OB-1 Vs 314
- Thread starter the_shot
- Start date
I think this question comes up about once a week. I'd recommend doing a search, but really the mods should sticky a thread listing the comparisons.
Simply put, though my experience:
- An OB-1 has a softer, whippier hit than the 314.
- The OB-1 seems to apply more english, over the 314, in regards to the amount of power is needed.
- Having said the above, the OB-1 can swerve the CB further towards the side of english applied, more noticeably on long distance shots.
- The LD properties are so small in difference, it's tough to see. I'd say the "performance" factor is very close.
- With a milkdud on both, I can jump the CB with a whole cue with a 314 attached. I certainly cannot with the OB-1. This may be due to the LD properties and dampening core in the OB-1.
The OB line is made 100% in the USA, with expert and professional customer service. I have needed their repair with them in the past, and the reponse and turnover time was beyond my expectations.
Predator products are made in China, where cost of production is low, and yet the price remains the same for the consumers and cuemakers. In the past few years it's been understood that the quailty of their products have gone down a bit, however these cases could be incidental based on the sheer volume of their sales.
Hit is subjective, but IMO, I say OB cues all the way. Their performance is great, the customer service is top notch, and the founder and proprietor of OB cues is an ACTIVE member here, leaving a wealth of knowlege available to us per request.
MODS, sticky this damn thread, so others can chime in for the newbies...lol
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Predator by far is is an all around shaft for all games. The ob1 has a unique design but most find it great in one pocket if the cue ball is in the stack you can tick tack your way through a rack with it but long banks its all over the place.
Production cue i would use a predator shaft.
high end custom cue I usually prefer the original shaft unless the taper is not what I like then I would use a predator shaft.
all shafts are great in design but most have limitations.
Craig
Production cue i would use a predator shaft.
high end custom cue I usually prefer the original shaft unless the taper is not what I like then I would use a predator shaft.
all shafts are great in design but most have limitations.
Craig
Not sure about you but u should check out this demo about Muecci black dot shafts....very impressive...:thumbup:
http://www.meuccicues.com/BlackDot.htm
You make me laugh ........... Meucci. That's a joke:speechless:
The proof is right there on the website....I thought it was very impressive.
Sure makes those other shafts look bad...
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This question is right up my alley. I have been swapping shafts around a lot lately and can give you some honest experience...not theory & conjecture.
By way of background, I've been a 314 user since 1995-1996. Before that I played with Joss & Schon shafts. About 6-8 years ago I won a McDermott and I shot with that for a while. I bought an OB-1 last spring just to try it out. I recently bought an OB-2 just to try it out. I've also tried out the Tiger X. As you can see, I have experience with many different cues & shafts. I prefer a medium hit & low deflection.
Tiger X: I was very fortunate to try out a Tiger X shaft back-to-back with my trusty 314. It certainly had a good "feel", but as Platinum Billiards found it did have more deflection. Unscientifically, I rated it as a "mid-deflection" shaft...right between the 314 and a standard Schon shaft, for example. The X would be a nice middle ground for someone willing to move toward less deflection, but not willing to go to all the way to a 314/314-2/Z/Z2/OB-1/OB-2.
OB-1: I fully agree with Impact Blue's assessment of the OB-1 hit. I can't comment on the USA/China thing. I played with the OB-1 for nearly a year and it did well. In the end, I prefer my old 314 over the OB-1...primarily for the quality of the hit (deflection difference is marginal).
OB-2: I received an OB-2 about 2 weeks ago and I immediately took to it. It is an obvious improvement over the OB-1 with a hit similar to the 314 but with even less deflection. The OB-2 a great balance between LD and "feel" and will remain my primary shaft.
Summary: I rank the shafts I have used over the years in this way (from highest to lowest deflection):
Joss (HIGH deflection, firm hit)
Schon (high deflection, firm hit)
McDermott (medium deflection, medium hit)
Tiger X (medium deflection, firm hit)
OB-1 (medium-low deflection, SOFT hit)
314 (low deflection, medium hit)
OB-2 (LOW deflection, medium hit)
I'll take a few minutes to draw up a cuetable to illustrate a simple test I perform to demonstrate LD properties to the uninitiated. I usually shoot the shot with my LD shaft of choice & then repeat it with their cue. It usually leaves them stunned.
By way of background, I've been a 314 user since 1995-1996. Before that I played with Joss & Schon shafts. About 6-8 years ago I won a McDermott and I shot with that for a while. I bought an OB-1 last spring just to try it out. I recently bought an OB-2 just to try it out. I've also tried out the Tiger X. As you can see, I have experience with many different cues & shafts. I prefer a medium hit & low deflection.
Tiger X: I was very fortunate to try out a Tiger X shaft back-to-back with my trusty 314. It certainly had a good "feel", but as Platinum Billiards found it did have more deflection. Unscientifically, I rated it as a "mid-deflection" shaft...right between the 314 and a standard Schon shaft, for example. The X would be a nice middle ground for someone willing to move toward less deflection, but not willing to go to all the way to a 314/314-2/Z/Z2/OB-1/OB-2.
OB-1: I fully agree with Impact Blue's assessment of the OB-1 hit. I can't comment on the USA/China thing. I played with the OB-1 for nearly a year and it did well. In the end, I prefer my old 314 over the OB-1...primarily for the quality of the hit (deflection difference is marginal).
OB-2: I received an OB-2 about 2 weeks ago and I immediately took to it. It is an obvious improvement over the OB-1 with a hit similar to the 314 but with even less deflection. The OB-2 a great balance between LD and "feel" and will remain my primary shaft.
Summary: I rank the shafts I have used over the years in this way (from highest to lowest deflection):
Joss (HIGH deflection, firm hit)
Schon (high deflection, firm hit)
McDermott (medium deflection, medium hit)
Tiger X (medium deflection, firm hit)
OB-1 (medium-low deflection, SOFT hit)
314 (low deflection, medium hit)
OB-2 (LOW deflection, medium hit)
I'll take a few minutes to draw up a cuetable to illustrate a simple test I perform to demonstrate LD properties to the uninitiated. I usually shoot the shot with my LD shaft of choice & then repeat it with their cue. It usually leaves them stunned.
OB vs 314
I've been playing with OB shafts for the last few years and I would absolutely agree Impactblue's assessment. That is precisely my experience as well. I find the OBs to have a softer hit with a slight whippy taper. While the Predators are very rigid and stiff. Also, I find the 'hit' of the shafts are very different. I love the hit of my OB shafts but I'd recommend you check out both since 'hit' is subjective to the user's preference.
I've been playing with OB shafts for the last few years and I would absolutely agree Impactblue's assessment. That is precisely my experience as well. I find the OBs to have a softer hit with a slight whippy taper. While the Predators are very rigid and stiff. Also, I find the 'hit' of the shafts are very different. I love the hit of my OB shafts but I'd recommend you check out both since 'hit' is subjective to the user's preference.
Here's the illustration of my test. I've demonstrated it to many people and they are amazed they can make a ball with their non-LD equipment. They even jump up to try the test themselves to ensure I'm not tricking them. Their mouths fall open when they repeat my results.
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mosconiac, good test, but I like to move the cue ball up so much that the whole stick is really actually in the same plane so there is no downward force and swerve. yes that means the distance is less so you won't see as much of a difference, but you won't see swerve canceling out deflection either
I've been using and original P2, since you could get p2's (I have serial number 40 of the original P2 stock) and they came with the original 314 shafts.
When Royce and Don (Don Owens and Royce Bunnell) were first making the OB-1's, they would on occasion have me try some of them and I'd give my opinion.
At first I was VERY skeptical. I didn't like them and didn't think they had a chance. Now I know both Don and Royce. (my wife played scotch doubles with Don Owens last year at the BCAPL Nationals. BTW.. they took 5th-6th, loosing to Royce and AKA Trigger) But I digress...
As they made improvements to the OB-1, I was slowly... every so slowly and begrudgingly won over. Currently, I regularly help out at the OBcues Ladies 9-ball tour as a referee, so I have been around OB cues and there products for some time. I still have my P2 and use it as my main playing cue.
However, I also know that the OB-1 was sent off to be compared with the 314. The company that does the testing, is made up of several of the originators of the 314, but they no longer work FOR predator, but do have some very close ties.
When they tested the OB-1 vs the 314, they would not give OB Cues the results for some time. Shortly after predator released the 314 v2, they released the results....
The OB-1 had better performance, I.E. Lower deflection etc. than the original 314, but fractionally lower performance than the 314 v2.
So.. what does that mean to you and me.. Basically.. it's a coin flip.
What OB cues suggest, and it's how I became a fan, is come out to a show, or find someone that has one, or will let you hit with one, and try it for yourself.
I can verify that OB cues and shafts are 100% made in the USA. They are very proud of that and it will not change while Don and Royce are running things.
As far as the OB-2 vs the Z Pro, I don't have any info on that from Royce or Don. I have not talked with them much about it. However, they will be more than happy to let anyone know what they know.
Like I said earlier, I have an original P2, and like and play with it every day. I also have a filipe 8 ebony point cue that I put an OB-1 on, and it played very much like my P2. I use it at home on my table, and it does what I expect. I really don't tell much of a difference from either cue.
So, I have to agree with Royce and Don. Go hit with one. See what YOU think. I started off not wanting to like their stuff, and now I find myself liking it very much indeed.
When Royce and Don (Don Owens and Royce Bunnell) were first making the OB-1's, they would on occasion have me try some of them and I'd give my opinion.
At first I was VERY skeptical. I didn't like them and didn't think they had a chance. Now I know both Don and Royce. (my wife played scotch doubles with Don Owens last year at the BCAPL Nationals. BTW.. they took 5th-6th, loosing to Royce and AKA Trigger) But I digress...
As they made improvements to the OB-1, I was slowly... every so slowly and begrudgingly won over. Currently, I regularly help out at the OBcues Ladies 9-ball tour as a referee, so I have been around OB cues and there products for some time. I still have my P2 and use it as my main playing cue.
However, I also know that the OB-1 was sent off to be compared with the 314. The company that does the testing, is made up of several of the originators of the 314, but they no longer work FOR predator, but do have some very close ties.
When they tested the OB-1 vs the 314, they would not give OB Cues the results for some time. Shortly after predator released the 314 v2, they released the results....
The OB-1 had better performance, I.E. Lower deflection etc. than the original 314, but fractionally lower performance than the 314 v2.
So.. what does that mean to you and me.. Basically.. it's a coin flip.
What OB cues suggest, and it's how I became a fan, is come out to a show, or find someone that has one, or will let you hit with one, and try it for yourself.
I can verify that OB cues and shafts are 100% made in the USA. They are very proud of that and it will not change while Don and Royce are running things.
As far as the OB-2 vs the Z Pro, I don't have any info on that from Royce or Don. I have not talked with them much about it. However, they will be more than happy to let anyone know what they know.
Like I said earlier, I have an original P2, and like and play with it every day. I also have a filipe 8 ebony point cue that I put an OB-1 on, and it played very much like my P2. I use it at home on my table, and it does what I expect. I really don't tell much of a difference from either cue.
So, I have to agree with Royce and Don. Go hit with one. See what YOU think. I started off not wanting to like their stuff, and now I find myself liking it very much indeed.
I assume you are referring to the OB-1? I now have an OB-2 and it has a much stiffer feel than the OB-1 I used to have....not whippy at all.
Hello,
When I tried a 314-2 for the 1st time I really liked it but I was kind of hyped up by the OB-1 and bought one. I played with it for a few months, sold it and bought a 314-2. The OB-1 was to flexible for my liking, I believe it's a good shaft though. I'm now currently playing with a 314-Fat.
When I tried a 314-2 for the 1st time I really liked it but I was kind of hyped up by the OB-1 and bought one. I played with it for a few months, sold it and bought a 314-2. The OB-1 was to flexible for my liking, I believe it's a good shaft though. I'm now currently playing with a 314-Fat.
Ditto that. I hater the OB-1 it was too soft hitting. The Ob-2 is better and passable for me. I prefer a stiffer hit that either of these shafts deliver but what the heck they came with the cue. :thumbup:
Never owned a Predator so can't coment