Tip roundness and cue performance

[dr_dave]

Great document.

However, I have a follow up question that is slightly off topic though. As you pointed out, reducing tip mass using a low deflection shaft or a smaller tip has some trade offs. How much impact does shaft distortion have or is that a factor at all?

Some cue manufacturers seem to reference distortion as an issue right up there with squirt but I find little more than anecdotal evidence to back that up. You have a lot of great articles so if I missed one where you covered that already I apologize.

Thanks.

The shaft "distorts" very little while the tip is in contact with the CB. With an off-center hit, most of the flex and vibration occurs after the CB is gone. This "distortion" obviously has no affect on CB motion; although, it does affect the feel of the hit. FYI, if you want to see examples of cue flex and vibration, see the following page:

cue flex and vibration

The following pages also contain relevant information and video demonstrations:

shaft deflection and stiffness
shaft endmass and stiffness
what causes squirt (CB deflection)

I hope that helps,
Dave

 

[Floppage]

The shaft "distorts" very little while the tip is in contact with the CB. With an off-center hit, most of the flex and vibration occurs after the CB is gone. This "distortion" obviously has no affect on CB motion; although, it does affect the feel of the hit. FYI, if you want to see examples of cue flex and vibration, see the following page:

cue flex and vibration

The following pages also contain relevant information and video demonstrations:

shaft deflection and stiffness
shaft endmass and stiffness
what causes squirt (CB deflection)

I hope that helps,
Dave

Yeah, that helps a lot. Thank you.