What shaft diameter do most people use?

B

BLADEPXE

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I am going to order my first pool cue and wanted some opinions on selecting a shaft diameter. I have played with a friends Viking cue which had a 12mm shaft diameter and found that I played much better with it. Also I noticed that when I usually select a house cue I tend to try and find one with a smaller shaft diameter, some i have used which I know were even smaller than 12mm but I dont really remember if I played better or worse, with those. When I was using my friends cue I noticed that my shots were more consistant. The reason I am asking this is because I heard that having a smaller diameter shaft can hinder your game if you are doing bad that day, basically if you are off it makes you much more off and if you are doing good it only slightly increases your game. Does this apply to diameters less than 12mm? or 13mm? What do most people on the forum use? I dont want to order a cue and then have it hinder my game because I made a wrong decission in selecting the shaft diameter. But I do think that I played better with the 12mm, I got better english and my shots were more accurate.
 
I personally like 12.75. I use a tiger xshaft with a pro taper works good and control is good even when im having a rough day
 
12.5 to 12.7 for me, anywhere inbetween there is fine.

if you were ordering a cue and can get any shaft diameter you want, why not start out at 13mm and go from there? if its not to your liking you can have it turned down to 12.75. then down to 12.5. then 12.25. etc, etc, you get the picture.

that way you should have a pretty good idea of what you like.

DCP
 
12.75mm here. I do prefer smaller-diameter shaft to larger ones usually, because I feel the visual feedback of the small tip against the relatively large CB helps me apply english/draw/follow more accurately. I play with a 314, and I've been considering trying out a Z for that reason.

I don't think the smaller diameter will hinder your game, nor a larger one. I think, like cue weight and balance, it's a matter of what you feel best shooting with. Because what really matters is what your eyes, brain, and muscles are doing right/wrong, and feeling comfortable with your cue will help your subconscious do those things correctly.

-Andrew
 
Up and down over the years, I'm comfortable with about 12.8 now.

Get it the biggest size you think you might like. You can always reduce it, you can't enlarge it if you don't like it smaller.
 
you should probably consider taper type and length before contimplating thickness. on a long pro taper, such as a meucci, once you start getting under 12.5mm, your going to loose structual integrity.

if your unfamiliar with tapers, heres a good referance.
http://www.ravencues.com/shafts.html

predators 314 is a 12.75 mm pro taper somewhere around 13" give or take, just a guess, never actually measured.

and predators Z is a 11.75 mm strait taper, also known as conical, sometimes even refered to as european.
 
My current cue is 13mm.. I cannot say that I worry about the exact size. If if feels right and pockets balls like I want it to. Who cares about the specifics. Results are the only thing I am concerned with. JMHO
 
I think 12,75 is the standard nowadays. It used to be 13,00 some time ago... Is that correct?
 
I use 12mm and wouldn't change back to 13mm. I started with 12mm, but thought it was holding me back, because it's more difficult. So I change it to 13mm. I could indeed shoot more straighter with a 13mm tipsize, don't ask me why, I don't know. But it just don't feel right to play with 13mm. It's to big for me. I use a lot spin, so I changed it back to 12mm. I've practice a lot with a 12mm tipsize cue and right know, it feel so comfortable to play with it. I've seen a z-shaft with a smaller tipsize. I'm considering buying one, but need to test it first. I know someone who's got one, so if I meet him again, I'm surely ask him if I can try it.

Everyone is different, but I think that you will like a cue with 12.7mm more than a 13mm. I can advise you to try some cue with different tipsize. Tipsize is really personal preference.
 
12.5 for me...... I agree, get it larger and have it turned down to where you like it!!

Russ.......
 
11.75 to 12.5 (max). When I get a new custom, I order 12.5mm, prefer around 12.0. I suggest what has been suggested above...order 13mm, but when you reduce the size, let someone who has a lathe do it. Don't do it yourself with a sheet of sandpaper or your shaft will have that hourglass effect!
:p
 
I use a 12.5. With a smaller tip it is easier to accidently put spin on a shot that you don't want to. Thats why they say it can make you shot worse when your having an off day.
 
I have owned shafts at 12.5 and thought were too thin and shafts that were 12.75 that I thought were too thick. Naturally, I figured somewhere in between would be perfect. I had a shaft turned down to 12.6 and at the first shot I knew I had found what I was lookin for.
 
I just had a Pred 314^2. I think it's a little over 12.75, let's say 12.85. I prefer it to be smaller like 12.5-6.

13mm feels a bit too thick for my taste and my closed bridge...
 
12 and 12.75. My first "serious" cue was a McDermott D-13 with a shaft that sat at about 12. That is what I really became confident with. I do agree with 9ballrun. I have two shafts for each cues for those off days. If you arn't hitting the ball clean, the smaller shafts are going to bury you. No english, too much english; I have no idea what to expect. I go to the bigger shaft just to get a little more leather on the ball and work on my speed and natural shape.
 
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