314 or z shaft w/predator2?

[know-nada]

Mike has the P2 in his marketplace. The leather wrap on it is very soft almost squishy - you have plenty of time to learn how to use that cue - it took me about a month. Best move I ever made. I shot with a Tim Scruggs and a Phillippi before that - both great hitting cues - but the Predator has a great hit and shoots straighter. (IMO)

Oh yeah - I have the 314 and z-shaft for my Predator. The Z seems to shoot even a little straighter than the 314 - but I use the 314 more because I am well practiced with it - love them both - definitely a Predator nut!

 

[azhousepro]

Yup, I have the P2s (the new P2s are going up in the marketplace in the next day or so). Pretty sure I can match any price online for them.

Mike

 

[Williebetmore]

Well obviously from the above post, it sure doesn't help your position...

Thanks,

Jon

Dang, I wish I had said that; funniest observation of the month (though I suspect his opponent may occasionally leave him in those positions - I know that is the only time it ever happens to me ).

 

[drivermaker]

Dang, I wish I had said that; funniest observation of the month

Yeah...Jon did come up with a beauty of a one line zinger. But would you have said anything like that regarding a Predator or a another Predator user like yourself? That is totally against Predator lemming ownership bylaws, you know.

 

[dday]

Your making a good decision ditching the Meucci, your going from playing with a bull whip to playing with a lazer. Go for it! It will take some getting used to, especially going from the Meucci. IMO Meucci are WAAAAYYYYYY to whippy for me the Predator is extremely ridged fealing. Getter done!

dday

 

[Williebetmore]

Yeah...Jon did come up with a beauty of a one line zinger. But would you have said anything like that regarding a Predator or a another Predator user like yourself? That is totally against Predator lemming ownership bylaws, you know.

D'maker,
I don't know much about cues (don't actually care to) except how they feel to me. Also I'm totally in the dark about the current lemming statutes. I did have a $3,000 Southwest (given to me, I was told it was extremely good by someone who should know) and a used $200 plain Predator. I liked the Predator so much I haven't played with the Southwest in 2 years. I've never played with any other top cues, and I don't really have the desire to spend a lot of money experimenting. With the Predator I don't miss much, deflection seems to be fairly minimal, and I'm used to it. No lemming-like instinct here - I guess I'm just cheap. Now I'm thinking of adding a little silver duct tape to the butt of the cue to try and round up a little more action (I think that is rarely done to a Balabushka). I am having some trouble with a warped replacement shaft that I bought from Predator, if they can't resolve the issue I will definitely be looking for another company, and I will definitely join the PBMS (Predator Bad Mouthing Society).

 

[drivermaker]

D'maker,
I don't know much about cues (don't actually care to) except how they feel to me. Also I'm totally in the dark about the current lemming statutes. I did have a $3,000 Southwest (given to me, I was told it was extremely good by someone who should know) and a used $200 plain Predator. I liked the Predator so much I haven't played with the Southwest in 2 years. I've never played with any other top cues, and I don't really have the desire to spend a lot of money experimenting. With the Predator I don't miss much, deflection seems to be fairly minimal, and I'm used to it. No lemming-like instinct here - I guess I'm just cheap. Now I'm thinking of adding a little silver duct tape to the butt of the cue to try and round up a little more action (I think that is rarely done to a Balabushka). I am having some trouble with a warped replacement shaft that I bought from Predator, if they can't resolve the issue I will definitely be looking for another company, and I will definitely join the PBMS (Predator Bad Mouthing Society).

I'll give you $500 for the Southwest.......

 

[drivermaker]

I'll give you $500 for the Southwest.......

Okay...okay...you said you were cheap, I was just testing the waters to see if it might be anything else. $750 ......................... cash money!

 

[buddha162]

Bluemarlin,

This is the best advice you're gonna get: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21212&item=3684681801&rd=1

You should be able to get it for a little over $100. Shoot with it for a month, if you still want a predator shaft, no problem! Order it from here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21212&item=3684792044

I've hit with Predator cues and Joss cues w/ Predator shafts. The results are not even close: Joss/Pred shafts hits 10x sweeter. And, it'll save you all that money. Believe me, when you're a better player and more knowledgable about what a good "hit" from a cue constitutes, you'll agree with me.

The only advantage to a Predator cue is in the first 4 inches of the shaft/ferrule. The butts are made by Falcon, and are not shabby but are not great either. For the money, they are a huge rip-off. Joss is considered by many (if not most) as the best production cues on the market today, and it'll be easier on your wallet. Take that extra money I saved you and buy a nice case to store your cues in.

Good luck,
Roger

 

[bluemarlin]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definitely look into it!

 

[drivermaker]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definitely look into it!

Buddha REALLY gave you some sage advice. You won't go wrong with a Joss, with their stock shaft or a replacement. Joss cues are very solid on their own and many pro's, road players, and hustlers have used them over the years. Save your money and get a Joss which is a better cue, you can put any shaft that you want on it, but you might also choose not to.

 

[Bluewolf]

I just picked up the Leopard / Tiger stripe maple P2 for a girl and haven't heard from her. It has the 314 shaft and leather wrap, 19 oz. If you play with one and like it, let me know, hell of a deal here. Never been out of the plastic.
Don P.

Don,

We tried out the pred2 in VF a year ago. It seemed to be better balanced than the old style predator. In talking to them, there were several different balance points they offered as well.

It was kind of pricy but then if it works for a person, who cares about that?

Laura

 

[Bluewolf]

Bluemarlin,

This is the best advice you're gonna get: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21212&item=3684681801&rd=1


I've hit with Predator cues and Joss cues w/ Predator shafts. The results are not even close: Joss/Pred shafts hits 10x sweeter. And, it'll save you all that money. Believe me, when you're a better player and more knowledgable about what a good "hit" from a cue constitutes, you'll agree with me.

The only advantage to a Predator cue is in the first 4 inches of the shaft/ferrule. The butts are made by Falcon, and are not shabby but are not great either. For the money, they are a huge rip-off. Joss is considered by many (if not most) as the best production cues on the market today, and it'll be easier on your wallet. Take that extra money I saved you and buy a nice case to store your cues in.

Good luck,
Roger

I heard that the older joss cues had a sweeter balance. What do you know about the new ones?

laura

 

[drivermaker]

I heard that the older joss cues had a sweeter balance. What do you know about the new ones?

laura

Unless Dan Janes and KFC changed their secret recipes for success, I would imagine that a Joss and KFC chicken are just like they used to be. I have one that's a little over a year old, (Joss that is...not a chicken leg) and it's balanced really well. Joss uses a weight bolt and the butt is cored very deeply. You can insert the bolt as deep or shallow as desired and change your own balance to where you prefer it. If a lighter cue is desired, the bolt can be totally removed and the way a Joss is built you will have a forward balanced cue. The weight of the shaft also and always plays a role in that effect.

 

[buddha162]

I heard that the older joss cues had a sweeter balance. What do you know about the new ones?

laura

Generally, anytime you have a steel-jointed cue in the 18-19.5 oz range it'll be forward balanced. All the JOSS cues I've seen are balanced at least an inch above the wrap; some up to 2.5 inches above. I think most players prefer a somewhat forward-balanced cue.

-Roger

 

[buddha162]

Buddha REALLY gave you some sage advice. You won't go wrong with a Joss, with their stock shaft or a replacement. Joss cues are very solid on their own and many pro's, road players, and hustlers have used them over the years. Save your money and get a Joss which is a better cue, you can put any shaft that you want on it, but you might also choose not to.

The hit is subjective, I know, but with the same shaft (Predator) and tip (Moori Q), the Joss hits much, much better than any Predator butts I've used. I've tried out 2 Lucasis with Pred shafts as well, and they hit like crap compared to JOSS. Interestingly, they have a similar hit (Lucasi and Predator), and though I don't see how it's possible I think the Uni-Loc plays some kind of role. The hit is harsh and hollow.

I use my Joss/Pred shaft as a back-up cue to my Dayton (with pred shafts), and though one is piloted steel and the other radial pinned w2w, they both hit solid and muted. Though the Dayton is still a significantly better cue, sometimes I feel a little miffed because it hits about 15% better but costs 80% more than my JOSS.

-Roger

 

[bluemarlin]

Well, now that I have enough money to actually get the joss butt, the three that were for sale (the ebony one's that I liked) are sold. Now none of the butts that are left on ebay I like.


Assuming that I can eventually find a nice joss butt, I don't think anybody ever answered the question, z shaft or 314?


I'm just going to continue playing with the Huebler, since both of the shafts I use with the meucci have broken ferrules and one has no cue tip. It's probably gonna cost me around 50 bucks to get both of the shafts fixed, but I like the feel of this huebler (never really played with it before, I just assumed that the meucci was better ), just not the look



EDIT: Well, I found one on ebay. Worth it?

 

[buddha162]

Don't worry, the same sellers rotate their wares on ebay almost every week. You'll see an Ebony JOSS within days I'm sure.

And to answer your second question, go with the 314.

Only a very small portion of pool players will like the Z-shaft taper and tip size, maybe those with a snooker background.

-Roger

 

[bluemarlin]

Don't worry, the same sellers rotate their wares on ebay almost every week. You'll see an Ebony JOSS within days I'm sure.

And to answer your second question, go with the 314.

Only a very small portion of pool players will like the Z-shaft taper and tip size, maybe those with a snooker background.

-Roger

Thanks man Yeah, I figured I'd just wait it out a while.



PS: What about this one , I'm sure it's not THAT much.... right? *rolles eyes*