Radial vs flat laminated shafts

[hdgis1]

Whats your opinion on the differences between radial and flat laminated shafts? I don't buy into the notion that flat laminated shafts don't have a spine on them. Was told that one wouldn't notice difference in flex unless they were hitting an 8 lb bowling ball. What do you all think?

 

[dr_dave]

Whats your opinion on the differences between radial and flat laminated shafts? I don't buy into the notion that flat laminated shafts don't have a spine on them. Was told that one wouldn't notice difference in flex unless they were hitting an 8 lb bowling ball. What do you all think?

I did some machine squirt tests a couple of years ago with a flat-laminated Meucci shaft and saw practically no squirt variation with cue twist angle. This doesn't mean the shaft doesn't have a spine, but the results were interesting (and probably surprising to some). For more info, see Diagram 3 in my February '08 BD article.

Regards,
Dave

 

[8Ball48043]

I have tried (shot with) both. Flat laminated for me.

 

[dr_dave]

Whats your opinion on the differences between radial and flat laminated shafts?

It seems like a radial shaft will be more likely to have uniform strength and stiffness in all directions. A radial-laminate shaft should also be less likely to warp. That's probably the best feature. Either type can be high-squirt or low-squirt depending on how light the end of the shaft is made (e.g., with a smaller and lighter ferrule, with a smaller shaft diameter near the tip, with a hole drilled through shaft end, etc.).

Regards,
Dave

 

[hdgis1]

Summary - Little noticeable difference in squirt relative to grain orientation of flat laminated shaft.

Did you test grain orientations at various cue speeds?

Chris

I did some machine squirt tests a couple of years ago with a flat-laminated Meucci shaft and saw practically no squirt variation with cue twist angle. This doesn't mean the shaft doesn't have a spine, but the results were interesting (and probably surprising to some). For more info, see Diagram 3 in my February '08 BD article.

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Summary - Little noticeable difference in squirt relative to grain orientation of flat laminated shaft.

Correct.

Did you test grain orientations at various cue speeds?s

Sorry. The only squirt vs. speed data I have is for a solid shaft (see Diagram 2 in my February '08 BD article and Diagram 2 in my September '07 BD article).

Summary - Little noticeable different in squirt with speed (although swerve changes quite a bit with speed, cue elevation, and ball/cloth conditions).

Regards,
Dave

 

[ShootingArts]

more to do with individual lay-up

The attributes of both have more to do with the individual shaft than the splice design. One issue some of the radials have is the center line of the splice not running down the center line of the shaft. If this happens then most of the advantages of the radial design are lost and I prefer a flat laminate. Of course either laminate can be made with high quality or low quality wood, another major factor. It is very hard to speak in absolutes as the shaft quality depends more on the one making it than the design of the splice.

Hu

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Hu:
...either laminate can be made with high quality or low quality wood, another major factor.

I'd go even farther and say this is the only significant factor, and it's only beneficial to the manufacturer, not to the player (except it may help keep costs down). Lamination allows the construction of warp-resistant shafts from lower quality wood with less seasoning.

I don't believe laminated shafts of any type have a significant performance advantage over each other or over one-piece shafts. "Radial consistency" is a red herring - it's all about the cost of wood.

pj
chgo

 

[dr_dave]

I'd go even farther and say this is the only significant factor, and it's only beneficial to the manufacturer, not to the player (except it may help keep costs down). Lamination allows the construction of warp-resistant shafts from lower quality wood with less seasoning.

I don't believe laminated shafts of any type have a significant performance advantage over each other or over one-piece shafts. "Radial consistency" is a red herring - it's all about the cost of wood.

Excellent points! So is the main advantage of a radial laminate: warp resistant with cheaper wood?

Thanks,
Dave