Shaft Criteria

D

drivermaker

Banned
When purchasing a new cue, we all have certain criteria that we're looking for in a cue. But let's face it, the replacement and secondary shaft market is BIG business in the industry. Based on the following factors choose from the list (or add to it) with the top 5 (in order) that you want in a shaft for your best playing cue.

A. Weight
B. Taper
C. Balance of the shaft/weight distribution
D. Balance of your entire cue when the shaft is on
E. Weight of the entire cue when the shaft is on
F. Hit/Feel
G. Deflection Reduction
H. Spin Factors
I. Flex - Stiff/Flexible/Med./ In between
J. Laminated
K. Full Maple
L. Graphite/composite
M. Status symbol
N. Match in size to joint
O. Match in joint collar or trim rings
P. Ferrule type
Q. Quality of the Wood Grain
 
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QUALITY OF THE WOOD GRAIN.

if it is very good, i can deal with almost any other shaft characteristic. if it is bad, the shaft won't do for me.
 
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It looks like you coverd it all. I just make sure the shaft is straight to my eyes as I realise that no wood shaft is perfectly straight. They will all have a tolerance of +- .0001 to .0005 thousands and that is for the straight ones!
drivermaker said:
When purchasing a new cue, we all have certain criteria that we're looking for in a cue. But let's face it, the replacement and secondary shaft market is BIG business in the industry. Based on the following factors choose from the list (or add to it) with the top 5 (in order) that you want in a shaft for your best playing cue.

A. Weight
B. Taper
C. Balance of the shaft/weight distribution
D. Balance of your entire cue when the shaft is on
E. Weight of the entire cue when the shaft is on
F. Hit/Feel
G. Deflection Reduction
H. Spin Factors
I. Flex - Stiff/Flexible/Med./ In between
J. Laminated
K. Full Maple
L. Graphite/composite
M. Status symbol
N. Match in size to joint
O. Match in joint collar or trim rings
P. Ferrule type
Q. Quality of the Wood Grain
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cut shot said:
It looks like you coverd it all. I just make sure the shaft is straight to my eyes as I realise that no wood shaft is perfectly straight. They will all have a tolerance of +- .0001 to .0005 thousands and that is for the straight ones!
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Wow am I easy or what?
I think it is great if my shaft is +- .01"
I Do'nt have anything that can measure wood to .0001".
A measurment of +- .002" is about the best I can do and even that is hard to repete.
 
I prefer the original shafts that come with the cue. If I like the hit of the cue, that's good enough for me. One of the best players in my area played mostly with house cues and he won a lot of matches. Personally, I think most people put too much emphasis on equipment and not enough on practice. JMHO. Just shoot the damn balls and quit worrying about the small stuff!!
 
Rickw said:
I prefer the original shafts,,,,, Personally, I think most people put too much emphasis on equipment and not enough on practice. JMHO. Just shoot the damn balls and quit worrying about the small stuff!!
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i think good equipment isn't given enough credit.

it's just that people don't know how to choose it. if you're good, you can pay with anything,,,but if the equipment suits you perfectly, you can play better.....and you always want to perform at your best. some people can't play with good cues because they become self-conscious about playing with one,,,,and they prefer house cues to "bat around" with.

in fact, instead of saying "the best", howz about what suits your PREFERENCES the best.
 
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Bruin,

To each their own. Personally, I just can't get into all the debates about deflection, types of tips and shafts, etc. At some point, you just have to shoot the balls in. I just think people are looking for the "Excaliber" of cues and I'm not sure it's out there. Maybe if I played with one, I'd sing a different tune.



bruin70 said:
i think good equipment isn't given enough credit.

it's just that people don't know how to choose it. if you're good, you can pay with anything,,,but if the equipment suits you perfectly, you can play better.....and you always want to perform at your best. some people can't play with good cues because they become self-conscious about playing with one,,,,and they prefer house cues to "bat around" with.

in fact, instead of saying "the best", howz about what suits your PREFERENCES the best.
Click to expand...
 
There's only one thing I look for in a shaft anymore. The numbers 314 on the joint.

Chris
 
TATE said:
There's only one thing I look for in a shaft anymore. The numbers 314 on the joint.

Chris
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You know, i think there is a support group for that, i think Drivermaker is in charge of it... :D

Thanks,

Jon
 
drivermaker said:
I know what you mean....we could all tell from that lost puppy dog look in your eyes...or is that the look of a man that needs laid?! :p
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Nope, and Nope lol :P .
That is the look on my face all the time lol...

I'm thinking of changing it soon though, you never know lol...

Thanks,

Jon
 
I usually look for the red dot, black dot and the glue lines. :D
Comfortable taper and the hit ( feel, action and deflection) are what I look for.
I don't really care how they look.
 
:p
Rickw said:
I prefer the original shafts that come with the cue. If I like the hit of the cue, that's good enough for me. One of the best players in my area played mostly with house cues and he won a lot of matches. Personally, I think most people put too much emphasis on equipment and not enough on practice. JMHO. Just shoot the damn balls and quit worrying about the small stuff!!
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i'm with rickw,pool is like golf now,marketers come up with some revolutionary product to help you play better when you would gain more improvement from practicing the basics.a few years ago a local player named tommy stephenson from middletown oh. went to the derby city classic with a cue that had half of the tip missing,a cue dealer said he played to good to play with something like that and gave him a cue,with an unfamilier cue he went out and beat earl strickland,he didn't need a 314 on his shaft.also jason miller,the person that won the banks division and third overall at the derby this year,played with a homemade sneeky peete,buy the video and see,it was criminal what he did to piggy banks,time of the match-17 minutes including the interview!
 
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