I'm looking for the Holy Grail of shafts, production or custom. Who makes the best low deflection shaft on the market. 
Who makes the best low deflection shaft.
- Thread starter Jeffrey Gale
- Start date
I'm sure the prevailing answer will be "whatever feels right to you" but if you're just interested in numbers you might find this page useful:
http://www.platinumbilliards.com/rating_deflect.php
-CF
http://www.platinumbilliards.com/rating_deflect.php
-CF
I have 2 low deflection schuler shafts and have seen the ob-1 shaft in person, but hope to maybe get one soon.
Mike Lambros --- flat laminated shaft.Jeffrey Gayle said:I'm looking for the Holy Grail of shafts, production or custom. Who makes the best low deflection shaft on the market.
I don't think he mentions them on his web site, but he does make them and they play extremely well.
PoolSleuth
Banned
Shafts deflect because of Wood Density, Taper, and Diameter of Tip. Any good Cuemaker should be able to build you a shaft that fits your Desired amount of Deflection.
Recently I have had an opportunity to play with, and hit with a few balls with a Cue made by Jack Madden of Griz Country.
I would say his shaft are very low defection, and have the hit similar to the Great Bert Schrager Cues.
ht.://www.johnmaddencues.com
Recently I have had an opportunity to play with, and hit with a few balls with a Cue made by Jack Madden of Griz Country.
I would say his shaft are very low defection, and have the hit similar to the Great Bert Schrager Cues.
ht.://www.johnmaddencues.com
ChristopherK
Registered
MEUCCI!!!!
<<<(ducks and runs for the door.
)
<<<(ducks and runs for the door.
)
That OB-1 shaft is certainly interesting in how they make it....I wonder how heavy all the glue makes it??
________
________
Last edited:
Well the idea behind a low deflection shaft so far as I am concerned is this:
To be able to shoot a long shot, use english, and be able to aim accurately.
And to my knowledge, there is not a *no* deflection cue/shaft.
So for me, the *right* deflection shaft is what I want. Or a low deflection shaft which has the pivot point in a place where it is easy to pivot from.
So I have a Meucci PP2 butt and a Predator 314 shaft. The pivot point of my cue is where my back hand grips the butt of my cue.
For a long shot where I want to use english, I aim dead center, then move my front hand left/right for english, then shoot and the cue ball goes to the same spot as it would with a dead center hit.
And I do this all the time. OB way down at end of table, I want CB to come back to left side of table, I aim dead center, then move my front hand to the left while keeping my back hand in place, then I make the OB and CB hits rail then comes back to left. (I have steering!)
So this solves a lot of problems when using english on long shots.
If I had a cue where the pivot point was further back (lower deflection cue), I would not be able to aim as I do above. Or if I had a cue where the pivot point was further up (higher deflection cue), that would not work well either.
If you have a cue where the pivot point is where your bridge hand usually is, that will work, however, sometimes the cue ball will be near the rail and you can't use a 10 inch or 11 inch (or whatever) bridge.
And players can and do learn to aim for long, medium, and short shots using english with a regular shaft. Someone who has been playing this way for years might have trouble switching to a low deflection shaft. But if you are fairly new to the game, then I think using a "right" deflection shaft might be a good idea.
And once you find a cue which works best for you, then stick with that pivot point from then on. (Don't go changing things as you will need to re-learn how to shoot when using english.)
To be able to shoot a long shot, use english, and be able to aim accurately.
And to my knowledge, there is not a *no* deflection cue/shaft.
So for me, the *right* deflection shaft is what I want. Or a low deflection shaft which has the pivot point in a place where it is easy to pivot from.
So I have a Meucci PP2 butt and a Predator 314 shaft. The pivot point of my cue is where my back hand grips the butt of my cue.
For a long shot where I want to use english, I aim dead center, then move my front hand left/right for english, then shoot and the cue ball goes to the same spot as it would with a dead center hit.
And I do this all the time. OB way down at end of table, I want CB to come back to left side of table, I aim dead center, then move my front hand to the left while keeping my back hand in place, then I make the OB and CB hits rail then comes back to left. (I have steering!)
So this solves a lot of problems when using english on long shots.
If I had a cue where the pivot point was further back (lower deflection cue), I would not be able to aim as I do above. Or if I had a cue where the pivot point was further up (higher deflection cue), that would not work well either.
If you have a cue where the pivot point is where your bridge hand usually is, that will work, however, sometimes the cue ball will be near the rail and you can't use a 10 inch or 11 inch (or whatever) bridge.
And players can and do learn to aim for long, medium, and short shots using english with a regular shaft. Someone who has been playing this way for years might have trouble switching to a low deflection shaft. But if you are fairly new to the game, then I think using a "right" deflection shaft might be a good idea.
And once you find a cue which works best for you, then stick with that pivot point from then on. (Don't go changing things as you will need to re-learn how to shoot when using english.)
To each their own!
Jeffrey Gayle said:I'm looking for the Holy Grail of shafts, production or custom. Who makes the best low deflection shaft on the market.
meucci, hands down.
Almost zero deflection shaft
Annie O’s AO-E 35 layer flat laminated shaft with improved taper and shorter ferrule. I just got one a month ago and it hits great.
Review her testing data at www.annieosproshop.com
Annie O’s AO-E 35 layer flat laminated shaft with improved taper and shorter ferrule. I just got one a month ago and it hits great.
Review her testing data at www.annieosproshop.com
Laminated Shafts....I've Played With Four (4)
Different shafts... the Predator, the Tiger, the McDermott and the flat laminated type. Depending on your preference for feel - the Predator and the McDermott feel very close and play very, very similar. (I think the McDermott actually spun the ball a bit more) I personally thought the Tiger shafts didn't play as well as the the Predator and the McDermott. It seemed a bit "clunkier" and felt a bit harsh. The flat laminated shaft, to me, didn't have much feel at all. Overall, since the McDermott is available in different sizes and tapers - it was my preference.
However - I still prefer a traditional shaft !!!
Different shafts... the Predator, the Tiger, the McDermott and the flat laminated type. Depending on your preference for feel - the Predator and the McDermott feel very close and play very, very similar. (I think the McDermott actually spun the ball a bit more) I personally thought the Tiger shafts didn't play as well as the the Predator and the McDermott. It seemed a bit "clunkier" and felt a bit harsh. The flat laminated shaft, to me, didn't have much feel at all. Overall, since the McDermott is available in different sizes and tapers - it was my preference.
However - I still prefer a traditional shaft !!!
The Platinum Billiards link that I posted lists the Z shaft and 314 as the two lowest deflection shafts (though some of the ones people have been mentioning aren't on the list).LWW said:
Christmas is coming!!!
hands down - www.obcues.com
I've got one and it has less deflection than my Predator. I've got another one on order. It doesn't weigh more than a normal shaft. It has better "feel" than a Predator.
I've got one and it has less deflection than my Predator. I've got another one on order. It doesn't weigh more than a normal shaft. It has better "feel" than a Predator.
As far as true CUE BALL deflection goes, most likely the Z shaft performs the best but I think for feel, the Universal Smart Shaft is probably one of the best 'aftermarket' shafts you can buy. I tried it out for the first time 2 weeks ago it FEELS and HITS really well. Even when you put it on low quality butts, it made the cue hit a world better. Thats just my opinion. Try a few of them and see.
I also noticed that Predator shafts (314's or Z's) paired with different butts, FEEL very different. For example one of my buddies has a Predator with a 314 and my other buddy has a Lucasi with a 314. Both with Moori Med III's and the two cues FEEL very different when you hit with them. The actual performance might be similar but they can't stand playing with each other's cue even if they switch on their own shaft. I guess it has a lot to do with the butt construction.
I also noticed that Predator shafts (314's or Z's) paired with different butts, FEEL very different. For example one of my buddies has a Predator with a 314 and my other buddy has a Lucasi with a 314. Both with Moori Med III's and the two cues FEEL very different when you hit with them. The actual performance might be similar but they can't stand playing with each other's cue even if they switch on their own shaft. I guess it has a lot to do with the butt construction.
