RBC
Deceased
I disagree with this post. This is a pool forum where people exchange ideas and points of view. If someone feels that ld shafts are bunk, they should be allowed to express that opinion. So what if it's negative, you can only express positive opinions on products here now? Do a search for Meucci cues and see the flak they have had to put up with (deservedly so IMHO).
Please let me clarify what I said. I have no problem with anyone having their opinion. In fact, I think sharing can be a very good positive. What I don't think is right, and this is my opinion, is believing everyone else is wrong if they don't agree with me. Doing so, in my opinion is a negative. I don't mind that some players don't like LD products. I actually expect that. But it's ok that some do as well. You can't have one without the other.
The ld-shaft thing has been so over hyped that it is hard to tell what is true and what isn't anymore and manufacturers are to blame. I actually feel that OB is pretty good in this department, though, I can't remember any particularly bad claims in your advertising.
Thank you for recognizing that we don't make crazy exaggerated ads. I would ask, however, for some examples of other ads that have led you to feel this way. To be honest, I'm not aware of any crazy or exaggerated ads. At least not that I recall.
All that nonsensical advertising has done a lot of harm to pool knowledge. Some manufacturers claim you can put more spin on the ball with their shafts, that you'll have better cue ball control, that you will be more accurate etc. IMHO these claims are bogus. The ld shafts help you learn to play with english by reducing the amount of deflection you have to adjust for. That's it. There's no magic, you'll still have to adjust a bit, and in the end you will be at the same level that you would have without an ld shaft. I believe the ultimate level you can reach is only determined by practice and genetics as long as the equipment is above a certain minimum standard. I once saw a guy in a national tournament pick a cue off the wall and run 6 racks with it. Bear in mind that as far as I know he didn't even practice with this cue prior to the game for more than 5 minutes.
I think my comments above apply here as well. I'd really like to see some of the nonsensical ads.
Watch the Zero x videos, listen to John Schmidt and Corey Deuel, When at their level do you think that deflection is even on their mind when they shoot? They just see the shot and shoot it, after thousands of hours of playing with the same cue. Within reason what matter of cue it is is irrelevant, as long as it's design is not seriously flawed.
I'm curious. Have you gone back and looked at John's record of wins? He won the US Open prior to coming on board with us, and that was with his Bobby Hunter cue. But, after coming on board with us, he won several and placed high in a great deal more tournaments than before. He also won several TAR matches with our products. Take a look at Corey's record over the last several years. He's done quite well since he came on board with us. While you're at it, take a look at Alex Pagulayan's record. Other than the last several months in which he hasn't entered any events, he's played exceptionally well with our products. Take a look at our website under the "OB Pro's" section and you'll see other players as well like young Phil Burford, who's a strong up and coming player.
I'll be the first to tell anyone that choosing LD equipment is not a mandatory thing in order to play well. It's certainly not a requirement, and I'm not aware of anyone who has said it was.
In the world of snooker, lots of players play with cheap, ratty cues, many of which are not even close to being straight, and they shoot the lights out with them, because they've had them for years and years. And btw anyone claiming that snooker players don't use english is full of it. Snooker is a hard game, but they have not fallen for the equipment hysteria to the same extent that pool has, so players generally have a different outlook on equipment. Are they wrong? Should everyone start using ld cues for snooker? IMHO, NO!
Lots of people play with ld shafts (including myself) and they do seem to help a bit with the learning curve of english, especially in the beginning, but after you reach a certain level of proficiency, I don't believe ld to be much of a factor anymore. I have non-ld shafts and can switch back and forth, though since I've played mostly with ld-shafts from the beginning I tend to favor the ld. I actually feel that the smaller shaft diameter is the main thing, not the deflection! And that is exactly the op's point: play with what you have and get used to it.
I have agreed from the very beginning with the OP's point about not switching around. It's very hard to get good with anything if you switch around too much.
If you are a beginner and have the money for an ld shaft, you might as well go for it. It'll shorten the learning curve a little bit in my experience. If money is tight, then don't. Don't expect more english or better cue ball control and all that other hogwash. Only your stroke can help with that.
I hope that clears up what I'm trying to say at least.
Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
