OB1 let down

Ballistic Billiards

Ballistic Billiards

Step up your Game!
Silver Member
I got an OB1 a few weeks ago and I'm really disappointed
with it... don't jump on me just yet.

I'm going to change the taper and the tip and see how I feel about
it after that.

It has about an 18-20" pro taper and a Triangle tip @ 12.75mm.
Is this what everyone else has and likes?
I think it feels like a meucci which is very far from my taste in
a shaft.

I'm told that the triangle might be no good, chalk slides right off of it,
and it'll be replaced.

It's a blank shaft and needs finished at the joint so I can have my guy
change the taper for me at the same time no problem.

The super long taper is just too "soft" for me, feels like a wet noodle,
but the shaft definitely performs.
 
Stiff Hit

coopdeville said:
I got an OB1 a few weeks ago and I'm really disappointed
with it... don't jump on me just yet.

I'm going to change the taper and the tip and see how I feel about
it after that.

It has about an 18-20" pro taper and a Triangle tip @ 12.75mm.
Is this what everyone else has and likes?
I think it feels like a meucci which is very far from my taste in
a shaft.

I'm told that the triangle might be no good, chalk slides right off of it,
and it'll be replaced.

It's a blank shaft and needs finished at the joint so I can have my guy
change the taper for me at the same time no problem.

The super long taper is just too "soft" for me, feels like a wet noodle,
but the shaft definitely performs.
Click to expand...

If you like a stiff hitting cue, then you may not like the OB-1 cause some people say it hits soft. However it is stiffer than any of my McDermott or I-shafts.

However I have snipers on both of my OB-1 shafts, and love they way they play. I have mine down to about 12.2mm though!

The whole idea behind providing less deflecion is the shaft moves (or flexes if you will) so that the ball isn't pushed off line. If the shaft flexes then it makes since to me that it would feel a little more whippy, or like a Meucci as you stated. (However I don't feel it hits like a Meucci at all, and I feel it is a bit stiffer hit than any of my McDermott shafts! Not too stiff, but perfect!)

If the shaft is a blank shaft how do you know you don't like it though? If it isn't on a cue so you can try it how do you get an accurate feel for the shaft? I am just curious because you said it is a blank shaft, but that it definitely performs and you don't like the feel of it? How would you know if you can't put it on the butt of a cue?

Do you mean it came with threads, but that you need to have your cue maker match it up to your joint and butt? Then I could see how you were able to test it. I am just curious is why I asked.

If it were blank then it wouldn't have any threads, so that your cue maker would have to finish it totally.
 
Last edited:
tapped not finished

it's tapped for a radial pin.
I've been playing with it for a couple weeks.

compared to my z shaft which has a euro taper
the z performs almost as well and I do better with it
because I'm more comfortable with it.

With the euro taper on the ob1 I may fall in love.

Just curious if anyone else has changed the taper
and if the 18-20" taper is standard.
 
coopdeville said:
it's tapped for a radial pin.
I've been playing with it for a couple weeks.

compared to my z shaft which has a euro taper
the z performs almost as well and I do better with it
because I'm more comfortable with it.

With the euro taper on the ob1 I may fall in love.

Just curious if anyone else has changed the taper
and if the 18-20" taper is standard.
Click to expand...


That is the standard taper according to Royce. That is why they originally only came in 12.75mm models. I ordered mine from OB-1 at 12.2mm which is the smallest they are making from the factory right now. I used to shoot with a McDermott I-3 at 11.90mm and the difference in size isn't too different. Besides the OB-1 performs a lot better than that I-3 anyway. (And before anyone asks I know the I-3 says it is 11.75 like the Z is, but when I got mine we measured it and the one I have is actually 11.90mm at the tip.)
 
txplshrk said:
If you like a stiff hitting cue, then you may not like the OB-1.

However I have snipers on both of my OB-1 shafts, and love they way they play.

The whole idea behind providing less deflecion is the shaft moves (or flexes if you will) so that the ball isn't pushed off line. If the shaft flexes then it makes since to me that it would feel a little more whippy, or like a Meucci as you stated.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised that Royce hasn't hired you by now to be his AZB sales rep! :p :cool:
 
I don't like the taper either. Too thick for me but I adjusted. You got to remember, its all in your head :) Very few things matter in a shaft. taper is not one of them if it is reasonable. Wrap your head around that :)

Pretty sure my tip is a tailsman. I could be wrong... It plays great.


My OB1 is great. It definitely takes some change in your game to adapt. I'd think a "feel" player would hate it since you can not switch over and play on "auto". You must learn to aim different with this shaft to use it. Systematic players should aapt fast to it IMO.


I'm glad I bought mine...
 
Some folks just don't like tomatoes. I love em. I also love my OB-1 shafts. :D

Try going with a Sniper tip before changing the taper, just to see. Worst case scenario is that you decide to change the taper anyway. I love mine just the way it is with my Sniper tip.

-yow!
 
i didnt like my ob-1 at first either, i got a 30" and the with the taper and the 12.75mm i couldnt play with it. I sent it back and royce was nice enough to cut it down to 29" and a little under 12.5, free of charge too, and it plays much more to my liking
 
ericyow said:
Some folks just don't like tomatoes. I love em. I also love my OB-1 shafts. :D

Try going with a Sniper tip before changing the taper, just to see. Worst case scenario is that you decide to change the taper anyway. I love mine just the way it is with my Sniper tip.

-yow!
Click to expand...


Ditto Eric....................Sniper rocks! But I liked sniper before I even bought my OB-1!

I also agree in trying the shaft at a smaller diameter. I think that is what is affecting you more than the taper. I mean your Z is 11.75, and your OB-1 is 12.75. Take that OB-1 down to the 12.2, and you might like it even with their regular taper. I know I love it with the regular taper and 12.2mm size on the tip.
 
Last edited:
hehe

ericyow said:
Some folks just don't like tomatoes. I love em. I also love my OB-1 shafts. :D

Try going with a Sniper tip before changing the taper, just to see. Worst case scenario is that you decide to change the taper anyway. I love mine just the way it is with my Sniper tip.

-yow!
Click to expand...

I like wet noodles, just not when it's time to shoot pool :D

It's not that I don't like it...

I just don't like the way it shakes like a wet dog
a stiffer taper should resolve that...
I really don't need an 18-20" pro taper.
I'm considering an almost complete overhaul
new ferrule, tip, and taper :eek:
Thanks for the responses, keep them coming!
-cOOp
 
Last I checked, the OB-1's are supposed to have about an 11" modified pro taper and come standard with a Talisman tip. It feels very un-Meucci like to me. I have a 30" shaft that was made from a partial and it hits and feels exactly the same as the finished shafts I've gotten. I've been happy with all of them so far. Before changing the taper on it, you might want to check with Royce first as I'm pretty sure there is a certain diameter you can take it down to before you start compromising the ferrule.
 
coopdeville said:
I like wet noodles, just not when it's time to shoot pool :D

It's not that I don't like it...

I just don't like the way it shakes like a wet dog
a stiffer taper should resolve that...
I really don't need an 18-20" pro taper.
I'm considering an almost complete overhaul
new ferrule, tip, and taper :eek:
Thanks for the responses, keep them coming!
-cOOp
Click to expand...

Talk to Royce about the ferrule! I wouldn't do that without talking to him because they are constructed different. Also remember that when you change the ferrule it will be more dense which means you will be adding more deflection to the shaft. In other words you will be defeating the purpose of buying the OB-1.

I personally would send it back to Royce and let him take it down to 12.2mm. That way that he does it and it is still warrantied. Then I would have them put on the tip of your choice on it.

If after playing with it like that you don't care for it I would then look at a different taper.

I am not sure of the taper of the shaft at 12.2mm from the factory, I would have to talk to Royce about it and see what it is.

Anyway, you do what you want, but that is my .02 cents!
 
Correct

roddyc said:
Last I checked, the OB-1's are supposed to have about an 11" modified pro taper and come standard with a Talisman tip. It feels very un-Meucci like to me. I have a 30" shaft that was made from a partial and it hits and feels exactly the same as the finished shafts I've gotten. I've been happy with all of them so far. Before changing the taper on it, you might want to check with Royce first as I'm pretty sure there is a certain diameter you can take it down to before you start compromising the ferrule.
Click to expand...

You are correct here is the page on that too!

http://www.obcues.com/lowdeflection.html
 
hollow

if you go to their construction page
you'll see the hollow ferrule.

this helps to make sense of the carbon fiber pad between the ferrule
and the tip.
 
pic

construction look at the second to the last picture
to see the hollow ferrule. There's a difference of opinion on the use of a wood tenon or not.
I've heard from a very reputable source that the ferrule is foam filled, thus, no tenon.
maybe he'll chime in here. some pictures of the ferrule without the pad would be awesome.
In any case, when I have work done on mine I'll post some pictures.
 
Last edited:
coopdeville said:
if you go to their construction page
you'll see the hollow ferrule.

this helps to make sense of the carbon fiber pad between the ferrule
and the tip.
Click to expand...

Yea that ferrule will slip over the last couple mm of the shaft which is wood, so the ferrule won't have a hollow point in the middle, and they don't fill the ferrule with foam. Kind of like when you look at the end of a shaft that has a phenolic/wood joint. The phenolic part of the joint is a collar. Think of these wooded ferrules as a collar that slide down on the end of the shaft. A lot of ferrules are done this way.

The carbon fiber pad is there so when you replace the tip you aren't damaging the ferrule or shaft, and last I knew the pad wasn't carbon fiber, but it was phenolic.

If you want more confirmation on this call Royce at OB-1.
 
I measure the pro taper to be about 10 - 11" and then it is not really straight back from the ferrule.
If I were you I would not modify the OB-1 shaft.
Once you do that it has no value to anyone other than you.
If you dont like it after its is modified then it is worthless even to you.
Sell it to someone that likes the OB-1 and buy a shaft more suited to your preferences.

I wish Royce would make the uncut blanks available to cuemakers so we could cut the profile we prefer as the construction of the OB-1 shaft IMHO is a fantistic piece of engineering.
That thing profiled with my modified Southwest taper would be the nuts. But, sorry to say he offers it only in the one configuration.
Still I think it is an engineering advancement over the laminated and pie wedge constructed shafts.

BTW your HUGE photo is really screwing with my screen layout.
 
willee

thanks for the comments...
I want to play with it, as I like the way it plays
and what I'm planning for it will only improve it.

I don't have a caliper and I don't want to change
the diameter too much, only what I have to, to get
a good taper.

Maybe mine was modified already because the taper
is looooooooooong.

I prefer a euro/conical taper, this is not to say that
I prefer a smaller tip diameter.

Don't be scared to change it, you're a good cue maker,
and this is just a shaft like any other (besides the hollow ferrule and carbon fiber pad).


the picture isn't that big, lol.
I couldn't get the location of the small one for some reason, i'm going to delete it and post the link instead.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top