Want a new/ extra shaft- Your opinion and why?

A

APA Gene

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am a low level skl 7 in 8-ball/ low level skl 8 in 9-ball. I play with a Schon LTD with a Predator 314 (logo but not 2nd gen) shaft w/ a triangle tip. I am thinking of getting another shaft. Here are my choices. Regardless of choice I would probably go with a med or med soft Kamui tip. I like to feel the hit/ tip on the ball when I play. I don't like it to feel dead or like a rock. I have hit with an OB-1 and a Meucci Black Dot and liked the way both felt, though.

OB-1

Predator 314/2

Meucci black dot

Predator Z/2

What do you think and why?
 
APA Gene said:
I am a low level skl 7 in 8-ball/ low level skl 8 in 9-ball. I play with a Schon LTD with a Predator 314 (logo but not 2nd gen) shaft w/ a triangle tip. I am thinking of getting another shaft. Here are my choices. Regardless of choice I would probably go with a med or med soft Kamui tip. I like to feel the hit/ tip on the ball when I play. I don't like it to feel dead or like a rock. I have hit with an OB-1 and a Meucci Black Dot and liked the way both felt, though.

OB-1

Predator 314/2

Meucci black dot

Predator Z/2

What do you think and why?
Click to expand...
I would go with a Schon shaft. I know it is not one of the choices but I prefer a Schon shaft over the choices you have presented.

Of the choices you have listed I would go with the 314-2 because it will be a spare shaft and if something happened to your player it would be easy to screw it on and not have to adjust to a new type of shaft or taper or size.

BVal
 
BVal said:
I would go with a Schon shaft. I know it is not one of the choices but I prefer a Schon shaft over the choices you have presented.

Of the choices you have listed I would go with the 314-2 because it will be a spare shaft and if something happened to your player it would be easy to screw it on and not have to adjust to a new type of shaft or taper or size.

BVal
Click to expand...

The Schon shaft hits great and is very consistent but it has a ton of deflection compared to the 314 shaft.
 
If you have been playing with a 314 shaft & it works why change if you like it. You have increased your SL recently right ? I would go predator anyway as I have used one many years.

Good luck in your choice Gene.
 
I have never understood the reasoning of having two completely different shafts with different tips. For me, the purpose of a second shaft is to give me something to use in the event something happens to my primary shaft. (Tip comes lose, etc)
For that reason, I want my back-up to be as much like my main shaft as is possible.

If I didn't like my main shaft, I would get rid of it. Since I do like it, I really don't want to have to adjust to a different shaft or tip in the middle of competition.

Just another opinion, FWIW

Steve
 
Try the OB1. I played with a 314 for a long time and then got a OB1 to see if I liked it. I prefer it now. Seems like you can spin the cue ball with less effort (this can be a good or bad thing depending on how you like to play) and it has very little deflection.
 
I think you have to decide what you are buying a second shaft for. If it is for a spare, when your other one has a broken tip, flat tip, shaft dent or other issue, then I would get an exact match. This is what mine is for. I also use it to try a new tip material. Still, my shafts are slightly different in appearance and hit, but I try to keep them as similar as possible.

If a second shaft is to try some new LD technology or something, then find the right new technology and trade away the lesser performer. I would avoid regular play between 2 non-similar shafts. The hit change will really throw you, I would think. . .
 
I think I would put my current shaft as my back-up since it is "older" technology. I am just unsure whether to stay with the 314 or make the jump to the OB. Nobody talks about the Meucci shaft but it hits pretty darn well also. I am kind of leaning at just getting a 314/2 with the Kamui (I prefer over my Triangle) and stick my current shaft in the bag as a backup.
 
pooltchr said:
I have never understood the reasoning of having two completely different shafts with different tips. For me, the purpose of a second shaft is to give me something to use in the event something happens to my primary shaft. (Tip comes lose, etc)
For that reason, I want my back-up to be as much like my main shaft as is possible.

If I didn't like my main shaft, I would get rid of it. Since I do like it, I really don't want to have to adjust to a different shaft or tip in the middle of competition.

Just another opinion, FWIW

Steve
Click to expand...

Obviously I would like the new shaft to play similar to my current but better if possible. Easy, huh?
 
BVal said:
I would go with a Schon shaft. I know it is not one of the choices but I prefer a Schon shaft over the choices you have presented.

Of the choices you have listed I would go with the 314-2 because it will be a spare shaft and if something happened to your player it would be easy to screw it on and not have to adjust to a new type of shaft or taper or size.

BVal
Click to expand...

I agree. I think a clear decision has to be made on whether this is going to be a backup shaft or not.

If jumps, breaks, and hard masses aren't in the wheelhouse with the normal playing cue, then maybe it doesn't really matter that much?

I'd also imagine that after getting a 314-2 with any tip, there's a good chance the regular 314 isn't going to get as much use.

Ahh, choices choices! :D
 
APA Gene said:
Obviously I would like the new shaft to play similar to my current but better if possible. Easy, huh?
Click to expand...

Can a shaft play better than another shaft?
If you like one better than another, that should be the one you use. IOW, if you are more comfortable with shaft A, why would you ever feel the need to use shaft B???

If you are experimenting to find which one you like best, that's great. But a big part of consistency is using the same equipment as much as possible.

Steve
 
I'm actually in kind of a unique position to comment on this. I now shoot with an OB-1 on a Schon. I made the switch from an original 314 about a year ago, and love my OB-1. I use my 314 as a backup, because I don't want to sink the money into a 3rd aftermarket shaft just yet.

I pull out the 314 now and then to goof around and make sure I'm at least a little familiar with the feel, in case I need it in a match. It really doesn't take long for me to adjust back and forth.

If you like the feel of the 314 and OB-1, and if low deflection is what you're after, then OB-1 might be the way to go instead of the Ultra-x, etc.. I was surprised out at Valley Forge how many of the aftermarket shaft folks talked about the OB-1s deflection being too low. I'm sure they were just looking for a way to differentiate their product from OB, Predator, etc. but I heard that from the guys at Tiger, Lucasi Hybrid and Mezz. Thought that was kind of interesting.

I can't comment too much on the OB-2 or Z shafts, because I haven't used either apart from demos at a tradeshow booth.
 
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