Shaft wood options and opinions

Still want to shoot

Still want to shoot

Well-known member
So, obviously maple is the most common wood used. I assume it is because of its physical aspects, bending without breaking, flexability while also being stiff.
I'm guessing also for not distracting the eye while shooting? As in its best to have a clean clear wood?

Can and/or should other woods be used?
What about other common woods used in construction? mahogany cherry walnut teak? spruce, cedar.

Or fancier examples like curly maple and birdseye maple.
What would a masur birch look like as a shaft? or black and white ebony.

If this has been discussed before and you know of the thread topic please share. I would love to read it.
Thanks
Dan
 
Bought a used Schon a year ago for the look of the butt and one of the shafts it came with was an ash one. Played with it for a bit to try out. It seemed to play ok, almost forgot I had it till I read this. What would you be giving up with an ash shaft vs maple?
Obviously maple is better for pool, yet I think you see ash in snooker, wonder why that is?
 
muskyed said:
Bought a used Schon a year ago for the look of the butt and one of the shafts it came with was an ash one. Played with it for a bit to try out. It seemed to play ok, almost forgot I had it till I read this. What would you be giving up with an ash shaft vs maple?
Obviously maple is better for pool, yet I think you see ash in snooker, wonder why that is?
Click to expand...
I'm not a cue maker. Ash is a pretty stiff wood, I wonder if it's good to have a stiff wood since the tip diameter is smaller on snooker cues? I'd honestly like to try an ash shaft on a player but I haven't yet. I have a Dufferin jump cue with an ash shaft, I really like it. It's a real stiff hit, but still light.

I think the butterfly challenge cues are using hornbeam. They hit really well. Purpleheart is used in a some break cues.
 
muskyed said:
Bought a used Schon a year ago for the look of the butt and one of the shafts it came with was an ash one. Played with it for a bit to try out. It seemed to play ok, almost forgot I had it till I read this. What would you be giving up with an ash shaft vs maple?
Obviously maple is better for pool, yet I think you see ash in snooker, wonder why that is?
Click to expand...
I could be wrong but I think it is simply what wood was available. Snooker is English Ash is more abundant than maple and vice versa. Maybe that is bunk but historically it makes sense to me.
That said and tradition aside, snooker uses smaller balls and snooker cues have a tiny tip. Ash probably works better for that.
 
It is stiff and crisp. Was a little over 13 mm when I got it and I took it down to about 12.5 or 12.6mm if I remember looking at it.
This shaft has perfectly straight grain, but I think one downside I could see is its more open grain structure could get dirty quickly and doesn't feel as smooth in your hand.
I probably would have played around more with it but I like 30" shafts and this one is 29".
 
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