Who invented the "Pro Taper"

[raravena]

As a budding cue maker, I am curious to know, Who invented the "Pro Taper",
for shafts of course? Was the "Pro Taper" always there or were shafts
originally conical by design and then someone came along and said, "look at
what I have come up with". Thanks.

[dirtypool]

I always thought that it was Meucci Cues or Bob Meucci that did that. I'm probably wrong on that thought.

[Cornerman]

Originally Posted by raravena

As a budding cue maker, I am curious to know, Who invented the "Pro Taper",
for shafts of course? Was the "Pro Taper" always there or were shafts
originally conical by design and then someone came along and said, "look at
what I have come up with". Thanks.

Ray Schuler said that his mentor, Herman Rambow is credit with inventing the original pro taper. People who attempted to copy his taper profile thought (incorrectly) that the first several inches were a constant diameter. So, there's the original pro taper by Rambow, which has slight growth in the first several inches, and then there's the mistaken copy or "modern pro taper," or more appropriately, "delayed taper," or "cylindrical taper," which is constant for the first several inches.

Now, people talk about Meuccis having the cylindrical taper. None of my Meuccis were/are cylindrical.

Fred

[bstroud]

In the early sixties before I was making cues I played with a Balabushka that had a pro taper.

I used a Balabushka shaft for my first cue at Joss Cues in 1967 and it had a pro taper.

Meucci came much later.

Bill Stroud

[ScottR]

So, what is a "pro" taper? Exactly the same diameter for xx inches and then an increase of xx per inch?

Or, is it really a slight increase in diameter of xx/inch for the first xx inches, then xx increase/inch for . . . . . you get the idea.

<<== thinking that the "answer" is dependent on the cue maker and that it means "not a conical taper that is noticeable as you stroke through your bridge hand" - but could be wrong

[PBat51]

Originally Posted by Cornerman

Ray Schuler said that his mentor, Herman Rambow is credit with inventing the original pro taper. People who attempted to copy his taper profile thought (incorrectly) that the first several inches were a constant diameter. So, there's the original pro taper by Rambow, which has slight growth in the first several inches, and then there's the mistaken copy or "modern pro taper," or more appropriately, "delayed taper," or "cylindrical taper," which is constant for the first several inches.

Now, people talk about Meuccis having the cylindrical taper. None of my Meuccis were/are cylindrical.

Fred

Schuler Shaft Descriptions
Super X 29.0 in. x 13.0 mm

A shaft specifically designed to be forgiving in play. Shaft is flexible, and yields a soft hit.

Hit classification: soft.
Super Pro 29.0 in. x 13.0 mm Gives a softer hit and maximum comfort through the fingers due to the insignificant growth of the shaft in a long stroking area. This shaft is more flexible than our Pro shafts, and produces a "softer" hit.
Hit classification: medium-soft.
Professional 29.0 in. x 13.0 mm Our original "Pro" taper. Designed along the lines of the early "masters" such as Herman Rambow, Harvey Martin and George Balabushka. Minor taper in the stroking area allows for comfort while still providing some "spine".
Hit classification: medium-firm.
Schuler Pro 28.5 in. x 12.8 mm

Similar to the Professional™, but has increased diameter in the back half of the shaft. This combination forces the flex point further forward, giving a firmer hit. Very good for improving cue ball control.
Hit classification: firm.

Excelent 9 ball shaft on 9 foot tables.
American 28.0 in. x 12.5 mm

Back half of shaft is similar to the European™, with the front half of the shaft similar to the Professional™. This configuration produces a firm shaft with exceptional characteristics for control games, such straight pool, one-pocket, and 9-ball.
Hit classification: very firm.

Excelent straight pool or all around shaft.
European 27.5 in. x 12.0 mm

Originally developed for Raymond Ceulemans; grows quickly from the ferrule, with even faster growth at the midsection of the shaft. Provides maximum "spine" while giving some relief for the fingers. Excellent control, power, consistency.
Hit classification: stiff/very stiff.

Yealds greater spin on the slower 3 cusion billiard tables.
Constant 27.5 in. x 12.0 mm

Tapers constantly (wedge shape) from the ferrule to the joint. Hit is similar to European.
Hit classification: stiff/very stiff.

Our most popular shaft for 3 cusion billiards.
Super Constant 27.5 in. x 12.0 mm Elliptical arcs combine to produce this powerhouse.
Hit classification: stiff/very stiff.
Snooker/UK 28.0 in. x 10.0 mm Traditional taper and length used in snooker-playing countries around the world. Shaft gives a very firm to stiff hit.
Hit classification: stiff/very stiff.
Snooker/US 30.0 in. x 10.5 mm Popular American-style shaft similar to the Professional, but modified to provide greater reach for snooker table games such as golf and snooker.
Hit classification: medium-soft.


Custom shaft taper - your design .. Call for quote

Variations to Schuler shaft tapers add $ 25.00
Ray Schuler comments on cue shafts

"The taper, or profile, of the shaft is probably the single most important determinant of a cue’s performance. The term pro or professional taper has come to define a shaft that, instead of being tapered, is cylindrical from the ferrule back for 10 to 14 inches, sometimes more. This type of shaft taper is more or less standard on modern pool cues. As an engineer, I consider it a serious design flaw.

"Herman Rambow is credited with inventing the pro taper. But I visited Herman’s shop many times and knew him well, and I know that he never made a shaft that wasn’t tapered along its entire length. The taper was so minor in many cases, however, that you couldn’t feel it. Consequently, when cuemakers came along who wanted to imitate Herman’s cues, they mistakenly thought his shafts were cylindrical for some distance back from the tip. Hence the ‘modern’ pro taper.

"At The Schuler Cue, we offer a variety of standard shaft tapers, but every Schuler shaft grows in diameter from the ferrule on back. The growth may be difficult to see or feel on some of our more flexible tapers — such as the Super Pro or Super X — but it’s there, and it’s important. You lose a tremendous amount of consistency and strength when any part of the shaft is cylindrical instead of tapered.

"Wood is a natural material, and as such its structure is inherently inconsistent. It is virtually impossible to find absolute consistency of density, grain, cell structure, bend modulus, or color from one end of a shaft to the other. The less taper a shaft has — the closer to cylindrical it is — the more pronounced will be the effect of these natural inconsistencies on shaft performance.

"For example, every shaft has a natural, built-in tendency to want to bend in a particular direction and at a particular point along its length. Taper on a shaft helps the cuemaker control those tendencies, so that the shaft will bend where it has been designed to bend, instead of where it wants to bend. Conversely, the absence of taper decreases the control that the cuemaker, and the player, can maintain over the natural inconsistencies in shaft performance."

Schuler Legacy Cues - makers of custom billiard and pool cues: The Legacy Continues

Its a great site

[TheBook]

Do the pros use a pro taper?