New Shaft Technology

D

drivermaker

Banned
I think what McDermott has come out with is the future of shaft technology.
It's the Intimidator line developed by Easton, one of the most innovative companies in sporting equipment. Although pure maple wood shafts aren't going away anytime soon, I've often said that carbon fibers and composite fibers will eventually prove to be the next wave which will allow for exacting standards to affect power, speed, accuracy, consistency, spin, deflection, weight, balance, and feel. You'll be able to order up anything your little heart desires and get it's exact twin to have as a backup, or make slight alterations to change the way it plays based on your stroke and style of play. It has been done in golf to change the complexion of the way the game is played throughout all skill levels and it's moving into pool. Although I'm not a Predator fan, I think this has tremendous possibilites and is very exciting. I think Mezz is also using this concept in some of their shafts as well as wood composite butts, which Meucci has done for a while and been lambasted by many.
You can see these shafts at: www.mcdermottcue.com and then clicking onto Intimidator. BTW, they ain't cheap.....
 
So are the shafts all wood? Or chopped up wood mixed with carbon fibers and glued or something?

Are these anything like a graphite shaft or are they like a wood shaft?
 
Billy_Bob said:
So are the shafts all wood? Or chopped up wood mixed with carbon fibers and glued or something?

Are these anything like a graphite shaft or are they like a wood shaft?
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No, the shafts aren't all wood. There are about 3-4 layers of carbon fiber and composite fiber. The first layer is carbon fiber (graphite) that is wrapped around a mandrel and has a very small diameter. Wrapped around that is composite fibers for strength and probably stiffness. Wrapped around that is more carbon fiber and I don't know what the outer layer is. In the pictures it looks like wood, but if it's the same shitty material that Cuetec uses that won't slide through your fingers, then it's a major drawback and they need to go back to the drawing boards. It has a lifetime warranty and is guaranteed not to warp. I'd like to find out what the shafts weight out at. They should be able to control that very easily with various composite fibers and resins, but I don't know if they've done that or have them all at a certain weight, hopefully not too light.
 
Composite graphite shafts have been around for a few years. The feel similar to Cuetec's fiberglass/fiberglass coated shafts, that is, they feel "sticky".

Troy
drivermaker said:
No, the shafts aren't all wood. There are about 3-4 layers of carbon fiber and composite fiber. The first layer is carbon fiber (graphite) that is wrapped around a mandrel and has a very small diameter. Wrapped around that is composite fibers for strength and probably stiffness. Wrapped around that is more carbon fiber and I don't know what the outer layer is. In the pictures it looks like wood, but if it's the same shitty material that Cuetec uses that won't slide through your fingers, then it's a major drawback and they need to go back to the drawing boards. It has a lifetime warranty and is guaranteed not to warp. I'd like to find out what the shafts weight out at. They should be able to control that very easily with various composite fibers and resins, but I don't know if they've done that or have them all at a certain weight, hopefully not too light.
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I must say that cuetech shafts have the worst feel I can possibly imagine. I can't understand how Earl or Allison play with those, unless they have a custom wood shaft made for them.
 
They use Cuetec shafts but NO fiberglass cloating, just plain wood.

Troy
LastTwo said:
I must say that cuetech shafts have the worst feel I can possibly imagine. I can't understand how Earl or Allison play with those, unless they have a custom wood shaft made for them.
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Has anyone played with one yet?

So the all important question, has anyone played with one of these yet?
 
Troy said:
Composite graphite shafts have been around for a few years. The feel similar to Cuetec's fiberglass/fiberglass coated shafts, that is, they feel "sticky".

Troy
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You're right about that, and they've pretty much just slapped the material together in the form of a shaft and put out garbage. But there is sooo much potential with this technology if they take their time and do it right in pool that it will make wooden pool shafts as archaic as wooden golf shafts. I think McDermott is breaking new ground because they are in fact getting more complex and higher tech in design than what's out there and I would guess in about 5 years or so that most production cue companies will have them available and they'll feel and play great, not like the current crap.
 
Mc-sgafts

Mc's shafts!

Ok guys, been there and saw first hand the shafts. They look great and will come in several stiffness and sizes. Yes, I hit some balls with them. They play great.

I think they have knocked a big home run. They just don't warp, and have very good memorie.

I spent two days at the factory with the heads of state, and had good "vibes" from all there people.

The McDermott factory is very high-tec, now a days. Not a lost step within there factory.

When you order, tell them "blud" sent you.

blud
 
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I also think that composites are the wave of the future. Seen it in cycling, almost rare to see a pro ride a frame that is only one material these days...

I would continue the analogy and say wood shafts are to composite ones what steel bike frames are to the carbon ones. For many years, steel frames were the standard, "steel is real" was the say around the wheel.

With carbon, you can do almost anything re: shape and feel. the bonus is, once you get the item how you want it, you can duplicate the desired result with ease.

We'll see!

-pige
 
blud said:
Mc's shafts!

Ok guys, been there and saw first hand the shafts. They look great and will come in several stiffness and sizes. Yes, I hit some balls with them. They play great.

I think they have knocked a big home run. They just don't warp, and have very good memorie.

I spent two days at the factory with the heads of state, and had good "vibes" from all there people.

The McDermott factory is very high-tec, now a days. Not a lost step within there factory.

When you order, tell them "blud" sent you.

blud
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Now that's a hell of an endorsement coming from you. What was the outer part made of...wood, laminated wood, or some sticky faux wood material?
What do you think about the possiblilty of custom cue makers eventually providing them on a custom cue if made available by Easton or some other carbon fiber company that produces (or will become heavily involved in producing) shafts of this nature, or do you feel that it will always be an aftermarket product?
 
shafts

drivermaker said:
Now that's a hell of an endorsement coming from you. What was the outer part made of...wood, laminated wood, or some sticky faux wood material?
What do you think about the possiblilty of custom cue makers eventually providing them on a custom cue if made available by Easton or some other carbon fiber company that produces (or will become heavily involved in producing) shafts of this nature, or do you feel that it will always be an aftermarket product?
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I know nothing about the Easton company.

McDermott however, has the carbine fiber blanks built to there spec's, from what I understand.

I didn't go into detail. { none of my affair }..

I do know they have hit a home run,[McDermott]...with this new shaft concept...

The shafts are clear maple, [ looks like a standard shaft], with a hole drilled down the center of it, with a the tube inserted inside of it..

Stay tuned, for big, "NEWS" coming from them and me, very soon.

blud
 
blud said:
I know nothing about the Easton company.

McDermott however, has the carbine fiber blanks built to there spec's, from what I understand.

Stay tuned, for big, "NEWS" coming from them and me, very soon.

blud
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The Easton Co. is the one making the blanks for McDermott. To learn more:

http://www.eastonsports.com

http://www.eastonsports.com/corporate/about/rd.php


Another company that I could see getting into making blanks might be:

http://www.aldila.com

http://www.aldila.com/mat01.html

http://www.aldila.com/mat02.html

Currently aldila is the largest shaft producer in golf so they have the capability to do anything, to any design, in any amount.

I can't wait for the "NEWS"...and here I thought you were a traditionalist old geezer set in your ways with your own cue making interests at heart using tools that were produced right after the Cro-Magnon era, since that's when you were born. Sure fooled me.... :D Wanna throw out any hints, or did I just blow that with my previous statement. :p
 
yes

drivermaker said:
The Easton Co. is the one making the blanks for McDermott. To learn more:

http://www.eastonsports.com

http://www.eastonsports.com/corporate/about/rd.php


Another company that I could see getting into making blanks might be:

http://www.aldila.com

http://www.aldila.com/mat01.html

http://www.aldila.com/mat02.html

Currently aldila is the largest shaft producer in golf so they have the capability to do anything, to any design, in any amount.

I can't wait for the "NEWS"...and here I thought you were a traditionalist old geezer set in your ways with your own cue making interests at heart using tools that were produced right after the Cro-Magnon era, since that's when you were born. Sure fooled me.... :D Wanna throw out any hints, or did I just blow that with my previous statement. :p
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OK, OK, tid-bits only,

Cue-designer, tec-man- my line, our line,there line, there rep, custom-cue guy, for them..Chat room, and much more.

that's all for now.

Might see a new cue called "McBlud". [with the new shafts, of course].

Who knows? Can't never tell what will take place. When more news is avaliable, you will hear all about it.

comments welcome, along with good humor.

blud
 
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Mc Blud

Does that come with fries and a coke? Do you supersize? :D

Good luck in your new endever Blud. Will you still be making your one of a kind custom cues?
Purdman :cool:
 
cues

Donald A. Purdy said:
Does that come with fries and a coke? Do you supersize? :D

Good luck in your new endever Blud. Will you still be making your one of a kind custom cues?
Purdman :cool:
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Hi Don,
Please say hello to Susan.

Yes, yes, and yes.

Dr. Pepper's fries super-size, and I will make a few one of a kinds, and also make my Connoisseur Collection, collectables. I entend on building about 15 old style deep-vee pointed cues, and about 15 to 20 CNC cues a year from here on.They will be kick-ass cues. Nothing you folks has ever seen come from me before. Been workin on some neat-o designs.

The design doors always open. Consideration for designs used, [VIA, discounts] for your personal cue from me..Your design will never be used again. So, if you folks are interested, design two or three, and send them to me, via, snail mail or fax. Please include your name, phone, and address....

The reason for two or three, is "one" for you and two I can chose from, and might use them in the future,for someone elses cue. Sounds like a good deal for all of us.

All cues will start at about $1,800.00... I'm taking orders now for the VEE pointed cues.

830-232-5991

blud
 
So do these shafts have varying flexabilty? I noticed there are three different types. Which has been the most popular thus far?
 
Anthony_Beeler said:
So do these shafts have varying flexabilty? I noticed there are three different types. Which has been the most popular thus far?
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My understanding is that they do vary, and it might have something to do with the taper but I'm not sure. In time, they'll be able to do anything they want with flexibility, balance, bend point, weighting, and any other factor in each of them, just as they do in golf shafts. It won't be a matter of just lucking into something and getting what you want by finding a great piece of wood for a shaft as it's done now, they'll be able to create any and all variations right on the spot to suit your style of play and needs.

None of them have been the most popular, they're just hitting the marketplace. I guess the choices are based on what you normally shoot with now as to what would best suit your game. In my case, there's no way I could play with an 11.75 tip and European taper. It would have to be one of the other two.
 
These shafts should play great. just the thing for a "non predator" like my self. My question is would there be any reason to run the carbon fiber down to the wrap or balance point? In a golf club it goes all the way till the club ends underneath the grip. Might have to come up with a new pin material I guess. Blud & McDermott teaming up should be pretty intersting too.

DawgAndy
 
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