I've tried them in the past, and they worked fine. In my experience, they weren't any better than cedar ( GOOD cedar), and a little lighter. Since I wasn't looking for a lighter shaft, I went back to cedar. I've also tried pine (chundoo), maple, ash, Douglas fir, carbon, aluminim, and probably a few others, but always go back to cedar. Some were tougher, some heavier/lighter, etc., but none were--to me--as good all-around.

Chad