should I switch

D-Rock

D-Rock

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
been playing with 13mm shafts my whole life. Going to buy an ob shaft soon, wondering if maybe its time to make the switch to a smaller diamater shaft. i just hate to do it, find out i don't like it, and have to buy the other shaft. so, how many of you out there made the switch only to switch back?
 
IMHO- I would stay with the same shaft that you have been playing with all those years! I have tried more shafts/tips/ferrule combos over the years then anyone I know. :eek: When you start changing things with a cue you have been playing with all that time, certain things will change with your game! OB shafts will certainly be a big change compared to a standard 13mm pro-tapered shaft! It will take sometime to adjust to. If I were you, I would find someone that had an ob-shaft that would fit your cue and see how it hits compared to the shaft you have been playing with! Been there- Done that!
 
D-Rock said:
been playing with 13mm shafts my whole life. Going to buy an ob shaft soon, wondering if maybe its time to make the switch to a smaller diamater shaft. i just hate to do it, find out i don't like it, and have to buy the other shaft. so, how many of you out there made the switch only to switch back?
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One doesn't buy a OB shaft because of its smaller diameter size. You buy a OB shaft because you want less cue ball deflection than what you have now.

If you're looking for a low deflection shaft, you may be able to find a OB retailer that will let you try out a demo shaft. If you can't find a OB retailer nearby, I believe OB has a satisfaction guarantee so that if you're not satisfied with it, you may be able to return it. Check with them on that.
 
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I'm a 13mm guy. Believe me I spent a lot of time an money trying something new to improved my game even a super shaft. Even after two weeks an I play every day the shaft still felt like a pencil. I know they are great for some but not me. This info an $4.00 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks. :wink:
 
D-Rock said:
been playing with 13mm shafts my whole life. Going to buy an ob shaft soon, wondering if maybe its time to make the switch to a smaller diamater shaft. i just hate to do it, find out i don't like it, and have to buy the other shaft. so, how many of you out there made the switch only to switch back?
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I like 13mm shafts, but due to cue ball deflection and having to allow for it when I use side spin I switched to Predator 314 shafts and i've never looked back. I also have an OB1 shaft that I play with sometimes, but I play with my predator shaft most of the time. Once you get used to 12.75mm you will be glad that you made the switch.

James
 
It's got to feel GOOD to you. It's got to feel COMFORTABLE, when you get down on your shot.

If yo've got the bucks; Give it a try. But, be prepared; It may not feel right.
 
When I first started playing pool, I loved the smaller diameter tips (the smaller the better). Once I started getting more serious, the cues I purchased came with 13mm shafts and I made due with them for several years. I recently purchased an OB-2 (11.75mm) shaft and was forced to use it while I re-tipped my 314-2. Well, since the re-tipping, I haven't pulled it out of my case. I can't get over the change in my game dropping to the smaller tip. I am not sure if I will ever change back and now I'm thinking of getting a Z2 as well.

I am happy I made the switch, but any flaw in your stroke will be accentuated (keep this in mind). Good luck

J
 
D-Rock said:
been playing with 13mm shafts my whole life. Going to buy an ob shaft soon, wondering if maybe its time to make the switch to a smaller diamater shaft. i just hate to do it, find out i don't like it, and have to buy the other shaft. so, how many of you out there made the switch only to switch back?
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Man, i am all over the place on this topic. First, it is going to feel very odd when you switch, thats just the way it is. If you switch to something that is .25mm smaller than what you are playing with it is going to feel like a toothpick and if you go +.25mm it is going to feel like a telephone pole.

I assume you are playing with a standard maple shaft so even more than the size of an OB1 or 2, the way it plays is going to be an even bigger change. I have played with both and think they are amazing products, just not for me. With the OB1 I was getting too much english on the cue ball. While I am sure I could have adjusted, it was just insane at first. I would go to draw it back 4 or 5 inches and draw it back 3 feet. So I ended up being afraid of it and found myself holding back on a lot of shots and coming up short. However on the plus side I found the shaft to be extremely accurate, especially from any kind of jacked up position. The OB2 I just didnt dig the taper on it. Got too fat too quick for me. I have small hands and it just didnt feel right. On the flip side though there are legions of people who swear by the OB2, and I havent heard many complaints about it. The smaller tip diameter really gives you a sense that you have more options for putting spin on the cue ball. More pinpoint aiming I guess you could say.

Bottom line is any time you switch there is going to be a period of adjustment. Seems like switching back takes even longer. You also have to test the products you are thinking of purchasing. Cant stress that enough. If you dont have access to any of the shafts you are thinking of buying there are other options. I believe Seyberts has a pretty liberal return policy, even for chalked cues. If you dont like it they will allow you to send it back as long as it has not been damaged.
 
I had the same concerns but went ahead and purchased a used McDermott I-3 shaft with a moori soft tip and a tip diameter of 11.75mm. I liked it from day one. That small diameter tip gives me a feeling of geometric precision where I hit the cue ball. The warranty with the I-3 is outstanding. You can send the shaft back to McDermott twice a year for a new Moori soft tip, shaft cleaning and reseal at no charge. You do have to pay a shipping and handling fee of $21.95 but that's about what a new tip would cost anyway. It would be best if you could find someone in your area with a small diameter shaft to try out.
 
Ive shot with a David Jacoby Custom for years now. Ive always used there shafts that came on the cues. Recently they made me a 314 2 with an inch in length put onto it. I thought I would never change inless to a new Predator shaft. Then I ventured up to Jacoby Custom Cues office a few days back and Brandon Jacoby bring out the sweetest shaft I have ever played with. It's 63 or 64 pieces of wood unlike the 10 of Predator. Also he doesnt get the weight differences that Predator does not only the difference from shaft to shaft they make but also he was about to take more material out of the tip so it doesnt add extra weight up there. Bottom line IMO get a low deflection shaft. Now I gotta go get the new one from Jacoby!!
 
...any flaw in your stroke will be accentuated
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This isn't true. In fact, the opposite is true: flaws in your stroke have more effect with fatter shafts because they produce more squirt.

...I was getting too much english on the cue ball
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This isn't true either. The tip hits the CB in the same spot with a wide or a narrow tip.

If you change the curvature of your tip it can have a slight effect in both of the above ways, but not much. And you can change the curvature of any size tip.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
This isn't true. In fact, the opposite is true: flaws in your stroke have more effect with fatter shafts because they produce more squirt.



This isn't true either. The tip hits the CB in the same spot with a wide or a narrow tip.

If you change the curvature of your tip it can have a slight effect in both of the above ways, but not much. And you can change the curvature of any size tip.

pj
chgo
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Actually it is true. I was there, and I was the one who hit the cue ball. The OB series of shafts imparts the most spin on a cueball I have ever experienced. At the time I was switching from a 314 to an OB1 so the diameter was the same and the shape of the tip was roughly the same as well.
 
IntoTheRail said:
Actually it is true. I was there, and I was the one who hit the cue ball. The OB series of shafts imparts the most spin on a cueball I have ever experienced. At the time I was switching from a 314 to an OB1 so the diameter was the same and the shape of the tip was roughly the same as well.
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This is not a controlled experiment until the tips on the OB1 and 314 are the same (and so is/was the butt.)

As described above, the entirety of the change could have been the kind of tip and not the shape of the tip, nor of the shaft.
 
MitchAlsup said:
This is not a controlled experiment until the tips on the OB1 and 314 are the same (and so is/was the butt.)

As described above, the entirety of the change could have been the kind of tip and not the shape of the tip, nor of the shaft.
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Im just saying the OB shafts put mad spin on the cueball and it is something that will need to be adjusted for in the event of switching to one of their shafts. I dont care if you cut a piece of leather off your boots and glue it on there.
 
The OB series of shafts imparts the most spin on a cueball I have ever experienced.
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Your experience isn't a controlled test. I've done controlled tests with many different shafts, high and low squirt. They all impart the same amount of spin when the CB is hit in the same place at the same speed.

pj
chgo
 
well, lots of good info on here. I think i'll check into serberts about their return policy if I don't like it. I know others around here that have the shaft, but I shoot with a pechauer and they have a unique joint so I would have to find someone that has one on a pechauer to hit with it at all. Thanks for the info from everyone!

I should also state, I play mostly bar box 8ball, that might make a difference tool
 
Patrick Johnson said:
This isn't true. In fact, the opposite is true: flaws in your stroke have more effect with fatter shafts because they produce more squirt.



This isn't true either. The tip hits the CB in the same spot with a wide or a narrow tip.

If you change the curvature of your tip it can have a slight effect in both of the above ways, but not much. And you can change the curvature of any size tip.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...

A lot of players experience different spin characteristics with different diameter shafts because of a changed perception of where the tip is actually being placed.

Personally, if I abruptly change shaft diameters, I tend to under play english with a thicker shaft and overplay it with a thinner shaft. Changing tip diameter is one of those things that take some time to make the adjustment.

Chris
 
D-Rock said:
well, lots of good info on here. I think i'll check into serberts about their return policy if I don't like it. I know others around here that have the shaft, but I shoot with a pechauer and they have a unique joint so I would have to find someone that has one on a pechauer to hit with it at all. Thanks for the info from everyone!

I should also state, I play mostly bar box 8ball, that might make a difference tool
Click to expand...

If you're changing over to an OB shaft and have not tried one yet, I would recommend the Classic Pro first. It's 12.75 and pretty stiff, weighing close to 4 ounces. It should be a lower squirt alternative to your conventional Pechauer shaft but maintain similar feel otherwise. I don't think it will take much adjustment at all. You can order a partial and have it custom fitted to your shaft. It has a short conventional ferrule and an Everest tip.

Chris
 
It's been a few years

but there used to be a report of a survey among pros of what they shot with, and it included shaft diameter, and most shot with a 12.75 mm shaft.

I shot with 13 mm for years, but switched many years ago to 12.75 mm, and I am glad I did.
 
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