shaft taper?

Cuemaster98

Cuemaster98

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Hi Guys,

Have any one come across a shaft taper that is slight larger at the tip and gradually get smaller toward the stroke area and than revert back to the normal taper?

One of the shaft that plays amazing on a Pete Tascarella conversion has the tip at 12.85mm and about 12 inch its only 12.5mm and it then start back to the normal taper. This taper just feel great and seem to give more control than the normal standard pro taper. I believe this was not the original taper but through lot of usage the shaft taper evolved and mold to the playing stroke. I really like this taper and was wondering if anyone else have used it intentionally for their shaft?

Regards,
Duc.
 
Meucci

In the mid '90's, I had a "Pro Shop" and sold cues.
Meucci had that "Waist" on their shafts.
I thought they sent me their reject shafts.

I was told that it was "intentionally" design that way.
Part of their deflection theory..
I believed them..:)

Unless the guy was a "con man" and was quick and clever how to answer...:eek:

Disclaimer: I'm not a cuemaker..:o
 
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CueCaps said:
In the mid '90's, I had a "Pro Shop" and sold cues.
Meucci had that "Waist" on their shafts.
I thought they sent me their reject shafts.

I was told that it was "intentionally" design that way.
Part of their deflection theory..
I believed them..:)

Unless the guy was a "con man" and was quick and clever how to answer...:eek:

Disclaimer: I'm not a cuemaker..:o
Click to expand...


Its completely possible as I've also ran into some shafts like that especially on the meuccis.....It's possible that that kind of taper could affect the nodal point in the shaft, thus changing its deflection qualities.

At the same time I'm sure with that kind of taper it would be most comfortable or maybe even most effective if the bridge hand was positioned at that "waist" as you called it.

IMOP its also going to make vibration frequency differient b/c that hourglass shape is going to create a "hinge" in the travel of that vibration....should hit softer and be able to apply more english.
 
My guess....

I'm betting that it's not intentional, but rather from someone doing they're own shaft maintenance by hand:eek:

I had a buddy that use to hit his shaft with sandpaper by hand to smooth it out. Over the years it took on that hour glass shape because his hand strokes took more off in the middle of the shaft than near the tip.

Just my guess;)
 
It was my understanding older Meucci shafts had an hourglass taper, thinnest somewhere near the middle, I could've been misinformed, but it did feel like that.

Back in around 93', after our team won a big match, I swung my buddies old Meucci like Luke Skywalker would swing a light saber at Darth, wasn't even that hard, it snapped right in half in the middle of the shaft. :eek:

Needless to say, beers were on me the rest of the night...

Kevin
 
I've intentionally made that type of taper a couple of times for people with a tight closed bridge hand. They've all loved it. Not for everyone, but can produce a nice feel.

My 2 cents,
Alan
 
We had several Predator shafts in a row come through our shop for tips and such last year that dipped in a few inches behind the ferrule and then back out. I am sure they were making them that way to see so many just alike. It could be a taper bar problem or could be done on purpose. Who knows?
 
CueCaps said:
In the mid '90's, I had a "Pro Shop" and sold cues.
Meucci had that "Waist" on their shafts.
I thought they sent me their reject shafts.

I was told that it was "intentionally" design that way.
Part of their deflection theory..
I believed them..:)

Unless the guy was a "con man" and was quick and clever how to answer...:eek:

Disclaimer: I'm not a cuemaker..:o
Click to expand...

It was a con. I heard that an illegal alien worker dropped the carriage of the shaft taper machine on the template and perminantly changed Meucci's shaft profile with a dent in the template.
 
cueman said:
We had several Predator shafts in a row come through our shop for tips and such last year that dipped in a few inches behind the ferrule and then back out. I am sure they were making them that way to see so many just alike. It could be a taper bar problem or could be done on purpose. Who knows?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. I've been working on Predator shafts for 10 yrs and have never seen one come from the factory like what you describe. I've seen factory-fresh Meuccis and McDermotts like that but never a Predator.
You state that these shafts came in for tip, etc.
That tells me that these are used shafts, correct?
Can you state with 100% certainty that the owners of these shafts hadn't taken sand-paper or scuffy-pad to them?

Predator wouldn't build a shaft like that because they know better.
Reducing the diameter of the shaft several inches behind the ferrule is an excellent way to ruin an otherwise perfectly good shaft. It alters the flex-point by moving it further down the shaft. This results in more shaft hanging-out in front of the flex-point. The primary premiss of any L/D shaft is to get the tip off the QB asap. The longer the shaft is in front of the flex-point, the longer it takes to move-off. It is greater mass that now has to move and it can't do it as quickly as lesser mass.
I don't work for Predator but even I know that much.
Then why do I sound so bias? Because I respect superior technology.
 
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I ordered a brand new 314-2 shaft for myself from one of the major suppliers (forget which one). It was definitely brand new. It had a necking issue right out of the tube and I was not happy with it. Without ever hitting a ball with it, I returned it to my dealer and was sent a replacement. This one was better.

I also agree Predator's quality is great. But its difficult to catch everything in a manufacturing environment.
 
Thanks guys...I got the information that I was looking for. I remember now playing with a cue that feel similar and it was an older meucci that I had in the 90's and it just seem very easy to control the cue ball and make balls. The taper give a player a lot of confidence for some reason...I can max out on my stroke and easily draw the ball the length of the table and back to the top rail.

I don't use predator shaft so as far as deflect goes I like the natural deflection in a quality piece of wood. I used to think wood quality is 80% in the playability but I'm starting think the taper may have a lot more effect on playability.

Regards,
Duc.
 
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