low deflecting cues

[jb134]

Aye JB it helps make the pots when hitting with unintentional side but the cue ball still acts with the side after contact so still wouldn't help a player who plays with unintentional side as their position goes to pot.

Those players would be the equivalent of "bomb and gouge" golfers. Those guys win majors now.

[MikeTheBigMonster]

technology makes improvement but practice makes perfect... merchandiser makes marketing and marketing at times, makes gimmicks... haha

[ace man]

Here's my take on this.
I have Trevor White snooker cue which weighs just 478 grams and also that infamous Predator P2 with 11.75mm low deflecting shaft which I use sometimes for US pool (521 grams).
For starters, I don't think snooker cues deflect all that much. I say that because I have plenty of experience playing US pool prior to snooker with all kinds of equipment.
Snooker table is 12 foot long, and any cue with very low deflection characteristic will in turn cause a noticeable amount of swerve effect over large distance when side is applied. Missing the ball completely attempting a long distance safety is not uncommon. You can have your cue parallel to the table as you like, but slight swerve will be there if you shoot slowly using side.
So no, I do not think any cue can help compensate for poor technique and/or judgement. Many hours at the table can though.
Marketing for low deflecting cues has been strong over the years, and wrong on many points. It doesn't make the game easier even slightly. But I still like those cue's characteristics. It only means that when you play cut shot with side, you aim slightly 'fuller' than you would with a 'normal' cue, everything else stays the same.
Some players like them, some don't. It is just preference, nothing more.

[bradwight]

I think the reason American balls deflect more is the size of the cue ball rather than anything to do with the cue (might be wrong though), if you were playing with a football it would be even more severe. I read an article by Bob Meucci about deflection and how they test their shafts to find the 'spine' of the wood and orientate it to reduce deflection. Al a bit technical but much less of an issue in snooker and UK pool. As long as your cue and action is consistent, you could get used to anything in my opinion.

[bradwight]

http://www.meuccicues.com/lectures.html

There it is, might help explain a fee things if anyone can be bothered reading it!

[Gmd666]

Radially splicing provides the strength to enable the "coring" of such shafts as the predators. In such it is critical towards the low deflection element. Looking at the snooker market I only see MW having the drive to try something similar in conjunction with black spin or similar.

I'd love to see a concept cue done to 9.75mm. Any less would be asking for material failure. There does seem to be a reluctance to move away from the status quo which can only hold the game back long term. I'm all for tradition but any production techniques that can provide consistency have to be worth considering.