well said
Why not just buy a custom cue and get the shaft you want from the cue maker. I personally believe as many cue makers will attest, that a stiffer shaft will assist in reducing "squirt" when shooting with English. The cue ball goes where it is aimed. That being said, seek out a cue maker that makes a good old fashion stiff shaft. Joel Hercek is a great place to start but there is a 7 year waiting list. Or maybe try an older Schuler as they made numerous shafts and you can buy a stiffer shaft. Of just order it with a little more spine towards the back half of the shaft so it has the stiffness needed. Personally, I can't play with a "whippy" shaft like a Meuci or the Chinese made cues. I think way too man people put way too much stock in the "laminated" shafts marketed today... $250 for a shaft??
The down side is with a stiff shaft you need a very smooth and fluid stroke because you are doing the work, not the cue. Maybe not a good idea for someone without a good stroke, but you will develop one eventually (hopefully) Just a thought !!
I AGREE, find a cue maker u like and a solid hard hitting maple shaft and it will help in the long run...I hit currently with a Dzuricky or DZ custom shaft, and butt, 13mm but with a good taper on it, not crazy long but its not a standard short taper...i hate using the term "pro taper" cause for most cue makers it means something different for each. as u said with maple, going stiff and hard, u will have to have a solid stroke, and
excellerate through the ball, smooth and fluid, with a consistant follow through, hand to peck or lower neck... but it also makes u get accustom to deflection and playing ball speed and distance to account for deflection which will help in the long run.
I have to say though i recently played with and still have a Gulyassy, w/a 13mm "SPTX" stiff maple shaft,
http://www.babysproshop.com/eXtremeShafts.php good taper, but a LD ferrule and it plays really sweet...and i tried the OB1 and 2, the predators 2nd gen. Z-2 and 314-2, and Mcderm G-CORE, and Tiger ultra X....if i
had to pick i would go with either the 2nd gen. 314-2 or the G-CORE, never got a feel for the OB'S... But, again i would much rather stick with the stiff maple shaft from a good cuemaker, until i decide on the Gulyassy shaft cause honestly it really hits sweet despite the LD ferrule but other than that its a radial 3/8-10 pin, solid maple shaft and a moori tip...much like the DZ SHAFT...
http://www.dzcues.com/
jc