OB-1 finally responded to my email

BPG24

BPG24

Banned
I sent a few emails to OB-1 cues asking about a stiffer and possibly smaller diameter shaft. Similar to the Predator Z

They just responded, and here is what they said:

I am not at liberty to discuss what may be in the works at this time. I can tell you that a stiffer hit has been discussed in the past and may be a future project. Although for the time being we are growing at a pace that is taking all of our time.

Please believe that no questions or concerns fall on deaf ears around here. We know that we will never please everyone but we do hope to please the majority.

Thanks for your input.

I guess I will just have to let Masonh build me a custom low deflection shaft.
With JoeyinCali's approval of course ;) :D :D
 
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I just put on an OB on my Joss, hits very close to a regular shaft compared to any Predator model. I think OB has their own thing, trying to be like a Predator may be a bad move. OB = smoother hit, pretty unique ferrule, more feel. Predator = stiff hit, narrow tips (in some). Remember what happened with New Coke?

By a stiffer stick you are talking about basically a euro taper that thickens more faster or would you want to see a different construction with the OB name?
 
hang-the-9 said:
I just put on an OB on my Joss, hits very close to a regular shaft compared to any Predator model. I think OB has their own thing, trying to be like a Predator may be a bad move. OB = smoother hit, pretty unique ferrule, more feel. Predator = stiff hit, narrow tips (in some). Remember what happened with New Coke?

By a stiffer stick you are talking about basically a euro taper that thickens more faster or would you want to see a different construction with the OB name?
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The OB-1's that I have shot with are way too whippy. Hard to control. I don't need that extra action on the ball and I can't stand that much flex. I prefer stiffer hit that is easy to control.

It's not just the euro taper of the Z shaft, the original 314 has a pro taper and it is still much stiffer than the OB-1. I like the benefits of low deflection shafts and am just looking for more options because Predator seems to be having trouble with QC.

I do believe that they use better materials than Predator and that is why I am interested in a different model from OB-1. Maybe wishful thinking :)

..................................................................

If they don't bring one out that I like, i am just going to have a custom shaft made. I may have the custom made anyway, never hurts to have options.

I promised Mason that I would buy a shaft from him. he was very helpful during another discussion thread, so maybe he can design something for me.
 
BPG24 said:
Would be awesome if they do bring out a revised addition with more control
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Some competition for the Z2 Predator Shaft, because it has the features your wanting.. Surely OB-1 wants to compete right? So I agree with you, OB-1 Needs a shaft to compete with the Z2..



SPINDOKTOR
 
I'm waiting for the one that shoots by itself...and never misses! :D

Scott Lee
Then SVB would be broke.
And us.
 
SPINDOKTOR said:
Some competition for the Z2 Predator Shaft, because it has the features your wanting.. Surely OB-1 wants to compete right? So I agree with you, OB-1 Needs a shaft to compete with the Z2..



SPINDOKTOR
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Exactly!!!!!

I know the market for Z shafts is smaller than that of the 314 or the OB-1, because your average Joe Q. Leaguebanger wants the forgiveness of the 314 and OB

I still think there are enough players that would benefit from OB's version of a Z shaft to make it worth their while to design and build it.


Joe Q. Leaguebanger <----------------- Copyright pending ;)



Nice website BTW
 
BPG24 said:
Exactly!!!!!

I know the market for Z shafts is smaller than that of the 314 or the OB-1, because your average Joe Q. Leaguebanger wants the forgiveness of the 314 and OB

I still think there are enough players that would benefit from OB's version of a Z shaft to make it worth their while to design and build it.


Joe Q. Leaguebanger <----------------- Copyright pending ;)



Nice website BTW
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Joe Q. would play with a cool black graphite coated stick and would think. Predator is a movie with Arnie. It'd the D and low C players that buy 4 different cues in a month with 6 different shafts, because one of them "must" be the one to make them a B.
 
hang-the-9 said:
Joe Q. would play with a cool black graphite coated stick and would think. Predator is a movie with Arnie. It'd the D and low C players that buy 4 different cues in a month with 6 different shafts, because one of them "must" be the one to make them a B.
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Yes graphite or even one of those Titanium things from Champs :eek:

Joe Q Leaguebanger may also have a Meucci that his dad gave him from back when he was a traveling world beater ;) ... But he won't shoot with it because it's priceless :D
 
I personally think if you are having problems with the OB-1 shaft its more with your fundamentals or skill than it is with the shaft, especially if you are having problems with miscues. I've played with the 314, 314^2, 314^2 modified by our very own Kevin Varney, and the notorious OB-1. I have never thought the shaft was "wild" or hard to control. I've tried the OB-I with a variety of tips and so far my favorite is the sniper and moori med. I believe the OB-1 has about the same deflection as the other above mentioned shafts but with a better feel (IMO).

I've never felt the OB-1 was whippy either but maybe that is a term thats a little hard to define. I have a Tim Scrugss cue with ivory ferrules and way more deflection than than the above mentions shafts. I absolutely love the way it feels but can't/won't put in the time to get used to the deflection characteristics since I've been playing with the low deflection shafts for a long time. I've gotta say that for my money I would rather have an OB-1 than any of the other cues mentioned so far including the Z, Z^2, and I2 shafts that I've tried.

I am waiting for someone to show me proof that one shaft will apply more english to a cueball than another shaft will. I've tried a simple test with house cues (including ones with press on tips), the other low deflections shafts mentioned above, and other random cues that people have let me try to test the amount of english I can put on the cueball. Not one of them has made a bit of difference in the amount of spin that I can impart on the cueball.
 
ShaneT58 said:
I personally think if you are having problems with the OB-1 shaft its more with your fundamentals or skill than it is with the shaft, especially if you are having problems with miscues.
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Is this some kind of a joke? :rolleyes:

How you came to the conclusion that I have bad fundamentals based on me not liking a shaft because it is too whippy, I will never understand. The OB-1 IMO is better suited for a player with a short stroke than it is for someone who gets through the ball well. ex: you average league player

I did not mention any miscues and I don't have the same problems with any other shafts except something like an old Meucci shaft that is also very whippy. The major difference in the OB-1 and the old Meucci's is that the OB-1 creates much more action on the ball with less of a stroke.

I prefer stiff shafts that require me to actually stroke the ball.

The problem with the OB-1 is that I can fling the ball all over the table and never have to make a great stroke. The lack of stiffness and the extra spin it creates causes bad habits like getting used to being able to punch at the ball and still get results. It actually causes bad mechanics.

I have done alot of testing myself with different shafts. Tons of standard maple shafts, (custom and production) every Predator model, the Tiger X, the USS, the T3, and both laminated Meucci's. The OB-1 is the only one that reacts the way I previously described. That being said, I did not like some of the other shafts for different reasons.

Hopefully this can make you better understand my situation.
 
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The problem with the OB-1 is that I can fling the ball all over the table and never have to make a great stroke. The lack of stiffness and the extra spin it creates causes bad habits like getting used to being able to punch at the ball and still get results. It actually causes bad mechanics.
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actually i would say the opposite on this issue. there's a common myth that low deflection shafts allow you to get away with an off-centre hit and bad mechanics - in fact it's the other way around. you must be more accurate with your cueing in this regard i think.

by the way BPG24 did you find anything else about that cuemaker's super low deflection shafts in that thread recently? wonder how they would hit in comparison to the ob-1. can't find the thread in the search.
 
BPG24 said:
Is this some kind of a joke? :rolleyes:

How you came to the conclusion that I have bad fundamentals based on me not liking a shaft because it is too whippy, I will never understand. The OB-1 IMO is better suited for a player with a short stroke than it is for someone who gets through the ball well. ex: you average league player

I did not mention any miscues and I don't have the same problems with any other shafts except something like an old Meucci shaft that is also very whippy. The major difference in the OB-1 and the old Meucci's is that the OB-1 creates much more action on the ball with less of a stroke.

I prefer stiff shafts that require me to actually stroke the ball.

The problem with the OB-1 is that I can fling the ball all over the table and never have to make a great stroke. The lack of stiffness and the extra spin it creates causes bad habits like getting used to being able to punch at the ball and still get results. It actually causes bad mechanics.

I have done alot of testing myself with different shafts. Tons of standard maple shafts, (custom and production) every Predator model, the Tiger X, the USS, the T3, and both laminated Meucci's. The OB-1 is the only one that reacts the way I previously described. That being said, I did not like some of the other shafts for different reasons.

Hopefully this can make you better understand my situation.
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Got my cue back the other day from Royce Bunnell of OB Cues in Plano,Texas where he custom fit and matched a very nice OB1 shaft to my cue and installed a Sniper tip. Royce did a fantastic job and the cue plays very well, is very controlable and with none of the problems you mention above such as flingin... not sure what that is. Very happy with the shaft and the great work by OB Cues.
 
worriedbeef said:
actually i would say the opposite on this issue. there's a common myth that low deflection shafts allow you to get away with an off-centre hit and bad mechanics - in fact it's the other way around. you must be more accurate with your cueing in this regard i think.

by the way BPG24 did you find anything else about that cuemaker's super low deflection shafts in that thread recently? wonder how they would hit in comparison to the ob-1. can't find the thread in the search.
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I don't know where you see me mentioning of center hits. I was talking about moving the ball without having to really get through it. I could see me liking the OB-1 more IF I played on bar tables. The short backstroke shots and pop shots come into play alot more there.


I still haven't heard anything else about the other shafts. The guy who makes them is oversees so finding more than a few people that used them has been difficult. I would rather pay $200 for a real nice custom than spend $400+ on something I can't get reviews on.


Too the guys that are saying that the OB-1 isn't whippy, why would they admit they have been thinking about making a stiffer shaft if the one they have now is already stiff? Makes no sense.
 
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Bigjohn said:
Got my cue back the other day from Royce Bunnell of OB Cues in Plano,Texas where he custom fit and matched a very nice OB1 shaft to my cue and installed a Sniper tip. Royce did a fantastic job and the cue plays very well, is very controlable and with none of the problems you mention above such as flingin... not sure what that is. Very happy with the shaft and the great work by OB Cues.
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I am glad that you enjoy it so much. :) This is why they make so many different brands and styles of shafts. Everyone has different styles of play.

TRUST ME ---- IF I DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE MADE WELL, I WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO EMAIL THEM AND ASK FOR A MODEL THAT FITS MY GAME.
 
If you don't think OB-!'s taper is not whippy, you've been playing with a Meucci shaft too long.
It does not affect how straight shoots, but the more that thing flexes behind the bridge hand, the less feel your grip hand will have.
~my california two cents worth less in most states~
 
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