Shaft + Tip combinations

You listed 7 combinations over a span of 1.5 years. That equates to just under 3 months per combination (maybe less depending on frequency). I'd like to know if you actually had that much usage of each of the combos to get the actual feel. Also, I'm curious of the tip diameter of some of the combinations. The 314 will be 12.75mm if it wasn't turned down. The WD700 came in either 12.8mm or 12.5mm. The SS360 is custom tailored.

You mentioned getting unwanted english from the 314 with the Kamui black soft. I've heard this tip can be compared to the Kamui brown medium in terms of hardness so I'd like to get your opinion. Can you explain how you get unwanted english from this but don't seem to have problems with a 12mm Cuechanger AAA LD shaft?

I originally started with a stock Schon shaft turned down to 12mm with the normal Schon taper with a Moori medium tip. The feel was fine except the tip seemed to mushroom rather quickly. I've since used a Z2 with the stock Everest and a Kamui black medium tip. I felt the Everest started off well but mushroomed and wore down too fast. The Kamui black hasn't seemed to have any problems with mushrooming and seems to keep it's shape well.

Between the two it's easier to move the cue ball around with the Z2. However, that may be due to the Z2 taper and the Shon Moori tip being a little softer. I'll probably have to put the same tip to make a more accurate assessment. Time with each combination is over 6 months.
 
slouch said:
You listed 7 combinations over a span of 1.5 years. That equates to just under 3 months per combination (maybe less depending on frequency). I'd like to know if you actually had that much usage of each of the combos to get the actual feel. Also, I'm curious of the tip diameter of some of the combinations. The 314 will be 12.75mm if it wasn't turned down. The WD700 came in either 12.8mm or 12.5mm. The SS360 is custom tailored.

You mentioned getting unwanted english from the 314 with the Kamui black soft. I've heard this tip can be compared to the Kamui brown medium in terms of hardness so I'd like to get your opinion. Can you explain how you get unwanted english from this but don't seem to have problems with a 12mm Cuechanger AAA LD shaft?

I originally started with a stock Schon shaft turned down to 12mm with the normal Schon taper with a Moori medium tip. The feel was fine except the tip seemed to mushroom rather quickly. I've since used a Z2 with the stock Everest and a Kamui black medium tip. I felt the Everest started off well but mushroomed and wore down too fast. The Kamui black hasn't seemed to have any problems with mushrooming and seems to keep it's shape well.

Between the two it's easier to move the cue ball around with the Z2. However, that may be due to the Z2 taper and the Shon Moori tip being a little softer. I'll probably have to put the same tip to make a more accurate assessment. Time with each combination is over 6 months.
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Cuetec was my first cue - a gift. I played with it for more then half year (7-8 months).
I went to try Predator 314/2 after I acquired some skill, because it was most used by top players around me and all over the world. It was standard 12.75 shaft. Used for 3-4 months.
I tried friends Mezz with wd700 and HP2 2-3 evenings. I liked wd700, HP2 not so much. After some time I got a Mezz with wd700 12.5mm, ordered together with Cuechanger AAA LD shaft with Onyx tip (12.75mm).
Somewhere in between I got SS360 a(12.75mm).
Liked Mezz, even more Cuechanger, SS360with Kamui brown M was not to my taste - to my quality of play probably. The tip was way too hard, much harder then Kamui S - there is no comparision in hardness.
I play snooker from time to time so I get used to play with 9.5-10mm tip.

So I went to experiment with the shafts - Cuechanger was turned down to 12mm and Onyx tip which was ok but was very thick was thinned.
Predator went to 12.4 and tip was changed, SS360 went to 12.2 and tip was changed.
I liked the results for all shafts.
Predator was way better then before, much easier to play with. But I sold it to a club friend which broke his shaft.
SS360 is also much better for me now, but I still prefer Cuechanger. I have to try SS360 on another (no Predator) butt.
I am now a happy user of Cuechanger for some months. I would like to try some other tips with time - no hurry.

I would like to test MilkDuds (a lot of good things here on the forum), but as I read they are not very compatible with modern LD shafts, but more for standard maple shafts. Any feedback about this from anybody?

And thanks for all the advice from everybody - I am 45, I am playing because I like playing - I enjoy pool a lot. I am fully aware that my "problems" are 90% because of my "less then perfect" stroke, because of my not perfect body setting, because of aiming.
Still, I like to experiment to some degree with equipment (I can afford it). Still, I don't plan to test everything. :)
 
My opinion

I have the Lucasi hybrid shaft with a black kamui soft on my Joss. I feel that this combination feels as close as possible to a nice solid factory hit without having the hard hit of a predator since my Joss has the steel joint. The deflection is not as low as some others on the market but LD helps me out when trying to get better.
 
I play with a maple shaft, and killer tip, though I am going to try something just a wee bit softer as far as the tip is concerned this week. Going to have my cue man put on a slightly softer tip on my extra shaft and see how it feels. Probably something along the lines of a medium hard tip. I like the killer for a good while, but after playing with it for some months, it compacts and gets hard as a rock, which I don't like.
 
mine..

I use a I2 shaft by McDermott with a G2 soft tip. 12.75mm, 29''.
The shaft is an LD but not laminated just hard mapple AAA. It does have a certain technology inside, with a carbon core or something...not important...
This combo gives me feel and control. That's important!!!
Also I use a Z2 shaft with same tip. Totally different hit...

If you ask me the most important thing is the pin and the joint when it comes to feel. The control, power and accuracy is designated to the shaft.
 
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