Really how important is a spare (2nd) shaft???

My tip has come off my shaft on a handful of occasions, from different manufacturers. The first few times I didn't have a spare shaft and had to borrow. I lost every match with a borrowed shaft, since I wasn't used to it.

Its good to have a spare.
 
A spare shaft is a luxury.

Butt.....

If your paying more than $750 for a custom cue, it's always better to order it with 2 shafts, as it helps it's resale value.
 
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Unlike most i dont have a spare that plays almost exactly the same as the main shaft. I have many 'spare' shafts... they all have different characteristics. i will set up differently for it e.g. if i want to play more stuns and all i will go to one shaft... if i want to push more i go to another, if i want something more balance i have something for that too. its all totally unnecessary but its kind of fun that way. and i learn a lot about how different equipment affects the way you play and to some degree your shot choices as well. and if something bad happens to my main i can make do as well. but i have never had a tip fly off in my 20 odd years of playing.

but i digress*– in another thread a user had a problem with his one and only shaft and is looking to send it back; a process that may take months. and guess what? no spare... as the collective mentioned... its a luxury you dont need... until you need it.
 
HeadCase said:
I’m trying to settle something with an ego maniac.

Is it really important to have a second shaft for your playing cue?

I was explaining that as long as you have a good tip installed the chances of something happening to the shaft/tip during a tournament is pretty minuscule...

Am I way off? Isn’t a spare shaft a luxury or is it really that important?

Thoughts?
How many of you have had a tip pop off (playing cue) during an important event?
Click to expand...

The circumstance of the tip flying off or completely separating from the ferrule/shaft does happen, but in reality the more common occurrence is the tip will more than likely result in a partial separation. Meaning, the tip will still remain on the ferrule/shaft, but if you manipulate the tip directly and look closely then you can see a gap or be able to lift the tip slightly off the ferrule. You'll know instantly the distinct change in the feel/hit of the cue as the unusual sound of a dull *thunk* can be heard after cue ball contact.

Do you "need" an exactly duplicate of your regular playing shaft? That would be ideal, but that is a decision for you to make. I always carry a 2nd shaft for my playing cue, but cue tip separation hasn't happened to me during play.

Complete cue tip separation during break has happened to me twice, once in a tournament. I like to pair my break cue (1b/1s) and a jump cue (1b/1s) that have similar joint pin/joint type, i.e. 5/16x18 SS piloted (break cue) and 5/16x18 SS flat faced (jump cue). If my break cue looses it's tip, I can still swap the break shaft with my jump shaft and continue without missing a heartbeat. I suppose this wouldn't be so much an issue now with one piece phenolic tip/ferrule combinations, as I haven't heard of those falling off yet.
 
My 8 year old has 2 shafts... in case of the tip coming off but also because our local cue maker/repair person lives close by the pool hall. Jin can continue to play while the other shaft is getting re-tipped.
 
Better to have and not need than to need and not have. I've never had a tip pop off and it may never happen but if it ever does, I'll just calmly reach into my case and pull out a new shaft.

I even carry a spare butt but that's cuz I'm a hoarder
 
I've had a tip pop off 3 times in 31 years of playing.
The first time I ended up grabbing a cue of the wall to finish the set. It was semi frustrating just out spite alone.
The 2nd time, I was older, and had been scolded for years to
always carry a spare.
After the first time, the appeal of a 2nd shaft was well understood.
The 3rd time was just a couple months ago.
My buddy (a local repair & tip guy) had installed a hard Wizard tip
on my sneaky Pete using an old bottle of Tiger glue and forgot
to apply the activator.
The glue was so brittle that I got 1 game in. Then, the tip popped
off on the break.
A 1Pocket break! Imagine that...
Things can definitely happen.
Best to be prepared.
I also have cues that have been played for over a decade with the original tips intact.
You just never know what fate may bring.
 
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