Unbiased OB-1 Review

[PoolBum]

But it can feel like it's zero squirt compared to higher squirt shafts, mostly because of swerve.

We tend to think of squirt and swerve as two different things, but they're really two parts of the same thing (squirve?). Squirt "pushes" the CB one way and swerve curves it back the other way, making it look like there's less squirt. If the shot is just the right length/speed/spin, swerve can exactly cancel squirt so there's no aim adjustment necessary. With low squirt shafts this happens more often because it takes less swerve to do it, but still not always.

pj
chgo

What exactly is swerve? Is it a masse effect?

 

[Fatboy]

I recently used my OB shaft for the first time the other night. After hitting balls for about 2 hours the tip popped off. Any similiar experiences? I'll contact the dealer and let him know.

you cant blame anyone for that, tips pop off sometimes, the glue might have been a bit thin etc. you cant tell after the tip is put on, its not a big issue or reflection on the quality control of the OB guys, its an honest mistake, I have close friend who is a great tip guy and sometimes after 20 years of changing tips(ALOT of tips)occasionally he'll have a customer's tip pop off, it just happens.

 

[TWOFORPOOL]

Ob-1 Shafts

I was playing with 314-2 shafts. I went to Las Vegas to play in the APA Masters 3 man team tournament. I decided to take a flyer and buy an OB-1 shaft since the feel was much better. I'M GLAD I DID! Simply put the OB-1 shaft is more efficient and feels much better. You don't have to hit the cue ball as hard to get the same effect which therebye increases accuracy.

 

[jondrums]

when the original tip popped of my OB-1 shaft, I had the ferule and tip replaced by Varney. He did a very nice job and kept the low deflection characteristics of the shaft intact, and it hits better (I think) than the original ferule.

I'm using a SaberT ferule, with a sniper tip. I am incredibly happy with the sniper tip - it keeps its hit for a very long time with little to no maintenance.

Jon

 

[Patrick Johnson]

What exactly is swerve? Is it a masse effect?

Yes, and it occurs exactly the same way as the masse you're familiar with, except on a smaller scale. Your stick is just about always hitting downward on the cue ball, no matter how level you try to keep it, so when you hit offcenter to apply sidespin you're also applying "masse spin", which is rotation about a horizontal axis (in this sense follow and draw are also "masse spin").

So "normal" masse is a sharp curve caused by hitting almost straight down on the cue ball, and "mini" masse (swerve) is a very shallow curve caused by hitting almost (but not quite) horizontally - and there are an infinite variety of in-between curves too, caused by in-between butt elevations and tip offsets.

On long slow shots with lots of sidespin you can clearly see swerve happening if you watch.

By the way, did you know there's a scientific way to aim masse curves? It was discovered by the 19th century mathematician Coriolis and is described in one or two of Byrne's books. It's easy to learn the principle, but it comes with the usual catch: it takes practice to execute it well.

pj
chgo

 

[IA8baller]

Yes, and it occurs exactly the same way as the masse you're familiar with, except on a smaller scale. Your stick is just about always hitting downward on the cue ball, no matter how level you try to keep it, so when you hit offcenter to apply sidespin you're also applying "masse spin", which is rotation about a horizontal axis (in this sense follow and draw are also "masse spin").

So "normal" masse is a sharp curve caused by hitting almost straight down on the cue ball, and "mini" masse (swerve) is a very shallow curve caused by hitting almost (but not quite) horizontally - and there are an infinite variety of in-between amounts too.

On long slow shots with lots of sidespin you can clearly see swerve happening if you watch.

pj
chgo

Anyone that hasn't seen this video concerning swerve and squirt needs to see it. It's an outstanding video that clearly shows these effects plainly and simply. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXJ7bDafTms

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Plug: Fargo Billiards Videos

Anyone that hasn't seen this video concerning swerve and squirt needs to see it. It's an outstanding video that clearly shows these effects plainly and simply. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXJ7bDafTms

Anybody with an interest in "practical pool science" should make a point to see all of Mike Page's excellent FargoBilliards videos and encourage him to do more. He knows his stuff better than almost anybody I can think of (way better than me), and he has a real knack for making it understandable and even entertaining.

pj
chgo

 

[tjlmbklr]

tj, you have an excellent idea! I like a longer cue and using a low deflection shaft can offset the deflection that there can be in a longer shaft. I noticed that you play with a 60 inch Josey cue. I have many 59 inchers and a 60 inch cue. I really like playing with a longer cue and I think I'll try a low deflection shaft.
Curly

I often wonder how much less deflection the cue would have with a standard 29" shaft. I love those slow spin shots with the object ball on or close to the rail and the CB almost at a 90 degree angle. But if I hit these shots with speed it seems to deflect more. Does anyone or can anyone confirm if this is common?

 

[IA8baller]

Anybody with an interest in "practical pool science" should make a point to see all of Mike Page's excellent FargoBilliards videos and encourage him to do more. He knows his stuff better than almost anybody I can think of (way better than me), and he has a real knack for making it understandable and even entertaining.

pj
chgo

I have to agree 100%. Some outstanding videos. A must see for most pool players. I really enjoyed a few of them and they were presented very nicely.

 

[chicagomike]

you cant blame anyone for that, tips pop off sometimes, the glue might have been a bit thin etc. you cant tell after the tip is put on, its not a big issue or reflection on the quality control of the OB guys, its an honest mistake, I have close friend who is a great tip guy and sometimes after 20 years of changing tips(ALOT of tips)occasionally he'll have a customer's tip pop off, it just happens.

I agree that the tip was not a big deal, just a minor inconvenience. I still can't wait to start using the OB regularly, but am afraid to switch so close to the Derby Tourney. I'll probably wait until after to give it an honest evaluation.