OB-1 vs. USS

Marvel

Marvel - The Yogi Bear
Silver Member
Hi!


I also used to be stubborn and 'against' the low dflection shats and Predator, until I trıed Universal Smart Shaft. I've played since with it and it has raised my game a lot.

I've noticed here lots of praising about the OB-1 shaft.
There's no question for me that I'll choose USS b4 Predator 314 (or Z), but all these stories and now John Schmidt's praising made me wonder how good it really is, and how would you compare it with Universal Smart Shaft?

Or is it that USS is not very well marketed/known in US, as I don't read much about it in this forum.

Has somebody played with both?

I haven't met any OB-1 players in Europe.


I've always said about the USS, that it's the centered option from Custom shaft vs. Predator 314, as Custom has so much more feel, but so much more deflection also.
USS does have some more deflection than 314, but not too much at all, and it definitely has much more feel than 314.


Looking forward on your answers and to shoot with an OB-1 also...
 
I personally have not shot with the USS, but I know people who have to try every shaft that comes out to give them a fair shake. All I know is the few people I have heard about trying both the USS and the OB-1 they tend to stick with the OB-1. It has better deflection properties than the USS, but it also has the feel you are looking for since you don't like the Predator feel.

I don't know if that helps or not, and since I have not shot with the USS I can't really be held accountable for a good analysis of the comparison. LOL
 
I've shot will all of them and my preference is the Predator, but only the new version. The feel is more a function of the tip, so I tried different tips. My impression is that they, Pred-2, OB-1, and USS can all be made to hit very similar. All hit very solid with lots of feedback. The USS seems to hit the stiffists with the OB-1 and Pred-2s trailing. A 314-2 with a harder tip (Moori III M) hits very similar to OB-1 and the USS. A Z-2 with a Sniper hits solid, but a little softer feel than the others. I haven't tried a Sniper on an OB-1, but that sounds like a great combination.

Of course the USS has probably the most deflection compared to the others, but there is only a small difference, as you noticed. I used the USS on a SW with great results/feedback. They (USS) are not marketed very well anywhere, and I think some are concerned about the fact that you can change the insert. I think they would sell more with fixed inserts, comfort level thing, not pragmatics.

My 10 cents, but the most important thing is how the taper,feel and hit feel to you.
 
My question

is to all special shaft users is what do you do when you throw a tip, crack a ferrule, or ruin the shaft in some way in a big tournament, and you can no longer shoot right with the custom shaft (or normal production shaft) you have left in your case?

Do you buy 2 of them? I know even switching between 2 custom shafts sometimes can make a difference in your game, especially if the tips are different.
 
Snapshot9 said:
is to all special shaft users is what do you do when you throw a tip, crack a ferrule, or ruin the shaft in some way in a big tournament, and you can no longer shoot right with the custom shaft (or normal production shaft) you have left in your case?

Do you buy 2 of them? I know even switching between 2 custom shafts sometimes can make a difference in your game, especially if the tips are different.

That is the great thing about the OB-1........you can buy two of them with the same type of tips and it is very doubtful that you will feel any different between the two of them. That is why I have two of them!
 
txplshrk said:
That is the great thing about the OB-1........you can buy two of them with the same type of tips and it is very doubtful that you will feel any different between the two of them. That is why I have two of them!
I feel the same way about my 314's. I've owned about a dozen of them over the years and each one felt just as natural as the last one...although they always felt better in my hands because they were perfectly smooth.

I can't say the same about the Schon & Joss shafts I used prior to buying my first 314.
 
Deadon said:
The feel is more a function of the tip, so I tried different tips. My impression is that they, Pred-2, OB-1, and USS can all be made to hit very similar. All hit very solid with lots of feedback. The USS seems to hit the stiffists with the OB-1 and Pred-2s trailing.

I have to dissagree, the feel has to do with the tip but that is only one part of it, definatly not the only thing. I have shot with an USS and the 314z, and the preditor was like using a 2x4. The USS was stiff but not nearly as stiff. I have yet to try the OB1 but am very interested in getting my chance to.
Just my 2 cents, or whatever you paid to get it.:rolleyes:
 
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