If you have tried both: Predator vs OB

Please vote ONLY IF you have tried both. You can select more than one answer. Thx

  • I prefer the 314-2 to the OB1

    Votes: 21 27.6%
  • I prefer the OB1 to the 314-2

    Votes: 33 43.4%
  • I prefer the Z2 to the OB2

    Votes: 12 15.8%
  • I prefer the OB2 to the Z2

    Votes: 20 26.3%
  • I prefer the 314-2 to the Z2

    Votes: 11 14.5%
  • I prefer the Z2 to the 314-2

    Votes: 10 13.2%
  • I prefer the OB1 to the OB2

    Votes: 8 10.5%
  • I prefer the OB2 to the OB1

    Votes: 15 19.7%

  • Total voters
    76
I have owned both and now only own an OB2. I feel the OB2 has better construction, better customer service and and an overall better/solid hit. Under normal usage I have broken 2 Z2 ferrules. It's probably a design flaw as I have seen other complaints regarding their ferrules.
 
Predator. The word that I would use to describe the OB hit is, "spongey." Just felt that way. Disclosure: I have been playing with Predator shafts for about 5 years, and spent less than a half an hour with the OB-1 shaft. The only thing that I can probably conclude after this trial is that it feels different than a Predator, nothing more.
 
I have used both but the predator I have is a precat 314. I haven't used anything other than that from predator and I have to say, I prefer the hit of the OB-1 over the predator. It's weird though because some things I can do better with the predator and some things I can do better with the OB-1.

A question like this is very subjective though. You are going to get a lot of both.
 
Predator or OB

I have tried them both and prefer the OB by a small margin.Both are great and a matter of personal preference.I have had a little less deflection with the OB2 than my old 314.Both of the companies are improving shaft technology faster than hell.It is good to have both of them battling out.
 
I owned 2 OB1 shafts, one of them played as good as any shaft i've ever played with, but the other OB1 was kind of stiff and it didn't feel good to me.

I played with Predator 314 and 314-2 shafts before I got the OB1 shafts and after a trial period I decided to stick with my Predator shafts and I sold the OB1 shafts. I have Predator shafts for each of my cues and I like the 314-2 models the best.

James
 
I've owned both, and sold my predator to help pay for the second OB. It just seems to fit my game, my feel, my preferences better.
 
Hello,

I have owned both the OB-1 and the 314-2 and the most notable differences are that the OB-1 is more flexible and the hit is softer. That may or may not matter to your game. The 11.75mm tip diameter version of the said brands worries me some, so I have not tried them. I feel an hour or so with either shaft may prove to be deceiving and would need a week or so to really judge whether they improve or hinder my game. There is no one to lend me such an expensive shaft for that amount of time. I would still love to try the OBreak and Bk2 shafts as players because they are stiffer and still at 12.75-13mm diameter. The 13.20mm of my 314 Fat may be a little unnecessary.
 
I have stated before, and I will gladly say again that the OB-2 is the best hitting shaft on the market in my opinion. I gave my cue to my local cuemaker to do some work on it today and I had to use my old sneaky pete. I missed the shit out of my ob2 shaft and couldn't play half my normal speed.

I can do certain shots with my ob2 that I cannot possibly do with my standard shaft.
 
I've played with both and found that I like the predator 314-2 shaft the most. I found the OB1 to be a bit too whippy for my taste. A buddy of mine gave me an OB1 to play with and after about a week playing every day I gave it right back. Don't get me wrong, though... I was able to get the cue ball to almost dance around the table, but to me it felt like I was cheating.

Personally, I play with more confidence using a standard shaft with a straight taper.
 
I like a crisp hit. The OB shaft I bought felt VERY spongy or mushy at contact. I tried everything and ruined the shaft in the process.

I much prefer the Z2 with a Super Pro tip.
 
I've tried all the shafts in the poll. I have settled on (and am very happy with) the OB-2. Much stiffer feel than the OB-1, and much more feel/feedback than I ever got from the Predators.
 
I've used predator for years.

A 314-2 for the last several years.

I purchased a 314-6 model Predator cue in superb condition with original Pre-Cat shaft/moori tip. It plays great, but I must say that I like the 314-2 shaft better. In fact, I just got off the phone from ordering a 314-2 w/ moori for this cue.

I don't like the Z shaft because it is just too skinny for me. I jar everything, LOL.

I owned an OB1 and, well,...didn't like it as well as the Predator. Now, I could definitely get used to it and play with it, but since I can buy a Predator 314-2, I stick with that.

They're both great companies that make good products and I think you could get used to and enjoy either one.
 
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