Im Considering Buying One Any Help Is It Good Or Bad What Kinda Hit, Can You Draw Good With It And Etc.
Thinking About Buying Universal Smart Shaft Any Testimonys! Good Or Bad?
- Thread starter johnrp2005
- Start date
Are you switching from another low deflection shaft(such as Predator,
Tiger, Ob-1, etc...)? What has made you interested in the USS? Personally, I have been a Predator user for 6 years or so, and have recently switched to an ob-1 with a sniper tip and cant seem to use anything else. I believe the ob-1 to be the most consistent, and once you get used to it, as it is different, I cant see playing with anything else. PM me if you have any questions you want to go into detail.
Regards,
Ian
Tiger, Ob-1, etc...)? What has made you interested in the USS? Personally, I have been a Predator user for 6 years or so, and have recently switched to an ob-1 with a sniper tip and cant seem to use anything else. I believe the ob-1 to be the most consistent, and once you get used to it, as it is different, I cant see playing with anything else. PM me if you have any questions you want to go into detail.
Regards,
Ian
i play mainly with the OB-1 with a sniper tip and it is a great shaft. but i also like the USS LS cue, it is quite different. in terms of deflection it is not as low as the ob-1 or predator, but probably as low as you're going to get from a non-hollow shaft. the shaft is very stiff and pretty heavy, mine weighs 4.6oz. ob-1 and predators are usually around 3.6 or 3.7.
I've been shooting with a RS model Smart Shaft for over 2 years now and I like it. I tried predator shaft(s) and they never had the "feel" I could adjust to. Tried a laminated Meucci shaft, no way Jose !
like earlier posters said try the Smart Shaft, try predator (if you can borrow one). I think you'll see a remarked difference in the two. The choice is yours, not someone else's, to make. each have or will develop his/her own preferences in "feel" in a shaft and/or cue.
best of luck........j
link to another discussion... http://www.insidepoolmag.com/forums/jimbo/1621-mr-stroud-universal-ss.html
like earlier posters said try the Smart Shaft, try predator (if you can borrow one). I think you'll see a remarked difference in the two. The choice is yours, not someone else's, to make. each have or will develop his/her own preferences in "feel" in a shaft and/or cue.
best of luck........j
link to another discussion... http://www.insidepoolmag.com/forums/jimbo/1621-mr-stroud-universal-ss.html
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I absolutely love them. In fact, I have one now and am looking to get a 2nd as a backup.
I will say that I have tried Predator and OB1 and thought the OB1 was nice too. Only problem with it, IMO, was that it was too light. The Universals are generally 4+ ounces and the guy from OB1 told me last year at Valley Forge that he didn't think he could get one up to the weight I was looking for. Otherwise I would have bought one.
I will say that I have tried Predator and OB1 and thought the OB1 was nice too. Only problem with it, IMO, was that it was too light. The Universals are generally 4+ ounces and the guy from OB1 told me last year at Valley Forge that he didn't think he could get one up to the weight I was looking for. Otherwise I would have bought one.
I'm playing with USS and I really love it.
For me it has given by far the best hit and feel from the low-squirt shafts. It has more squirt than Predator, but then again much more feel, and the squirt is not too bad either, as I used to play with stiff custom which had squirt A LOT..
I'd say USS is a Golden Middle Way between the custom shafts which has lots of feel, and between Predator which has less squirt but not enough feel.
The biggest problem with USS is the quality. There has been some problems especially with the ferrules. They do have warranty, but you need patience unless you get lucky on the first try.
I have now two good USS shafts, but I had to return 2 or 3 until I found these.
I'm playing with 12.75mm, and I have no reasons to look for other shafts, as I don't like Predator or OB-1, and the Custom shafts just have too much squirt and for example shooting inside english becomes so much more difficult with them.
Only interest what I have, is to try the 11.75mm version for some time. I did try it for a half an hour or so, and it felt great, but I'm not sure which would be better one..
For me it has given by far the best hit and feel from the low-squirt shafts. It has more squirt than Predator, but then again much more feel, and the squirt is not too bad either, as I used to play with stiff custom which had squirt A LOT..
I'd say USS is a Golden Middle Way between the custom shafts which has lots of feel, and between Predator which has less squirt but not enough feel.
The biggest problem with USS is the quality. There has been some problems especially with the ferrules. They do have warranty, but you need patience unless you get lucky on the first try.
I have now two good USS shafts, but I had to return 2 or 3 until I found these.
I'm playing with 12.75mm, and I have no reasons to look for other shafts, as I don't like Predator or OB-1, and the Custom shafts just have too much squirt and for example shooting inside english becomes so much more difficult with them.
Only interest what I have, is to try the 11.75mm version for some time. I did try it for a half an hour or so, and it felt great, but I'm not sure which would be better one..
marvel, what problem did you have with the ferrules? i haven't had any (so far) with my USS LS shaft. i did notice that the tenon was pretty wide and the ferrule was pretty thin and also uncapped. i'm sure that helps reduce deflection, but is probably a bit more fragile.
definitely this shaft is a good compromise between feel and deflection. the ob-1 is still my main shaft though. i use the USS a lot as a warm up shaft, the weight and feel helps me get into stroke faster.
i'm interested in trying the TX8 (11.75mm) version as well, though i find smaller tips like that hard to control
definitely this shaft is a good compromise between feel and deflection. the ob-1 is still my main shaft though. i use the USS a lot as a warm up shaft, the weight and feel helps me get into stroke faster.
i'm interested in trying the TX8 (11.75mm) version as well, though i find smaller tips like that hard to control
try them
Find a dealer who will let you try them all in the store. I spent about 6 hours trying different cues, and shafts. I tried cues as expensive as $2000 just to have a basis for comparison. Function is more important than aesthetics. I settled on the USS with a Players butt.
johnrp2005 said:
Find a dealer who will let you try them all in the store. I spent about 6 hours trying different cues, and shafts. I tried cues as expensive as $2000 just to have a basis for comparison. Function is more important than aesthetics. I settled on the USS with a Players butt.
I just received my new LS after playing with an RS and the difference is like night and day. What a forgiving shaft. Put it on a Joss butt that I won at a Joss tour event and it shoots lights out. Frankly, I'm a little pissed off. I went back to the RS yesterday and its NOTHING like the LS. Of course, I'm so ridiculously stubborn, thinking "I don't really need the LS to shoot well", so what am I shooting with ? The RS....and hating it. Bottom line, the LS is wonderful. Some with OB-1's or predators have hit with it and they claim there is not enough "feel". Feel ? WHo cares about feel ? I hit the ball and they go into the pocket with position as a bonus. Just like with my Deano cue.
tim
tim
I currently play w/ a Universal Cue
I have the UN-30 w/ LS shaft. (have for over a year now, not jsut a couple months) I've had no problems w/ my ferrale either. I love it! truthfully i'm looking at getting a 2nd shaft, and have considered a Z2, but I have a buddy that has one, and is complaining about it right now, and he is considering a universal. (to each his own!) but not i've decided that I really just love my cue/shaft and there is no need to Improve or change. I'm going to stick w/ the universal! so IMO they are great! I think it is a very fair balance between performance and feel!
now my 1 draw back is this.... I have the UN30 Cue. it has a double silver ring on the shaft. But I can't order a 2nd shaft w/ the same matching rings!! Lame! I've already contacted cue and case, and they told me they dont have it for any of the universals, they only made it for that model, and wont sell it seperate.
oh well!
Thats my input hope it helps!
I have the UN-30 w/ LS shaft. (have for over a year now, not jsut a couple months) I've had no problems w/ my ferrale either. I love it! truthfully i'm looking at getting a 2nd shaft, and have considered a Z2, but I have a buddy that has one, and is complaining about it right now, and he is considering a universal. (to each his own!) but not i've decided that I really just love my cue/shaft and there is no need to Improve or change. I'm going to stick w/ the universal! so IMO they are great! I think it is a very fair balance between performance and feel!
now my 1 draw back is this.... I have the UN30 Cue. it has a double silver ring on the shaft. But I can't order a 2nd shaft w/ the same matching rings!! Lame! I've already contacted cue and case, and they told me they dont have it for any of the universals, they only made it for that model, and wont sell it seperate.
oh well!
Thats my input hope it helps!
hey pickpocket, on those universal cues, do those shafts have adapters or not? it seems like the ringwork/joint is permanently attached to those, but i haven't seen one in person.
i would love to see cue and case offer partials for these USS shafts. granted, that would remove the 'universal' features, but would allow us to match it to our favorite cues with the ringwork.
i would love to see cue and case offer partials for these USS shafts. granted, that would remove the 'universal' features, but would allow us to match it to our favorite cues with the ringwork.
