Testing Shafts, Accuracy and Action

tashworth19191 said:
...these are the results I had. They are what they are...
Click to expand...
(Not speaking to you, but to readers in general...)

But if you come to wrong conclusions about why "they are what they are", then you haven't really learned what your game needs - and, in fact, you may make wrong choices that limit your game in the longer run.

The facts aren't just window dressing for "whatever you like" - they matter.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
(Not speaking to you, but to readers in general...)

But if you come to wrong conclusions about why "they are what they are", then you haven't really learned what your game needs - and, in fact, you may make wrong choices that limit your game in the longer run.

The facts aren't just window dressing for "whatever you like" - they matter.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...

Patrick, I have been playing for many years and basically, I noticed that I play very different when I use different cues and shafts, so I was just running test to see which one gave me the most accuracy and action with my current stroke and ability. I think after 40 years of playing, I know my game... But since like everyone, I want to improve, so I have been doing a lot of experimentation to find things that work and don't work.

After reading these forums, watching videos, taking lessons and experimenting, my game is improving. Basically, these test were for me to find out the differences I see in my shafts. If you don't see the same thing - GREAT! If you experience similiar things then - GREAT! I was just putting it out there for other people so they can use it or trash it.

DR Dave, Thanks I have read those pages in the past. Very Good info...
 
tashworth19191 said:
Exactly why I ran an extensive test on this. I wanted to know what works for me, with my current stroke and ability. I know people can put way more draw on a cue ball than me. But I am just saying, these are the results I had. They are what they are...
Click to expand...

Good thread and good post.

I wonder, as a self experiment, if you could get used to the shafts you didn't like enough so that you can play equally well with all of them. For example, Corey went from a standard shaft when he won the US Open, to a predator shaft, to an OB shaft. He plays great with all of them. Shane did the same thing (with different companies).

This would just be for sh!ts and giggles. I myself, have tried switching from a predator shaft back to a regular shaft, and can't for the life of me.
 
iusedtoberich said:
Good thread and good post.

I wonder, as a self experiment, if you could get used to the shafts you didn't like enough so that you can play equally well with all of them. For example, Corey went from a standard shaft when he won the US Open, to a predator shaft, to an OB shaft. He plays great with all of them. Shane did the same thing (with different companies).

This would just be for sh!ts and giggles. I myself, have tried switching from a predator shaft back to a regular shaft, and can't for the life of me.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I am no SVB either...
 
When not using TOI which is still hitting offset, I hit offset for some form of diagonal english spin for nearly every shot other than a straight stop shot or straight follow shot & then I'm hitting off center low or high.

I had been spinning the ball for 45 years before picking up a Predator 314 CAT shaft that had been taken down to 12 mm.

I've played with 13 mm & 12.75 mm before that.

I look at & use the inside of the tip, nearest to the center of the cue ball as my focus point & not the center line of the shaft so I 'know' where I am hitting the CB &/or I am consistent in what I do.

I can put more spin on the ball more easily with that 314 shaft than any shaft I had ever used.

Since then I picked up a Mcdermott i2, an OB Classic, & 2 OB Pro shafts & a couple of the older Muecci shafts.

I can spin & draw the ball immensely with any shaft as long as it has a 'good' tip on it.

I can put spin & extreme spin on the ball more easily with that Predator 314 shaft than any shaft I have ever used including the ones I just mentioned.

That said, I don't really like it. It's great for less than 2/3 of a table shots but for full table shots with english the swerve far out weighs the squirt & the ball will cross the line & I don't like that & having to gauge for that as that is not 'natural'. Also it has a whippy feel to it.

Like bdorman said, I don't care what the 'science' says. I know how that shaft & other shafts relate to what I can & can't do with them.

That's the bottom line for me & IMO should be for any player of the game.

Best 2 You, Tom, & All,
Rick

PS A pro tennis player can get 3 balls out of the 'can' made at the same time & not 'like' & not want to serve with one of them. John Havlicek could tell during warm up if the rim was 1/2 inch too low or too high. Ray Floyd can tell if the golf grip installer put on one extra layer of tape.

PPS Does one layer of tape make that much of a difference. It does to Ray Floyd.
 
Last edited:
ENGLISH! said:
When not using TOI which is still hptting offset, I hit offset for some form of diagonal english spin for nearly every shot other than a straight stop shot or straight folow shot & then I'm hitting off center low or high.

I had been spinning the ball for 45 years before picking up a Predator 314 CAT shaft that had been taken down to 12 mm.

I've played with 13 mm & 12.75 mm before that.

I look at & use the inside of the tip, nearest to the center of the cue ball as my focus point & not the center line of the shaft so I 'know' where I am hitting the CB &/or I am consistent in what I do.

I can put more spin on the ball more easily with that 314 shaft than any shaft I had ever used.

Since then I picked up a Mcdermott i2, an OB Classic, & 2 OB Pro shafts & a couple of the older Muecci shafts.

I can spin & draw the ball immensely with any shaft as long as it has a 'good' tip on it.

I can put spin & extreme spin on the ball more easily with that Predator 314 shaft than any shaft I have ever used including the ones I just mentioned.

That said, I don't really like it. It's great for less than 2/3 of a table shots but for full table shots with english the swerve far out weighs the squirt & the ball will cross the line & I don't like that & having to gauge for that as that is not 'natural'. Also it has a whippy feel to it.

Like bdorman said, I don't care what the 'science' says. I know how that shaft & other shafts relate to what I can & can't do with them.

That's the bottom line for me & IMO should be for any player of the game.

Best 2 You, Tom, & All,
Rick

PS A pro tennis player can get 3 balls out of the 'can' made at the same time & not 'like' & not want to serve with one of them. John Havlicek could tell during warm up if the rim was 1/2 inch too low or too high. Ray Floyd can tell if the golf grip installer put on one extra layer of tape.

PPS Does one layer of tape make that much of a difference. It does to Ray Floyd.
Click to expand...

Very good repy English. I agree with everything you said...
 
ENGLISH! said:
Ray Floyd can tell if the golf grip installer put on one extra layer of tape.

PPS Does one layer of tape make that much of a difference. It does to Ray Floyd.
Click to expand...

But does Ray Floyd know the scientific facts about the consequences of the extra layer of tape? What does he really know if he doesn't know the objective facts of whether the extra layer of tape is good or bad? :smile-us-down:
 
bdorman said:
But does Ray Floyd know the scientific facts about the consequences of the extra layer of tape? What does he really know if he doesn't know the objective facts of whether the extra layer of tape is good or bad? :smile-us-down:
Click to expand...

I'm rather sure that all he cared about is that that 1 extra layer of tape was going to cost him a Championship & MONEY.
 
jburkm002 said:
It's the indian, not the arrow. All cues play the same. At least that's what I've heard.
Click to expand...

I'd say a good Indian can hit his target well with nearly any arrow but every arrow is certainly not the same.

If the Indians had more Winchesters & Gatlin Guns we probabaly would not be trying to speak English.:wink:
 
There are break speed apps. What if they were used to measure a draw stroke? Same speed and measure results. I mean isn't that what one wants in a cue. Accuracy and control with the least amount of effort.
 
jburkm002 said:
There are break speed apps. What if they were used to measure a draw stroke? Same speed and measure results. I mean isn't that what one wants in a cue. Accuracy and control with the least amount of effort.
Click to expand...

True... Like I said, I just wanted to find out which cue / shaft that I own plays best for me. I am sure there are more scientific test....
 
Actually I wish there was a best shaft, best cue, best table, best set of balls. That way we could just use the same equipment for everyone and just focus on playing better.
 
tashworth19191 said:
Actually I wish there was a best shaft, best cue, best table, best set of balls. That way we could just use the same equipment for everyone and just focus on playing better.
Click to expand...

The most accurate shafts I own are the 13mm shafts. You just have to get used to the extra squirt.
 
tashworth19191 said:
Actually I wish there was a best shaft, best cue, best table, best set of balls. That way we could just use the same equipment for everyone and just focus on playing better.
Click to expand...
Since they're all fundamentally identical (except for squirt and personal preferences), it's pretty much the same as all being "best".

I suggest forgetting about the supposed differences and "just focus on playing better".

pj
chgo
 
They are not all the same. So let's ask a question. If you have always played with a maple shaft and for whatever reason need to get a new maple shaft. The new maple shaft squirts more than your last shaft. Would you just adjust for more deflection or get another maple shaft with less deflection?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top