What diameter shaft do you play with?

skierlawyer

skierlawyer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I prefer 12.5 - 12.6 mm. I find anything narrower too thin and anything above 12.75 too thick. I am talking solid maple shaft, not a LD hollowed out near the tip thing. I know most cues are sold with 13mm and its considered a "full" shaft. Thats why for I cue I am having built right now I am having 4 shafts made. 2 at 12.6mm to play with and 2 at 13mm to save if I ever decide to sell the cue, or if my preference changes (i doubt it).

I find 12.5 mm to be the best because I can put more precise english on the cb than with a thicker shaft, get more spin with less effort than a thicker shaft. I also find anything thinner become too unforgiving, whippy in a pro taper, and less accurate on long shots. 12.5 - 12.6 is for me the best compromise.

So, what do you prefer and why?
 
I prefer 12.75. For me, that size feels most comfortable with a closed bridge.
 
I always thought I was a fan of 12.75, but I have a 13.3 schon shaft that has a great taper and stiff and a a few nice 13mm shafts that fill up my bridge hand nicely.
 
skierlawyer said:
I prefer 12.5 - 12.6 mm. I find anything narrower too thin and anything above 12.75 too thick. I am talking solid maple shaft, not a LD hollowed out near the tip thing. I know most cues are sold with 13mm and its considered a "full" shaft. Thats why for I cue I am having built right now I am having 4 shafts made. 2 at 12.6mm to play with and 2 at 13mm to save if I ever decide to sell the cue, or if my preference changes (i doubt it).

I find 12.5 mm to be the best because I can put more precise english on the cb than with a thicker shaft, get more spin with less effort than a thicker shaft. I also find anything thinner become too unforgiving, whippy in a pro taper, and less accurate on long shots. 12.5 - 12.6 is for me the best compromise.

So, what do you prefer and why?
Click to expand...

I shoot with a McDermott I-3 shaft with a soft Moori tip on a Schon CX-06 butt. It has an 11.75mm diameter tip. I prefer a smaller tip because, as you mentioned, it gives me a sense of geometric precision where I hit the cue ball. Shaft has a carbon fiber rod in the center which provides stiffness so, although it's thin, it doesn't seem whippy.
 
My first (and only) cue is a 13mm lucasi, then I got the OB Classic Pro (11.75) and while I immediately loved it, after about 4 months, I just couldn't play with it. I think it was the super-soft tip I had on it, but I've never had it replaced to really find out. However, I went back to my stock shaft. It's been slimmed down over the years to about 12.75ish maybe?

I've ordered my first custom and I got to hit with a variety of shaft sizes offered by the maker and have decided on a 12.25mm shaft. Still has the thickness I like with some of the ld characteristics. Ask me again in a month when the cue is ready. :)
 
Tiger Pro-X shaft, 11.75mm. I have smaller hands, so thinner cues feel better. I used to play with an 11mm shaft. My playing cue has a thinner than standard butt as well, with a parabolic taper very similar to a Southwest. My break cue is even 12mm.
 
I always get two different size shafts when possible/

I always play with either a 13mm or 12.75mm shafts. If if struggling in my practice, I use the 13mm to get settled in and when I think I'm hitting balls crisply and my aim is dead-on, I switch to the 12.75mm shafts. I find having two shafts helps if you're playing with the samller shaft and aren't content with your play. Switiching to the 13mm shaft seems to get me back on track faster and I think it's because I use less English and more center ball with the fatter shaft, although .25mm thicker is hardly that much fatter. If I play with shafts msaller than 12.75, I get too much deflection and don't cobtrol the cue ball as deftly on a 8'-9' table length shot, especially when it's a thin cue shot.
 
Bavafongoul said:
I always play with either a 13mm or 12.75mm shafts. If if struggling in my practice, I use the 13mm to get settled in and when I think I'm hitting balls crisply and my aim is dead-on, I switch to the 12.75mm shafts. I find having two shafts helps if you're playing with the samller shaft and aren't content with your play. Switiching to the 13mm shaft seems to get me back on track faster and I think it's because I use less English and more center ball with the fatter shaft, although .25mm thicker is hardly that much fatter. If I play with shafts msaller than 12.75, I get too much deflection and don't cobtrol the cue ball as deftly on a 8'-9' table length shot, especially when it's a thin cue shot.
Click to expand...

Smaller diameter does not cause more deflection.
It's mental.:D
12.00MM here.
 
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I have long fingers and like a stiff hit so I like 13mm the best. My break cue is 13.5mm. I do have a 12.75 shaft for my player and I find I can put way more english on the cue ball with it. I just miscue more with shafts less then 13mm. Need more practice I guess
 
Depending upon what cue I pick up, anything from 12.3 to 13.2

Since I had the day off today, I took two cues out of my case today for a workout, went from one with full 13 mm shafts to one with 12.3 mm shafts.:thumbup:

All of my cues have plain old maple shafts, no LD shafts for me. Beyond the diameter difference, there is very little difference in how these shafts perform for me.
 
Anywhere from 12.75 to 13.0 seems to feel *right* to me on a playing cue......regular maple shafts, no LD stuff for me.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Smaller diameter does not cause more deflection.
It's mental.:D
12.00MM here.
Click to expand...

that's right, if anything, larger diameter=more deflection due to the increased end mass. if anyone wants to try it they can try playing pool with a snooker cue, you'll hardly get any deflection at all.
 
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