What do you think of the predator shaft?!

S

salam4

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
A ton of people use the predator shaft including many top pros. What is your take on the shaft. Do you recommend using it or not? I was thinking about switching over and going to predator products just so in the future when I change cues I can purchase a predator shaft and it will shoot similar in terms of deflection.

WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK????? DO YOU LOVE OR HATE PREDATOR PRODUCTS?
 
To tell you the truth, it has always been my opinion that the reason that so many players like the Predator products is not for their low deflection characteristics, but more for the feel of their tapers???? And I say this with caution because I'm not 100% sure. Many of the players that I know, and this includes my own experience, believe that deflection is something that can be learned pretty easily, and even reduced with the stroke/grip without having to use a low deflection shaft. Players that I know that use the Predator but still play the same incredible game with a traditional shaft all like the tapers, the feel, and the consistency more than anything.
dave
 
Love them

Have used them for over 10 years. Actually have 2 of them because I once had to send my original (long ferrule) one back because the ferrule cracked. After they replaced the shaft at NC I bought another. I sent the brand new one to JER at Blackheart cues and had him make me a custom cue that matched the 314 shaft. I tried the OB-1 and liked it too. If I were rich I'd probably own more cues, both conventional and LD.

My learning curve with the 314 was about 20 minutes. Some people never get used to them, others need a few weeks. I guess it was love at first sight.

BTW, I can still play with any cue. I sometimes use other peoples cues or one of the two 1 piece Dufferns I keep for guests. I can use BHE with these other cues. But with the 314 I use parallel english. FWIW and IMO the 314 does NOT spin the cue ball any more than other cues.

Paul Mon

Good Luck
 
I used to swear by them, until I got my Josey. Now I feel the stiff hit gives me more feedback, and my game has improved. I hate the dull springy predator hit now, but to each their own. You should hit what makes YOU happy.:thumbup:
 
salam4 said:
A ton of people use the predator shaft including many top pros. What is your take on the shaft. Do you recommend using it or not? I was thinking about switching over and going to predator products just so in the future when I change cues I can purchase a predator shaft and it will shoot similar in terms of deflection.

WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK????? DO YOU LOVE OR HATE PREDATOR PRODUCTS?
Click to expand...


Have you ever ate a Hot fudge Sundae without the Hot Fudge? That's kind of what it's like for me when I shoot and use somebody else's cue. It's a pretty dramatic difference for me, but I use a "Predator Z" that has been turned down, so it's very thin but in general I just seem to have alot of confidence when I shoot with their shafts. I guess it's kind of like how kids think they jump higher when they get new shoes, but with me I've been shooting with them for so long, I can't imagine going back.
 
Just remember that pro's tend to use products they are paid to use...

IMHO they are great if you like them and they are total crap if you don't...

Brian
 
I play with a old (7 years) 314 shaft on their cue butt. I bought the combo for 250 dollars or something close to that amount. I never saw a difference from a conventional shaft to a low deflection shaft for the longest time. I have a number of mid range cues and a few high end and it seemed to play well but not noticeably different. I decided to go back to my old cues and play them and they would last about one game and I would grab the Predator. I play best when I spin balls in and the other cues would almost always under cut the same shots that I would make with the 314. I am still not completely convinced that a certain part of this is not in my head but in my head or not I play better with the Predator cue.
 
I've tried only one Predator shaft I liked, one of the very first ones. It give a nice stiff and solid hit. I've always managed to use english easily without a low deflection shaft so I stick with regular shafts. Besides, almost all Predator shafts have a dull hit and no sense of touch and feedback. More difficult with speed and spin control compared to a regular shaft. I would never imagine playing regularly with one.
 
Predictable

salam4 said:
A ton of people use the predator shaft including many top pros. What is your take on the shaft. Do you recommend using it or not? I was thinking about switching over and going to predator products just so in the future when I change cues I can purchase a predator shaft and it will shoot similar in terms of deflection.

WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK????? DO YOU LOVE OR HATE PREDATOR PRODUCTS?
Click to expand...

They make the path of the cue ball very predictable and that's the whole point. People can talk all they want about the pros and cons but it has been proved that the path is very predictable. Truth be told most people ( and many cue makers) don't really know what squirt means and why it's not consistent on there shafts. You can change the hit of any shaft in the world by simply going to a different tip hardness, so "hit" is not the point, cue ball path is. Most people just try and justify spending $2,500 on there cue because of the hit.
 
I play with an original 314 shaft. It took me about 6 hours to get used to it. I don't have any experience with any other modern shafts {low deflection, turned down and whippy, or special composits}

I am currently playing with a layered hard tip (durrometer 82-83) that is about 1/2 way through its standard lifetime. I find the tip on the 314 is critically important for any sense of feel in the shaft/cue. For my game, anything less than a hard tip feels like mush.
 
I have owned a 314 and currently own a 314-2. I enjoyed both shafts. They have a good hit. I would try to describe it but it would be best to try one first hand. They have a very unique way of making them where they use many pieces of wood to reduce deflection.

I also own a OB1 which I actually prefer to the Predator shafts.
 
I switched to a Z2 about a year ago and I like it a lot. As was said, it's more predictable than regular shafts.
 
9 on the snap said:
I used to swear by them, until I got my Josey. Now I feel the stiff hit gives me more feedback, and my game has improved. I hate the dull springy predator hit now, but to each their own. You should hit what makes YOU happy.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

My personal opinion as well...only with the tiger laminated shaft. John, the guy who does cue work @ my favorite hall once sid that he thinks laminated shafts are hyped because cheaper wood can be used. A light bulb came on in my head. John, when he plays, is darned good...and he shoots with a regular maple shaft.

My "back up" cue is a Jacoby, so I kept the Tiger shaft in order to have to shafts for it. But these days, my primary shooting cue is a Josey...with it's standard shaft.

(edit) Obviously, the above is my opinion. Please do shoot with what feels best to you.
 
I played with an original 314 for years and loved it. About 5 months ago i switched to a Z2 and i also love it. For me it took a little time to get used to the Z after using the 314 for so long but now i wouldnt really wanna play with anything else. I can still switch to the 314 and play good but i prefer the Z2. I like the taper and the overall feel.
 
Predator shafts are the greatest advancement in pool cue technology since the leather tip.
Predator does not pay any pro or anyone else for that matter, to play with their products. The pros play them because they know it works.
No other component of a cue has received more attention, engineering & development than the Predator shaft.
Bare in mind that the Predator shafts HELP to reduce deflection.
They never claimed to totally eliminate it.
You still have to train the sub-conscious mind for their use as you would with any shaft. Hence, the learning curve.

Nobody's pushing anything down anyone's throat. You either like them or you don't. I'll admit, they may not be for everyone and that's fine. Do what you like. But then there's still some that will tell you that fire & the wheel don't work. The numbers don't lie. Think for yourself.
 
I have no reason to believe the hype. I think most people either love them or hate them. I hate them. I gave one a try on an almost daily basis for three months and wound up selling the cue and it's original shaft and the predator shaft in disgust. No one has ever been able to show me just why they are better than standard shafts and I was able to do things with my standard shafts I could not do with the predator. Like run balls. If you want to be able to apply more spin, use a smaller tip, if you really think it'll help. I can apply just as much english with a standard shaft as anyone can with a predator.
 
salam4 said:
A ton of people use the predator shaft including many top pros. What is your take on the shaft. Do you recommend using it or not? I was thinking about switching over and going to predator products just so in the future when I change cues I can purchase a predator shaft and it will shoot similar in terms of deflection.

WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK????? DO YOU LOVE OR HATE PREDATOR PRODUCTS?
Click to expand...

i'm a fan of predator shafts. i think the shafts are better than the cues. i think that's a good idea if you like predator shafts (i mean switching to predator shafts to make changing cues easier).
 
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