A shaft should be pretty stiff. Most shafts are not stiff enough. A shaft should have some taper all the way even if it is subtle. Read schuler's website on this. A fat taper can be uncomfortable, so players have gone to skinny shafts. So find a stiff shaft with some taper that isn't a billiard shaft is what I say. Schuler's "American" taper shaft is a real good one. Their "European" taper shaft is enough to play billiards with, but isn't too bad for pool. The new segmented shafts are good. I have not hit w/ a meucci black dot shaft, and I won't probably (I think meuccis suck if you haven't noticed)but the predator is OK and the segmented pool shafts made by ron kilby I have on my custom are good.
In general, most production cues are too thin at the joint as well. This is bad. They are also too forward weighted. Some cue makers will tell you balance point is a personal preference, but this is not true. There is an article somewhere on the net where even Bob Meucci admits this, but then goes on to say properly balanced cues don't sell as well so he makes them balance better than other cue makers but worse than he knows is correct. If the balance is too far forward your stroke will be worse, no matter who you are. So get a cue that balances well, which means back farther than most (it WILL NOT feel butt heavy if it is right)is stiff through the joint and has a stiff shaft. IMO the production cue that comes closest is a schuler with a stiff taper shaft, american or european. The balance is better than most although not ideal. For a custom get a Kilby. I have not hit with a Dieckman, but will get one someday. I suspect they hit right. Read Kilby's website. Some may disagree w/ him, but I think he can back up his positions. And I know he is correct. Most cues made are designed wrong. Some play better than others, but they all start in a hole. It starts with butts that are too slim and too flexible in the joint, continues with excess weight in the joint which ruins the balance, and ends with a shaft that is too flexible. Good players can play well with them, but they would play better if they got used to a better designed cue IMO. And the cue makers scream "personal preference" but it isn't all personal preference. They sell a lot of stuff based on "personal preference" but a lot of times people prefer something subjectively that is objectively and demonstrably worse.
