I have a dilemma. I recently switched to an LD predator 314-2. I had used a standard shaft for years. I am pocketing balls better than ever. Played four tournament races to 7 this weekend and only missed six balls. Here's the problem, I can't control the cue ball for anything. I've always been known for having a good cue ball, but now I seem to juice everything. Will this change with time and consistency come? Or is it a downfall of ld shafts? If you can help please give me some ideas or some good drills to hone my control with the new shaft. Also side spin seems to take very inconsistently.
Predator help please
- Thread starter Gilbertfan81
- Start date
Was your previous control predminantly done through the use of speed only or side spin with high & low & speed?
I have a 'juiced' sanded down 314 CAT that I can only use in close quarters. I can't use it on long shots with english. It makes the cue ball swerve almost immediately.
I have a 'juiced' sanded down 314 CAT that I can only use in close quarters. I can't use it on long shots with english. It makes the cue ball swerve almost immediately.
Throwing balls
In the past with a standard shaft I tended to throw the balls with a small amount of side spin
In the past with a standard shaft I tended to throw the balls with a small amount of side spin
Play more to center ball, not as much English as you would have normally cued with. It will get more to normal, then you will know you have the extra juice when you need it.
Black Cat
Black Cat
I started to work the stop shot until I do it from just about anywhere. That help my control with the LD shaft no end.
I'm sure that you understand. as has been eluded to, that the LD will squirt the ball less so you may be hitting the cuts less full & the cue ball is taking off with more steam if you are allowing the swerve to come into play. It only took me a couple of sessions to adapt to my OB & i2 & have been playing with spin & regular shafts for more than 40 years.
I can't play with the juiced 314 cat in haas virtually no squirt with almost immediate swerve. I just don't to want to completely relearn entirely.
Give it some time & I think your subconscious will make the adjustment.
Good Luck with it,
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It will take some time buddy. That s normal.
If you switch from regular to a LD Shaft it always takes time to adjust completly!
I know also some professionals where it took em a longer time to finally really call their cue again their extended arm
Hard work will pay back- it s just about your willing.
Have a smooth stroke.
lg from overseas,
Ingo
If you switch from regular to a LD Shaft it always takes time to adjust completly!
I know also some professionals where it took em a longer time to finally really call their cue again their extended arm
Hard work will pay back- it s just about your willing.
Have a smooth stroke.
lg from overseas,
Ingo
It's definitely a problem whenever changing equipment that affects feel and touch, and these LD shafts tend to amplify the action and mistakes we make in our shots or at least that's how I perceived it.
Anyway, when I switched to a new shaft (OB Classic in my case) it took about four weeks for my cue-ball control to settle down and become consistent again, and it took about 8 weeks until I had it back to the level of touch I had before switching. Just hang in there, keep playing and practicing, and it will come back to you.
Anyway, when I switched to a new shaft (OB Classic in my case) it took about four weeks for my cue-ball control to settle down and become consistent again, and it took about 8 weeks until I had it back to the level of touch I had before switching. Just hang in there, keep playing and practicing, and it will come back to you.
Play more to center ball, not as much English as you would have normally cued with. It will get more to normal, then you will know you have the extra juice when you need it.
Black Cat
Sound advice above...
This thing will generate a ton of action with lil to no stroke... If someone stood behind me on every shot, they'd swear I was hitting everything with center ball.... Get back to center ball, venture from there... The key to mastering these shafts is finding the "in between"... Alot of players can only stop shot or draw 8 ft with these things... Get frustrated, claim ld shafts are garbage, and sell shaft instead of putting in the work...
Draw your rock 6,8,12 inches or force follow the same, etc,etc,etc til you have it wired...
I don't recommend ld shafts to players that shoot once a week... These things are very demanding and take time... The payoff is there though, trust me...
Good luck and stay with it long enough to see if this is for you....
Inside english will become your friend......
With the old maple shafts you had to rely on outside English and had to make sure you were on the correct side of the OB.
With the 314-2 it's easier to shoot with extreme inside English and not have to worry about the flex or squirt sabataging the shot.
With more play you will get more comfortable and see these new route for the cue ball.
It opens up so many more avenues for your shape. But you need to see it and envision it all the time. And play shape for the other position to use the inside English on certain shots.
Good Luck.........
With the old maple shafts you had to rely on outside English and had to make sure you were on the correct side of the OB.
With the 314-2 it's easier to shoot with extreme inside English and not have to worry about the flex or squirt sabataging the shot.
With more play you will get more comfortable and see these new route for the cue ball.
It opens up so many more avenues for your shape. But you need to see it and envision it all the time. And play shape for the other position to use the inside English on certain shots.
Good Luck.........
what I noticed from my predator shafts is that you really have to hit close to center; maybe a half tip either side to get the same desired effects that hitting maybe a tip or two with a non LD shaft. I can't give you all the technical garb with this I just found out myself with trial and error but I will tell you once I figured it out I was and am way more accurate than I was before the LD.
Good too know
Try using parallel english if you don't already, I try to aim center ball then move my whole stick for the spin I am going to use and it will still go right in, I can even do this at borderline miscue limits.
If you're off just a little LD shafts let you know fast.
I'm going to try using less tips of english myself as suggested above, may be why I overdo certain shots.
If you're off just a little LD shafts let you know fast.
I'm going to try using less tips of english myself as suggested above, may be why I overdo certain shots.
Problem solved
Thanks for all the help azers. I have finally adjusted and can say with confidence the shaft is impeccable. I can now control the cue ball pretty well. I put in the time and shot ALOT of position drills. This is the thing I guess I'm weird I had to adjust my aiming system. I was hitting everything thick so I was transferring more spin than I thought and juicing the cue ball. I was aiming for deflection. I started playing more center ball and concentrating on the angles. I fell like this greatly improved my consistency with position. The shaft still does not feel as good as my Gilbert, but nothing I have ever played with does for that matter.
Thanks
Justin
Thanks for all the help azers. I have finally adjusted and can say with confidence the shaft is impeccable. I can now control the cue ball pretty well. I put in the time and shot ALOT of position drills. This is the thing I guess I'm weird I had to adjust my aiming system. I was hitting everything thick so I was transferring more spin than I thought and juicing the cue ball. I was aiming for deflection. I started playing more center ball and concentrating on the angles. I fell like this greatly improved my consistency with position. The shaft still does not feel as good as my Gilbert, but nothing I have ever played with does for that matter.
Thanks
Justin