314^2 turned down

[tryhonesty07]

So the Z^2 reduces deflection by 51% and the 314^2 reduces it by 35%...so by turning down the 314^2 to 12.5 or 12.25.. what would be the result of deflection reduction? Just curious. I just ordered a P2 with a 314^2 turned down to 12.5, recently play for 3 years with a Z, but want the thicker shaft and larger tip for various reason.

[Rocky]

Watch turning down your shafts! Beyond the fact that you are greatly reducing the life of your shaft and possibly voiding the warranty. You could be greatly reducing the performance of the shaft as well. While most cue repair guys claim to be the, be all end all of cue repair, they don't have the proper equipment to turn down a shaft right and leave the taper in tact. Any variation of the taper is going to alter the way the shaft performs and plays. A bad taper can also cause a shaft to deflect more by altering the flex point. The shafts were manufactured at the specs that they come in, after years and years of research, there is a reason they are the way they are. Don't mess with Mother Nature!

[tryhonesty07]

Well, predator states that the 314 plays best at 12.25.... and seyberts is turning down my shaft to 12.50, I guess I assume they know what they are doing and will retain the taper. I dont understand why everyone says that it shortens the like of the cue....Ive had a Z for 4 years that has not needed to be turned down or repaired outside of a tip job. anyways..I cant handle the thick shafts and am trying to see if I deal with 12.50..tell you tomorrow when my P2 gets here!

[bank8]

Why would it shorten the life of the shaft? No expert, but isnt that how they make the shaft? By turning it down and tapering it?

Also, where does Predator say the 314 plays best at 12.25?

[skor]

The Predator shafts are hollow at the front end, it turned down the walls will be thinner and more fragile.

[tryhonesty07]

Well ..I got my P2 ysterday and after about 10 hours of playing with it I can say I like it better turned down. Seems to have a better feel for me.

Your right about the cue being more fragile when turned way down....Funny story , I know a guy who had his 314 retipped and it came back about 11mm. lol. Somehow the guy screwed it up and kept taking it down smaller and smaller. He's been playing with it like that for over 3 years. I would have raged btw. haha. Nice thing though,it doubles as a toothpick.

[Rocky]

The Seyberts guys are great when it comes to doing work on your cues. Just be careful with Joe Shmo cue repair guy in your local pool hall saying he can do it. When I worked at Predator you would not believe how many people tried to return shafts saying they did not like them after they had them turned down or sanded on them, themselves. Deflection has a lot to do with where the shaft flex's at, and altering the taper can cause the shaft to flex more towards the middle of the shaft instead of closer to the end where you want it to, from a performance standpoint. I have a P3 that I absolutely love!

[tryhonesty07]

thanks for the insight. Very much appreciated. In love with my cue...

[KJ]

Since I'm mentioned indirectly in this thread, I'll take the opportunity to add my 2 cents. I have been doing all of Sey's turn-downs for going on 9 yrs. now and I'd say that's pretty close to 1,000 turn-downs.

Darrin is absolutely correct in that altering the taper of the shaft will change it's play characteristics. Predator designed the taper the way it is for a reason and it's not to be messed with. Reducing the diameter is one thing. Modifying the taper, thus altering the flex point, is quite another and can have noticeable effects on deflection.....and not in a good way.
I am very mindful of this with every T/D I do.
IMHO, Predator 314 is about as close to a perfect shaft taper as you can get.
I think that the rest of the world is realizing this also as just about every major cue manufacturer now has a shaft taper that is very similar to Predator's. Most of the aftermarket shafts have now copied Predator's taper also.

One of the worst things that you can do to a shaft, be it Predator or any other shaft, is to have it T/Ded with NO taper at all in the stroke zone. What this does is to move the flex point significantly down the shaft resulting in a greater length of the front of the shaft having to flex to get off the QB. My intuition tells me that the greater length of the shaft flexing takes a greater length of time. In other words, the tip is now staying on the QB longer and allowing the opportunity for the QB to deflect more.
I hope that I never get another request to do a T/D that way. I just can't get comfortable with the idea of ruining a client's shaft even if that's what they want me to do.

A modest T/D is one thing but let's maintain the integrity of the shaft in the process.

[bank8]

Thanks for the insight KJ. Do you consider taking a 314-2 down to 12.5 modest? I would assume so but wanted to get your input. That is what I am debating having done.