The Hybrid Question, Real Technology or Hype?

[technoid101]

McDermott’s Element line, CueTec, Lucasi Hybrid and Scorpion. Brands that all advertise themselves as having a high tech almost indestructible layer of fiberglass covering over a wood core or carbon fiber layering, so on, so forth… These “Hybrid construction” offerings have me wondering, are any of these as good as they claim? Any cue if it’s taken care of, will last a lifetime. We all know it’s the player, not the cue that wins the game. But a quality tool sure will go a long way to getting to that win. And that’s the point here. Are these new “technologies” worth their price or is it all sales hype? I want something that’s going to survive rough handling and not have to worry (too much) about big feet, bar flies and occasionally handing it over to help teach fundamentals to new students of the game.
Thanks for your advice, good luck in your next match.

 

[TheThaiger]

A friend has the McDermott one, and it's very cheap looking/feeling. He likes how it plays though. He has a 314-2, but the original shaft is fibreglass, I think. One thing: the joint is slightly different than the standard flat-faced 3/8/10 - it fits my Mcd, but not flushly.

 

[samurai]

McDermott’s Element line, CueTec, Lucasi Hybrid and Scorpion. Brands that all advertise themselves as having a high tech almost indestructible layer of fiberglass covering over a wood core or carbon fiber layering, so on, so forth… These “Hybrid construction” offerings have me wondering, are any of these as good as they claim? Any cue if it’s taken care of, will last a lifetime. We all know it’s the player, not the cue that wins the game. But a quality tool sure will go a long way to getting to that win. And that’s the point here. Are these new “technologies” worth their price or is it all sales hype? I want something that’s going to survive rough handling and not have to worry (too much) about big feet, bar flies and occasionally handing it over to help teach fundamentals to new students of the game.
Thanks for your advice, good luck in your next match.

Lucasi Hybrid is the nuts all around with a lifetime warranty on warpage as well as manufacture defects! I used the Z2 for years and made the transition effortlessly. I think the ZeroFlex plays better and sounds better because it isn't hollow at the end. The ZeroFlex is an 8 piece laminated shaft, but solid to the ferrule, and comes with a Moori medium tip no extra charge and is available in 12.75mm and the zeroflex slim is 11.75mm.

 

[twal]

Value is always subjective.
What you think is worth $200.00 I say is only worth $150.00 or your fill in the blank.
So needless to say, how much you end up paying for something, in the end it was worth it to you at the time
Makert or resale value is a whole different issue.

Low deflection shafts work.
How much they work (reduce defletion of the CB) varies from one maker to another. That is where you need to do the home work to find the shaft that works best for your game.

If you looking for one maker over another I would say to use the search button and good luck.