Choosing the right butt for Predator 314/2 shaft

F

fr3nzy

Registered
Hello there,

I have a cue which came with Predator 314/2 shaft. It is McDermott Assassin M82C that you can look at that link http://www.billiardwarehouse.com/cues/mcdermott/mcdermott_assassin.htm. I like the accuracy of aiming I get from that cue but i do not like the feel of it. The hit is rather soft and I can't judge the speed I put in the stroke correctly. A friend of mine has a Bear cue that i played with and I felt it's balance was more appropriate for me.

There is a good local custom cue maker here. He is using very good woods which he imports from the states and he is willing to make butts only. So will it be better for me If i order him a butt from harder wood than those of the commercial cues with the balance of that particular Bear cue and with the joint of the McDermott to use my old low deflection Predator shaft? Here I will attach a picture of the both joints of my cue.

I was told to buy an old Schon cue with conventional shaft but when I played with it I simply could not pocket a ball with any english at all.

I am very confused about all that and I hope I will get enlightenment of my problems from you :)

Thank you,
Peter
 

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Before you make any decisions on buying a butt/handle for the shaft, I'm going to suggest that you try something first.

Try to find another cue that has the 3/8x10 pin (like your McD.) but make it anything BUT a McD. so you can try your shaft on it and hit some balls.
If you still don't like the hit, it may be the shaft.
This may sound strange for me to suggest because I do a lot of Predator work and I like their shafts real well. But I believe that truth is part of loyalty and I think Predator would agree with me in that we both want what is best for the customer. To that end, the Predator shaft ain't for everyone. Odd huh?

Most of your 'hit' is in the shaft and it's components (tip, ferrule, etc.).
However, that hit can be compromised by a handle that isn't made as well as what it could be.

Again, try your shaft on another handle and see if the hit changes at all.
 
And the rest you have to figure out for yourself bud. No one can tell you what type of butt to buy, or rather, which one you'll be happy with. I have 2 old Schons that I use both a 314 and a Z shaft on. To me, they're excellent together.
And I bought a beautiful McD that I couldn't hit a pocket if my life depended on it.
The rest of the story is that I have over 20 cues and have bought and sold way more than that to find the 20 that I like to shoot with.
I had to also promise my wife that I wouldn't buy any more.
 
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Yup, a wife and/or a job have been the downfall of many a great player.

By the way, what are you playing with so many different cues for? You'll never find consistency in your game that way. I'd suggest you pick one cue and stick with it. You may find that it was the only cue you needed in the first place.
Then you can sell 10-15 of them and make the wife VERY happy.
Or you could buy more equipment and assure the wife that you haven't used any money from the family budget. She might like that too. :wink:
 
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