I purchased a predator cue and now I understand why they are loved

[Black Cat 5791]

Wow from the Build Up I thought I was going to Read a Glowing Review. Sadly I didn't. I happen to be a big Predator Fan and Supporter, because they work for me. But, alas everything is not for everybody. I will be honest I was originally attracted to Predator because of the Marketing that they are known for. At that time I wasn't a very good player by any means or definition. I had a low end Harvard Cue that was purchased for me as a Christmas Gift, I within 6 Months Upgraded to a $400.00 Lucasi which after playing with for a short time I discovered Predator. I then purchased a Pre Cat 314 which I played with for another year or two, it was after that the Z Shaft came into existence and since I had such a positive gain while playing with the 314 I had to give the Z Shaft a shot and see if the claims were true.

At every stage of my playing career I've stuck with what helped me get better, and Predator has always been there. So for me I won't play with anything else. I have tried OB, Jacoby Edge and a couple of the others out here but I always go back with the Cat.

So I will say this Marketing is Marketing and without it no company will get the notice that they all want, so you can't hate them for that. But, at the end of the day they do make a quality product, that I would say 8 - 9 out of 10 who go that route are indeed happy with their purchase. The same that anyone who plays with or, learned to play with a solid shaft will stand by their own convictions as well. I just know that as mentioned in another post to this thread it was said that they aim 2 ball widths away when applying English. In my world that's banana's, I aim at the ball and apply whatever English is needed on the shot and pull the trigger. Ball goes in Pocket Cue Ball does what it's supposed to on to next shot. No need to compensate.

So I'll end my rant here, I agree with some change the tip and see if that helps.

Black Cat

 

[KMRUNOUT]

I ended up purchasing a black predator p3 with the wrap, a 314-3 shaft, and the predator extension. I am not new to buying cues, but new to predator. To truly understand whether I like certain styles of cues, I have to get them in my hand. No amount of reading helps me, so I pulled the trigger and bought this lightly used cue from one our own here at AZ just a few days ago (thanks again KTMrider for such a seamless transaction, the cue was exactly as described and perfect). I spent about 4 hours with it last night when it was delivered and here are my thoughts.

Marketing -
The predator cat is etched in the metal buttcap, etched in the bumper that accepts the extension, and is lightly printed onto the wrap. Counting the cat on the 314-3 shaft, that's 4 cats on this cue. I think the cue says "P3" just as many times.

Looks can be deceiving -
A generous amount of phenolic, or some other like material coats the entire cue except for the fake leather wrap and it appears to have some kind of glitter or sparkle to it. The uniloc joint is not very inspiring, and I felt myself continually checking it's tightness. I had been reading up on the P3 prior to it's delivery, and it's "30 piece construction" technology to deliver a superb hit. The hit I experience was a very definite ping or even a thud. The kind of thud that awakens the novice player "that's what they mean by dead hit".

Is this a cutting edge cue?
I ended the night wondering where all the money goes into predator. The unsatisfying uniloc joint, a lot of composite materials, and some fancy videos on their website that make you feel good about the cue? Sure the cue was straight and hit the balls, but where was the 700 dollar value at?

In the end- I get it. The warm fuzzies from all that predator goodness are enough to brainwash someone into loving their products. The cue doesn't walk the walk however.

I will have this cue up for sale soon. I have a cue being finished in a few weeks from Pat Diveney that I will be sure to share the pictures of. I can only hope his cue has half as much "technology" as the predator

Before you pass judgement on the cue, get rid of the terrible Predator tip they put on the new 3 series. Get a Kamui or some other nice quality tip on there. NIGHT AND DAY, as far as I'm concerned. I hated the 314-3 shaft when I tried it out twice. Then I tried one with a Kamui on it, and WOW...totally different "animal", so to speak lol.

KMRUNOUT

 

[KMRUNOUT]

Some people like them. Some people don't. That's why I always suggest changing the tip before unloading a cue. It may be a bad tip. It may be a good tip, but the cue doesn't hit to your liking. It's a very cheap "fix" to the problem.

I'm not a fan of any of Tiger's offerings. But again, my opinion only.

I agree with you 100% Shawn. I probably like the Everest the best of Tigers tips, or the Onyx. But honestly the Everest has vastly more feel and performance than the Predator tip. It is just bad. Really dull lifeless hit. Why on earth did they go that route?!?!?

KMRUNOUT

 

[trob]

Thats a good point lol I've had monster cues.. I just don't care about that stuff any more. If that's your thing that's cool but for me I'm just worried about what hits good to me and looks are secondary. I guess thats what happens after playing almost 30 years..

Weird that OP would by a LD cue, and mention everything but the purpose of the cue?

Yeah, it doesn't have real leather or ivory inalys, we get it. It's a $700 cue. Might have been better off just buying a Predator SP then?

What about shooting with English. What about shooting for position going 3 rails using a ton of inside English to spin whitey around the block.

It appears you bought a Predator for all the "wrong" reasons. No wonder you are dissatisfied.

My OB cue makes a kinda of a "thud" sound when I use extreme draw, don't know why, all my shafts do it, but I don't care, the ball goes in hole and whitey comes right back to me It could sound like a cat walking on a hot tin roof, as long as the ball goes in the hole, I don't care what it sounds like.

 

[Bank it]

You've broken the unspoken AZ Golden Rule #1: Never badmouth a cue until after you've unloaded it.

Well perhaps he can still say it hits a ton, the question is a ton of what?

 

[Chopdoc]

At every stage of my playing career I've stuck with what helped me get better, and Predator has always been there.

Interesting. It sounds like you didn't stick with something, you changed it, "upgraded". No?

Times are different. Sure, we seem to have more have technology in the equipment...but we have the magic of internet too. When I was playing there was and had been similar technology. But everything seemed smaller somehow, now the whole world is at our fingertips.

I got my block letter JOSS when I started playing and if I remember correctly I got it for $30 with the Fellini case. I used to drive past Paul Mottey's shop on my way to work every day. I was a college student, worked, and payed pool. I saw pool as a second job. The only upgrade I really considered was a Mottey cue. Of course I regret not having bought one back in the eighties but I was not willing to give up my JOSS and I didn't have money to throw at more cues. Mottey offered to buy my JOSS when he saw it and he offered me a nice deal on a trade-in. He was still working on other maker's cues at that time but that changed.

There was mainly Meucci and McDermott with a smattering of other stuff when you walked into a room back then. When I walked in with that Fellini and pulled out the JOSS I could almost feel people watching me. For some reason I liked that.

It's kind of strange now. There is no big brand logo on the JOSS and I have found myself more than once explaining what it was to a pretty decent player who was using something like a Predator. That just seems so odd to me.

Yes, times have changed. Maybe I cling to the past. But I think there is something more. I don't think I ever came close to playing as well as my JOSS was capable of. That being the case I didn't really consider something "better" to help my game. There seems to have been a bit of a change in this regard. People focus more on that matter now.

There was technology. Cored cues. Laminated shafts. Different kinds of joint inserts and pin materials. It had all been done. But times were different. I think somehow we saw the equipment differently. Of course, maybe that was just me, others may have a very different perspective.

Play what you like and like what you play. :smile:


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