Low Deflection Shafts

[jrhendy]

I am a long time pool player who tries almost everything that comes along that might help my game. I change cues every couple years or so and use low deflection shafts with different tips and have come to the following conclusions. I am sure some of you will straighten me out if I am wrong.:grin:

One of the conceptions of laminated low deflection shafts is the lighter weight at the tip of the cue - shorter ferrules &/or lighter materials lower squirt/deflection. The lamination also makes the hit stiffer which also lowers squirt/deflection.

In my opinion you lose touch with these low deflection shafts/cues. I am pretty much a one pocket player only anymore, and think I have solved my problem with a Ferrule-Less shaft. The cue does not hit as stiff and I get maximum action on the cue/object ball with minimum english. Low deflection with more touch.

Interested in other opinions.

 

[Roger Long]

Funny you should post this right now. I was just thinking the same thing myself, yesterday. LD shafts may reduce cue ball deflection, but (to me) they just don't hit all that well. I think you said it best by describing it as "touch."

Roger

 

[Patrick Johnson]

One of the conceptions of laminated low deflection shafts is the lighter weight at the tip of the cue - shorter ferrules &/or lighter materials lower squirt/deflection. The lamination also makes the hit stiffer which also lowers squirt/deflection.

Lamination and stiffness don't contribute to low deflection.

I don't have an opinion on the feel of LD shafts. I've used them exclusively since the mid-90s, so wouldn't know.

pj
chgo

 

[Bob Callahan]

I think a lot of how well a cue feels/works for a person depends on what they are used to.

I've played with a bunch of low-deflection shafts, including some DIY ferrule-less ones. (BTW: It's a good idea to coat the last inch with a thin layer of super glue to keep it clean, and to add a little strength. A carbon fiber pad under the tip might be a good idea, too...especially if you do what I've done--drill a 6-inch hole into the center to further reduce endmass.)

My current favorite setup is a Joss with a stainless steel joint, and an OB1 that has been turned down to 12.25. The wooden ferrule is much like having a ferrule-less shaft, and stronger because of the way it is constructed.

It works well for me in both 14.1 and 1P--each of which require fine control--or, as you say, "touch".

 

[Pushout]

I have LD shafts on one of my players but they are cue maker designed and not laminated. For me they play better than the laminated ones.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[naji]

I am a long time pool player who tries almost everything that comes along that might help my game. I change cues every couple years or so and use low deflection shafts with different tips and have come to the following conclusions. I am sure some of you will straighten me out if I am wrong.:grin:

One of the conceptions of laminated low deflection shafts is the lighter weight at the tip of the cue - shorter ferrules &/or lighter materials lower squirt/deflection. The lamination also makes the hit stiffer which also lowers squirt/deflection.

In my opinion you lose touch with these low deflection shafts/cues. I am pretty much a one pocket player only anymore, and think I have solved my problem with a Ferrule-Less shaft. The cue does not hit as stiff and I get maximum action on the cue/object ball with minimum english. Low deflection with more touch.

Interested in other opinions.

Here is my 30 years advise,
Buy a cheap $20 or $30.00 say 13 mm shaft two piece cue play with it for few days and learn how it deflects (or if you have cheap one laying around), now we need to make it to 10 or 11 mm shaft. Place the joint side at a drill (need a stud that matches joint, other side clamp to the drill), with 60 grit sand the shaft down to 10.5 or 11 mm, smooth with 120 and then 400 and then 600 grit. Now try the shaft, notice the tip is small so your two tip will not be all the way to edge. Try the shaft, i will be highly surprised if it deflects much with standard english shots (it will deflect, but its deflection will cancel english stun shots and easy to aim), it will deflect with tip all the way to edge but way less than the 13 mm. Just a thought.

 

[jrhendy]

Here is my 30 years advise,
Buy a cheap $20 or $30.00 say 13 mm shaft two piece cue play with it for few days and learn how it deflects (or if you have cheap one laying around), now we need to make it to 10 or 11 mm shaft. Place the joint side at a drill (need a stud that matches joint, other side clamp to the drill), with 60 grit sand the shaft down to 10.5 or 11 mm, smooth with 120 and then 400 and then 600 grit. Now try the shaft, notice the tip is small so your two tip will not be all the way to edge. Try the shaft, i will be highly surprised if it deflects much with standard english shots (it will deflect, but its deflection will cancel english stun shots and easy to aim), it will deflect with tip all the way to edge but way less than the 13 mm. Just a thought.

Thanks for the thought, but per my post, I think i have solved my problem with the Ferrule-Less shaft. I get much more feel/touch/lower deflection with minimum english.

Your solution may also work, but I am not handy enough to try it.

 

[TATE]

I am a long time pool player who tries almost everything that comes along that might help my game. I change cues every couple years or so and use low deflection shafts with different tips and have come to the following conclusions. I am sure some of you will straighten me out if I am wrong.:grin:

One of the conceptions of laminated low deflection shafts is the lighter weight at the tip of the cue - shorter ferrules &/or lighter materials lower squirt/deflection. The lamination also makes the hit stiffer which also lowers squirt/deflection.

In my opinion you lose touch with these low deflection shafts/cues. I am pretty much a one pocket player only anymore, and think I have solved my problem with a Ferrule-Less shaft. The cue does not hit as stiff and I get maximum action on the cue/object ball with minimum english. Low deflection with more touch.

Interested in other opinions.

I too noticed specifically on the Predator shafts the feel on soft spin shots, typical of one pocket, is diminished. I also believe that control of these shots is lessened. My feeling is the tip is bouncing off and away from the cue ball.

I don't know what shafts you use but the OB Classic and Classic Pro, Tiger Pro X and new Ultra LD are better in this regard.

It's also a matter of adjusting. Let me add that once I fully adjusted to the feel of an LD shaft, which can take many months, most conventional shafts feel slow, heavy, even clumsy by comparison.

I'm not sure which ferrules you are discussing, but I don't thnik the very short ferrules used on some shafts like Tiger and OB Classic have any effect on feel or squirt.

 

[desi2960]

jr

i have a predator on one of my older cues that i used when playing 9 b. i now also play a lot of 1p. and use a ferruleless old brunswick recycled shaft from a house cue that was made 50 years ago.
i buy the old cues and use the wood for most of my shafts. the old dark color, very dense, high ring count are my favorites. the wood pin, no ferrule and a constant style taper give me my best performance. best way to describe the hit is very crisp, but not harsh.
maybe a laminated, drilled and filled for 9b, but i ain't giving up my no ferrule when i'm playing 1p.

chuck starkey

 

[Cornerman]

In my opinion you lose touch with these low deflection shafts/cues. I am pretty much a one pocket player only anymore, and think I have solved my problem with a Ferrule-Less shaft. The cue does not hit as stiff and I get maximum action on the cue/object ball with minimum english. Low deflection with more touch.

Interested in other opinions.

My opinion is that you've made a good choice. I like the idea of going ferrule-less.

Freddie <~~~ less is more, more or less

 

[CreeDo]

Never tried ferrule-less. How does one even get a no-ferrule low deflection shaft, if they're not 'handy'? Is there someone that sells them?

As for feel, I dunno if missing a ferrule makes the tip somehow apply more spin to the ball, and I'm not sure how feel applies to spin. Sounds very mushy and non-scientific. I don't think the ball knows or cares about the ferrule unless it alters the weight of the shaft. I'm betting if I let a crowd of top players shoot blindfolded with ten similar cues, and one of them lacked a ferrule, nobody could tell me for sure which one it was unless he got lucky guessing.

I dunno, maybe shooting with the same cue for years has desensitized me to 'feel'. The only time I notice feel is if there's something unpleasant like a buzzing vibration or a loud TINKKK when I hit the ball.

I'd rather shoot with the same cue forever until it's part of my arm, than switch constantly and have to relearn my touch or feel or whatever.