Hi Casey, yeah I thought about him. Rick at Phillipi Cues has done a ton of these shafts too and does a great job matching the collars.
Thanks and good to hear from you,
Jimmy
Is it possible to buy Predator shafts already tapped for a South West cue?
- Thread starter JimmyRayK
- Start date
Hi Casey, yeah I thought about him. Rick at Phillipi Cues has done a ton of these shafts too and does a great job matching the collars.
Thanks and good to hear from you,
Jimmy
Then explain WHY they do such things, if you can. Why bother? I'm not criticizing, I just want to know why someone would take a cue like a Southwest and change it. And I don't understand your problem with it.
Ask the best players in the world why they do it.
The MAIN reason I do it is that I can measure inside english much better. Example: I play a lot on a 9ft. table and to force follow a ball three rails I can judge this shot much easier with the Z Shaft. Much easier.
I also love a very small diameter shaft and if I ever wanted to resale the cue, 12.3mm shafts decrease the value of the cue. This way the SW shafts stay pristine.
The main reason though is playabilty.
I started using 314 shafts in the mid 90's. I just love how they play. In that time, I've had them on a nice Scruggs butt for many years, and now a Larry Vigus custom cue. If I ever spent the big cash for something like a Black Boar, you can bet I'd put a 314 with matching collars on it as well.
lol you will not need 314 match. ferule less shafts have all ld characteristics a 314 shaft will except a more solid hit! many will never know how well boars play! got to buy & try to believe!
It's very simple. People do such things because they really like a cue, and want to use the cue, but it doesn't quite match up with their preferences. So they make the change, the cue now matches their preferences and they can play with it more effectively.
It's no different than someone changing to a different tip, replacing a linen wrap with leather, adding one of those 2"-3" joint extensions, etc...
In Jimmy's case, it makes perfect sense to do this. He is dialed in to the performance characteristics of a Predator shaft. He likes the South West cue and wants to use it, but doesn't want to go through a re-adjustment period. To avoid that, he simply picks up a shaft that he's used to and tosses it on the butt he wants to play with. Problem solved. Plus, as a result, the SW shafts remain un-played, which will bring a better resale value if he decides to put the cue on the market in the future.
As for my "problem" with anything... I don't have one. Just trying to inject some logic into this thread.
Cheers,
Mike
EDIT: Just saw Jimmy's post. Looks like he said pretty much the same thing with less words.
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Now, I'm not talking about the best players, for them is doesn't really matter, truth be told. I see an awful lot of amateurs doing what the pros do, 13-15 inch bridges is one. They don't get the same results and never will. I've never bought a cue or changed my game because of what the pros do. I now play with LD shafts, just not with laminated ones and I was down on LD shafts until I got the ones I play with now. For me, laminated shafts make the cue lose all the "feel" of the cue. Southwest especially! Both the cues I use most today play similar to SW but will never be exactly like one, unfortunately. One has LD shafts, one does not. But, I can play well with either one.
Edit: Laminated shafts have always felt "weak" to me, don't know how else to describe it. They felt like when I hit the cue ball they would shatter. Ugh! And that's with several different ones.
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I don't play with one because the pros do, I play with one because I play better with them.
I guess your allowed to have an opinion and can I please have one too??? The way you come across...................I have to say is ALL knowing. Just wow!!!
As a predator player I agree lol I had a monster Scruggs that the guy I bought it from was stunned I was playing with the original shafts he used predators I said your gonna blue them . Oh well... I didn't spend that much money to play with A predator. Lol
I didn't say that you did but you mentioned a pro playing with one in another post. You're welcome to your opinion, I never said or implied that you weren't. And, it's my experience, not my opinion.
Like I said.............you're a know it all. You have proved it over and over
I'm an idiot as well then because I have my Carmeli at his shop getting 2 Pred 314 partials fitted. To answer your original question though, the answer is NO. A 3/8x11 is a special order shaft just like I needed for my Carmeli. Seyberts said they would need the butt of my cue for 3-4 weeks to match a plain black collared one to my cue so I figured I might as well send it to Ariel and get 2 of them with matching ringwork done. Having the cue refinished and leather wrapped as well while he has it. Like OP, I do it because I am used to the Predator performance and the original shafts stay mint. I play at a level where playing with one of the original shafts isn't going to improve my game anyway so I choose to play with what I am comfortable. At this point the only thing I can do to improve my game is quit my job, sell my home, swear off women, quit drinking and practice 8 hours a day with a qualified instructor
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Hey Jimmy, I am in the idiot camp also.
I look at all the fantastic cues you post in the Cue Gallery and I am sure your SW is another beauty.
I have Pre-Cat shafts and backups tapered from 12.5 to 12.75 on all of my cues with matching collars. I put the conventional shafts away and protected. It is best to send the butt for a perfect match, I am sure you know that.
I tried the other way and was not happy with the results.
I have always been a fan of the SW style but never a fan of the hit, and others love it. I would put a LD shaft on that cue faster than a speeding bullet and never look back, to each their own. I am not being facetious.
Thanks for sharing all your beautiful cues, I would love to see the final result. Best of luck and play well .
Sincerely:SS
I look at all the fantastic cues you post in the Cue Gallery and I am sure your SW is another beauty.
I have Pre-Cat shafts and backups tapered from 12.5 to 12.75 on all of my cues with matching collars. I put the conventional shafts away and protected. It is best to send the butt for a perfect match, I am sure you know that.
I tried the other way and was not happy with the results.
I have always been a fan of the SW style but never a fan of the hit, and others love it. I would put a LD shaft on that cue faster than a speeding bullet and never look back, to each their own. I am not being facetious.
Thanks for sharing all your beautiful cues, I would love to see the final result. Best of luck and play well .
Sincerely:SS