Shooting Draw with LD Shaft vs. Normal Shaft

victorl

victorl

Where'd my stroke go?
Silver Member
I recently read an article in a Japanese pool magazine written by a researcher who claims that draw shots should be shot differently with a low-deflection shaft than with a normal shaft. In essence, the article explains that the traditional method of shooting draw by aiming low on the cue ball with a perfectly level cue and long follow through doesn't work well with LD shafts because they deflect, causing the cue to slide downwards and into the table, thus limiting the amount of draw you can get. He recommends that, when using an LD shaft, you should shoot with a slight downward stroke and avoid hitting very low on the cue ball to get the best results. I was curious, so I tested out my different shafts, and I have to say, I think there is some truth to what he says. Any thoughts?

Vic.
 
haha.. well, I think most people just do it naturally without thinking. I play with a really level stroke and I sometimes wonder why I can draw better with a house cue than with my predator... this may explain why.
 
I haven't done anything to experiment extensively, but I have noticed I have to alter my stroke when switching between shafts to get a crapload of draw. My draw never was as effective with my 314 as compared to my Schon shaft when trying to do extreme draw, but I could get basically the same results on all other draw shots. Maybe this is what the problem is. I always thought it was the tips or the diameter or something like that, but who knows..
 
Sounds like Japanese hooey to me.

Dave

victorl said:
I recently read an article in a Japanese pool magazine written by a researcher who claims that draw shots should be shot differently with a low-deflection shaft than with a normal shaft. In essence, the article explains that the traditional method of shooting draw by aiming low on the cue ball with a perfectly level cue and long follow through doesn't work well with LD shafts because they deflect, causing the cue to slide downwards and into the table, thus limiting the amount of draw you can get. He recommends that, when using an LD shaft, you should shoot with a slight downward stroke and avoid hitting very low on the cue ball to get the best results. I was curious, so I tested out my different shafts, and I have to say, I think there is some truth to what he says. Any thoughts?

Vic.
Click to expand...
 
victorl said:
I recently read an article in a Japanese pool magazine written by a researcher who claims that draw shots should be shot differently with a low-deflection shaft than with a normal shaft. In essence, the article explains that the traditional method of shooting draw by aiming low on the cue ball with a perfectly level cue and long follow through doesn't work well with LD shafts because they deflect, causing the cue to slide downwards and into the table, thus limiting the amount of draw you can get. He recommends that, when using an LD shaft, you should shoot with a slight downward stroke and avoid hitting very low on the cue ball to get the best results. I was curious, so I tested out my different shafts, and I have to say, I think there is some truth to what he says. Any thoughts?

Vic.
Click to expand...

No- he's wrong. With a good fresh tip, I can slam the cue ball low with a Predator or OB and get tremendous draw.

However, the way he recommends shooting draw with an LD shaft is the way I recommend shooting draw 90% of the time with any shaft anyway. It's controllable and you can get as much draw as you will normally need with hardly any chance of miscue. Just a little over a tip low, slightly angled, and a nice smooth stroke will virtually eliminate miscues.

Try it for awhile and you will never go back to the "hit low and hope" way again.

Chris
 
What was the Japanese magazine?
I want to look it up or see if my buddies got it.
 
kyo1128, the article is the latest issue of Cue's Magazine (April 2010 with Manny Pacquiao on the cover). It's on page 65.
 
really?

next time i hit some balls i am going to have to try both and see for myself.
never even occurred to me there might be any noticeable difference.
 
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You know how when you stick your tongue out a little and blow through your lips it makes a buzzing sound and saliva tends to fly? Well... "thtttttttttttp" to that article!

My Z2 doesn't need any special technique to get good draw. As Dr Dave and TATE have said... don't worry about it.. continue to kiss low and hit low. As you were. :groucho:
 
I draw the cb without effort with my predator,if its 2ft or 12ft,it does not masse the cb as well but its not suppose to.I can hang a ball in the pocket ,put the cb the length of the table in the opposite corner and draw it back in the corner I am standing over with a triangle tip on a 314-2 shaft,maybe I could draw it even harder with a normal shaft, but I dont think I NEED to draw it any harder and seldom have a reason to
 
This is ridiculous. HYPOTHETICALLY, if you "had" to shoot that way with a laminated shaft (which you don't), you should probably get rid of the damn thing.
 
What a horrible case of overthinking it mixed with bad armchair science.

I recently switched to a LD shaft after years with a regular one and shot draw exactly as I always have. The ball drew predictably and I have no problem getting plenty of draw action.

Even if an LD shaft had a difference as large as, I dunno, 10%... you're twice as likely to screw up your draw trying to think about that difference than you are just shooting the ball in blissful ignorance.

Let your subconscious deal with dinky stuff like this, that's what it's good at doing.
 
I have one OB1 shaft and a couple of predator shafts and i've never had any trouble drawing the ball with any of them. I do have a slight downward stroke on draw shots and maybe that's why i've never noticed any problems. It does make sense that a dead level stroke hitting the cue ball low will not work as well and i've never thought about that until I read this thread......

James
 
I wonder if this is why the phillipino's (and most pro's) shoot so low. I know that some of it is to arrive at the center of the ball all the time, but this sounds like a cogent explanation of their convention. Thoughts ?

tim
 
stikapos said:
I wonder if this is why the phillipino's (and most pro's) shoot so low. I know that some of it is to arrive at the center of the ball all the time, but this sounds like a cogent explanation of their convention. Thoughts ?

tim
Click to expand...

You got it right the first time. They cue low for sighting purposes and to find center ball. It has zero to do with their shaft.
 
Where are the physics guys? Oh wait there's dave. But he gave sort of a stock answer :(

Seriously, any analysis from Dave or some other physics guys? I've heard forever that the absolutely best thing for draw is a level cue. I can't envision how a downward stroke will help here... the theory is that the stick is getting knocked downwards during contact with the ball... if I shoot with a downward stroke, how will it no longer get knocked downward? And if this trick improves draw for that shaft, why wouldn't it improve draw with all shafts?
 
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