Fred Agnir not liking Predator anymore

whitewolf

whitewolf

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
:D I browse CCB but refuse to post there, but have any of you read Fred's post about him not liking the Predator shaft anymore?

Then the sh*tload of posters jumping in to say they have pitched their Predator in the trash can - citing things like it is for beginners. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! Heh, I like the Predator cue, the way it hits - period - I just don't like how light it is. That is where I stand.

I get headaches when I read all of this left brain stuff. I respect what some have to say and only wish I could be analytical too.

If you want some good laughs go read the thread.

Heh Fred, did Predator do something to piss you off???!!!! Just teasing you Fred. Don't get me wrong - I love to read your posts.

Actually, now I am using a very light old Falcon cue (when they used to be good) with a Predator shaft, and I love it. Does this mean I am going to go downhill like everyone on the CCB did? :D

Scared sh*tless, WW
 
I read the posts. I'm planning on buying a Predator Z shaft to try it. The posts did not change my mind any.

I think it is best to try things myself. Then I learn more. Although this can get to be expensive, I think it is best in the long run.

I have tried products in the past which people said were good and they turned out to be bad. And I have tried products which people said were bad and they turned out to be good.

I switched cues in the past and needed two months to re-learn how to shoot. So I would expect the same with a Predator shaft.
 
whitewolf said:
:D I browse CCB but refuse to post there, but have any of you read Fred's post about him not liking the Predator shaft anymore?

Then the sh*tload of posters jumping in to say they have pitched their Predator in the trash can - citing things like it is for beginners. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! Heh, I like the Predator cue, the way it hits - period - I just don't like how light it is. That is where I stand.

Heh Fred, did Predator do something to piss you off???!!!! Just teasing you Fred. Don't get me wrong - I love to read your posts
Click to expand...


Hmmm....sounds like some pretty knowledgeable posts to me. I think what you need to do is go on RSB and do an archives search on "Fred Agnir predator". They go all the way back starting around 97 or 98 and I think you'll see his initial thoughts about a Predator, his thinking while he had one, and now. While he had a Predator he was as die hard as anyone and wouldn't part with it, contrary to his initial feelings about them prior to ownership. I'm sure after over a year and a half of uninterrupted usage he has given himself and the shaft plenty of time under fire. Obviously, many players like himself on CCB feel the same way. I don't read or post there, but my hat would be thrown into the pile with the naysayers and more than likely for their exact reasons. (and maybe more) Good luck and the best of shooting to you with it. (while it lasts)
 
I tried a Predator and did not care for it. I think the Predator is ok for some people but, not everyone. I now shoot with a slightly whippy shaft and I do ok with it. I think the reason for this is stroke mechanics. A person with a finely tuned stroke will probebly prefer a Predator. jmo
 
I gave a predator shaft a try. Any time I used more than a little english, which is a lot of the time (I spin them in all the time) it felt like a miss cue. I knew from the result that it wasn't a miss cue, but it felt like I did. Couldn't stand it.
 
CaptainJR said:
I gave a predator shaft a try. Any time I used more than a little english, which is a lot of the time (I spin them in all the time) it felt like a miss cue. I knew from the result that it wasn't a miss cue, but it felt like I did. Couldn't stand it.
Click to expand...
Did you try replacing the tip? Often the tip has more influence on how a shot feels than the shaft.
 
whitewolf said:
:Heh Fred, did Predator do something to piss you off???!!!! Just teasing you Fred. Don't get me wrong - I love to read your posts.


Scared sh*tless, WW
Click to expand...


Fred does have an account here and may chime in, but I can say for a fact Predator didn't piss him off, Fred put more time and effort into trying to make that change then anyone else I've ever met. From day 1 I told him it was a bad move, I think to relearn something you've spent 10+ years learning only to get back to where you were without any proof that you may improve is a dumb idea. But Fred has tried more then one new tech shaft and has given it more then enough time to pan out. I didn't jump in and bash the predator shafts on CCB, but I do think it's an overrated topic when it comes to giving the shaft so much credit.

Jim
 
whitewolf said:
Heh Fred, did Predator do something to piss you off???!!!! Just teasing you Fred. Don't get me wrong - I love to read your posts.

Actually, now I am using a very light old Falcon cue (when they used to be good) with a Predator shaft, and I love it. Does this mean I am going to go downhill like everyone on the CCB did? :D

Scared sh*tless, WW
Click to expand...
I've had my say about low squirt shafts before I owned one. I thought that it would be fair to give them a fair shake rather so that my opinion would carry more weight.

I've got nothing bad to say about Predator. I tried it. I liked it. It did as advertised. After a year and a half, I can't overcome the difference in action. As I said in my other post, I still won tournaments and still have a high rating (I'm an SL-8, if anyone cares)), but I hadn't got back to the feeling of play since before I started with the Predator shaft. Now I switched back, and the world is back to where my body feels it should be.

If anyone would like to read the post, it's here

I think I've been consistent in my feelings toward Predator. I first tried their initial model in 1994 or 1995. I gave it an ample tryout for the past year and a half. I have no regrets at the results. It was a good experiment.

Fred
 
Just my 2 cents on a predator. I played with one for 4 years. I finally got to the point where i wanted more finesse on the cue and i didnt have it with the predator.i couldnt play with any other cue after playing so long with predator. sold it so as not to be tempted to revert to the dark side lol. i finally settled on a coker. last week i played in a s.e. tour tournament after having coker for 1 month. finished 9-12. not as high as i would like. during tournament i was down 3-2 in one set. opponent broke and came up empty. ran rack and proceed to break and run 4 racks. since getting rid of predator my game has improved 2 balls. each person will have a different opinion on different cues but for me i can do more creative shots with a little more deflection. just my 2 cents.
 
I wonder if any of the above former and current predator users are going to give the new McDermott shaft a try? I am giving it some thought (I have played with a 314 for about two years)and Blud seems to be impressed with McDermott's new line also. I personally like the idea of new products and innovations for the industry whether or not is the cureall for someones particular game.
You never know till you try..
Dan
 
Well, I am not surprised really. Search "Celtic predator" and you will see I never gave in to the predator hype. You loose a ton of shots with those shafts. They really are a beginner cue, a cue with training wheels. You can aim closer to the contact point when using english but you lose the ability for so many shots, especially the slightly jacked up masse and partial ball jumps. Plus there is something to being able to angle the cueball into the shot on many shots when you want to change the cueball path. The 90 degree angle cut off the end rail is worlds easier to make with a non-predator cue if you know the deflection of the cue because the cueball actually comes in at a better angle due to the squirt.
 
Billy_Bob said:
I read the posts. I'm planning on buying a Predator Z shaft to try it. The posts did not change my mind any.

QUOTE]
Bob, have you tried it yet?
I don't know anyone who can play with that taper.
Click to expand...
 
I can play with the Z taper just fine. In my opinion, it doesn't impede my stroke at all. It is nowhere near as severe as a billiard cue is.

I have a McDermott shaft on order. I was told 3 weeks though (: I ordered the thinnest one that is most like the Predator Z.
 
i bought a predator shaft for my cue some time ago..........after about a month i wanted to use it for firewood ( and almost did several times). but i took it to a local cuemaker and had him fit it with an ivory ferrule.....now i wouldn't trade it for the world. if anyone has any 5/16 x 14 predator shafts that they want to sell i might be able to take them off their hands. also if anyone tries and doesn't like the mcdermott shafts in the same size i'd be interested as well.
 
What does an ivory ferrule do other than provide a softer hit? :confused:
vapoolplayer said:
i bought a predator shaft for my cue some time ago..........after about a month i wanted to use it for firewood ( and almost did several times). but i took it to a local cuemaker and had him fit it with an ivory ferrule.....now i wouldn't trade it for the world. if anyone has any 5/16 x 14 predator shafts that they want to sell i might be able to take them off their hands. also if anyone tries and doesn't like the mcdermott shafts in the same size i'd be interested as well.
Click to expand...
 
well for me i hated the hit at first. also, they use that short stubby ferrule........and the way i aim involes breaking the ferrule down into sections. so the ivory ferrule did two things for me......one it improved the hit (for me that is) and two, i got a 1 inch ferrule instead of that stub which allowed me to aim alot better. other than that it doesn't do anything.
 
cut shot said:
What does an ivory ferrule do other than provide a softer hit? :confused:
Click to expand...
Ivory is denser than the ferrule material Predator uses, so the front of the stick will weigh more and have more squirt.

In addition, ivory is easier to keep clean than the Predator material.
 
its probably does have more squirt, but i haven't noticed a big difference. although this might be why i started liking the shaft, it could have given me a happy medium between a high squirt and low squirt.....all i know is it works for me :cool:


and its ALOT easier to keep clean
 
I started playing pool with a normal wood shaft. Then I tried the Meucci red dot. Thought I liked it before it warped on me. Then I tried Predator. Thought it was the greatest shaft in the world. Now after having used Capone, SW, and now Coker, I think a non-splied shaft feel more solid and provide more feedback than does a Predator. It is easier to draw the cueball with a Predator though, but not with the same kind of control.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Ivory is denser than the ferrule material Predator uses, so the front of the stick will weigh more and have more squirt.
Click to expand...


To the unknowing, one might take that broad statement to mean that the CB gets out of control and you have no idea what's going to happen. The squirt fanatics never say "how much more" because it can't really be measured accurately nor does it amount to a hill of beans.

All of this from an instructor that would like to see all of his newbie students playing with a Predator shaft asap into their pool life. (a quote by him) (no bias here) :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top