I'm sure this has been posted in the past but OB-1 or OB-2 for a schon? What's everyones opinion?
OB-1 or OB-2
- Thread starter iownthe412
- Start date
I am comfortable shooting with a smaller diameter. I had a z shaft for a diff cue I had and I liked it but the OB-1 and 2 is a totally different shaft from what I've heard. I can demo the 1 but I would really like to know how the 2 shoots.
Again, that is like my situation. I have a Z, and am switching. I do not like the taper of the Z. I have smaller hands so the smaller diameter feels good to me, but I recently demo'd the 314-2 and OB1 and thought I was a little more accurate with the larger diameter. Maybe just me being a mediocre player though.
But if you are used to the smaller diameter, I do not think you would be dissappointed at all with the OB2. What is your reason for switching from the Z?
But if you are used to the smaller diameter, I do not think you would be dissappointed at all with the OB2. What is your reason for switching from the Z?
I actually purchased a schon and got rid of the viking I had with the z shaft. So, I have been shooting with a 13mm schon shaft for the last year or so but I want to be able to do the things with the cb that I could with the z. I've just heard thats it's a totally different feel and hit. I like a more solid hit and feel. The schon shaft has not really affected my game drastically but I use a decent amount of english when I shoot so I would like something that reduces cue ball squirt more.
Sounds like the OB2 would be a good fit if your like that diameter and really want to move the CB around. I'm not the best at describing the hit, but Ive used all the shafts you mentioned and really liked the OB2. For me, it is just a decision now on what diameter will fit my game the best
I think it is really personaly preference. If you are comfortable with a 11.75mm tip and a more conical taper, than you would love the OB2. But if you prefer a 12.75mm (IIRC it is a 12.75mm correct?) and a pro-taper shaft, than the OB1 would be the way to go. Go test it out before you buy it. A good thing to go by with LD shafts since their are so many on the market, "Try it before you buy it!"
I shoot with a custom 12.25mm ob-1 and I tried the ob-2, a z-2, a 314-2, and a regular ob-1 at a local store last month. The ob-2 is stiffer than the ob-1. It gives you a little bit more feedback. You would get a lot of action from it, but it would hit a little softer than the z. I personally prefer the hit of the ob-2 to the hit of the z-2 because it's a little more "cushioned"... but I know people that prefer the z because it gives more feedback (you can feel the vibrations that go through the cue after a good hit with the predator shafts).
As far as your question - the ob-1 hits softer than the ob-2. Maybe a lot softer. The ob-2 is stiffer and gives you a little more feedback. One thing that I noticed when I was trying the ob-2 was that it is less whippy (because it is stiffer). My ob-1 is 12.25mm so the difference in the diameter is much smaller, but I can still see how the ob-2 can/would generate more action (because of the stiffness and the smaller diameter).
I shoot with a reduced ob-1 because I like that it has the most "cushioned" hit out of all the shafts that I've tried. With the ob-2 however you can "feel" the english that you put on the ball. You probably know what I am talking about, if you've switched back and fort between 13mm and 11.75mm shafts. You can't feel the english that you put on the cue ball with the ob-1 because the hit is too soft for that.
My opinion is that if you liked the z, you should go with the ob-2 and If you like an uber cushioned hit, you should go with a reduced ob-1.
St
As far as your question - the ob-1 hits softer than the ob-2. Maybe a lot softer. The ob-2 is stiffer and gives you a little more feedback. One thing that I noticed when I was trying the ob-2 was that it is less whippy (because it is stiffer). My ob-1 is 12.25mm so the difference in the diameter is much smaller, but I can still see how the ob-2 can/would generate more action (because of the stiffness and the smaller diameter).
I shoot with a reduced ob-1 because I like that it has the most "cushioned" hit out of all the shafts that I've tried. With the ob-2 however you can "feel" the english that you put on the ball. You probably know what I am talking about, if you've switched back and fort between 13mm and 11.75mm shafts. You can't feel the english that you put on the cue ball with the ob-1 because the hit is too soft for that.
My opinion is that if you liked the z, you should go with the ob-2 and If you like an uber cushioned hit, you should go with a reduced ob-1.
St
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I switched to an OB-2 after hitting with an OB-1 for over a year. I thought I like the OB-2 better because of the better feedback. Then one day I got into a long match that started at 10pm on evening and ended at 10am the next morning. When I went to break down, much to my surprise, I was playing with the OB-1 all night! LOL.
I guess I like having both available!
Ray
ps. If you like to support live streaming of pool, I am also an OB-Dealer.
I guess I like having both available!
Ray
ps. If you like to support live streaming of pool, I am also an OB-Dealer.
I have both shafts, but prefer the OB-1. I played with the OB-1 for about 6 months then got the OB-2 and played with it for about the same time. I'm 63 and don't hit the cue as square as I use too, so the OB-1 is a little more forgiving. So it's really just what you prefer, but you won't go wrong with either one. Great cue's and shafts.
I'm sure by now you have reached the obvious conclusion....talk about feel...feedback...too soft....too hard...etc ..etc. are all subjective judgements. As mentioned by most of the previous posters, the best possible decision by you can only be made by trying both. I use the OB-2 shafts on my schon.(yes I bought 2 of them) I also retipped one shaft with moori med's and am preparing to replace the other w/ a kamui black. The one thing I can say that isn't subjective is this....The smaller dia tip allows me to hit closer to center ball while developing the required spin to achieve position......where before with standard shafts and 13mm tip size I may find myself using 1-1 1/2 tips off center.......I find I get the same spin using 1/4 to 1/2 tip. The smaller tip size will also magnify any errors in the stroke......I find this to be a good thing, as it forces me to pay attention to all facets of my stroke.......Dan
The ob-1 has a softer hit because it has a bigger foam pad (in relation to the diameter of the shaft) than the ob-2. This means that a bigger part of the wood has been replaced with foam which is there to absorb the vibrations that go up and down the shaft immediately after you hit the cue ball. This is not subjective and is what makes the ob-2 stiffer and a shaft that "gives you more feedback". The way that hitting the ball with a metal rod will give you more feedback because the metal will absorb much less of the vibrations generated by the hit and your entire arm will be vibrating for 1/3 or 1/2 of a second.
Whether you care about this is a completely different story. Obviously, one feels the hit only while the cue ball is in contact with the object ball (which is a very, very short amount of time) and after that. By the time you feel the hit the shot is certainly a done deal.
I care about the hit because I enjoy playing with a cue the hit of which I like more than I enjoy playing with a cue of equal performance the hit of which I don't like. And I am extremely competitive and definitely very serious about playing pool. I do have a friend however who is about as good as one gets before they become a pro who plays with a 314-2 and only cares about accuracy. He would be playing with a metal rod if he knew that it deflected less than his 314 and was 12.75mm. He would choose a shaft that performs better (squirts less) over a shaft that "hits better" any day.
I think the feedback that you get from a cue is objective because it was caused by the cue that you hit with. That's why you are feeling it. Whether
you care about it varies from person to person.
St
Whether you care about this is a completely different story. Obviously, one feels the hit only while the cue ball is in contact with the object ball (which is a very, very short amount of time) and after that. By the time you feel the hit the shot is certainly a done deal.
I care about the hit because I enjoy playing with a cue the hit of which I like more than I enjoy playing with a cue of equal performance the hit of which I don't like. And I am extremely competitive and definitely very serious about playing pool. I do have a friend however who is about as good as one gets before they become a pro who plays with a 314-2 and only cares about accuracy. He would be playing with a metal rod if he knew that it deflected less than his 314 and was 12.75mm. He would choose a shaft that performs better (squirts less) over a shaft that "hits better" any day.
I think the feedback that you get from a cue is objective because it was caused by the cue that you hit with. That's why you are feeling it. Whether
you care about it varies from person to person.
St