In my opinion, nothing 'hits' as well as a well made 1pc shaft.
Those that place performance first, usually select Predator.
KJ,
Well said. I know that the Predator Engineering is not BS and I can prove it works on a table to anyone.
I have found that in marketing my cues that I draw in people that want a very stiff hit. I am very happy with the response so far so I do not want to have my cues be all things to all people. Hence no predator shafts here. I am developing that stiff hit association with my cue and want to work on that nitch market only.
I guess I did go off on Predator a little and I know they make a fine product. Just not for me as I am a traditionalist with pool cues.
Laminated Pie shafts with LD Ends will never replace talent. Talent being equal, I don't think having a Predator or Standard Maple shaft matters a bit.
I see B players in my pool room with the latest 314, Z or whatever flavor they have out there and they still pound the object ball a diamond off into the rail. They are laboring under the fallacy that they can buy a better pool game as that is what Predator is selling at the end of the day. L-Drills, hitting more vertical center ball and playing in tournaments or in action is the way to get better if your fundamentals are not flawed.
Predator promotes that you can use more side english with less compensation on the object ball. The best way to miss a pocket is to put side spin on a ball. It seems to me that approaching the game from a center ball hit with using the minimum amount of side spin is just a better way to do it. When you take all of the side spin variables out, the odds percentage of pocketing a ball goes way up. When you have to spin and compensate the pocket due to position, then you got to think,
"Danger Will Robinson" and be careful.
When Efren and Rudy start using Predator, maybe I will change my mind. I am sure Predator has offered them many enticements to use their equipment but they don't seem to bite for some reason. Who spins the ball more than Efren and who feathers a cut shot better than Rudy?
Rick