Schon Shaft Problems

[Uncle Rico]

What would cause a shaft to start to play bad after 12 years? There is no obvious signs of damage and a newer tip which has been replaced but I am still having issues. I do have a spare shaft purchased at the same time and it still plays solid but it is a larger diameter than the shaft I usually play with.

The hit is still sounds and feels good but the playabilty (not sure that's a word) is awful.

Thanks.

 

[Chopdoc]

Loose tip, loose, ferrule, loose joint collar, or loose insert are the first things I would suspect.

 

[dr9ball]

What would cause a shaft to start to play bad after 12 years? There is no obvious signs of damage and a newer tip which has been replaced but I am still having issues. I do have a spare shaft purchased at the same time and it still plays solid but it is a larger diameter than the shaft I usually play with.

The hit is still sounds and feels good but the playabilty (not sure that's a word) is awful.

Thanks.

Just a question, are you sure it's not just you? Have you tried other cues / shafts to make sure you're still playing at the top of your game?

It's not always the equipment though sometimes it is.

 

[Chopdoc]

Just a question, are you sure it's not just you? Have you tried other cues / shafts to make sure you're still playing at the top of your game?

It's not always the equipment though sometimes it is.

He said the other shaft is still good.

But you make a good point. I have had some periods where my game sucked and I thought my shaft was feeling "funny". The last such streak lasted ten years and is still going....but I am finally convinced it's me and not the shaft. :embarrassed2:

 

[Uncle Rico]

Just a question, are you sure it's not just you? Have you tried other cues / shafts to make sure you're still playing at the top of your game?

It's not always the equipment though sometimes it is.

It is not just me, although top of my game is not a phrase I have used in a long time :embarrassed2:

But there is a huge difference in play when i use the other 13mm shaft shaft. I am just not a fan of the 13mm and prefer the 12.5mm on the shaft that does not play so hot.

I have replaced the tip but it did not change anything so I am ruling out a loose tip as a cause. All of the other things are a possibility.

Time to break down and order a new shaft or have my other one turned down I guess while I find someone to look at this shaft.

 

[dr9ball]

It is not just me, although top of my game is not a phrase I have used in a long time :embarrassed2:

But there is a huge difference in play when i use the other 13mm shaft shaft. I am just not a fan of the 13mm and prefer the 12.5mm on the shaft that does not play so hot.

I have replaced the tip but it did not change anything so I am ruling out a loose tip as a cause. All of the other things are a possibility.

Time to break down and order a new shaft or have my other one turned down I guess while I find someone to look at this shaft.

If the shaft is sticky or doesn't glide through your bridge hand that can be the problem. If there's no clicking sound when you're hitting with the "bad" shaft, you might try slicking down the shaft and see if that helps. If it clicks could be a ferrule/tennon issue or lose brass insert at the joint causing the problem... Hope you can get it fixed. Good Luck.

 

[Paul Dayton]

You want a new shaft about the same as the one that used to play well. I suggest you take the one you already have and don't use and have it turned down. If you buy a new one you'll still have the one you don't use. Use it.

 

[pt109]

What would cause a shaft to start to play bad after 12 years? There is no obvious signs of damage and a newer tip which has been replaced but I am still having issues. I do have a spare shaft purchased at the same time and it still plays solid but it is a larger diameter than the shaft I usually play with.

The hit is still sounds and feels good but the playabilty (not sure that's a word) is awful.

Thanks.

I'm wondering how you clean the shaft.
I've seen people with strong hitting shafts turn them into weak hitters
with a long Meucci type taper by being careless about wood they are
losing from keeping the shaft smooth.

 

[manwon]

What would cause a shaft to start to play bad after 12 years? There is no obvious signs of damage and a newer tip which has been replaced but I am still having issues. I do have a spare shaft purchased at the same time and it still plays solid but it is a larger diameter than the shaft I usually play with.

The hit is still sounds and feels good but the playabilty (not sure that's a word) is awful.

Thanks.

I have never heard of a problem like this, to my experience if a shaft has a crisp clean bell like tone there is nothing wrong with it. Normally if something loose it will have a rattle not a clean tone. If the tip is the problem in most cases it will be an intermittent altered tone. This is because in most cases only part of the tip is loose for non-layered tips, and for layered tips sometimes a layer is not tightly bound so again the sound is normally intermitten.

Then there is one other problem that arises, sometimes a players game is off and they think there is a problem with their equipment. I have people come in for work and I can find absolutely nothing wrong, sometimes by telling them and showing them there is no problem the issue go's away other times this problem becomes a habit.

I don't know what is wrong with your shaft and from your explanation I doubt anyone can tell you without a doubt what is wrong. My recommendation would be to take the shaft to an experienced cue smith and let them look at it, outside of that good luck!!!:smile: