Which shaft to get?

Which Shaft to get?

  • 314 2nd gen

    Votes: 26 31.0%

  • Z 2nd gen

    Votes: 11 13.1%

  • OBI 1

    Votes: 47 56.0%
  • Total voters
    84
R.J.C.33

R.J.C.33

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am buying a new shaft. Which do I go with? Predator 314 2nd gen, z 2nd gen, Or OBI 1? I am torn because of all the good feedback on all of them from fellow AZBers. Please help!
 
Can't Vote

I guess I can't vote. :( If I were buying a shaft in this catagory it would b a Tiger X shaft with a Sniper tip.

Charlie
 
bigskyjake said:
unless the cue is a total stink pickle stick with the regular shaft and avoid the hype
Click to expand...

Agree. Unless you want to buy a Pedator cue and use a Muecci shaft.
 
I really hope you're not going to remotely consider the results of this poll when purchasing a new shaft for your cue.
 
I would have one made for it by a cue maker that uses good heavy wood.

They can adjust the playability through diameter, tip and taper.
 
Last edited:
why all the hate towards the low squirt shafts?

i would take the Z out of the equation because of the smaller tip and conical taper. you wont be able to use a closed bridge.

314^2 is a great shaft and performs extremely well. my only gripe is the hit and more specifically the sound. seems to make a horrible noise to the ear. there again thats subjective i concede.

the ob-1 lives up to the hype as well, it's great. if there is such a thing as a real 'soft' hit, then the ob-1 is it. really satisfying to play with. and dont be put off by the ferrule as some people are. you will only notice it the first ten minutes or so and that's only because you are purposely looking at it.

of course, you may be better suited depending on your game and your current ability to stick with a regular maple shaft. getting used to the huge difference in how the low squirt shafts play - it might not be the best thing for you.
 
I've had the Z-2, 314-2, OB-1 and X-Shaft (along with a truckload of non-after market shafts). The first three on the same butt (unilock sp), the x-shaft on a tiger sp.
I ended up sticking with the 314-2, but I think they all played pretty well. The 314-2 just happened to fit me a little better.

I think like most other equipment choices it's up to personal preference. It's not a clear, objective "this is better than that" type of thing (like say a vette is objectively better than a lada). Some ppl like this, some ppl like that.

The best advise is to wait till you've had a chance to try someone else's... and see what you like. (or buy and resell what you don't like, but expect to lose money there)
 
I love the guys that hate on the low squirt shafts. Those same guys existed in the dark ages of golf. They were devotees to their trusty 'hickories'...solid wood drivers, center-weighted spoon irons, & brass blade putters with hickory shafts...while everyone else was outperforming them with metal shafts & cavity back irons. Time will slowly erase that mentality from pool as it did with golf.

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Ob-1

I just starting playing with an OB-1 about 6 weeks ago. Absolutely love it. Would take an awful lot of convincing for me to switch. I like the Predator, but there is no comparison in terms of quality of construction.

Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

Jimmy
 
I really like my OB-1.

But I'M getting pissed by the small pieces of wood falling off of it. Is this happening to you too?
 
Any of the low squirt shafts will make your cue perform better than it does right now. The 314 and OB-1 play very similar...low deflection and good feel. Look at the shaft performance ratings on Platinum Billiards to help you make a decision. The guys knocking the low squirt shafts are the guys only hitting a high and low ball. If they were cueing out on the edge of the ball they would realize the benefits quickly.
 
Subsonic2u said:
I guess I can't vote. :( If I were buying a shaft in this catagory it would b a Tiger X shaft with a Sniper tip.

Charlie
Click to expand...

Would have to agree
 
I've tried the after-market shafts you've listed for SHORT periods. If I were to switch from conventional shafts the OB-1 would be my selection for an extended test drive.
 
worriedbeef said:
i would take the Z out of the equation because of the smaller tip and conical taper. you wont be able to use a closed bridge.
Click to expand...

Oh no, this is totally untrue. All bridges work fine, including very tight Filipino style closed bridge. Maybe, just maybe, if one has very thick fingers then it might feel strange.

I agree, 1mm smaller tip than usual is not everyone's favourite.

It has a very mild cone taper, nowhere near that of snooker or carom cue...if that's what you were worried about...;)
 
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