Shaft size and weight ???

[$TAKE HOR$E]

I recently started a thread about ivory joint's and ferrule's and got quit a good response and a lot of good information out of it.

My next question is about shaft size and weight. I have only posted or looked through this part of the forum a few time's so im not sure if this has been asked before. I have heard for year's that a 13mm 4 ounce shaft is the way to go but recently have been hearing the opposite. When buying or selling a cue, shaft weight and size seem is be a big deal and I understand why, but is a 4 ounce 13mm shaft really the best to play with. I was talking to some strong player's recently and one of them said that he switched to a 3.4 ounce 12.4 or 12.5 mm shaft and it plays way better. Im sure this is one of those "what's best for you" area's but there has to be an explanation for a shaft's playability. A few year's ago I started trying out all different type's of shaft's to see which one I thought played the best and I have narrowed it down to a few, in my opinion that is. When I first started playing I never thought about a shaft's size and weight and basically not up until I started buying and selling a few cue's.

When selling a cue, shaft weight doesnt play as big a part as size. I have had people want to sell me cue's with 12mm or less shafts for instance and when I decline they say im crazy. I tell them that 99% of the time I dont buy a cue to play with it and trying to sell a cue with a tiny shaft is not an easy task because you are catering to a small crowd. I play with a Rick Howard cue and have a Southwest shaft that use and it seem's to be a good combination. Out of all the cue's I have had, the best playing one's in my opinion have not had a 13mm 4 ounce shaft.

 

[PDX]

I ad a Perry Weston with a 13.25 shaft that weighed 4.7oz's. I have a Runde with a 12.4 4oz shaft that plays great. I have a matched set of Runde shafts that are 13 and 4.4oz's. I prefer the 12.4 shaft. I have two first year Schon shafts that are both right around 4oz, but are 11.5 and 11.75. They play better on my Runde/Schon R6 than the stock 4.3oz 13mm Schon shaft. Mind you, all of these shafts have inserts that typically weigh 3/4 of an ounce. I have played with 3.2 oz shafts up to 4.7 oz that have played amazing. I myself have been looking for a corrolation between weight and size. The only, and I mean only, consistency that I can see between a full shaft and its weight, is that it will be easier to sell when it is 4oz and 13mm, vs 3.6oz and 12.25. I think sound and possibly color would be a better decider than weight and size. But what do I know, I just shoot with them. IMHO...

 

[Ken_4fun]

Out of all the cue's I have had, the best playing one's in my opinion have not had a 13mm 4 ounce shaft.

Okay, Ill bite.

What was the size and weight of the best playing shaft you have had?

I am one of those who likes 4.0+ oz shafts. I like the shaft to be about 12.75-13.00 mm.

Older Josswest shafts seem to be the ones I see OVER or close to 13.25mm.

Ken

 

[$TAKE HOR$E]

Okay, Ill bite.
What was the size and weight of the best playing shaft you have had?

I knew you would be hooked sooner or later.

I have had so many cue's and shaft's that it's ahrd to remember. Out of about 150 to 170 cue's that I have had, I played with maybe 6 of them for an extended period of time.....long enough to get a pretty good evaluation at least. The ivory jointed Paul Mottey was probably in the top 3 and it had a shaft roughly 12.6 mm but I cant remember the weight. I will have to say that the SW shaft I got from you, probably rank's up there pretty hgh as well and it's 3.6 ounce's and is about 12.75. Another really good playing one I have found is the Tunder I picked up a while back. It has a 3.5 ounce 11.85 mm shaft and even though it's a little small, it plays great.

The only, and I mean only, consistency that I can see between a full shaft and its weight, is that it will be easier to sell when it is 4oz and 13mm, vs 3.6oz and 12.25.

More true word's have never been spoken. :thumbup:

 

[McChen]

people have different preferences for what tip size they play with....best is subjective, i don't think one tip size can be proven as ideal for everyone. but 13mm is considered "full size"....if you are buying something to play with, you can always take some off, but you can never put it back on! it does affect resale value for sure if that is something of concern.

in terms of weight, i think the majority of players like a forward balance (probably an overwhelming majority as even this is subjective) and a heavier shaft tends to help this. however, saying 4oz as a general rule is pretty vague. for example does the shaft have an insert or not? an insert can add .3oz to the shaft weight. also butts can be balanced differently, with a steel joint or something lighter. or a heavy forearm wood. in my experience, if the butt is balanced badly, playing around with shaft weight (say .5oz up or down) will only get you limited returns. it is much easier to start out with the balance you want in the butt, and while shaft weight will be a minor factor, you will have more leeway there in terms of shaft weight.