LoL, anyone can drill a hole in their shaft with no legal issues.
You'd have a problem if you tried to market them though.
It doesn't take much imagination to copy someone else's idea.
If you want to be a hero, explore other methods. The R&D doesn't end with Predator though they do seem to have a pretty good grip on the concept of low deflection.
What I believe Mike is saying is that when it comes to physics, 'for every action there is a reaction'. Physics are the constant laws of the universe. However, they can be 'tweaked'. A prime example would be a simple shaft reduction or turn-down. Weight reduction in the front-end equals reduced deflection but the trade-off is a flimsy(er) shaft.
The lakewood shafts are sought after because they possess certain play characteristics. Start messing with the wood and you'll change those attributes. I'm not implying that you shouldn't experiment, because that's how gains are made. I think I'd start by being mindful of the wght. that you ADD to the front-end, ie, ferrule mtrl. John Rocker is involved with the development of some wooden ferrules that in my opinion are showing some great potential. These puppies are definitely worth a look. At 3/4" they are 1/2 the wght. of a common ferrule and the reduction in deflection is dramatic without changing the sought after characteristics of the wood.
