind of felt like I was going 'home' again... hard to describe.

Short story: the low deflection has been driving me nuts.

Has this happened to anyone else on here? Am I in the minority? Everyone I play with seem to love their LD shafts... I know it's only been four days but I absolutely hate playing with mine. Is it a mental thing? Do you guys think I should keep at it and try to learn it?

Both cues are running the same tip (Kamui Black med)

I am going to send you PM. Thanks.

 

[conetip]

I have been playing the past few years with standard maple shafts at various diameters (12.25mm up to 13mm). I hadn't picked up a cue for a while and decided I wanted to play again. I figured I'd buy an LD shaft since I was most likely going to have to learn my stroke over again. I remembered playing with my friends' OB-1, OB classic, and Z2 shafts. I was impressed with the OB classic and its feel, really close to my maple shaft without the deflection. Z2 just felt like a sponge with a delay in the impulse. I didn't think getting used to the lower deflection was going to be difficult. I got my new cue in the mail with the OB classic pro and went back to the pool hall. For 4 days I've been playing like absolute crap. Granted, I was never that good before but running a rack of nine ball was a 1 in 4 occurrence for me. 8 ball it goes down to maybe 1 in 5. I picked up my old Joss cue and all the sudden I'm playing like I did a year ago. Kind of felt like I was going 'home' again... hard to describe.


Short story: the low deflection has been driving me nuts.

Has this happened to anyone else on here? Am I in the minority? Everyone I play with seem to love their LD shafts... I know it's only been four days but I absolutely hate playing with mine. Is it a mental thing? Do you guys think I should keep at it and try to learn it?

Both cues are running the same tip (Kamui Black med)

What I see, is that most often it is the tip does not suite the style/stroke of the player. Change the tip and it is a different cue.
That is why there are more than 1 brand of cuetip in the market and more to choose from than there is hours in the day to test.
Royce may be able to point you to a tip that suites you better.
To help in a tip selection I need to know more info about what is happening.
Send a PM and will try to help more specifically.
Neil

 

[iusedtoberich]

...
On that other thread naji directed me towards, it seems that the consensus is LD shafts do not allow a player to increase their capabilities, it's more perception than anything. Do you guys agree?

....

I agree completely.

I've been using exclusively Predator shafts for probably 15 years now. There is absolutely no shot on the planet that I can do with my 314 that my gambling equals cannot do with a standard shaft. This is for "my" speed.

The same is true with top pros. Efren and Busty shoot with standard shafts. Corey and Alex shoot with low squirt shafts. All 4 can perform the exact same shots.

 

[hungryjoseph]

What I see, is that most often it is the tip does not suite the style/stroke of the player. Change the tip and it is a different cue.
That is why there are more than 1 brand of cuetip in the market and more to choose from than there is hours in the day to test.
Royce may be able to point you to a tip that suites you better.
To help in a tip selection I need to know more info about what is happening.
Send a PM and will try to help more specifically.
Neil

I will admit that I've always used a Kamui Black Med from my first cue up till today. I've never extensively tried any others to have a stronger opinion on how my Kamui compares. With that being said, the Kamui has been good to me and I've never felt like I had a reason to try another tip. Especially because I really like how it makes the hit feel.

You stated that you were not very good but before the shaft change you could run 1 in 4 racks of 9 Ball...that is 25%. The top pro's in tournament play average about 20%...why would you change shafts if you we're playing at a better than Pro calibre ?

Wedge

I guess it is my fault for putting a number on it. I am sure it's a lower number.


A lot of solid advice here though. I can see why some might highly dislike LD shafts. I am leaning towards that crowd as of right now.

Would you guys recommend against having the taper of the shaft brought down to a pro taper? Basically 11.75mm all the way down for maybe 13 or 14 inches. I see that the OB-1 and OB-2 line of shafts have the core hollowed out but I was not able to find any information on the Classics. I am most worried about the rigidity being compromised bringing it down that low for so long if the center is hollow.

 

[BogeyFree]

As I've said many times before the whole LD shaft hype is way over rated and just that - marketing hype. There's nothing that can be done with a LD shaft that can't be done with any other shaft. Let's be honest - how much actual "technology" can there possibly be in a pool cue shaft to begin with? And I'll also stand by what I've said before that Dominic Esposito is the biggest crock of crap out there when he says to low skill level level players that the reason they miss shots is because they're not using a LD Predator shaft. Here's a guy who mises more shots during his demonstrations and has more excuses lined up for why they missed. It's hilarious. And on a bar box where everything is stop shots and short shots to begin with it makes even less of a difference.

 

[naji]

On that other thread naji directed me towards, it seems that the consensus is LD shafts do not allow a player to increase their capabilities, it's more perception than anything. Do you guys agree?

What i said is LD shafts offer lower deflection than standard cues, and cue alone will not make you better player.
I have to give high 5 to OB2 11.75" shafts i love the one i just got, it has lower CB deflection rate than other cues i have tried after my skinny shaft broke . It is certainly a keeper. Caution, the player must have 100% straight stroke and understands the principles of playing with side english to be able to appreciate LD cues.

 

[Chrippa]

We "all" have different playing styles, bodies, view of the game. Similar of course but different.

I say for me the most important thing in a cue is that it has to be consistent in squirt/hit/outcome, no "surprises". I also want it to squirt, helps me to calculate (everything squirts of course) shots.

A ordinary shaft (I play with regular that has a shorter ferrule, 1/2 inch) medium - stiff hit, and when I get new cues with the setup in similar specs I have very easy to adjust to them, the feel can be different of course but in playing style, adjusting for squirt etc it will be similar - if not - sell it. A cue that can take whatever you gives it is magic, and it will help you game.
A cue that you feel do shots more hard or that you feel you will miss certain shots because of the cue is not a good cue for me - stay away.

LD or HD, I would say go in between. All has it´s pros and cons, stay in the middle to take advantage of both worlds.

How does the cue shoots when you "pinch" the ball, how does it work when you pivot, how much do you need to go outside when you need to move the cb in small places etc.

Use squirt to your advantage, it will always be there - don´t fight it. Find a setup that you feel is good.

I feel that my setup works fine for me.
And to end it all, a classic - it´s not the arrow it´s the shooter:wink:.

Regards

Chrippa