Universal Smart Shaft

M

Mole Eye

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I recently bought a Universal Smart Shaft. Just wondered what the opinion was of people who had used one.
Thanks
 
I bought a new one in Las Vegas back in 07, only hit a few balls with it, but it would be very easy for me to get used to that shaft.
It has a longer taper than most of the LD shafts I've seen, and the tip diameter looks like it"s close to !3 mm.
I would have no problem using it, but I like the shafts made by the builder of the cues I play with.
Solid hit, easy to get used to.

I don't know anything about the new smart shafts, but myself and a friend who recently sealed it for me, think the original ones are terrific shafts to play with.
 
Thanks for the comment. This is my one and only use of a LD shaft, and while I like the hit, I still see a lot of deflection at times. Maybe I was expecting too much, but I was surprised to see it. The again, it just might be my stroke.
 
Mole Eye said:
Thanks for the comment. This is my one and only use of a LD shaft, and while I like the hit, I still see a lot of deflection at times. Maybe I was expecting too much, but I was surprised to see it. The again, it just might be my stroke.
Click to expand...

They had a couple of different versions.
I shoot exclusively with one but it's the RD version(regular deflection) and not the LD(low deflection). It's possible you picked up an RD version.

If it is and you don't like it, I have an LD vesion I would happily trade with you. That is, if it's a 5/16x14 piloted.
 
Well, the shaft I bought was advertised as LD. On the whole, I am happy with it, I was just surprised to see that on some of my shots, it deflected more than I expected. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give it a 7. Thanks for the offer.
 
you can tell which version you have by measuring the ferrule/diameter. the RS version ferrule is 1" long and 13mm diameter. the LS version is 7/8" long and 12.75mm. the LS does have a little less squirt, but the difference between the two isn't that much. the deflection reduction is nowhere near a pred or ob.
 
I've used Universal smart shaft the (LS) One, for about a year, and let me tell you, it was a beautiful wonderful shaft, I loved it, played really good with it, won some tournaments with it, my butt is a custom mike gullyassy, and it worked well with that cue.

but in the end, I didn't like one factor in it, the adapter that you put in it, don't get me wrong its nice to have the ability to remove it whenever you want and replace with another joint (If you changed your cue) but my problem that I have had a habbit of tightning screwing the cue every now and then, even tho it's already put together, I keep holding the shaft/butt and trying to screw it more, its a bad habbit, which led into breaking the adapter a few times, Not once, more than three times I think.

but nonetheless its a nice shaft to play it.
 
bstroud said:
The insert is supposed to be epoxied in.

Bill Stroud
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Bill what happened to the shafts that produced for Cue and Case sales around seven years ago with the insert that could be changed to fit multiple pins. I use to sell them, until the shafts started cracking at the insert.

My question is would it be possible to redesign these shafts so that could have the inserts changed, I thought it was a really good idea and I thought it was a shame that they just stopped making them.


Thanks for your reply.
 
yes, the lucasi hybrid shafts are essentially the same design as the USS LS, but without the changeable adapter. and the USS TX8 similarly became the hybrid slim.
 
Thanks. There's a fella on ebay who still sells the USS, with adaptor. The shafts he's selling are marked "sample" or something, and he's charging $125, or something daft. They are essentially worthless in that condition IMO.
 
McChen said:
yes, the lucasi hybrid shafts are essentially the same design as the USS LS, but without the changeable adapter. and the USS TX8 similarly became the hybrid slim.
Click to expand...

Completely WRONG.

The Lucasi shaft is not the same as the Smartshaft. It does not have the vibration damping material in it. That is what makes the Smartshaft play so well.

I am playing with them and just made myself a Smart break cue using the same material. It is terrific to break with.

Bill Stroud
 
manwon said:
Bill what happened to the shafts that produced for Cue and Case sales around seven years ago with the insert that could be changed to fit multiple pins. I use to sell them, until the shafts started cracking at the insert.

My question is would it be possible to redesign these shafts so that could have the inserts changed, I thought it was a really good idea and I thought it was a shame that they just stopped making them.


Cue and Case got in an argument with the company that makes the Smartshaft and can no longer import them into the US.

You can buy them outside the US.

Bill Stroud
Click to expand...
 
bstroud said:
Completely WRONG.

The Lucasi shaft is not the same as the Smartshaft. It does not have the vibration damping material in it. That is what makes the Smartshaft play so well.

I am playing with them and just made myself a Smart break cue using the same material. It is terrific to break with.

Bill Stroud
Click to expand...

yes, sorry forgot that part. the ferrule/tenon design to reduce deflection is still the same though
 
Thought I'd dredge this one back up rather than start a new thread.

Is it possible to insert another pin into the USS shaft, instead of using the adaptor? I have a viking QR butt, and am looking for a way of cheaply matching a shaft to it.

Presuming it's relatively easy to do, how much should a cue repairist charge to insert a viking joint to this shaft?
 
McChen said:
yes, the lucasi hybrid shafts are essentially the same design as the USS LS, but without the changeable adapter. and the USS TX8 similarly became the hybrid slim.
Click to expand...

It is my understanding that the lucasi hybrids are made by the same factory that makes the predator shafts and are more like the predator 314
 
not sure what factory they are made in...the hybrid/USS shaft deflects noticeably more than a predator. the deflection is lower than a regular shaft, but nowhere near the predator.
 
McChen said:
not sure what factory they are made in...the hybrid/USS shaft deflects noticeably more than a predator. the deflection is lower than a regular shaft, but nowhere near the predator.
Click to expand...
true,specially with the inside gumbo:smile:
 
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