Mike Wooldridge - *NEW* 'BlackSpin' Ferrule System

[sharkster63]

[Nice Cue Terry, The way that this cue is reviewed might be seen as an unfair advantage. Lol
Cheers

QUOTE=Terry Davidson;667071]

narl:

Here are some photos of my new MW cue. As you can see I didn't go wild on the butt and kept it rather plain. What I was most interested in is for Mike to get the shaft flex exactly to my specs and also that the side grain was perfectly straight. The specs are 58", 9.2mm 'blackspin', 18.4oz, 28.5mm butt and balanced at 16.75" and it is a 3/4-butt although the joint is almost invisible and provides good outer contact.

Terry[/QUOTE]

[Terry Davidson]

For those of you with any remaining doubts regarding Mike's claims for his 'blackspin' ferrule system...I've now had 4 days of solid practice with my new MW cue and in my opinion this cue is superior to any other cue I've ever owned and it's my belief this is due to primarily the 'blackspin' but also partly due to the tip Mike supplied and also the shaft flex of the cue, which is perfect for me.

Terry

[NorthWestJunior]

How would I know what shaft flex is right for me? I have only ever owned one decent cue so I have nothing to compare it to. Does it just come from experimenting with various cues? Also, what effect does shaft flex have on how the cue plays?

I'm looking to get a new cue in the next 6 months or so when I start playing regularly again so it would be nice to have an idea.

[danam1]

How would I know what shaft flex is right for me? I have only ever owned one decent cue so I have nothing to compare it to. Does it just come from experimenting with various cues? Also, what effect does shaft flex have on how the cue plays?

I'm looking to get a new cue in the next 6 months or so when I start playing regularly again so it would be nice to have an idea.

I would recommend that you have a look at Mike Wooldridges site under "advice". Lots of impartial advice there mate.

[NorthWestJunior]

Ok, will be sure to take a look. Thanks.

[johnev]

Terry, what did the MW set you back

[Terry Davidson]

NorthWest:

Shaft flex is sort of a subjective thing and there's no standard definition so you have to rely on the cuemaker to get it right based on his experience. I've found most of the cues I've had through here over the past 3 years (over 100 mostly British cues) that the most common shaft flex is medium-stiff to stiff although I have had about 4 or 5 which had what in my opinion would be a medium flex.

The theory is a medium flex shaft will have less throw when using side (or getting unintentional side) and this coupled with a lighter ferrule (either a short and thin-walled brass or else black or white fibre will give reduced throw). I can attest this is true based on my experience. I have an Andy Travis cue here with a definite medium flex and I removed the brass ferrule and installed a black fiber one and the throw was definitely reduced.

In the end it comes down to personal preference and experience. For me, I find a medium flex gives me more control when in the balls since I don't have to hit as hard to get the spin I want but I also haven't seen any loss in long ball potting. What I would recommend is you try a few different cues to see if you can get a 'feel' for shaft flex but make sure each cue you test had a good tip on it too as that can really effect the feel of a cue. (I should not too that quite a few of the pros have a medium flex cue, but especially Judd Trump who has a cue that might even be a little more whippy than medium and it doesn't seem to effect his long ball potting. Ronnie also prefers a medium flex and it appears Hendry's original cue was a bit whippy too. On the other hand I think Steve Davis' original cue was medium-stiff but I can't say for certain.)

So far, I've ordered a medium flex shaft from Mike Wooldridge, Andy Travis and Trevor White and all have arrived with a nice medium flex as specified. I'm still waiting on a Dave Coutts cue along with a couple of other cuemakers. With ash, an almost conical taper from 9.5mm to 28.5mm butt should give a medium flex but keep in mind every piece of ash will have a different density and you will have to rely on the experience and knowledge of the cuemaker to get your flex correct. If you want a medium flex it helps to start with a smaller ferrule and go to a smaller butt diameter, so something like a 9.2mm ferrule to 28mm butt would automatically give you a medium flex, however butt diameter is also a personal choice as everyone likes the feels of a different butt diameter.

You should go to Stu Green at Green Baize as he is pretty knowledgeable on cue specs and he usually has around 300 different cues in stock and he can pick out different flexed cues for you to try right there on his tables and that way all of the cues will have identical tips and you should be able to arrive at what you want, plus Stu's prices are really decent too.

Terry

[ken147]

although the shaft was selected and shaped according to my interpretation of your requirements, i can assure you the blackspin core/ferrule is a major contributor.

also, as i've said before, it appears to bring extremes of 'feel' closer to that sweet spot of a cue with a natural good 'spring'.

i.e. whippy cues stiffen up a bit, and stiff cues get a little springier. this in actual play, on contact, so it's not a case of hitting it with your hand and expecting to see a difference. that particular part of the flex you see comes from further down the shaft and remains the same/similar. it's just in the playing of it.

so, it's very much a case of overall 'feel' which is impossible to prove, quantify or demonstrate, but i know it is the case from my own observations during actual play.

to any doubters still out there, if you knew me better you would know to believe what i say, and that i would not risk my very hard earned reputation on a gimmick that does not work.

it works exactly as i said it does which is why, overnight, i threw old methods out the window and immediately made it my new standard.

as for the tip, it's simply a great tip. my first tests with blackspin were with my normal supertip. this was the benchmark.

my new tip experiments were carefully tested (when i say tested, i mean me playing shots and knowing what to expect compared to that benchmark), to hopefully produce a tip that holds it's shape better, similar to a laminated, yet retain the most important 'feel' and 'playability' factor of a really great pressed tip.

it sort of bridges the gap between pressed/laminated, combining the best of both worlds. the ultimate tip in other words.

personally, i absolutely love the way it holds the chalk. the surface scuffs up like a very fine suede. simply breeds confidence.

Hi Mike, I'm not c lear on one point of the blackspin. You said it makes a whippy cue stiffer and and stiffer cue more responsive. Does that mean this ferrule can do two things? Wouldn't it also make a stiff cue stiffer?

[superman32]

Hi Mike, I'm not clear on one point of the blackspin. You said it makes a whippy cue stiffer and and stiffer cue more responsive. Does that mean this ferrule can do two things? Wouldn't it also make a stiff cue stiffer?

I guess what Mike means is that because there is a black spin core goes into cue shafts, so that core will make those shafts which naturally less stiffer than the core feel stiffer with the core.

Also the black spin ferrule is softer than some very stiff shafts so very stiff shafts with black spin top ferrule will feel less stiff than with a regular brass ferrule.

People really need to try this amazing stuff the see the benefits it brings on the table.

Yesterday after playing i thought i want do something fun. I put balls on blue spot and white on the straight line. I pot balls with extremely right hand side ( i am better at right hand siding than left) and both balls go to the same corner pocket. I potted many balls that way. No need to adjust the potting line with black spin. At least for me cue.


I think this technology makes shafts play a less important role in a cue, also this will make shaft selection a lot easier for cue makers. But i will still ask a nice solid shafts if i am ordering a cue. Just in case i broke the cue or need adjustment and i am far away from Mike.

Just my thought. Mike please correct me if i am wrong.

[MikeWooldridge]

Hi Mike, I'm not clear on one point of the blackspin. You said it makes a whippy cue stiffer and and stiffer cue more responsive. Does that mean this ferrule can do two things? Wouldn't it also make a stiff cue stiffer?

i think what is happening here is that the responsiveness of the core is consistent, and by removing some of the shaft and replacing it, the original 'character' of the shaft in terms of actual hit/feel moves closer to an 'ideal' consistency brought by the introduction of the core.

this works from both sides of the spectrum.

but this is a bit of a dark art and as i've said from the start it came about by accident really. i would not know how to quantify or scientifically prove anything about it.

all i know is i could feel a difference, so i know something happens.

I think this technology makes shafts play a less important role in a cue, also this will make shaft selection a lot easier for cue makers.

this is a valid observation, although not quite simplifying matters to the extreme that any shaft can be used.

there has to remain limits within which we all choose to select timber.

the shafts are still vitally important, and this should be seen more as an enhancement that brings consistency to the final playability of the product.

can only be a good thing as far as i'm concerned and i am more than happy to put my name and reputation to the way any blackspin fitted cues play.

one last thing, despite the numerous positive comments, i am the first to try to keep sanity at the table. whilst being a genuine breakthrough, it is not a magic wand. you do not become a better player overnight.

but confidence breeds confidence. and anything that makes a player feel better can only help that player get the best out of his/her game.

some of the differences may be subtle, and not noticed/appreciated by novice/intermediate players.

however, seasoned players will have plenty of experience by which to judge, and they will understand what the fuss is about as soon as they play a few shots.

[NorthWestJunior]

NorthWest:

Shaft flex is sort of a subjective thing and there's no standard definition so you have to rely on the cuemaker to get it right based on his experience. I've found most of the cues I've had through here over the past 3 years (over 100 mostly British cues) that the most common shaft flex is medium-stiff to stiff although I have had about 4 or 5 which had what in my opinion would be a medium flex.

The theory is a medium flex shaft will have less throw when using side (or getting unintentional side) and this coupled with a lighter ferrule (either a short and thin-walled brass or else black or white fibre will give reduced throw). I can attest this is true based on my experience. I have an Andy Travis cue here with a definite medium flex and I removed the brass ferrule and installed a black fiber one and the throw was definitely reduced.

In the end it comes down to personal preference and experience. For me, I find a medium flex gives me more control when in the balls since I don't have to hit as hard to get the spin I want but I also haven't seen any loss in long ball potting. What I would recommend is you try a few different cues to see if you can get a 'feel' for shaft flex but make sure each cue you test had a good tip on it too as that can really effect the feel of a cue. (I should not too that quite a few of the pros have a medium flex cue, but especially Judd Trump who has a cue that might even be a little more whippy than medium and it doesn't seem to effect his long ball potting. Ronnie also prefers a medium flex and it appears Hendry's original cue was a bit whippy too. On the other hand I think Steve Davis' original cue was medium-stiff but I can't say for certain.)

So far, I've ordered a medium flex shaft from Mike Wooldridge, Andy Travis and Trevor White and all have arrived with a nice medium flex as specified. I'm still waiting on a Dave Coutts cue along with a couple of other cuemakers. With ash, an almost conical taper from 9.5mm to 28.5mm butt should give a medium flex but keep in mind every piece of ash will have a different density and you will have to rely on the experience and knowledge of the cuemaker to get your flex correct. If you want a medium flex it helps to start with a smaller ferrule and go to a smaller butt diameter, so something like a 9.2mm ferrule to 28mm butt would automatically give you a medium flex, however butt diameter is also a personal choice as everyone likes the feels of a different butt diameter.

You should go to Stu Green at Green Baize as he is pretty knowledgeable on cue specs and he usually has around 300 different cues in stock and he can pick out different flexed cues for you to try right there on his tables and that way all of the cues will have identical tips and you should be able to arrive at what you want, plus Stu's prices are really decent too.

Terry

Thanks a lot for that Terry. Very helpful, great advice.

[danam1]

Mike Wooldridge - *NEW* 'BlackSpin' Ferrule System

Hi all, took the olive shark with blackspin out for a few frames last night. Now I'm not the best player in the world but I could notice how much better this system plays straight away. I didn't really know what cue ball deflection was but I do now!! The cue ball barely moved off line at all. My neighbour who is a seasoned century maker played for about 20 mins with it a said it was phenomenal. After I prised it out of his hands I tried a couple of shots I wouldn't of dreamed of trying with my Paris.
As mike has said this is not going to make you a great player over night but it gives you a great confidence boost which can only have a positive affect on your game.
Also as Terry mentioned some of the improved play comes from the quality of the actual cue but dont underestimate the blackspin it is ground breaking!!
A big thanks to mike (and my wife for paying for it!).
Here's to many happy years with my new cue.

[pottr]

I want one!

If Mike doesn't free himself up soon, I may be forced to contact al-Qaeda' to persuade him.

[SouthPaw]

I want one!

If Mike doesn't free himself up soon, I may be forced to contact al-Qaeda' to persuade him.

I'd recommend your nearest taxman like this chap to hurry him along...

[x3dnd3x]

I read somewhere, some of TSF members saying after fitting the blackspin, it makes the tip changing process a little harder? Is this true?