extended shaft

[pool808]

I was wonring if anyone is havign hard time adjusting to an extended shaft. I shoot quite well with my regular shaft but when i try the extended shaft then its like i just picked up the first time. In other words, i shoot horrible and i dont know why.

[katokahn99]

The longer shaft has a great potential of severely changing the way the cue performs. This is especially true if your stroke is less than perfectly straight.
A good way to diagnose your stroke is by setting up two rows of CLEAN, DRY(empty) soda cans on a table. Space the rows 1.5 to 2 shaft widths appart. (2 or 3 cans per row)
Set up with the cue between the two rows as if you were addressing a cue ball. (Putting a cue ball on the table (to hit) so that it goes into the far corner pocket will help a lot)
Ignore the rows of cans and stroke the cue ball to the target.
OR...
Lay a clean, dry 20 oz., plastic soda bottle on the table and stroke in an out of it.
If you can't stroke 20-50 times without touching the opening of the bottle or the soda cans, you're stroke needs some work.
If you get your stroke under control, you should see less disparity between your performance with your original and new extended shaft.
My 2 cents.

[katokahn99]

PS: The longer shaft moves the balance point of the cue more forward too; which would explain why you feel like you're picking the cue up for the first time...because, in effect, it is the first time. It's a different cue than you are used to.

[dags_lax]

A longer shaft does move the balance point forward but it makes the cue fell more butt heavy when shooting. I explained this in detail somewhere else in this forum and if I could figure out how to search my posts I would do a cut and paste.

[poohkiller]

...and as far as I know it also changes the amount of vibration you get from the cue too.

[Darrin]

Keep in mind that it i also going to change the piviot point of the shaft as well, so the shaft is going to perform different where you are bridging at unless you are adjusting for it.

[pool808]

thanks a lot guys. I figured out the problem with my stroke. I workout a lot and on the day that i got my extended shaft, i max out on my bench press. I have not lifted weights since then. My body is no longer sour and yesterday i went played at the pool hall. My stroke is finally abck and just in time because i was able to pick up a small game yesterday. the game is none ball with 10 on the $5 and $10 on the nine. We played for three hours and i was able to win $280. I been doing the stroke through a bottle for a while now and i am getting good at it. Thanks