Shaft Ding Mystery

Fred I have to bet it's from the sharp rail edge. If the cushion is a tad low you can feel the edge. I've had the same. I never studied it but when you contact the c/b the cue is at or near it's lowest point. Then I think it could be a bounce or vibration and it gets it again.

I've had the same using a crutch as well. I think both are low english shots that add to the problem. Low forces the tip down and bingo two nice little dings.

OH, quit using draw.:D

Rod
 
eales said:
It's the mechanical bridge. Seems like any one that I try ends up giving me a ding to remember it by. I don't see how that would produce two parallel dings though.

Jim Eales
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This is why I only use leather bridge heads. :)
 
Incredible. I have encountered the EXACT phenomena on two cues I've had. Both times, about an inch from the ferrule. I was wondering what the hell it is too. I've had different cases and such, so it's hard to tell. I also don't lean my cue on anything.
 
The double dings being described are caused when the shaft hits the edge of something while the cue was either not being held, was being held with a very light grip, or was being held only near the butt. The shaft flex (think diving board) causes it to rebound off the object slightly and hit it again a split second later. The shaft vibration and flex absorbs or disepates most of the energy so that there is usually only one bounce good enough to cause an additional ding. The second ding is slightly off from the first because if the cue is being held, it was usually in some kind of forward or backwards motion at the time of contact with the object edge. It it was dropped it was usually in downward motion at contact. If the butt was against the floor it may kick out slightly after the first impact which causes the second ding to be slightly off from the first. The most common double ding culprits:

1) The cue hits the edge of a table, chair, pool table, etc (most common cause). This usually happens when you go to lean the cue against the table edge (or are picking it up) and drop it, when you are holding or carrying the cue upright with the butt on or near the floor and lose your grip causing the cue to fall over and hit the edge of something.

2) Leaning your cue up against a table edge and letting it fall down the last couple of inches instead of making sure the cue is fully against the table before letting it go. You often see players half throw/lean their cue down against the table edge in disgust after their turn at the table is over.

3) The sometimes sharp rail edge where it meets the rail rubber on some tables can also can these double dings when the shaft hits it. This can happen when you hit or tap the rail with the cue in anger after a missed shot, to remove excess chalk, and even when you occasionally lose your grip on the cue while addressing or getting down on a shot and the shaft falls onto the rail or corner piece. Also, lowering the shaft onto the rail too hard when using the cue to judge bank or kick angles.
Kevin
 
Cornerman said:
That rail is higher on spots. I think this is the culprit, but I never catch myself. Do you think that when I put my stick down, I might "bounce" it, or do you think there are two edges there?

Fred
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I would have to watch you shoot to know for sure. Do you put the cue down on the rail first and put your bridge hand under/over it?
Ive done it from shooting off the rail with topspin, pull the cue up on the follow through and it hits my bridge hand and bounces the rail wood. But it could be either.
Chuck
 
I have experienced dings like this too. My first guess in your case is they come from the metal heads from the bridge. The doubled ridges occur when the cue bounces on the bridge head after you stroke. Whenever I need to use a bridge where metal bridges are used, I either take out the bridge head I carry with me and put it on a house stick, or I use a house stick for the shot. Those metal bridge heads are murder on a cue.

It is possible, though less likely, that you experience this problem from bridging on a rail. But only if you allow the shaft to slide on the metal rail instead of your hand. In that case, on a hard stroke, the same bouncing effect could cause it.

From what you've described, though, I am certain it is the metal bridge head. I might add, the casting does not have to be particularly rough to cause it; even a perfectly smooth one will do it, simply by the cue shaft bouncing on the metal.
 
Best explanation ...

Poolplaya9 said:
The double dings being described are caused when the shaft hits the edge of something while the cue was either not being held, was being held with a very light grip, or was being held only near the butt. The shaft flex (think diving board) causes it to rebound off the object slightly and hit it again a split second later. The shaft vibration and flex absorbs or disepates most of the energy so that there is usually only one bounce good enough to cause an additional ding. The second ding is slightly off from the first because if the cue is being held, it was usually in some kind of forward or backwards motion at the time of contact with the object edge. It it was dropped it was usually in downward motion at contact. If the butt was against the floor it may kick out slightly after the first impact which causes the second ding to be slightly off from the first. The most common double ding culprits:

1) The cue hits the edge of a table, chair, pool table, etc (most common cause). This usually happens when you go to lean the cue against the table edge (or are picking it up) and drop it, when you are holding or carrying the cue upright with the butt on or near the floor and lose your grip causing the cue to fall over and hit the edge of something.

2) Leaning your cue up against a table edge and letting it fall down the last couple of inches instead of making sure the cue is fully against the table before letting it go. You often see players half throw/lean their cue down against the table edge in disgust after their turn at the table is over.

3) The sometimes sharp rail edge where it meets the rail rubber on some tables can also can these double dings when the shaft hits it. This can happen when you hit or tap the rail with the cue in anger after a missed shot, to remove excess chalk, and even when you occasionally lose your grip on the cue while addressing or getting down on a shot and the shaft falls onto the rail or corner piece. Also, lowering the shaft onto the rail too hard when using the cue to judge bank or kick angles.
Kevin
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I think Kevin has the best and most complete explanations for the dings.

To fix this problem in the future:
1) Only use a 'rubber' cue holder (I recommend QClaw).
2) Carry your own bridgehead (I recommend Spinali Batwing)
3) Do NOT let other people use your cue.
4) Do Not lean you cue against a table or inbetween the back of a chair.
5) Do not shoot with jewelry or rings (I never could, it was annoying and a distraction from focusing on my game, one I didn't need. Take them off while playing, and put back on when done.).
6) Do not leave your cue unattended for extended periods of time.
7) Do not leave your cue in high traffic area when going to the bathroom.
8) Use a hand open bridge off the rails.
 
Snapshot9 said:
I think Kevin has the best and most complete explanations for the dings.

To fix this problem in the future:
1) Only use a 'rubber' cue holder (I recommend QClaw).
2) Carry your own bridgehead (I recommend Spinali Batwing)
3) Do NOT let other people use your cue.
4) Do Not lean you cue against a table or inbetween the back of a chair.
5) Do not shoot with jewelry or rings (I never could, it was annoying and a distraction from focusing on my game, one I didn't need. Take them off while playing, and put back on when done.).
6) Do not leave your cue unattended for extended periods of time.
7) Do not leave your cue in high traffic area when going to the bathroom.
8) Use a hand open bridge off the rails.
Click to expand...

follow all these rules and you mine as well sell your cues. (to me).


chris G <------------looking for a team to play on.
 
I was practicing my break one time, and pulling up like Archer and Strickland........ hit the light and took a very impressive chunk out of the shaft on my old mali........ Everyone looked over, but luckly I was hidden by the cloud of dust I stirred up off the top of the light. :D
Chuck
 
> I studied mine,as well as cues I get for repair work,and have concluded it is a sharp,square edge,and a light bouncing action or vibration that causes the parallellism,like several others have correctly suggested. I've seen them in streams of as many as 10 lines on other peoples shafts,most often coming from bar boxes,also as others mentioned,but some also get them off counter/shelf/tabletop edges where they rested their cue without inspecting such things first,such as in a new room or bar,as well as a pristine GC IV on my own shaft. Thankfully,mine only had 2 lines,which came out with a postage stamp sized piece of 600 and a little water. I've also seen then up in the forearm and butt of other peoples cues as well,marring the clearcoat. I hate these,and look for places where this might happen as I grow accustomed to playing in new places,and never forget the places that they happen in familar surroundings. Tommy D.
 
Tommy-D said:
> I studied mine,as well as cues I get for repair work,and have concluded it is a sharp,square edge,and a light bouncing action or vibration that causes the parallellism,like several others have correctly suggested. I've seen them in streams of as many as 10 lines on other peoples shafts,most often coming from bar boxes,
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone!!! I think this is probably it.

Fred
 
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