It came in the mail today at work, and on my lunch I went to hit a few (I bring my cues to work).
I tested back to back shots comparing my 314 (12.75 mm, Sniper tip) and the new Universal Smart Shaft (USS; 12.75 mm, Moori tip). [note: I ordered the low squirt model]
So a few quick words:
The hit / feedback is a world apart from the Predator. The 314 has that "dingy" sort of feel to it; the vibration definitely makes it down the shaft which some people really don't like. The USS doesn't feel anything like this. Since a shaft's 'hit' is subjective I'll avoid characterizing it as "firm" or whatever. All I can say is that it definitely vibrates much less and for me had a more substantial feel.
My impression was that it had the playable characteristics of a 314 shaft (squirt, etc.) but felt like a good maple shaft.
I did a few simple english shots (2 tips english, firm stroke) and it made the cue squirt the same as my 314 shaft. I didn't have to perform any adjustments for english / squirt. Definitely reduces squirt, at least on par with the 314. I'll do more in-depth measurements when I get the time.
A note on the shaft itself: the wood is so much nicer than the 314. Everyone I know who shoots with a 314 complains that the shaft wood is cheap. It looks cheap, it feels cheap, and it dings oh so easily. I don't know how, but dings seem to appear on every 314 shaft I've seen regardless of the player.
The USS had grade A maple, instead of what I assume are the rejects that Predator uses for its shafts. I'm definitely pleased with the quality / finish of the shaft.
The ferrule is nice and white on the USS; 314 owners know how soft and dirty the 314 ferrules get. Hopefully the USS ferrule will stay clean as they promise.
That's all for now. I guess I'm just backing up the statements / claims people have made so far. Feels great, high quality, less vibration, and reduced squirt. I'm sold on it so far. I've always liked my 314 shafts, but now I finally have something that I prefer over them. And as trivial as it may sound, I'm also quite pleased that the wood is of nicer quality. I don't know how much it affects playability, but if I'm going to spend $229 on a piece of wood I want it to be nice.
One last tid bit for people concerned about weight:
314: 3.9 oz
USS: 4.6 oz
Spare Players sneaky pete shaft: 4.3 oz
(all weighed on a digital postal scale)
Interesting that it weighs considerably more than the 314 and my break cue's shaft (sneaky pete, le pro tip, 12.9 mm). The balance point of the shaft is slightly rearward (approx 1") compared to the 314. Perhaps this is due to the pezioelectronic fabric in the end, but I don't think 1" is enough to justify an 18% incease in weight overall. This would seem to suggest that it has more end mass as compared to the 314 (or perhaps more dense wood overall). I'll do more investigation on this later, and how it affects squirt.
I tested back to back shots comparing my 314 (12.75 mm, Sniper tip) and the new Universal Smart Shaft (USS; 12.75 mm, Moori tip). [note: I ordered the low squirt model]
So a few quick words:
The hit / feedback is a world apart from the Predator. The 314 has that "dingy" sort of feel to it; the vibration definitely makes it down the shaft which some people really don't like. The USS doesn't feel anything like this. Since a shaft's 'hit' is subjective I'll avoid characterizing it as "firm" or whatever. All I can say is that it definitely vibrates much less and for me had a more substantial feel.
My impression was that it had the playable characteristics of a 314 shaft (squirt, etc.) but felt like a good maple shaft.
I did a few simple english shots (2 tips english, firm stroke) and it made the cue squirt the same as my 314 shaft. I didn't have to perform any adjustments for english / squirt. Definitely reduces squirt, at least on par with the 314. I'll do more in-depth measurements when I get the time.
A note on the shaft itself: the wood is so much nicer than the 314. Everyone I know who shoots with a 314 complains that the shaft wood is cheap. It looks cheap, it feels cheap, and it dings oh so easily. I don't know how, but dings seem to appear on every 314 shaft I've seen regardless of the player.
The USS had grade A maple, instead of what I assume are the rejects that Predator uses for its shafts. I'm definitely pleased with the quality / finish of the shaft.
The ferrule is nice and white on the USS; 314 owners know how soft and dirty the 314 ferrules get. Hopefully the USS ferrule will stay clean as they promise.
That's all for now. I guess I'm just backing up the statements / claims people have made so far. Feels great, high quality, less vibration, and reduced squirt. I'm sold on it so far. I've always liked my 314 shafts, but now I finally have something that I prefer over them. And as trivial as it may sound, I'm also quite pleased that the wood is of nicer quality. I don't know how much it affects playability, but if I'm going to spend $229 on a piece of wood I want it to be nice.
One last tid bit for people concerned about weight:
314: 3.9 oz
USS: 4.6 oz
Spare Players sneaky pete shaft: 4.3 oz
(all weighed on a digital postal scale)
Interesting that it weighs considerably more than the 314 and my break cue's shaft (sneaky pete, le pro tip, 12.9 mm). The balance point of the shaft is slightly rearward (approx 1") compared to the 314. Perhaps this is due to the pezioelectronic fabric in the end, but I don't think 1" is enough to justify an 18% incease in weight overall. This would seem to suggest that it has more end mass as compared to the 314 (or perhaps more dense wood overall). I'll do more investigation on this later, and how it affects squirt.
