Mike Wooldridge - *NEW* 'BlackSpin' Ferrule System

[johncorleone]

Hi Mike,

E-mail sent, I'm john at techvictim.net.

Thanks,

John

no more emails please!!!!!!

i have listed all those who showed an interest, in the order in which email was received.

i will contact you shortly with details of exactly what i can offer right now.

i will try to help all of you, but it will be first come first served. so if you're at the end of list, you may luck out this time.

dwot and johno, you are already at top of list due to earlier communication.

if anyone did not include their tsf username, please email me again so i can keep track of who is who.

for your information, and pleasure, i will add that i tried to sort some shafts out yesterday and found it very difficult cos they are really not bad at all. pretty good actually, and some will actually look great when finished.

i may have made a mistake...

[DWOT]

Just home from a snookerthon in Sheffield that included seven hours at the Star Academy an evening session with an old school 50 minute frame and this morning and afternon session (Too fooked for tonight session!!)...

Anyhow, whilst I was there Mr Evans came in and purchased Kizzy's cue (Had I known it was Kizzy there I'd have spoken to him beforehand!) that has the blackspin on it....

All I can say is that is does EXACTLY what Mike says it does, I'd been struggling with my Trav cue all day (using that as it's 3/4 and easier to hide in the car and not my 1 piece Jawes.) and not exactly playing well, I hit long pot after long pot into the cente of the bags with the cue that Jim now owns using side, top, screw etc and each one flew into the middle of the bag with a very pleasing sound, it was as if I'd been using that cue all my life and I wanted to buy it straight off Jim who'd only just handed over the cash to Kizzy....

It's not gimmic this and I KNOW FOR A FACT that those of you who go for this WILL be mightily impressed, every shot sounded and felt like you were hitting the sweet spot EVERY time!

I was to say the least amazed and as good as my Trav cue is, it just felt wrong after those few shots with Mikes cue..

Time to see if Mike has responded to my emails now!

[MikeWooldridge]

Just home from a snookerthon in Sheffield that included seven hours at the Star Academy an evening session with an old school 50 minute frame and this morning and afternon session (Too fooked for tonight session!!)...

Anyhow, whilst I was there Mr Evans came in and purchased Kizzy's cue (Had I known it was Kizzy there I'd have spoken to him beforehand!) that has the blackspin on it....

All I can say is that is does EXACTLY what Mike says it does, I'd been struggling with my Trav cue all day (using that as it's 3/4 and easier to hide in the car and not my 1 piece Jawes.) and not exactly playing well, I hit long pot after long pot into the cente of the bags with the cue that Jim now owns using side, top, screw etc and each one flew into the middle of the bag with a very pleasing sound, it was as if I'd been using that cue all my life and I wanted to buy it straight off Jim who'd only just handed over the cash to Kizzy....

It's not gimmic this and I KNOW FOR A FACT that those of you who go for this WILL be mightily impressed, every shot sounded and felt like you were hitting the sweet spot EVERY time!

I was to say the least amazed and as good as my Trav cue is, it just felt wrong after those few shots with Mikes cue..

Time to see if Mike has responded to my emails now!

lol.

now where's that 'smug' smiley when you need it....

i have all the emails and am trying to organise them.

be patient people, demand is, shall we say, a little overwhelming...

[FOXMULDER]

Huh? I answered you.

There is only one rule as far as I know regarding cues:

A cue shall be not less than 3ft (914mm) in length and shall show no substantial departure from the traditional and generally accepted shape and form.

I have never heard of anyone saying a ferrule must be brass. It's just a material, anything can be used.

But by your own admission 'BlackSpin' is "not just a ferrule".

Altering the inside of the shaft beneath the ferrule could constitute a "substantial departure" from the "form" of a cue.

A ferrule is a ferrule - a circular bracelet of metal or plastic. From your description you have not created a ferrule, but something else altogether.

I fear there's a large can of worms about to be opened...

But kudos for the idea, and the very best of luck. I'd love to try one, one day.

[jim evans]

having looked at the new ferrul and play with it ,ime with mike that it dont constitute a change as such, basically its not a ferrul as such because a ferrul is a collar of sorts protecting the end from wear ie as in walking sticks as well,all the new end that mike as come up with is acting as a cue without a ferrul but the material dont wear as wood would,i think people know if you play with a cue that as no ferrul ie just the wood you dont get the throw and you get more reaction ,all this new design as done is replace a cue or tip end with something that reacts same as wood and with it being dowelled down the shaft a bit gives a more solid hit,i told mike i wernt a gd enough player to notice the change but i did and speaking to kizzy when i picked the cue up some real top class pro's were impressed by the reaction as well so i think it could be gd change overall

[147Alexandra]

I would think no more altered than weights in the butt of the cue.

[andy carson]

I would think no more altered than weights in the butt of the cue.

i would agree, cues are changing all the time and all makers are looking for the next big thing, just think mike has found it first on this one by feedback so far....

christ might be a bigger breakthrough than the 3.4 joint

[gazza147]

I would love to see a Video with the Old Type Ferrule on 1st then Remove it and Show the Difference with the New Ferrule. As 2 Cues are never the same but if same Cue is Used on Both Ferrules we should see the difference.

Hopefully Mike will do Video.......


Gaz.

[FOXMULDER]

Sounds to me as if it works like a shock absorber. My only concern would be long-term... if the 'core' of the component goes into the wood beneath the ferrule, wouldn't that weaken the top of the shaft? How do we know the shaft won't split in 3 years time?

Just playing devil's advocate...

[DeanH]

Sounds to me as if it works like a shock absorber. My only concern would be long-term... if the 'core' of the component goes into the wood beneath the ferrule, wouldn't that weaken the top of the shaft? How do we know the shaft won't split in 3 years time?

Just playing devil's advocate...

"shock absorber" - no, I would think it is the opposite as it does not absorb any of the shock but distributes the shock to the shaft more evenly.
"weaken" - no, I would think as the impact shock is more evenly distrubuted less likely to have points of failure in the shaft. But it would be interestig to see how this new design stands up to years of use. My vote is on the side of "no detrimental effect to the shaft".

[FOXMULDER]

"shock absorber" - no, I would think it is the opposite as it does not absorb any of the shock but distributes the shock to the shaft more evenly.

Well it would have to "absorb" the shock in order to distribute it more evenly. That's exactly what I meant.

[DeanH]

Well it would have to "absorb" the shock in order to distribute it more evenly. That's exactly what I meant.

I see your point, the term "shock absorber" to me is like on a vehicle where the shock from impacts are modified by the "damper" to reduce the effect of the shock on the vehicle and passengers.
The "absorbing" properties of the BlackSpin would not be to modify the shock in the same damping manner as in a vehicle but to NOT change the nature of the shock but to allow the power the player imparts into the shot to be consistantly transmitted to the cue ball without change and to also facilitate a wider dispersion of the shock into the shaft. So yes the material would "absorb" the shock as any material does when impacted but does not change the nature of it. I forget my physics lessons, they were such a long time ago

[MikeWooldridge]

But by your own admission 'BlackSpin' is "not just a ferrule".

lol. 'admission' suggests i have crumbled under cross examination. i think someone's been watching too much murder she wrote...

of course it is not just a ferrule. i thought i explained that clearly enough, so no 'admission' is needed.

Altering the inside of the shaft beneath the ferrule could constitute a "substantial departure" from the "form" of a cue.

no it doesn't.

no more than the first person to put a metal ferrule one a cue, or the first person to add a joint to a cue, or the first person to make a shaft out of fibreglass/graphite/carbon fibre, or the first person to make tip out of laminated pigskin, etc., etc..

these are all things brought to possibly improve or enhance the game. players can choose to use them or not.

but the 'form' remains exactly the same.

A ferrule is a ferrule - a circular bracelet of metal or plastic. From your description you have not created a ferrule, but something else altogether.

thank you for explaining what a ferrule is...

however, snooker cues were not originally made with ferrules, so are NOT an essential and mandatory feature.

a ferrule has become an accepted method of strengthening and protecting the tip end. no more, no less.

my method takes that one step further and virtually eliminates the possibility of breakage.

and yes, from my description, i have not 'created' a ferrule. i never said i did.

my method incorporates a ferrule but, more importantly, it tackles the issue of weakness at the cue end. it addresses flaws in basic ferrule design, and consequent cue breakage.

how can that be a bad thing for anyone? i really don't understand the negativity from some corners....

personally, i think i should be applauded for bringing a new and improved answer to an age old problem, whilst at the same time delivering a sweet, sweet contact.

furthermore, bringing the cue 'feel' back closer to a direct tip to wood contact, is in fact making the cue closer to original 'form', and maybe it's brass ferrules that should be banned as they change the 'feel' quite drastically...

I would think no more altered than weights in the butt of the cue.

exactly.

adjusting the cue construction to make it feel or play different has gone on since people started making cues.

it's not witchcraft, it's natural evolution.

as i said earlier in this thread, if the naysayers had their way we'd still be using the other end of the stick...

I would love to see a Video with the Old Type Ferrule on 1st then Remove it and Show the Difference with the New Ferrule. As 2 Cues are never the same but if same Cue is Used on Both Ferrules we should see the difference.

Hopefully Mike will do Video.......

nope.

you should know, as should ANY player, that it is little things that make a difference.

it would be impossible to show how the shot feels.

yes, i expect i could make one of those crappy videos proving lower deflection using someone who cues different every time they play a shot (i.e. leaves one in doubt), or even employ a robot (which has also been questioned), but what good will that do?

it would not be able to show you how it feels.

play one shot, and you'll know what i'm talking about.

Sounds to me as if it works like a shock absorber.

wrong.

shock absorber would suggest moving parts, which there are not.

this is based on solid, simple, engineering principles.

the impact is spread over a much larger area making it stronger.

the fact that the 'feel' turned out great was not something i could guess, but was pleasantly surprised to say the least.

My only concern would be long-term... if the 'core' of the component goes into the wood beneath the ferrule, wouldn't that weaken the top of the shaft? How do we know the shaft won't split in 3 years time?

Just playing devil's advocate...

good question, but how do you know a shaft with a brass ferrule won't break after 3 years?

i've probably had thousands of cues through my hands for referrules and have seen wood damage/breakage on a great many of them.

you need to understand that i have removed the 'weak' spots of basic ferrule design and replaced this was a vastly superior and stronger combination that makes the ferrule wood area virtually unbreakable.

"shock absorber" - no, I would think it is the opposite as it does not absorb any of the shock but distributes the shock to the shaft more evenly.
"weaken" - no, I would think as the impact shock is more evenly distrubuted less likely to have points of failure in the shaft. But it would be interestig to see how this new design stands up to years of use. My vote is on the side of "no detrimental effect to the shaft".

corrrect understanding.

yes, time will tell of course, but the only thing like to happen is poor chalk technique which wears away the wood under the ferrule or sanding of the shaft which causes the same.

both of these will occur regardless of any type of ferrule and should be avoided or you just end up with making the ferrule smaller to match the wood diameter.

[Hazza]

Wow, comprehensive explanation there

[DeanH]

Thanks for the info, Mike.
I weep sometimes when I see a nice cue with a bright blue tip end or an hourglass shape directly beneath the ferrule - or both!
I am sure you have seen many, many more than me and must dispair
As you say, this is down to "user-error"
cheers