Shaft Woods

[MattRDavis]

Why is it that maple is almost -always- used as a shaft wood? I know snooker players used to insist on ash shafts... but, is there a specific reason that maple is considered to be the best wood to create shafts from, or is it just something we've inherited and sort of accept on faith now?

Thanks,
-Matt

 

[rhncue]

Why is it that maple is almost -always- used as a shaft wood? I know snooker players used to insist on ash shafts... but, is there a specific reason that maple is considered to be the best wood to create shafts from, or is it just something we've inherited and sort of accept on faith now?

Thanks,
-Matt

There are a few woods that could be used for shafts but Maple probably has the most attributes for a good playing shaft. It is a tough wood, can be bent severly and not breaking, has a good memory so that after flexing it returns to it's original shape, is a very stable wood as far as movement, has a very close grain making it easy to make very smooth, has nice coloring so as not to distract ones attention, is fairly stiff, is light weight and is easily attainable. Other woods have some better attributes for other purposes such as for break or jump cues. Purple heart and ash as they are stiffer than Maple but they have other drawbacks such as coloring and roughness.
Dick