are Predator cues really that good?

[Celophanewrap]

I can't do as short a reply as I want, but NO. Is the answer...

I believe it all depends on who you ask. For me, yes.
There are a couple of questions you need to ask and answer after you've played with a
Predator for a while:
Do you believe it helped your game?
What's that worth to you?

If you want to buy a new Predator with the latest Predator gadget and all the Predator
"goo" that goes with it and the ancillary gadgets that you buy too, then it's gonna get
expensive, or you can be patient and search for a well cared for used Predator that can
usually be had for under $300 or so. Then with a minimal investment you can see what
you think. Even just a Predator shaft where your investment will be even less.

Is it worth it? That a very objective answer, like from Bull Durham -
"if you believe that you're playing better because you're wearing women's underwear, then you are"
If you believe a Predator shaft or cue improves your game, then it does.

 

[Kim Bye]

I believe it all depends on who you ask. For me, yes.
There are a couple of questions you need to ask and answer after you've played with a
Predator for a while:
Do you believe it helped your game?
What's that worth to you?

If you want to buy a new Predator with the latest Predator gadget and all the Predator
"goo" that goes with it and the ancillary gadgets that you buy too, then it's gonna get
expensive, or you can be patient and search for a well cared for used Predator that can
usually be had for under $300 or so. Then with a minimal investment you can see what
you think. Even just a Predator shaft where your investment will be even less.

Is it worth it? That a very objective answer, like from Bull Durham -
"if you believe that you're playing better because you're wearing women's underwear, then you are"
If you believe a Predator shaft or cue improves your game, then it does.

I do a fair bit of repair work and one brand is totally overrepresented when it comes to cracked ferrules, split shafts, shafts cracking at the collar, new shafts not being straight, poor laquer etc.
On top of that, I just dont like the way this brands shafts play, dead and no feel or feedback.

 

[Scott Lee]

Minority or not, I only meant to state that it is not impossible...which was your statement. Yes, I mean I can "adjust" accordingly, regardless of which shaft I'm playing with...and it doesn't take any time at all, for me. Probably not superhuman, but definitely know my stroke.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

In that case you are superhuman

The whole point of the low deflection shafts is to change the way you need to shoot the shot, therefore its virtually impossible to play shots in the same way....unless of course the shafts don't work (which they seem to)!

Do you mean you automatically correct for the reduced deflection?

Not everyone can do that without practising with the new shaft for at least a bit first, you will be by far in the minority there.

 

[Celophanewrap]

I do a fair bit of repair work and one brand is totally overrepresented when it comes to cracked ferrules, split shafts, shafts cracking at the collar, new shafts not being straight, poor laquer etc.
On top of that, I just dont like the way this brands shafts play, dead and no feel or feedback.

That's a fair statement. They're not for everyone, like any other cue, some people can't
stand them, some people love them, I love them, never had a problem with mine. I love the
feel, they just fit. Some people would rather have a custom that they ordered from a
known cue maker. I don't like customs one little bit. I've owned several and none have
ever worked out like I hoped they would.
I don't like everything about Predator, I think the Victory Tips suck and the cases, gloves,
towels, shirts, hats, newer lines of cues, accessories, etc... are all way over priced. I do like the chalk,
but I've found chalk I like just as well or better for less money, and while I really like my Revo cue, I really
don't use it in a match, I use it more like a training tool and those little cleaning wipes that Predator sells
to clean your Revo - a Predator person at an event last summer told me those are just alcohol wipes.
You can get a box of 100 at your local CVS or Walgreens for about .89

 

[Kim Bye]

those are just alcohol wipes.
You can get a box of 100 at your local CVS or Walgreens for about .89

Could come in handy if your playing terrible, you can just wring the wraps up in you hand and drink the alcohol drops from them :wink:

 

[vjmehra]

Minority or not, I only meant to state that it is not impossible...which was your statement. Yes, I mean I can "adjust" accordingly, regardless of which shaft I'm playing with...and it doesn't take any time at all, for me. Probably not superhuman, but definitely know my stroke.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

That's not quite what I said....however your point is of course valid.

What I actually said was that for me it was almost impossible to switch.

I was trying to emphasise that it is a very difficult thing to do, if you can do it seamlessly that's cool, but it is very unlikely the OP would be able to do the same,

 

[Scott Lee]

Well, to be fair, this is a foundation of what we teach...how to adjust to any conditions, no matter what, quicker than your opponent. Some students catch on quicker than others.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

That's not quite what I said....however your point is of course valid.

What I actually said was that for me it was almost impossible to switch.

I was trying to emphasise that it is a very difficult thing to do, if you can do it seamlessly that's cool, but it is very unlikely the OP would be able to do the same,

 

[vjmehra]

Well, to be fair, this is a foundation of what we teach...how to adjust to any conditions, no matter what, quicker than your opponent. Some students catch on quicker than others.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I think that's a great skillset to have generally speaking, but specifically with talking about switching from a low deflection shaft to a 'normal' one and vice versa, its a bit of a niche skill to teach

Anyone who is serious enough about their game presumably has a cue or intends to purchase one, therefore would surely get used to playing with that and wouldn't need to continuously switch between an LD and a normal shaft?

That said, I understand why as the instructor its important for you to switch between both as you presumably need to be able to demonstrate shots with both types of shaft.

I'm actually genuinely curious here btw, please don't interpret what I've written as sarcasm, I'm just trying to get my head around why people would want to practice switching between shafts (I totally get why you need to explain how different shafts play).

 

[Wald0]

I use a 30" tiger pro-x shaft on my predator, seems to work fine for me.

I had an old 314-2 shaft that I sold a while back, had to be sent in because the ferrule cracked, havn't played with a predator shaft since so I wouldn't know about he newest models.

 

[Runnintable]

z-2

How about the longevity of the shafts.

I paired a Prather full splice that I picked up at the 2008 expo with a z2 blank.

The biggest difference that I noticed early on was on long table stoke shots. I potted with a cleaner accuracy. If I was playing on 41/2'x9' this became my goto setup.

Still play with the shaft today, have a hairline fracture in ferrule that I am waiting to replace.
Would not recommend breaking with this shaft.

So, after this little ramble, my question is has anyone seen a longevity issue to these shafts.

 

[Celophanewrap]

How about the longevity of the shafts.

I paired a Prather full splice that I picked up at the 2008 expo with a z2 blank.

The biggest difference that I noticed early on was on long table stoke shots. I potted with a cleaner accuracy. If I was playing on 41/2'x9' this became my goto setup.

Still play with the shaft today, have a hairline fracture in ferrule that I am waiting to replace.
Would not recommend breaking with this shaft.

So, after this little ramble, my question is has anyone seen a longevity issue to these shafts.

I know some people have had issues, some have not. Personally, I bought my first Predator in the early 90's (93 I believe). I've changed the tip when I needed to, cleaned and waxed, and have never had a problem. I have only ever had one Predator shaft that's had issues. A 314-2 I purchased used. It developed a crack almost immediately upon use from the ferrule about 2 or 3 inches. I sent it to Predator and they replaced it, but that was about 12 years ago. I haven't seen much positive about their customer service lately.
I've had really good luck with mine, no complaints at all

 

[Kim Bye]

I have only ever had one Predator shaft that's had issues. A 314-2 I purchased used. It developed a crack almost immediately upon use from the ferrule about 2 or 3 inches. I sent it to Predator and they replaced it, but that was about 12 years ago. I haven't seen much positive about their customer service lately.
I've had really good luck with mine, no complaints at all

The point is that buying a shafts, shouldn`t involve luck. If buy a shaft and accept it`s a 50% chance you might have to replace the ferrule, then it`s a problem with the design...
The new 314/3 and Z3 have an 0.05mm increase in tip diameter and a stronger LBM like ferrule material, I take it as Predators way of saying the 314/2 and Z2 design was junk, and they knew it...

 

[Celophanewrap]

The point is that buying a shafts, shouldn`t involve luck. If buy a shaft and accept it`s a 50% chance you might have to replace the ferrule, then it`s a problem with the design...
The new 314/3 and Z3 have an 0.05mm increase in tip diameter and a stronger LBM like ferrule material, I take it as Predators way of saying the 314/2 and Z2 design was junk, and they knew it...

Splitting hairs a little, aren't we? For you maybe it's a matter of semantics. To say I've had
good luck with Predators simply means that I've had a good history and no problems with
the brand, I'm comfortable recommending some Predator products to other players.
"I've had good luck with..." is a figure of speech, like "this cue hits a ton", or "I got my ass kicked"
I'm sure you understand.

You don't like them - I get that. Of course you could say that anything you manage to acquire
has a 50% chance of working out well. Maybe you get something home and you use it once and it breaks,
or you order food at a restaurant that sounded good, but you take a bite and you don't like it.

As a kid did you ever get toys for Christmas that didn't survive the first couple of days?

For whatever reason your experience with Predator isn't great, mine has been. These things happen,
Predator doesn't work for everyone, I've said that. It works for me, and I don't have a problem recommending
some Predator products to other players, some people like the stuff, some don't

I promise to never hand you my cue and ask you to try a Predator shaft out

 

[raistlinsdragon]

I entered a contest he was running. It was a holdem tournament with first prize being a custom cue. I won the tournament, he took my information and no cue. It was a free tournament so I didn't lose anything.

This was over a year ago. If the cue ever shows up I will post a review. I'm not holding my breath. Lol

Krown cues