I've been playing for like 8 yrs, 5 seriously. I just got my first cue a few months ago. I started playing pretty good then hit a wall. I picked up a bar cue last night and didn't lose a game all night. My stick has a 314-2 w a kamui black soft. I like thinner shafts and think maybe a z2 would help but I'm not quite sold on the low deflection shaft thing as I did the pepsi challenge w a house cue vs my predator and they hit VERY close to the same( 2 tips of spin all the way down the 9 footer) my mentor/ teacher STILL plays w a house cue and he can't get used to 2peice sticks either. I'm at a loss, I spent a lot of money on this cue and I expected more.