My thoughts on conventional shaft vs. low deflection shaft

My 2 cents? Even low deflection shafts have massive deflection the length of the table. Try shooting a ball out the jaws of the corner pocket from 3/4 the table away with 2 tips of shpin and stroke it hard. Just before you shoot, look where your cue is pointing relative to the pocket. I don't care if you have a predator or what... even low deflection is massive -- especially on new cloth where the friction doesn't revert the CB to the stroking line. Bottom line, it's nice to be able to stroke ROUGHLY down the line you're sighting... sheesh.
 
My 2 cents? Even low deflection shafts have massive deflection the length of the table. Try shooting a ball out the jaws of the corner pocket from 3/4 the table away with 2 tips of shpin and stroke it hard. Just before you shoot, look where your cue is pointing relative to the pocket. I don't care if you have a predator or what... even low deflection is massive -- especially on new cloth where the friction doesn't revert the CB to the stroking line. Bottom line, it's nice to be able to stroke ROUGHLY down the line you're sighting... sheesh.

Pool is 3 dimension game, 99% of pool players know how to control the X & Y, the Z component is what get a lot of people to miss. LD shafts is an attempt to help in that department those that do not know how to control the Z dimension with any given cue.
 
Pool is 3 dimension game, 99% of pool players know how to control the X & Y, the Z component is what get a lot of people to miss. LD shafts is an attempt to help in that department those that do not know how to control the Z dimension with any given cue.

I have no idea what you're talking about. But carry on. Maybe I'll get aligned.

Freddie
 
My 2 cents? Even low deflection shafts have massive deflection the length of the table. Try shooting a ball out the jaws of the corner pocket from 3/4 the table away with 2 tips of shpin and stroke it hard. Just before you shoot, look where your cue is pointing relative to the pocket. I don't care if you have a predator or what... even low deflection is massive -- especially on new cloth where the friction doesn't revert the CB to the stroking line. Bottom line, it's nice to be able to stroke ROUGHLY down the line you're sighting... sheesh.

Truman,

I've been shooting nearly every shot with english, even extreme, for 46 years.

That juiced sanded down Predator 314 Cat is an animal. On a full length 9' table shot, on relatively new Simonis, I have missed the ob on the swerve side by more than 1 1/2 balls. The problem with the shaft is totally different. I have an OB Classic & a McDermot i2 for comparison. The problem with it is much more swerve spin to squirt ratio.

The draw spin is amazing as well. Here is a shot that the results just made me drop my jaw in total surprise. I'm shooting from a corner pocket diagonally to cut a ball in from near the rail at about 1.25 diamonds from the pocket at the other end of the table. I wanted to draw the ball back into the long rail back up table ( I could not go 2 or 3 rails as a cluster was in the way on the foot rail) so I hit it with low outside at about 5:00. The ball drew the full table straight into the corner pocket across from where I was standing without ever touching the rail. My friend that I was playing was standing back from the table looking straight down the rail, so I asked him if the ball touch the rail at all & he said no it went straight off the ball into the pocket.

Now I am not saying that it has no squirt/ deflection as I know the physics but the net effects are on the other end in nearly every instance with any length. I can't hit it hard enough to keep it from swerving back unless I launch it into the air. If it stays in contact with the cloth it's almost always crossing the line. Now I am at sea level with humidity. But still? I can't play with it for any full table shots with any confidence. It's great in close quarters but I don't want to have to completely relearn english for long shots. I'm saving it to try in a one pocket money league I intend to join.

I just thought you might find it interesting even if you don't fully believe it.

Best Regards & Wishes,
Rick
 
My 2 cents? Even low deflection shafts have massive deflection the length of the table. Try shooting a ball out the jaws of the corner pocket from 3/4 the table away with 2 tips of shpin and stroke it hard. Just before you shoot, look where your cue is pointing relative to the pocket. I don't care if you have a predator or what... even low deflection is massive -- especially on new cloth where the friction doesn't revert the CB to the stroking line. Bottom line, it's nice to be able to stroke ROUGHLY down the line you're sighting... sheesh.

Yeah, I think Dr. Dave said even the best of them only reduce it maybe 30%.

I think a lot of players (myself included) let the throw and the swerve compensate a little bit
at such big distances, so as to keep the shot on that line. I try to let the spin do the work,
so I can use less force. I'm sure if I had to hit like 15 mph I'd need to aim way off to the side.
 
People usually say that squirt increases with the speed of the shot, but apparently it does not, though it will probably curve less, leading to the perception of more squirt.
 
My thoughts from years of play! Deflection is to your advantage on certain shots,massey s and kicks.
 
Yeah, I think Dr. Dave said even the best of them only reduce it maybe 30%.

I think a lot of players (myself included) let the throw and the swerve compensate a little bit
at such big distances, so as to keep the shot on that line. I try to let the spin do the work,
so I can use less force. I'm sure if I had to hit like 15 mph I'd need to aim way off to the side.

Before TOI earlier this year, I had always let the spin do the work. Now I have a rather reliable method to let the squirt/deflection do the work. I now have two good friends that work for me.


Best Regards & Wishes,
Rick
 
People usually say that squirt increases with the speed of the shot, but apparently it does not, though it will probably curve less, leading to the perception of more squirt.

I think when some say that squirt increases with speed they are referring to the net effect as with a higher speed to spin ratio there is less opportunity for the spin to take effect & swerve the ball back.

I think it's the NET that they are talking about whether or not they fully understand how it all works.

Regards & Best Wishes,
Rick
 
My thoughts from years of play! Deflection is to your advantage on certain shots,massey s and kicks.

Squirt/deflection, just as spin, can certainly be an advantage when one knows how to use them & is not afraid of them.

They are present, so one might as well acknowledge them & then learn how to use them.

Regards & Best Wishes,
Rick
 
Well, I gotta disagree it's an advantage. It's just something we have to deal with.

Masse shots of course deflect, but for non-elevated shots, the only situation I've found where I want to
deflect is when I'm trying a razor thin cut, and I help it with loads of outside.
I aim to barely miss the ball and then deflect intentionally into the edge of it.

Even then I'm not sure if I'm really helping the ball in very much or if I'd just be better off aiming normally.
The game would be a hundred times easier without deflection to deal with.
 
I have no idea what you're talking about. But carry on. Maybe I'll get aligned.

Freddie

Sorry was cryptic reply for you. Here it is in easy form:

You can direct the cue stick to the right and left (x), forward and backward (y); Cue amount of elevation (z); the z is were less advance players ignore , and the higher the z the higher the swerve at low speed and it cancels squirt at 1st few inches; with higher speed swerve reduced, squirt take over; IMO this is the best benefit for having cue touch chin so you know where your zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz , controlling z is extremely important for every shot unless you are a pro and hit 99% of shots at 100 m/h; please do not reply and ask what is zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...kidding of course..
 
Well, I gotta disagree it's an advantage. It's just something we have to deal with.

Masse shots of course deflect, but for non-elevated shots, the only situation I've found where I want to
deflect is when I'm trying a razor thin cut, and I help it with loads of outside.
I aim to barely miss the ball and then deflect intentionally into the edge of it.

Even then I'm not sure if I'm really helping the ball in very much or if I'd just be better off aiming normally.
The game would be a hundred times easier without deflection to deal with.

Another way to shoot those super thin cuts especially if they are a ways from the pocket & near the rail, is to aim so the ball squirts away from the ball but shoot at a speed so swerve brings the ball back into the OB. In effect you are decreasing the angle of approach & can hit the ball more fully from the new angle, These shots are when I mis my NON LD shaft. this shot is similar to a mini masse but one does not have to elevate the shaft. I'ts about knowing the spin to speed ratio & the squirt of one's shaft.

Regards & Best Wishes,
Rick
 
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Sorry was cryptic reply for you. Here it is in easy form:

You can direct the cue stick to the right and left (x), forward and backward (y); Cue amount of elevation (z); the z is were less advance players ignore , and the higher the z the higher the swerve at low speed and it cancels squirt at 1st few inches; with higher speed swerve reduced, squirt take over; IMO this is the best benefit for having cue touch chin so you know where your zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz , controlling z is extremely important for every shot unless you are a pro and hit 99% of shots at 100 m/h; please do not reply and ask what is zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...kidding of course..

Thanks for the clarification.

What you're describing is what I lump into the category of "blending." And it's not something you can teach very easily, but you're description is pretty good.

Freddie <~~~ not asleep
 
For me feel is everything and imo i havent found an LD shaft that hits like a Lambros, Carmelli, Gilbert, Scruggs shaft etc...in fact for me putting a production LD shaft on any of the aforementioned cues would depreciate the wonderfully unique hit that a custom cue provides. It sounds like the OP needs to hit with a couple of high end customs to understand why some highly skilled players may prefer a conventional shaft. I think the game would become very dull if LD shafts were used heavily. Each custom cue performs differently and each has its limitations and advantages...to make that aspect of the game generic would be sad

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