Shaft Taper

pocket

pocket

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I currently play with a Lucasi Custom cue and shaft, it is listed as a "pro taper" but it is far more conical.

I sometimes shoot with a friends Viking with a Vikore shaft on it that has a true pro taper. My previous player was a Cuetec R360, also with a pro taper.

Is there a benefit to the pro taper or is it just a preference?

Just looking for your experiences.

Thanks.
 
pocket said:
I currently play with a Lucasi Custom cue and shaft, it is listed as a "pro taper" but it is far more conical.

I sometimes shoot with a friends Viking with a Vikore shaft on it that has a true pro taper. My previous player was a Cuetec R360, also with a pro taper.

Is there a benefit to the pro taper or is it just a preference?

Just looking for your experiences.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Pro tapers, to me, feel better in your hands because the diameter increase is more gradual and hardly noticeable in your bridge fingers. Conical tapers are more noticeable and some players complain that they're bothersome.

They also make for better break shafts.
 
It what feels good in your hand....same applies to shaft diameter.....if you have a very dependable steady stroke......really straight on delivery....go smaller in diameter........otherwise stick with what you currently play with.
 
I use a closed bridge 95% of the time.

I have conical taper shafts and pro taper shafts. I can't tell a difference.

I do use a glove, if that makes a difference.
 
Zphix said:
Pro tapers, to me, feel better in your hands because the diameter increase is more gradual and hardly noticeable in your bridge fingers. Conical tapers are more noticeable and some players complain that they're bothersome.

They also make for better break shafts.
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Which are you saying makes for a better break shaft?
 
I play with a Joss hard maple shaft 12.25 mm and it has a pro taper. I love the way it feels. Bought the OB 2+ 11.75mm and could not get used to it because of the conical taper. The taper on the OB thickens out too abruptly for me to be comfortable. I never use the OB shaft for that reason. I just can't get comfortable with the taper. I am toying with the idea of having the OB shaft turned to a pro taper.
 
pocket said:
Same diameter for a distance up from the ferule. Usually 10-15" if I'm not mistaken.
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He is being his usual clever self. There are about 78 billion kinds of pro taper. Pro taper is generally the same diameter of the ferrule, to a certain distance back. GENERALLY.

philly said:
I play with a Joss hard maple shaft 12.25 mm and it has a pro taper. I love the way it feels. Bought the OB 2+ 11.75mm and could not get used to it because of the conical taper. The taper on the OB thickens out too abruptly for me to be comfortable. I never use the OB shaft for that reason. I just can't get comfortable with the taper. I am toying with the idea of having the OB shaft turned to a pro taper.
Click to expand...
Well that would be fine if you wanted a spaghetti noodle. You think you hate it now, just wait. I think, (my opinion) that anything under 12mm should be a bit stouter than a pro taper. But then again, I pound the ball and play pool. Might be fine for straight pool on a bar box. :)
 
JoeyInCali said:
What's a pro taper ?
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Dognit said:
He is being his usual clever self. There are about 78 billion kinds of pro taper. Pro taper is generally the same diameter of the ferrule, to a certain distance back. GENERALLY...snip snip snip
Click to expand...

Guess I got suckered then, thought I was answering a legitimate question. Why not just answer the question or make a statement instead resorting to belittling snark?
 
pocket said:
Same diameter for a distance up from the ferule. Usually 10-15" if I'm not mistaken.
Click to expand...

The original pro-taper had a gradual taper .
Straight barrel taper are susceptible to warping.

They really need to stop calling them pro-taper if it has no taper .
Call it straight-12 if it has no taper the first 12 inches .

These days, 1.25MM taper to the middle of the shaft is considered medium stiff .
Easily playable and shouldn't bother your bridge hand.

The term pro-taper has been butchered .
 
JoeyInCali said:
The original pro-taper had a gradual taper .
Straight barrel taper are susceptible to warping.

They really need to stop calling them pro-taper if it has no taper .
Call it straight-12 if it has no taper the first 12 inches .

These days, 1.25MM taper to the middle of the shaft is considered medium stiff .
Easily playable and shouldn't bother your bridge hand.

The term pro-taper has been butchered .
Click to expand...

lol See, that wasn't that hard was it?
 
cueman said:
The pro taper flows through the closed bridge hand and gives more cue ball action.
Click to expand...

For some reason I get more cue ball action with my conical/break tapered shaft than with a "pro" tapered shaft. I love the conical feel and for me I'm more accurate with it.
 
pdcue said:
No, but the fact that it has been described, defined and discussed exactly
one million and seven times on AZB, means Joey's comment was just about perfect.

Dale
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Dale,

I'm a pretty regular reader here and I did not recall having read much about the issue.

In fact, for something that has been "defined and discussed exactly one million times...".
I was want to find any mention on several pages when I searched the terms "shaft taper".

I would think that most topics have been covered many times on here in one way or another. That should not discourage a fresh approach and understanding of a concept.

Sorry I asked a question that has been beat to the ground, according to you, was just looking for opinions.
 
pocket said:
Dale,

I'm a pretty regular reader here and I did not recall having read much about the issue.

In fact, for something that has been "defined and discussed exactly one million times...".
I was want to find any mention on several pages when I searched the terms "shaft taper".

I would think that most topics have been covered many times on here in one way or another. That should not discourage a fresh approach and understanding of a concept.

Sorry I asked a question that has been beat to the ground, according to you, was just looking for opinions.
Click to expand...

Perhaps if you had been smart enough to search for pro taper - and used google - and
added terms like cue, shaft, profile... you would have gotten better info.

Just a thought

Dale
 
pocket said:
I've always heard conical, as it is more stable.
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I think a lot of the current break cues are made using LD technology and Pro-tapers now instead of stiff shafts. The thought being if you do not hit dead center of cue ball on the break it will not squirt as much as when using a "stiff" shaft.
 
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