I have been a loyal Predator user since I switched to low-deflection back in 2013. I started with a Z2 but it was too small - I have arthritis and greatly prefer a larger diameter so I switched to the 314-2. Eventually I had the 314-3 and Vantage before switching to CF with the REVO 12.9. A couple years ago I switched from Uniloc to Radial because the feel was noticeably better, but still REVO 12.9.
A friend of mine received a new Pechauer cue as a gift last year and I was immediately taken with how well it hit - quite possibly the best feeling cue I have ever used - but at 12.4 or so it is just too small. Another friend won one in a raffle and again I was super impressed with the feel and the hit. In both cases, they have the Pechauer joint and I was convinced I wanted to stick with Radial, so I just kept playing with my Predator. But it kept nagging at me that I was missing something, and I was increasingly unhappy with my gear.
At the Expo I visited the Pechauer booth. They had some 12.8 shafts which is their largest and close enough. And they had some with Radial joints, so I was able to try that out on my Predator butt. To my surprise, I hated it. It felt hard and dead, nothing at all like what I had felt on those other cues. So I tried a 12.8 with their butt and their joint, and the feel was amazing! I can't explain it and it makes little sense to me, but the difference was simply night and day.
It is difficult for me to make major changes, and I had no intention of buying a new cue, but it took me about 2 minutes to pony up and commit to the switch. I now have a new cue, joint, and shaft - I can't wait to get to the pool hall tomorrow and put them to work!
