Another thing to consider...
is ferrule weight as it relates to a shaft's tendency to squirt. Maple
is given a value of "1" and this chart shows how a few common ferrule
materials compare. Remember, a higher number (heavier material) will tend
to squirt more than a lower
number (lighter weight).
For example: maple was given the reference weight of 1. A
material with a relative weight of 2 would be exactly twice as heavy as
maple.
Qualifier: the sample of maple was chosen at random. It
may have been lighter or heavier than average so the value of "1" given
to maple might be slightly off. However, the relative values of
the ferrule materials are still valid.
| Ferrule Material |
Relative Weight |
| Maple |
1.00 |
| Titan |
1.67 |
| Mason's Micarta |
1.78 |
| AZ Micarta |
1.84 |
| Delrin |
1.90 |
| PVC |
1.91 |
| Elforyn |
1.93 |
| Atlas MPI |
1.95 |
| Real Micarta (thx to Josh Robinson) |
1.95 |
| Aegis2 |
1.97 |
| Ivorine3 |
2.06 |
| Juma |
2.06 |
| LBM |
2.06 |
| Tiger Saber T |
2.40 |
| Elephant Ivory |
2.50 |
| Ivorine4 |
2.73 |
Will this information allow you to design the perfect LD (low
deflection) shaft? Of course not. The amount of weight a
ferrule adds to the end of a shaft is miniscule. And when you
consider the weight
difference between a light & a heavy
ferrule, the number gets even smaller. Even though there is a
measurable difference in the weight, I think one would be hard pressed
to show a measurable difference in the effect on cueball deflection.
However, if you can't decide what ferrule material to use, it might be
wiser to choose something higher on the list, assuming it meets other
requirements, such as hardness of hit and resistance to absorbing chalk.
And one final consideration: the weight of maple shafts can vary
considerably. Most people prefer a shaft with high grain count & dense
wood - usually heavier, rather than lighter. This might not be the best
choice to make if low squirt is your priority. The dense shaft might
sound & feel better but are you sacrificing accuracy for esthetics?
Don't
you just love it when something new comes along to confuse you?