shaft comparison question

obe1

obe1

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i just purchased a joss cue with a ob1 30" 12.15 and joss standard 12.57both have top shelf tips and are in perfect straight condition.

i am a longtime player so i assumed the ob1 would be special compared to the joss.i like the joss hands down!!!

am i wrong or missing something?
 
Sounds like you're used to using a conventional one piece shaft. It ain't against the law.
I used pre-cat 314's for many years. Now I use OB1's, and I have a couple Ca$h Cues ferrule-less LD shafts. I like them. Also not against the law.
fyi - took me a couple runs at the OB1 to fall for them. They are a different feel.
Enjoy your new cue!
 
No, the aftermarket shafts play different not better. Whatever shaft you play the best with is the better shaft for you.
Anytime you switch shafts/cues you need to train your arm to adjust to the different hit. Your brain can't calculate every part of a shot in the quarter second you pull the trigger and when you get comfortable with a cue your arm does half the work. Muscle memory.


An interesting test would be to find a friend that shoots regularly with an OB1 and let him compare the two shafts. Since he's used to the hit of a OB1 I'd assume he'll like that shaft better.

Just my opinion. I've been wrong before.
 
thank you guys for the answers.....i will put some more hours of practice on it and let you know.
 
314/2

I think it's a learning experience. After you have a confident repeatable stroke will you be able to tell if you want to go to a laminated low deflection shaft or not. My opinion, after playing for decades with regular shafts and then taking a long break from pool, I found that the Predator 314's were an excellent shaft , purely from a side spin English standpoint. While the Predator 314/2 may be lacking (compared to a top custum cue maker shaft) in "hit" it makes up for in ease of use. You don't have to compensate for squirt as much as you would with a conventional shaft. And actually the 2nd generation 314 feels a bit better than the original. Just my opinion.
As an aside , I had a Scon/OB1 that I didn't care for. Not saying the 314/2 is better than the OB1, the 314/2, IMO, played more to my style.
 
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Hi,

If you play with a Predator Shaft, then you must stay with that shaft. The hit point on the object ball is different on a regular maple shaft. It would not be good for your game to go back and forth between the two.

I am not a great pool player but Nick Varner told me this info and I know he knows his stuff.

Rick Geschrey
 
low deflection shaft on a custom cue

kasparovII said:
I think it's a learning experience. After you have a confident repeatable stroke will you be able to tell if you want to go to a laminated low deflection shaft or not. My opinion, after playing for decades with regular shafts and then taking a long break from pool, I found that the Predator 314's were an excellent shaft , purely from a side spin English standpoint. While the Predator 314/2 may be lacking (compared to a top custum cue maker shaft) in "hit" it makes up for in ease of use. You don't have to compensate for squirt as much as you would with a conventional shaft. And actually the 2nd generation 314 feels a bit better than the original. Just my opinion.
As an aside , I had a Scon/OB1 that I didn't care for. Not saying the 314/2 is better than the OB1, the 314/2, IMO, played more to my style.
Click to expand...

I am accustomed to the Universal Smart shaft. Am I to conclude that a custom cue can not be made with a low deflection shaft?

Therefore is it impossible to have the superior "hit" of a custom cue & the ease of the low deflection shaft?

If the answers to these questions is "Yes" then would there be any point in having a custom butt made for my USS?

I currently use a butt from a $30 Players cue.
 
It is very possible to have a custom cue with a predator shaft. Most cuemakers will match a LD shaft for your custom. They offer them.

Basically pick a shaft and stick with it for atleast 2 weeks. There is such a difference between the 2 it is impossible to switch back and forth.
 
obe1 said:
i just purchased a joss cue with a ob1 30" 12.15 and joss standard 12.57both have top shelf tips and are in perfect straight condition.

i am a longtime player so i assumed the ob1 would be special compared to the joss.i like the joss hands down!!!

am i wrong or missing something?
Click to expand...

What do you like about the Joss more?
Let me guess, better feel?
 
low deflection shaft on a custom cue

dave sutton said:
It is very possible to have a custom cue with a predator shaft. Most cuemakers will match a LD shaft for your custom. They offer them.

Basically pick a shaft and stick with it for atleast 2 weeks. There is such a difference between the 2 it is impossible to switch back and forth.
Click to expand...

I'm confused. I have a Universal Smart shaft. Would the cuemaker make an LD shaft or merely make a butt to match my USS?
 
Every components in a cue counts toward playability. I'm sure your USS shaft would play even better on a custom cue butt made to match the USS or even a custom shaft from the builder. As the butt balance, taper will have an impact on the overall feel of the cue. Although the quality of a shaft is very important in a cue, the cue butt also plays a part in the equation for a magic wand.

I have play with some of what I think are the best shafts and have tried these shafts with different cue and although they play good on any butt...some of the butt further enhanced on the quality of the shafts. Everything counts and when you get the combination right....you have the right cue for you.

Regards,
Duc.

berlowmj said:
I'm confused. I have a Universal Smart shaft. Would the cuemaker make an LD shaft or merely make a butt to match my USS?
Click to expand...
 
wow...thanks to all that have posted to my question.i want to believe there has to be a balance or match if you will, of some type between the shaft and butt of a cue. my cue model (Joss 95-9) just seems not to have a good feel, balance or match with this OB shaft.i have 10 hours on it and will continue to use for a solid period of time with out changing back to the stock shaft.there are too many people out there that have nothing but good thingsd to say on this type of shaft.never using a custom shaft before is most likely the problem...
 
I have picked up various after market shafts and did not like most of them at first, because they felt different than what I was used to. But they have their place and most who adjust to them like them. I went right back to my normal tight grain shaft and liked it better, but it was what I was already used to. The new feel is something you will grow accustom to. But just ask yourself if you are missing less balls or playing more precise shape with it. If you are then make every effort possible to get used to the different feel. If you never start playing better with it even after a couple of weeks then back to what you are used to.
 
Berlowmj. I thi k we may have our lines crossed. I'm not sure but I think I understand. If I'm wrong forgive me. Most cuemakers make shafts to match with butts. Not the other way around. If you want a 314 I will match one up. I know the smart shaft isn't that easy. You kinda got what u got. The part in question in my mind was the 30$ players comment. There is no way that compairs to a mottey for example.

Yes a Kia and mercades have 4 wheels and go 50mph but are they the same at all???
 
KIA vs Mercedes

dave sutton said:
Berlowmj. I thi k we may have our lines crossed. I'm not sure but I think I understand. If I'm wrong forgive me. Most cuemakers make shafts to match with butts. Not the other way around. If you want a 314 I will match one up. I know the smart shaft isn't that easy. You kinda got what u got. The part in question in my mind was the 30$ players comment. There is no way that compairs to a mottey for example.

Yes a Kia and mercades have 4 wheels and go 50mph but are they the same at all???
Click to expand...

I was told that the shaft was the most important component so I merely purchased the Players cue because the butt fit. Your analogy is quite correct.

If I want to uprade, what are your suggestions?
 
Well. IMO all components are important. A poorly constructed/ balanced butt will most deff hurt playability. You are on the right track tho. IMO importance starts at the tip and works it's way down to the back. Tip ferrule taper and so on...

U have a unique situation in that universal are just made. Nothing to do. You also have an advantage bc you can make the shaft fit any cue for 30$. My advice is find someone with a custom and put your shaft on it and hit some balls

btw which do you have. Reg or LD?
 
Uss

dave sutton said:
Well. IMO all components are important. A poorly constructed/ balanced butt will most deff hurt playability. You are on the right track tho. IMO importance starts at the tip and works it's way down to the back. Tip ferrule taper and so on...

U have a unique situation in that universal are just made. Nothing to do. You also have an advantage bc you can make the shaft fit any cue for 30$. My advice is find someone with a custom and put your shaft on it and hit some balls

btw which do you have. Reg or LD?
Click to expand...

Its the Reg.
 
I have played for many years, but took a very long break from the game and came back to it right about the time Predator came out with the 1st 314. I ended up buying a Predator 4K3 and while I really played well with this cue, I really never feel in love with the "hit". It was obvious to me that I preferred the hit of a good conventional shaft. The Predator felt a bit "hollow" and indeed the tip end IS hollowed out. I ended up selling the cue and picked up a used Joss and while I thought the "hit" felt somewhat better in no way did the Joss compare to the accuracy I was used to with the Predator's low eflection to the extent that I took it for granted. To make a long story short, as luck would have it, just before I was ready to get a Predator Sneaky Pete for an everyday player that didn't break the bank i won a Pechauer cue in a raflle. This cue, to my surprise came with a Predator 314-2 shaft. I knew that Pechauer made a upper tier production cue and had looked on their website does a nice job on explaining why their butts are known for having a very solid feel. I also knew that Pechauer and Predator did a couple of joint projects with Predators special edition cues. So I was anxious to try this cue out. And I was immediately impressed. The new Predator shaft(314-2) in combination with a premium production Pechauer butt makes for an excellent combination. I'm still using this cue as my everyday player. It's a nice combination of a super solid hit with almost no deflection. I like this Pachauer/Predator combo more than the all Predator 4K3. The hit is definitely better than the 4K3...probaly a combination of the newer shaft and the premium Pechauer butt design. So my point is that a good butt with a good low deflection laminated shaft makes for an excellent all-round player. I put a MoorIIImedium tip on it and was good to go.
Also, Alex Pagulayan used a schon butt with a Predator 314 shaft before he signed a sponsorship with Mezz. And talking with Shawn Putnam when we saw him playing in Detroit, he stated to us that alot of pros play the 314 and the Z Predator shafts without any payment from Predator. His exact words were that about 50% of the pros play with the butt of a company that they get royalty from still reserve the right to play a Predator 314 or Z shaft. He said that Ralph Souquet plays for Joss, who made Ralph a cue valued at $15K but he carries around two 314-2 shafts with this cue. Putnam said that Janes actua;;y made his own version of a laminated shaft that Souquet tested, but Souquet still preferred the Predator 314's.
This isn't a commercial for Predator, but just some interesting facts as to how many professionals use a cue, usually with a custom made butt, yet they still use a laminated shaft because of the performance / low deflection factor. That's wy so many custom cue makers offer to outfit a custom cue while offering to match the butt to a Predator or OB laminated shaft. I have alsonoted that alot of custom cue makers are offering their own version of a low deflection laminated shaft. One example is Arnot Wadsworth of Arnot's Q's. He is supposed to have a great feeling laminated, low deflection shaft without any hollow areas. It's called the Terminator 3 shaft and is available in just about any joint configuration.
 
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