Do you find Predator shaft too soft?

X Breaker

X Breaker

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have been switching between a few different shafts on my cues, and I am having a hard time adjusting to the Predator shaft, which I find to be quite soft and whippy.
There are lots of great players using the Predator shaft. So, I am sure it is possible to shot the light out with it. I am just saying I am having a hard time.
I used to use it, then stopped, went back to it again, stopped, and now since I have one with this new cue that I am using, I use it from time to time.
What I find is that with my regular shaft, I can let the cue just follow through the ball and it will deliver the power that I need; while with the Predator, I cannot feel that hit, and it feels as if I have to actually put more into the shot to make it work. Another problem is that I cannot feel the crisp "hit" that I get from my regular shaft, since the shaft feels whippy, so I tend to overhit the ball.
Does any of you feel the same way?
I think before I give up the 314 once and for all, I should post this here to see if I can get some pointers.
Thank you
Richard
 
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I prefer the z-shaft over the 314 because the taper makes it feel more solid to me... and I wish I realized this before I got the 314 matched to my cue :p . It could be the ferrule/tip combination that is giving it that soft feel as well... although I like the Everest very much.
 
Wish I could offer some....
But, actually, I agree with you. I tried a Predator Sneaky (with and without stainless steel collar) for awhile...and I found the 314 shafts to just be too whippy...

Maybe the answer is to get an untapered blank and have it done the way you want? Hmm...maybe some pros do that.....? :eek:
 
I want to say for the record that I am not bashing Predator here. I am just saying from my own experience, my opinion has been that Predator is too whippy for my liking. I know lots of great players shoot with Predator products so I am sure it is suitable for some players.
I am just wondering if there is a way to use this shaft to make it perform better.
May be I am missing something here?
I have tried the 314 on and off for may be in total 15 months, and so far, I really do not see any ground breaking benefit. I am having lots of trouble with controlling my cue ball (I find it harder to feel the "hit"), and I do not like the feel of it when I go for a long shot (full ball to 3/4 ball) and try to kill the cue ball. It feels like I have to actually put more into the shot; while with my regular shafts, I can let the cue do the work for me so to speak. It is like even when I hit the ball hard, it still feels soft. Does this make sense?
 
???????

What kind of tip does it have? Is that your normal playing tip? If not you might need a tip change. Is your shaft a Z or P-2 or older version? I've never heard of Predator described that way. I have 8 of the older 314. I have snipers or my version of milk-dud an they all play basically the same. I've hit with Z an I don't think they would work for me. Everybody is different an changing equipment there is always an adjustment period.
Pinocchio
 
314 Shaft

My 314-2 seems to have a softer hit than my old 314 and I find it too mushy so I am not using it as much as I thought I would plus the benefits that I was supposed to be able to get in aiming accuracy are negligable. Are you using the 314-2 or the 314? Just curious about why you want to sort of force yourself to like a shaft if it doesn't feel right to you?
 
314

I'm having a great deal of trouble with the 314 at the moment. I cannot control the cue ball. I switch back to a conventional shaft and play a lot better. It may be that the 314 is not for me. I've used it for about a year, so familiarization should not be a factor now.
 
You know ...i noticed the same thing about a month ago... I love the 314 shaft..i love the low defelction and the fact that i dont have to aim to miss to make a ball..but i love the solid hit of some of my friends custom cues...i purchased a black dot shaft from a guy who was selling it for 50 bucks one night... i never even gave it a try..well about a month ago i just could not stand the soft hit of my 314...i decided what the hell ..i put on the black dot and almost cried tears of joy...the beloved stiff hit that i had been missing was there...and almost the same comfort of low deflection....not quite as error free as the 314 but close. I would have thought the black dot would have been a realy flexy hit like most of their other shafts but it feels solid to me..so i have been using the black dot now.
 
I'm using a 314-2 with a sniper tip and it does feel a little softer than I would like. I'm thinking of having a triangle put on it just to harden it up and see if it makes a difference. Richard what tip are you using?
 
Buzzard said:
My 314-2 seems to have a softer hit than my old 314 and I find it too mushy so I am not using it as much as I thought I would plus the benefits that I was supposed to be able to get in aiming accuracy are negligable. Are you using the 314-2 or the 314? Just curious about why you want to sort of force yourself to like a shaft if it doesn't feel right to you?
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Well, I really just want to know if I am doing it wrong so to speak. I like to give it one last try and I like to be sure it is really not for me.

I can see why it helps to aim straight for certain shots, but the cue ball still swerves if I hit it soft, and I am used to aiming a certain way anyway. So, this aiming benefit is not really that big of a deal to me. I do not understand how it can really be more forgiving. I mean, when I miss, mostly it is because I aim at the wrong spot or I deliver my cue wrong.

I am not a very good player, and I am just trying to be more open minded so I can learn something hopfully.

My biggest concern with the 314 or any shaft is the way it hits and feels. I like a cue whereas I can just let it go through the ball on its own, while giving me many levels of feedback depending on the situation. When I try the 314, I can shoot just fine, but it feels like I am not getting the feedback I expect. It is like shooting into quicksand. I am sorry I am not sure how to describe it. May be I am just crazy...:confused: :) :eek:

I dont think it is the tip. I am using a traingle now. I was using a Moori.

My 314 is custom fitted to my playing cue, so I am not sure what generation. I think it is the ones made before they move to China. Mine does not have the phenolic insert, or the Titan ferrule.
 
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Here are a few situtaions that I can think of to explain what I mean:

When I try to hit the cue ball real soft and draw it back all the way down table, my regular shaft can do that, with me just releasing the cue, with a long follow through. It feels like the cue is doing the work. With the 314, I have to force it a bit more.

When I try to hit an almost full ball table length shot, and stun it over. The 314 feels a bit too soft; when I am using the regular shaft, I can just let the cue follow through the cue ball and it is done. It also feels that it is easier to control how much I want to stun the ball over, because I can feel the shot better. The 314 feels too soft it feels almost like the hit is muffled.

Sometimes, I like to play some slow bottom shots, may be with a bit of side english. The 314 puts tones of spin on the cue ball, and tends to drive it more than I would like. I have problem controlling this kind of shots with the 314. Once again, I feel it is because I cannot really feel the shot as clearly as when I am using the regular shaft. Another thing I have noticed is when I hit it real firm but soft with the 314, I may miscues; when I hit it harder, it is alwasy too much spin.

I sometimes feel like I need a different stroke to use the 314.

Am I crazy? What do you think?
 
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I gave the predator a years chance again and I went back to solid shafts...I hit really soft shots at times and I've watched the predator literally do a slow motion miscue when I used some english...not good IMHO...tip of choice doesn't matter here...the feel factor is gone with a predator aswell...I'll be selling mine and not going back...
 
OK, the reason I switched to a Predator 314 is that I was having problems shooting when using english.

I learned that when I shoot a long shot using english (using regular shaft), the cue ball would not go where I was aiming! This is called cue ball deflection or squirt.

Then I learned about "backhand english". With this, you find the "pivot point" on your cue, which may be 8 to 11 inches back from the tip on a regular cue. This is where you place your bridge hand. To use english, you aim dead center, then move your back hand left/right to apply english while holding your bridge hand still.

This works great! BUT... When the cue ball is near the rail, you can't use a 10 inch bridge!

Then I tried a Predator 314 and found that I could use "front hand english". I could aim dead center, then move my front hand left / right to apply english.

Bingo! Problem solved. I could shoot shots using english with the cue ball anywhere and the cue ball would go where I intended. So I decided that for the long run, the Predator 314 would be the best thing for me.

I also understood that I would be switching from a nickel shaped tip to a dime shaped tip. And I would need to re-learn how to shoot shots when using english.

I would say it took me two years to get comfortable with the Predator 314.

There is no way on earth I could switch back and forth from a regular shaft to a Predator 314. I feel it would mess up my shooting.

I think you should decide one way or the other. Get one specification of cue/shaft/tip/tip shape-hardness, and stick with that forever! I experimented with what was available. Found what would work best for me. Then learned how to use it.

Always same weight cue. Always same shaft (pro or euro taper). Always same shaft diameter at tip (11mm, 12mm, 13mm, etc.). Always same deflection shaft (regular or low deflection).
Always same brand tip. Always same hardness tip. Always same curve on tip.

Once you have a consistent specification of cue, then over time, everything else gets to be more consistent (at least in my case).
 
Hierovision said:
I prefer the z-shaft over the 314 because the taper makes it feel more solid to me... ... although I like the Everest very much.
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Richard, why don't you try Predator's z -shaft and see if you like it? Maybe you could try one out at a billiard supply company near you or maybe you might have an acquaintance that has one you could use.
I use a z-shaft for almost all of my competitive shooting. I have shot some of my best pool using the z with a Lucasi (LE-66) butt. But, I prefer a soft hit as I very rarely have to muscle a ball around the table. The Everest is definitely soft. If you sand/tap the tip you had better be paying attention or half the tip is gonna be gone when you get through.

Maniac
 
X Breaker said:
I have tried the 314 on and off for may be in total 15 months, and so far, I really do not see any ground breaking benefit. even when I hit the ball hard, it still feels soft.
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I doubt anybody can tell you any more that what you have experienced for yourself after 15 months of playing with a 314.

People either love the 314 and feel they can't play a good game without it, or they feel it would destroy their game to continue using the shaft.
 
Gregg said:
I doubt anybody can tell you any more that what you have experienced for yourself after 15 months of playing with a 314.

People either love the 314 and feel they can't play a good game without it, or they feel it would destroy their game to continue using the shaft.
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This is good advice here. You gotta have confidence in the stick you are using and I think, at least in your case, you are not going to have the confidence you need in the 314 shaft. Find something else.

Maniac
 
x-breaker, the problems/concerns you've identified are the same ones that drove me back to using a conventional maple shaft after 6 years of using mostly 314's. I also tried a z-shaft for about a year and a OB-1 for about 2 months trying to find the same "feel" of a conventional shaft. I even tried various tips including Triangle, Elkmaster, Talisman, Moori, Sniper & Everest. Then about a year ago I switched back to a conventional shaft and all is well again. I think the lower deflection of the Predator is OK and did help with some of my inside english shots. But, my overall position play is much more consistent with the standard shaft, and there are some shots I can do with a standard shaft that I could never consistently do with a 314. This isn't a Predator bash at all, just my experience.
 
I've been having the same feelings lately about my 314. It does not feel crisp. This is my 2nd shaft (1st had its ferrule destroyed during retipping). When I received it, it did not feel the same as the first one. I much preferred the first.

I switched my normal shaft on last week and was amazed. Felt so good. I plan to switch back full time soon. I made some major stance and stroke changes recently and want to get solid on them before I change anything else. Scientific like that...
 
i never liked the 314 until i tried tapering it down to about 12 1/4 mm, it seems to hit alot better! much more of the crisp hit you're looking for.......just a suggestion, worked for me, i love mine now!
 
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