i had the pleasure to take the ob-1 shaft out for a test spin. looks wise, it is the most stunning elegant shaft ever made. with it's medium brown wood and lined grains running down it, and it's most visually beautiful spiral wooden flush ferrull, this shaft is clearly a work of art. the joints could be made with custom touches, the one i am reviewing was a 3/8/10 with black fibre trim. the shaft screwed into my Mali butt perfectly, not too loose or too slowly.
the good news: this is the most perfectly sound shaft ever made. technically perfect. there is nothing wrong and everything right about how it contacts the cue ball. deflection was still evident, however it went from 50% from a normal shaft to 20%, so adjustments still need to be made, but only slightly. as far as power is concerned, that's where the ob-1 has absoloutly no equal, not even close. the ob-1 is such a rocket of a shaft, that if you got out of your dieing bed to shoot, you could still jump the table and breaka window!! this shaft is a ROCKET! the power behind it is nothing short of starteling! i do not know why it is so powerful, but it just IS! this aspect takes getting used to. for those out there who, feel they are weak in draw shots or with spin/english shots, or just force follow shots, this shaft was taylor made just for you. i personally found it too powerfull.
as far as hitting and feel~ it was dead, like a tomb, this will take getting used to, for sure, most shafts are hollow inside and have a high note piano, with pedal held down "ping" the ob-1 has no such thing, it has material inside it to dampen vibration and sound.
the bad news: the balance, if you are playing with a light cue, i use a 16.5 cue, this is NOT the shaft for you, because the balance is foward heavy, it will weigh your cue stick down, however, if your using a 19oz. cue or heavier, the ob-1 would be the PERFECT shaft for you to use, especially if you have stainless steel joints, i say this because due to it's deadness, and the stainless steel joints deadness, the marriage would be perfect.
the sum up: if you have $182.00 to spend on a shaft, that will give you ultimate power, less deflection,great looks, and you have a butt that is 19oz with stainless steel joints, this will be the greatest equipment investment you will ever make.
the good news: this is the most perfectly sound shaft ever made. technically perfect. there is nothing wrong and everything right about how it contacts the cue ball. deflection was still evident, however it went from 50% from a normal shaft to 20%, so adjustments still need to be made, but only slightly. as far as power is concerned, that's where the ob-1 has absoloutly no equal, not even close. the ob-1 is such a rocket of a shaft, that if you got out of your dieing bed to shoot, you could still jump the table and breaka window!! this shaft is a ROCKET! the power behind it is nothing short of starteling! i do not know why it is so powerful, but it just IS! this aspect takes getting used to. for those out there who, feel they are weak in draw shots or with spin/english shots, or just force follow shots, this shaft was taylor made just for you. i personally found it too powerfull.
as far as hitting and feel~ it was dead, like a tomb, this will take getting used to, for sure, most shafts are hollow inside and have a high note piano, with pedal held down "ping" the ob-1 has no such thing, it has material inside it to dampen vibration and sound.
the bad news: the balance, if you are playing with a light cue, i use a 16.5 cue, this is NOT the shaft for you, because the balance is foward heavy, it will weigh your cue stick down, however, if your using a 19oz. cue or heavier, the ob-1 would be the PERFECT shaft for you to use, especially if you have stainless steel joints, i say this because due to it's deadness, and the stainless steel joints deadness, the marriage would be perfect.
the sum up: if you have $182.00 to spend on a shaft, that will give you ultimate power, less deflection,great looks, and you have a butt that is 19oz with stainless steel joints, this will be the greatest equipment investment you will ever make.
