Before April, except for a couple of months using the original pre-314 Predator shaft (six segments) I bought in 1994, I've always been an old school high deflection wood shaft guy. I didn't much like my Predator, didn't like the feel or sound of my friend's Predators, and pretty much hated the idea of low deflection, preferring to continue using my aiming and spinning gimmicks that I had taught myself with the wood.
In April, on a complete whim, I embraced the Dark Side and bought a Revo 12.4 from a guy who had had it converted to fit my Jensen cue. Still not sure why I jumped in, but I could plug it right in and I figured I could sell it fast if I didn't like it.
I liked it. Immediately. It took me about 15 minutes to get over the initial differences so that I could apply my gimmicks successfully. I use back hand English on most shots that require spin as I find that it works well enough with my aiming process. This probably doesn't make any sense at all, but with the high deflection shafts, it seems I'd need to go a tip off of dead center to compensate for the deflection; with the Revo, I can get the same action with an eighth of a tip. I can use more than that, and do, and I've learned how to adjust for the much less deflection given off by the Revo. On some shots, rather than use back hand English, I could down on my aim line with the desired English, and still make the shots, but I'm more comfortable just using back hand to stay on the aim line.
One of the first benefits discerned quickly is long shot accuracy. For instance, there is a ball near my opponent's hole that I need to bank three rails towards my hole. Even if I'm 8 feet away, or jacked up, my chances of hitting the object ball where I think I'm aiming have gone way up since a slightly off center hit on the cue ball is not penalized as much as with the high deflection shafts. This phenomenon seems to be true with all long shots hit with center cue ball; my unintentional off center hits just go straighter.
People complain sometimes that it is hard to softly spin the cue ball, or to use the same kind of tender finesse they can get with a wood shaft. At first, I wasn't sure, but over time I'm feeling very comfortable with high spin soft shots for ducking and moving. Center spin shots don't swerve and I'm learning how to judge them with more precision.
Ever since I started using the Revo, I've been telling myself that I'll just get rid of it as soon as I'm not convinced anymore...still convinced and still using it. I even like the looks of it now since it goes very nicely with my ebony and black leather Jensen.
As for the sound, which at first seemed to be a higher pitched "ping", I don't even hear it anymore.
