Low Deflection Shafts
- Thread starter AK-Stick
- Start date
Ld
If you are young and just starting your billiard journey, then yes, begin that journey on the LD bandwagon. Not to say that experienced players do not convert with good results but there will be a substantial relearning curve to contend with. Just remember there is no magic piece of equipment that will replace hard work and hitting thousands of balls! Play all games, especially one pocket and straight pool. Good luck!!
If you are young and just starting your billiard journey, then yes, begin that journey on the LD bandwagon. Not to say that experienced players do not convert with good results but there will be a substantial relearning curve to contend with. Just remember there is no magic piece of equipment that will replace hard work and hitting thousands of balls! Play all games, especially one pocket and straight pool. Good luck!!
LD shafts are not a magic bullet. All shafts require some compensation for english. LD shafts simply require a different compensation.
I went LD, and then went back when I realized that non-LD shafts have shorter natural pivot points that better fit my usual bridge length.
I would recommend you try one, but immediately determine the natural pivot length, and then ask yourself, "Does this really make any sense?"
There are dozens of threads and YouTube videos that show you how to determine the natural pivot point.
I went LD, and then went back when I realized that non-LD shafts have shorter natural pivot points that better fit my usual bridge length.
I would recommend you try one, but immediately determine the natural pivot length, and then ask yourself, "Does this really make any sense?"
There are dozens of threads and YouTube videos that show you how to determine the natural pivot point.
taojones
Registered
try shooting softer with more follow through if you need more action on the ball. you have to really be whacking the cue ball to bend the shaft and have it whip back on the cue ball . the guy who taught me said "theres a difference between cueing the ball and hitting the ball with the cue". before you look for an equipment fix make sure your "cueing" the ball. loosen your back hand and let the cue do the work for you ( hint when your doing it right it feels like your doing nothing at all and there's a peculiar sound the contact makes. shut your eyes the next time you watch a pro match and ask yourself if your shot sounds like that)
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I just got one ordered. Bob Danielson from Bdcues will make his ss360 how ever you want for a reasonable price. If you try it and don't like you can sell it here to recoup your funds.
I think playing with one is worth it to see what all the hype is about lol.
I think playing with one is worth it to see what all the hype is about lol.
Dealing with squirt is a tradeoff:
...low squirt cue = more precise / less automatic
...high squirt cue = less precise / more automatic
So one way to figure whether low squirt is worth trying is to think about whether precision (low squirt & "manual" english) or ease of use (high squirt & BHE) is more important.
Dr. Dave's Pool FAQ explains all the pros and cons, as usual.
pj
chgo
The following make ld shafts that are not laminated, McDermott, poison, mezz, universal and more I can't think of right now.
Choosing a Low Squirt Shaft
All "low squirt" shafts aren't equally low squirt. Some may even be more labeling than substance. There's no common squirt rating for shafts, so it might help to know what to look for and expect.
Squirt is lowered by reducing mass in the tip area, which is done by narrowing, hollowing and smaller lighter ferrules. I think narrowing makes the most difference, then hollowing, and smaller ferrule last. A combination, of course is best.
Shafts with squirt-reducing modifications may feel/hit a little different. A smaller tip may have a different taper for stiffness. Jumping may be harder.
pj
chgo
All "low squirt" shafts aren't equally low squirt. Some may even be more labeling than substance. There's no common squirt rating for shafts, so it might help to know what to look for and expect.
Squirt is lowered by reducing mass in the tip area, which is done by narrowing, hollowing and smaller lighter ferrules. I think narrowing makes the most difference, then hollowing, and smaller ferrule last. A combination, of course is best.
Shafts with squirt-reducing modifications may feel/hit a little different. A smaller tip may have a different taper for stiffness. Jumping may be harder.
pj
chgo
I think it's gonna take some experimenting to find out what works for you. For me, I shoot better with an LD shaft, but the leap back and forth isn't to far. I just happen to like the taper of the LD shafts that I use over the stock shafts. Interesting thing though, I made a shaft for a friend of mine with a pretty thin taper, about 11.80, and I loved it, I almost didn't give it up but it was already promised away. My thought is that the thinner taper of the LD shaft gives me improved accuracy and the stiffer hit takes out a lot of the guess work. The jump over from a conventional shaft may take a little getting used to, but I think in the end you might find increased benefit and accuracy from the right LD shaft
If you are satisfied with your game I say forget about LD shafts.
I like the hit of a solid maple shaft better than my Predator shaft, but I struggle with deflection using solid shafts so I sacrifice the crisp hit of a solid shaft for less deflection and more accuracy. Predator shafts have the same taper (314-2), but cue makers original shafts have their own preferred taper and many different ferrule types and this makes them play slightly different. I can put a 314-2 shaft on almost any cue and play ok, but if I pick up a couple different cue makers cues and try to run balls with 2 or 3 different standard shafts I'm not going to feel comfortable using English.
James
I stand corrected.
For convenience, here are the direct links to the pertinent info:
advantages of low-squirt (AKA "low cue ball deflection" or "LD") shafts
disadvantages of low-squirt shafts
disadvantages of low-squirt shafts
Regards,
Dave
Assuming LD shafts are suitable for the kid starting out is foolish.
If anything, these shafts require more focus and concentration
on the low speed shots.
If anything, these shafts require more focus and concentration
on the low speed shots.
I assume you mean because swerve is a bigger factor in those shots and swerve is harder to estimate.
Both of those things are true, but remember that the amount of swerve is the same with either kind of shaft, so its effect on any shot should be equally difficult to estimate.
Also, because swerve is a challenge we tend to shoot at speeds that minimize it, making squirt a bigger part of the aiming problem and squirt reduction more effective.
pj
chgo
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shafts
I will never buy another laminated shaft....................................
And I am getting to the point that I am very selective about repairing certain laminted shafts, any sign of warpage or debonding or cracked or broken ferrule and I turn the job down...............................................
There are a few cue makers that make good or great ld shafts.
I will stick with solid maple .
best of luck in your search.
MMiike
I will never buy another laminated shaft....................................
And I am getting to the point that I am very selective about repairing certain laminted shafts, any sign of warpage or debonding or cracked or broken ferrule and I turn the job down...............................................
There are a few cue makers that make good or great ld shafts.
I will stick with solid maple .
best of luck in your search.
MMiike