Done with Predator

So far, so good..

I have a Z2 that I have been playing with for about 4yrs. now, and I have no issues currently ,thats not to say none will arise..

I am however dissapointed in Predator and Mezz warranties , I think they should at least have a 1year or more guarantee against warpage..
 
Various Predator shafts

scsuxci said:
I don't care what cue or shaft someone uses but if it makes the game easier for you and more enjoyable then use it.Now that said, its no secret that Predator shafts are the most used LD shaft in the world,that would lead me to believe that if you take the science,marketing,tests, and all the mumbo jumbo out of it,from pros to amateurs seem to enjoy and feel comfortable playing with one.
I've heard the debate that Mosconi,Efren and many others have won without a Predator and have done some amazing feats of pool but again
that should not put a dark cloud over the countless amount of champs that have won with a Predator.As far as I know in the past 10 years most of the biggest titles and tournaments, have been won using Predator products.
Even if I didn't like Predator,it would be hard for me to debate they don't
work,due to their success rate.
Click to expand...

Well said. Also liked the Thaiger's last post.
As I understand it in the Blue Book, Predator's first shaft was the non-laminated Clawson shaft that had the "hollow point" which they say was the real secret. That shaft had no logo.
Next came a six-piece shaft with no logo. They experimented with six pie slices, eight, ten and twelve, settling finally on the ten-piece, with the small print 314 on the shaft.
Their "improved" version (material-wise) was the small print 314 and the cat logo, which was the first Predator shaft I owned. I put it on an older Huebler and led three leagues in individual average that season.
Then they apparently began having their shafts made overseas and added the "2" to the logo.
I've owned all these models and an original Z shaft, but not the Z2 or the "Fat" shaft.
I personally like the way the old shafts play. My favorite is probably the original pre-cat 314, followed by the no logo, and the 314 cat.
I've owned ten different shafts and eight complete Pred cues. I think the best hitter may have been the green-point, wood joint SP (with the LePro tip), though I think they all play well.
My current player is an '87 Joss with the 314 (Moori M), but I also love playing with an old Abe Rich (unknown tip).
I've also tried a variety of tips, and can't really choose a clear favorite. I lean towards the Moori, Sniper, Emerald and Kamui. But then again my best years were playing with LePros (1980-1995)!
Does that confuse you enough?
By the way, I currently own a gorgeous, MINT condition Level 3 LE5 (1997) that's for sale...

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
 
softshot said:
uh huh... so let me get this straight..

you have a new magic shaft...

with a new magic tip..

and new miracle chalk..

and a fool proof magic aiming system...

why haven't you won the US open?

could the reason be..... the same old shitty stroke you have always had???

you should get a good instructor and solve the actual problem..:rolleyes::rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I get that you don't like the predator product or marketing. You do have to give the them and Billy Mays some props in the marketing department :rolleyes: Actually, I think once you get used to a shaft it doesn't really matter what you use. The player will make the necessary adjustments over time. Getting better is a process and a predator is a tool which may or may not help you get better i.e. aiming systems.

There are two reasons that I like predator products. One, is that I like a softer/quieter hit. Two, I like the way the cueball reacts using inside english. It's a personal preference, that's all. Everyone looks for the magic pill to improve but just like losing weight there really isn't one. It takes dedication, desire, deliberate practice, time, etc.
 
original Predator 314
never had a problem
plays awesome
hard Triangle tips soon to be Talisman Hard
take good care of the cue and shaft and it will never give you a problem
DO NOT BREAK with A PREDATOR
 
Donny Lutz said:
Well said. Also liked the Thaiger's last post.
As I understand it in the Blue Book, Predator's first shaft was the non-laminated Clawson shaft that had the "hollow point" which they say was the real secret. That shaft had no logo.
Next came a six-piece shaft with no logo. They experimented with six pie slices, eight, ten and twelve, settling finally on the ten-piece, with the small print 314 on the shaft.
Their "improved" version (material-wise) was the small print 314 and the cat logo, which was the first Predator shaft I owned. I put it on an older Huebler and led three leagues in individual average that season.
Then they apparently began having their shafts made overseas and added the "2" to the logo.
I've owned all these models and an original Z shaft, but not the Z2 or the "Fat" shaft.
I personally like the way the old shafts play. My favorite is probably the original pre-cat 314, followed by the no logo, and the 314 cat.
I've owned ten different shafts and eight complete Pred cues. I think the best hitter may have been the green-point, wood joint SP (with the LePro tip), though I think they all play well.
My current player is an '87 Joss with the 314 (Moori M), but I also love playing with an old Abe Rich (unknown tip).
I've also tried a variety of tips, and can't really choose a clear favorite. I lean towards the Moori, Sniper, Emerald and Kamui. But then again my best years were playing with LePros (1980-1995)!
Does that confuse you enough?
By the way, I currently own a gorgeous, MINT condition Level 3 LE5 (1997) that's for sale...

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
Click to expand...
I remember talking to a guy that was curious about the older 314 shafts with and without the cat.The only difference between them was only the Cat symbol,the materials were exactly the same as the shafts without the Cat symbol.A rep from Predator told me years ago that they added the" Cat" for Marketing purposes.If people were watching a match on TV they could spot the Cat symbol quite easily and know what the player was using.Until the big move they changed the materials.I think as a Tribute, Predator should put out a run of their old shafts using all the original materials.Personally I think it would sell out pretty darn quick.I agree with you about Lepros ,if you can find a good one there an awesome tip to play with!
 
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Off topic...

SUPERSTAR said:
How did the OP not liking the predator warranty turn into whether predators work or not?
Click to expand...

Because our "superior" human minds tend to wander off topic rather easily. I'm as guilty as anyone!
But regarding the warping, my Pred (and other) shafts will sometimes show a bit of a roll that appears and disappears with changes in humidity.

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
 
Donny Lutz said:
Because our "superior" human minds tend to wander off topic rather easily. I'm as guilty as anyone!
But regarding the warping, my Pred (and other) shafts will sometimes show a bit of a roll that appears and disappears with changes in humidity.

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
Click to expand...

That's understandable.
I just mentioned the regular wood shaft, cause you don't have to deal with the delamination, exploding/fracturing front of shaft issues.

Add to that that there isn't anything you can do with an LD shaft, that you can't do with a regular shaft.
That is not to say that LD shafts don't work or are junk. Not at all.

But the way some people are reacting, it seems like they want to actually MATE with a predator shaft and bear it's children.:rolleyes:
 
SUPERSTAR said:
That's understandable.
I just mentioned the regular wood shaft, cause you don't have to deal with the delamination, exploding/fracturing front of shaft issues.

Add to that that there isn't anything you can do with an LD shaft, that you can't do with a regular shaft.
That is not to say that LD shafts don't work or are junk. Not at all.

But the way some people are reacting, it seems like they want to actually MATE with a predator shaft and bear it's children.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^

An old teammate of mine uses nothing but Predator cues. He swears by them.
Another teammate won't use anything but the shaft that comes with the cue.

I was using a 1st gen 314 shaft on my McDermott until my knee surgery. After a few months of not playing, I've found myself going back to the original shaft that came with my cue. I don't have an answer as to why, but with the original shaft, the cue feels... 'right' is the only word I can come up with, if it makes sense...
Just had a Kamui put on the original shaft, and I haven't looked back.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess...
 
5 - 314s

I have five 314 shafts. Different joints on different cues for up to 3 years now. I have never had a problem.

As a point of interest. I recently bought a new cue and to my surprise the solid wood shafts play exactly as the 314s do, even when applying high english. The solids do have a shorter farrell but I don't know about the internal construction under the farrells.

I'm trying to get in touch with the cue maker to find out specifics. The solids hit firmer but are LD in nature.

A nice lanyap!
 
poolhustler said:
Interesting thread and responses. I have been using pre cat 314's for about 5 or so years now, maybe longer and have no issues whatsoever. I break with my playing cue alot also. I guess I am lucky and should count my blessings!!

OP - Please let us know how you like you Tiger, I have heard really good things about them also and may try one out.

Best,

Russ...
Click to expand...

You're probably using one of the older ones before their quality went in the crapper.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
You're probably using one of the older ones before their quality went in the crapper.
Click to expand...

That part I may have to agree with... I have heard stories from several repair guys about the new ones not having enough glue to keep the ferrule from coming loose among other issues....

I have yet to have any problem with their warranty tho.... I have owned a ton of their shafts over the years and I exploded 2 of the originals breaking with them which they promptly replaced...... I have had ferrules come loose on recent models but that was easily fixed by a local repair guy for cheap....

I really wish they hadn't moved production to Asia but that's what happen in the US today... Hard to operate a manufacturing company on our soil....

Props to Royce and OB for keeping their manufacturing here in the states... If I ever find a leather tip I like again the OB Classic Pro will likely be my new choice of shaft....
 
SUPERSTAR said:
How did the OP not liking the predator warranty turn into whether predators work or not?
Click to expand...
Actually I thought he said he was venting which also gives us an opening to talk about our pool addictions,shaft additions and anything else that involves pool.I think there's so many guys on this site addicted to the game that when were all done giving our opinions,we forgot what the hell the question was in the first place:smile:
 
Been done.

I am a reasonable man, I realize the shaft has to be made of liter material on the end, but they did offer a warranty. The ferrule blew out twice and the quick release joint wouldn't hold. After the second cracked ferrule they voided my warranty because my shaft had been turned too much. Huh? I never put paper to that shaft. I moved over to a Cuetec R360 and have shot with it without issues for a longer time than both predator 314's combined. I even break with it and hit carom balls with it. What got me the most about Predator was their really crappy, false reason to void my warranty.
 
My buddy got a z2, both the butt and the shaft developed a serious warp.

Originally they weren't going to cover it, but one of our mutual friends is a former predator dealer and basically browbeat the guy who sold him the cue into replacing it free of charge.

The customer we're talking about is religious about caring for his cues... I tell him "go ahead and leave it in the car overnight, it'll be fine" but he's the kind of guy who brings it with him into restaurants to make sure it doesn't sit in a hot car for even an hour.

Not saying all predators are bad, this was just bad luck I guess, but the thing was like 8 months old and they won't replace it?! I couldn't create that kind of warp with salt water and a blowdryer.
 
Preds

I have four 314 shafts, 3 are the older models the other a 314-Z2. I have never had a problem with any of them. I always break with my playing cues. Why pay several hundred dollars for a cue and be afraid to break with it. If they are that fragile I will play with a one piece cue.

Later
 
To the best of my knowledge the older 314s were made in the US with shaft wood supplied by Bill Dominiak of Cue Stock Inc. and Dominiak Cues. I had along conversation with him about Predator going to China not too long ago.
Recently I've seen a number of players at my local pool hall with new Predator shafts that have ferrule cracks that run parallel to the tip.. as in like a ring around the ferrule. A Predator rep at the SBE told my friend this was "damage." Apparently 3 or 4 guys have "damaged" their ferrules; I'm not impressed anymore! After using Predator products for the last 6 years or so I'm switching to a Jacoby Edge hybrid
 
fathomblue said:
Let us know how the Tiger Ultra X LD plays. I'm always on the look out for something that performs well.
Click to expand...

I've been using Tiger shafts for about 5 or 6 years now. They are awesome shafts. My 1st Tiger shaft is as playable as the day I bought it. I now have 7 Tiger shafts including the Icebreaker shaft that I use on my custom TNT j/b. Did I mention, the Sniper tip these shafts come with is the best tip you can buy!
 
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