The OB-1 Review from a B player

I

ioCross

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Before I start, i would just like to state that the following is a subjective write-up. I consiter myself a low to mid B level player (able to run out an easy rack, can't string together packages but can beat the ghost race to 5 with BIH after break on a good day) so take what i say with a grain of salt.

I've always consitered myself a predator guy. I discovered the 314 shaft about 3 years ago and raved about it to everyone about how it would make their game a ball better at least once they got used to it. That is not to say i didn't keep an open mind, it's just it was by far the best low deflection shaft i had ever used. I've played with the black dot meucci's which i hated, the mcdermott carbon core shafts which to me felt like cuetec's, the mezz hybrid shaft which i liked but not as much as my 314 and the original z shaft which i hated. I tried the USS (smart shaft) which i just plain didn't like at all. After a while i just gave up and decided to stick to the predators.

Well about a month ago i went to get a phenolic tip put on my break cue. I ended up having a conversation with the guy who tipped my cue about low deflection shafts, and i told him about how i had given up trying different shafts and decided to stick with the predators he offered to let me try his ob-1. His was on a lucasi so he let me pop his shaft onto my predator and let me go for a test drive. During the 10 minutes i hit with it i was amazed. English shots were effortless, and i could draw down table without putting any force into it at all. As much as i liked the shaft, i rationalized that since i was hitting them pretty good changing shafts would just hurt my game, and as i gamble fairly regularly i shouldn't put myself through getting used to a completely different feel. Yet over the next couple weeks i couldn't help thinking about the ob-1 with a feeling reminiscent of longing. For the first time in 3 years i wanted something other than a predator. After shopping around, i finally found a great deal (thanks again todd) and today was the proud owner of a slightly used ob-1.

Today was the first time in a long long long time i went to the poolroom and practiced, and flat out enjoyed it and didn't even think about playing anyone at all. I didn't worry about laying down just in case an easy mark was lurking, i just played for about 3 hours, all by myself. I haven't done in like 2 years. So here's my impressions.

For the first 5 minutes, i hated it. My initial impression was "damn this shaft is thick". Before this i was using my turned down z2 which is something like 11.5 mm's. I rattled a couple easy shots, my inside english shots seemed to feel off. I missed my desired position area by a few feet or more on some shots. Then i realized i was over-stroking everything. I stopped putting any arm speed into it, and started trying to just make the ball with pocket speed using a nice gentle stroke. Then the beauty of the ob-1 started becomming apparent. The 3 and 4 rail position shots that i would have to blast to get to became a medium/hard stroke which in turn made my shots that much more accurate. That was when i realized how much better the ob-1 was. The follow with inside english shots that require a medium to hard stroke was accomplished with a steady light stroke, which in turn made those shots that much more accurate.

On a softer stroke, it is easier to gauge the different varying degrees that you need to go for more accurate cueball placement. To test this, i put an object ball on the spot, placed the cueball straight in, and was able to first draw to the rail, then off the rail and on the middle of the table by the side pockets, then off the rail and onto the diamond above it, then on the top rail. And then i was able to do it again. Then i was able to draw to the top rail, then take the same shot and draw it right to the side pocket.
High english shots were the same.

After about an hour i decided to switch back to my z2 shaft to see if i could notice the difference. I immediately noticed how much more harder the shots were, how much less accurate. After i hit like 5 shots i switched right back to the ob-1.

One of my gripes with the z2 shaft was that while it was easier to get spin on the ball, it made the overall accuracy of straight in shots harder. With the ob-1, i was shooting about 1 o'clock with a full stroke down table straight in and nailing the shots with the CB going 3 rails. I was able to put extreme left on the cue, and instead of aiming out of the pocket and more twards the nipple than the back of the pocket, i was able to aim maybe an inch from the heart of the pocket and was drilling them in no problem. And with such extreme spin, i had the cueball doing some crazy spinning shots. In one instance, the cueball actually jumped off the rail, landed about 3 inches past the rail and took off, going 4 rails like a bat out of hell.

It's going to take me a few days, maybe a solid week until i feel comfortable enough with the ob-1 to get into action with it, but i have no desire to play with my z2. I am going to play in a local tourney tommorow and i can't wait.

I feel like i'm playing a completely different game than what i was playing 2 days ago. The things i can do with the ob-1 far surpasses anything i was able to do with my z2.
I can honestly say i haven't been this excited about playing pool in a long time. And i haven't even really begun to play with it yet.
 
thanks for the review! i am in a similar situation, i've been using a z2 shaft for a year and a half and recently have begun to yearn for something else. the z2 is beginning to feel hard to control and it has the hollow feel common to predator shafts. i wanted something with a bigger tip and a more solid feel, and thus bought an OB-1. it's supposed to get here on wed., can't wait to try it out, especially hearing your experience. i hope mine is as good!
 
ioCross said:
Before I start, i would just like to state that the following is a subjective write-up. I consiter myself a low to mid B level player (able to run out an easy rack, can't string together packages but can beat the ghost race to 5 with BIH after break on a good day) so take what i say with a grain of salt.

I've always consitered myself a predator guy. I discovered the 314 shaft about 3 years ago and raved about it to everyone about how it would make their game a ball better at least once they got used to it. That is not to say i didn't keep an open mind, it's just it was by far the best low deflection shaft i had ever used. I've played with the black dot meucci's which i hated, the mcdermott carbon core shafts which to me felt like cuetec's, the mezz hybrid shaft which i liked but not as much as my 314 and the original z shaft which i hated. I tried the USS (smart shaft) which i just plain didn't like at all. After a while i just gave up and decided to stick to the predators.

Well about a month ago i went to get a phenolic tip put on my break cue. I ended up having a conversation with the guy who tipped my cue about low deflection shafts, and i told him about how i had given up trying different shafts and decided to stick with the predators he offered to let me try his ob-1. His was on a lucasi so he let me pop his shaft onto my predator and let me go for a test drive. During the 10 minutes i hit with it i was amazed. English shots were effortless, and i could draw down table without putting any force into it at all. As much as i liked the shaft, i rationalized that since i was hitting them pretty good changing shafts would just hurt my game, and as i gamble fairly regularly i shouldn't put myself through getting used to a completely different feel. Yet over the next couple weeks i couldn't help thinking about the ob-1 with a feeling reminiscent of longing. For the first time in 3 years i wanted something other than a predator. After shopping around, i finally found a great deal (thanks again todd) and today was the proud owner of a slightly used ob-1.

Today was the first time in a long long long time i went to the poolroom and practiced, and flat out enjoyed it and didn't even think about playing anyone at all. I didn't worry about laying down just in case an easy mark was lurking, i just played for about 3 hours, all by myself. I haven't done in like 2 years. So here's my impressions.

For the first 5 minutes, i hated it. My initial impression was "damn this shaft is thick". Before this i was using my turned down z2 which is something like 11.5 mm's. I rattled a couple easy shots, my inside english shots seemed to feel off. I missed my desired position area by a few feet or more on some shots. Then i realized i was over-stroking everything. I stopped putting any arm speed into it, and started trying to just make the ball with pocket speed using a nice gentle stroke. Then the beauty of the ob-1 started becomming apparent. The 3 and 4 rail position shots that i would have to blast to get to became a medium/hard stroke which in turn made my shots that much more accurate. That was when i realized how much better the ob-1 was. The follow with inside english shots that require a medium to hard stroke was accomplished with a steady light stroke, which in turn made those shots that much more accurate.

On a softer stroke, it is easier to gauge the different varying degrees that you need to go for more accurate cueball placement. To test this, i put an object ball on the spot, placed the cueball straight in, and was able to first draw to the rail, then off the rail and on the middle of the table by the side pockets, then off the rail and onto the diamond above it, then on the top rail. And then i was able to do it again. Then i was able to draw to the top rail, then take the same shot and draw it right to the side pocket.
High english shots were the same.

After about an hour i decided to switch back to my z2 shaft to see if i could notice the difference. I immediately noticed how much more harder the shots were, how much less accurate. After i hit like 5 shots i switched right back to the ob-1.

One of my gripes with the z2 shaft was that while it was easier to get spin on the ball, it made the overall accuracy of straight in shots harder. With the ob-1, i was shooting about 1 o'clock with a full stroke down table straight in and nailing the shots with the CB going 3 rails. I was able to put extreme left on the cue, and instead of aiming out of the pocket and more twards the nipple than the back of the pocket, i was able to aim maybe an inch from the heart of the pocket and was drilling them in no problem. And with such extreme spin, i had the cueball doing some crazy spinning shots. In one instance, the cueball actually jumped off the rail, landed about 3 inches past the rail and took off, going 4 rails like a bat out of hell.

It's going to take me a few days, maybe a solid week until i feel comfortable enough with the ob-1 to get into action with it, but i have no desire to play with my z2. I am going to play in a local tourney tommorow and i can't wait.

I feel like i'm playing a completely different game than what i was playing 2 days ago. The things i can do with the ob-1 far surpasses anything i was able to do with my z2.
I can honestly say i haven't been this excited about playing pool in a long time. And i haven't even really begun to play with it yet.
Click to expand...
Very interesting post, I haven't even begun to try out any of the predator or OB-1 shafts. I recently turned down my regular shaft to 12 and 1/4 and I really like how much easier I can spin the ball. So I was eventually thinking of trying the Z2. But now that you mentioned how it made it harder to pocket long straight in shots (which is something that I noticed with my shaft), maybe I will skip the Z2 and go straight to the OB-1. What tip diameter is on the OB-1 and what kind of tip by the way?
 
I have asked other people who have written reviews on the OB-1 with no answer. Hopefully you will answer

How did you adjust to shooting with a shaft that is whippier than an old Meucci?
 
BPG24 are you saying that the OB-1 is whippy if so I would have to disagree the OB-1 that I have is not whippy at all OB-1 it is the best shaft on the market right now I have one on my schon limited and my Bill Mcdaniels and once you get use to the shaft you will realize why it's the best shaft.
 
oldneo said:
BPG24 are you saying that the OB-1 is whippy if so I would have to disagree the OB-1 that I have is not whippy at all OB-1 it is the best shaft on the market right now I have one on my schon limited and my Bill Mcdaniels and once you get use to the shaft you will realize why it's the best shaft.
Click to expand...


Several people believe that the OB-1 is extremely whippy.. Go look at all the other threads on the subject
 
makes me want to try an ob-1, even though i've tried one & couldn't stand the super soft marshmallow hit.
 
i believe the shaft is 12.75 mm. it comes standard with a talisman medium i believe.

as for the "whippy" feel, i believe that's just from the amount of control you get as opposed to a regular shaft.

i've shot with a meucci for a while a few years back, and trust me there is nothing whippy about an ob-1.
it does have a completely different feel to it, and maybe thats where players are getting that feeling from, but if you play with it for about an hour you will realize it's just how the cue is.

i can't stand whippy shafts, so i would know.

as for the soft hit, like i stated earlier, for the first 5 minutes i hated the feel of the cue, but after an hour of playing with it i couldn't go back.
 
ioCross said:
Before I start, i would just like to state that the following is a subjective write-up. I consiter myself a low to mid B level player (able to run out an easy rack, can't string together packages but can beat the ghost race to 5 with BIH after break on a good day) so take what i say with a grain of salt.

I've always consitered myself a predator guy. I discovered the 314 shaft about 3 years ago and raved about it to everyone about how it would make their game a ball better at least once they got used to it. That is not to say i didn't keep an open mind, it's just it was by far the best low deflection shaft i had ever used. I've played with the black dot meucci's which i hated, the mcdermott carbon core shafts which to me felt like cuetec's, the mezz hybrid shaft which i liked but not as much as my 314 and the original z shaft which i hated. I tried the USS (smart shaft) which i just plain didn't like at all. After a while i just gave up and decided to stick to the predators.

Well about a month ago i went to get a phenolic tip put on my break cue. I ended up having a conversation with the guy who tipped my cue about low deflection shafts, and i told him about how i had given up trying different shafts and decided to stick with the predators he offered to let me try his ob-1. His was on a lucasi so he let me pop his shaft onto my predator and let me go for a test drive. During the 10 minutes i hit with it i was amazed. English shots were effortless, and i could draw down table without putting any force into it at all. As much as i liked the shaft, i rationalized that since i was hitting them pretty good changing shafts would just hurt my game, and as i gamble fairly regularly i shouldn't put myself through getting used to a completely different feel. Yet over the next couple weeks i couldn't help thinking about the ob-1 with a feeling reminiscent of longing. For the first time in 3 years i wanted something other than a predator. After shopping around, i finally found a great deal (thanks again todd) and today was the proud owner of a slightly used ob-1.

Today was the first time in a long long long time i went to the poolroom and practiced, and flat out enjoyed it and didn't even think about playing anyone at all. I didn't worry about laying down just in case an easy mark was lurking, i just played for about 3 hours, all by myself. I haven't done in like 2 years. So here's my impressions.

For the first 5 minutes, i hated it. My initial impression was "damn this shaft is thick". Before this i was using my turned down z2 which is something like 11.5 mm's. I rattled a couple easy shots, my inside english shots seemed to feel off. I missed my desired position area by a few feet or more on some shots. Then i realized i was over-stroking everything. I stopped putting any arm speed into it, and started trying to just make the ball with pocket speed using a nice gentle stroke. Then the beauty of the ob-1 started becomming apparent. The 3 and 4 rail position shots that i would have to blast to get to became a medium/hard stroke which in turn made my shots that much more accurate. That was when i realized how much better the ob-1 was. The follow with inside english shots that require a medium to hard stroke was accomplished with a steady light stroke, which in turn made those shots that much more accurate.

On a softer stroke, it is easier to gauge the different varying degrees that you need to go for more accurate cueball placement. To test this, i put an object ball on the spot, placed the cueball straight in, and was able to first draw to the rail, then off the rail and on the middle of the table by the side pockets, then off the rail and onto the diamond above it, then on the top rail. And then i was able to do it again. Then i was able to draw to the top rail, then take the same shot and draw it right to the side pocket.
High english shots were the same.

After about an hour i decided to switch back to my z2 shaft to see if i could notice the difference. I immediately noticed how much more harder the shots were, how much less accurate. After i hit like 5 shots i switched right back to the ob-1.

One of my gripes with the z2 shaft was that while it was easier to get spin on the ball, it made the overall accuracy of straight in shots harder. With the ob-1, i was shooting about 1 o'clock with a full stroke down table straight in and nailing the shots with the CB going 3 rails. I was able to put extreme left on the cue, and instead of aiming out of the pocket and more twards the nipple than the back of the pocket, i was able to aim maybe an inch from the heart of the pocket and was drilling them in no problem. And with such extreme spin, i had the cueball doing some crazy spinning shots. In one instance, the cueball actually jumped off the rail, landed about 3 inches past the rail and took off, going 4 rails like a bat out of hell.

It's going to take me a few days, maybe a solid week until i feel comfortable enough with the ob-1 to get into action with it, but i have no desire to play with my z2. I am going to play in a local tourney tommorow and i can't wait.

I feel like i'm playing a completely different game than what i was playing 2 days ago. The things i can do with the ob-1 far surpasses anything i was able to do with my z2.
I can honestly say i haven't been this excited about playing pool in a long time. And i haven't even really begun to play with it yet.
Click to expand...
Loved the review, my friend! And I kid you not! :)
 
Any good player can adjust to any shaft. It's "wanting to" that makes you realize things.

It's common knowledge that a smooth clean stroke will always provide better results than powering balls in with a hard stroke. Harder = less accurate. I picked up 2 cues I've never heard of last night and could still run out with no problems. It just wasnt as comfortable or provided the type of feedback I wanted from my normal cue / shaft.

Glad you like it though. Stick with it.. until a new flavor of the month comes out.
 
Great review and many opions are the same as mine. I was shooting with a P2 Predator with the 314-2 shaft and wanted to try something different. I read many reviews of people raved about their OB-1's over the 314's. I for one love the softer hit and agree with comment about more pronounced english using a softer stroke.
 
I like low-deflection a lot but I can't handle the feel of the OB-1. I'm getting a short ferrule (or no ferrule) and having my solid maple shaft turned down to make it low-deflection AND give me solid feel.

The ob-1 is not whippy... it's just dull.
 
Last edited:
BPG24 said:
I have asked other people who have written reviews on the OB-1 with no answer. Hopefully you will answer

How did you adjust to shooting with a shaft that is whippier than an old Meucci?
Click to expand...


Your the only one I've heard say that. I play with an ob1 and I HATED meucci's because of there whippy uncontrolable feeling. I played mcdermott's early on because I liked the solid hit. Just more proof that 10 guys can play with a cue and all have a different oppinion.
 
trob said:
Your the only one I've heard say that. I play with an ob1 and I HATED meucci's because of there whippy uncontrolable feeling. I played mcdermott's early on because I liked the solid hit. Just more proof that 10 guys can play with a cue and all have a different oppinion.
Click to expand...


Again, there are countless threads on these shafts... Many people have stated that they are way too whippy. I guess if you aren't used to a stiff shaft than that could cause you to not think OB-1 are whippy.

Compared to a Predator Z shaft the OB-1 is like going to a Meucci

I will buy one if they ever improve it.
 
BPG24 said:
Again, there are countless threads on these shafts... Many people have stated that they are way too whippy. I guess if you aren't used to a stiff shaft than that could cause you to not think OB-1 are whippy.

Compared to a Predator Z shaft the OB-1 is like going to a Meucci

I will buy one if they ever improve it.
Click to expand...


i'm staying away because i see so many for sale. seems like they're all fairly new but not a lot of people hold onto them for long.
 
I have heard nothing but good things about the quality of construction, especially compared to Predators.

I really hope they come out with an OB-2 that is stiff :)
 
I think so many people get rid of them because they're difficult to get used to. I sold two just recently for that very reason. I knew right away I would not like them because of the dull feel compared to a solid maple shaft. There is super-low deflection but it's just dead compared to solid maple.
 
OB-1 Shafts

I'm considered to be an open player and I know all about stiff shafts. The OB-1 shaft is no where near a Meucci shaft. The OB-1 shaft I have is plenty stiff. The "dull" hit some people are talkiing about is actually a quieter hit since there is no vibration noise such as "clicks" and the like. With the "clicks" gone you actually feel the sensation of stroke and speed much better since the "clicks" are not distracting you. I also agree the OB-1 shaft is a more efficent shaft therebye requiring less shaft speed on a shot when compared to a standard shaft. This is why english can be used much easier. I must also point out that since youre not hitting the cue ball as hard (when compare to standard shafts) you are being more accruate with each shot. I use to play with a Predator 314-2 shaft but change to an OB-1 because IMO its just better.
 
cubc said:
Any good player can adjust to any shaft. It's "wanting to" that makes you realize things.

It's common knowledge that a smooth clean stroke will always provide better results than powering balls in with a hard stroke. Harder = less accurate. I picked up 2 cues I've never heard of last night and could still run out with no problems. It just wasnt as comfortable or provided the type of feedback I wanted from my normal cue / shaft.

Glad you like it though. Stick with it.. until a new flavor of the month comes out.
Click to expand...

needless ambigious sarcasm aside, i had stated that i was hesitant to buy the ob-1 even after i hit with one and waited till i had a very good deal on it to buy one. i tried many different shafts before and after i started using predators and preferred the hit of the predators until i used the ob-1. just because i acknowledge that there is actuality to low deflection shafts doesn't mean you should throw in a snide comment about "flavor of the month"... i take my game seriously, and to that extent am always looking for different things that can help my game. Do i think those things will make me play better? No. But if i break down the concepts of for example a low deflection shaft and relate it to my game, it will help my game if i apply it correctly.

the reason i prefer the ob-1 like i stated in the review was that i was able to shoot shots requiring harder strokes a lot more ease than with other shafts which lead to better accuracy in shots. The same shots that would require a full hard power stroke to get position i could achieve with a medium speed shot. Stuff like that makes a hell of a difference when you play one pocket. i'm glad that you were able to pick up two cues and run out, altho i dont see what point you were trying to make there. running 7 balls on a box is a lot easier/different then playing 1pckt vs a good player who moves on you.

so minus your superiority complex (which i forgive you for) wheren you state the obvious which had no bearing on what i was saying, and your acknowledgment that you were able to "run out" using two different cues, did you have an actual point to what you said or were you just trying to sound high and mighty with your little flavor of the month comment?
 
Microwave

poolplayer2093 said:
i'm staying away because i see so many for sale. seems like they're all fairly new but not a lot of people hold onto them for long.
Click to expand...

It because we are living in a microwave society that wants instant results on things. It took me about 4-6 weeks of playing 3-5 days a week to get back were I was with my Schon shaft. I can now perform shots that I never could before.......more action with less effort. I did start to worry about a tip flying off during a match and having to play with a stock shaft again, so I ordered a second OB-1.

Ray
 
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