Is Predator exaggerating?...

[spoons]

....or do all of the pros listed on Predator's website actually play with Predator shafts?

I could see a scenario where Predator asked each of those people to try them out, and many of those players have since moved on even though Predator still uses their names for marketing purposes....

With personal preference being generally agreed to be the determining factor in equipment selection, it just seems pretty unlikely to me that all of those names use the same shaft.

Anyone know anything about this?

 

[bigshooter]

I think they built their entire business by exaggeration, they convinced the public to pay several hundred dollars for a Chinese made pool cue.

Just MHO.

Edit: Not saying its not a good product but marketing was/is a big part.

 

[dbyap]

some of them probably uses the BK break cues - I know Branden Ashcraft uses one

 

[hang-the-9]

I have been checking on matches, and if you look at the shafts, there are many that have the little 314 logo by the joint. Now granted sometimes it's hard to see exacty what's there, but the size and shape of the logo looks like the predator one to me. It actually suprized me how many pros use a non-regular shaft. Buddy Hall, one who I surely would expect to use a regular shaft, has one from what I could see in some of his matches.

 

[soulcatcher]

I have seen lists of pro players cues. There was a pretty long list that had Predator shafts on them Mostly 314s. There have been threads on here, and I believe TAR forums have had similar threads.

 

[TXsouthpaw]

I have been checking on matches, and if you look at the shafts, there are many that have the little 314 logo by the joint. Now granted sometimes it's hard to see exacty what's there, but the size and shape of the logo looks like the predator one to me. It actually suprized me how many pros use a non-regular shaft. Buddy Hall, one who I surely would expect to use a regular shaft, has one from what I could see in some of his matches.

could just be a 314 sticker on a regular shaft. I heard somewhere that tiger woods clubs arent all nike but that they all have nike checks on them because theyre his sponsor. Predator could be doing the same thing. They are good at marketing gimmicks

just an idea.

 

[StevenPWaldon]

Predator only sponsors about a half dozen players. Off the top of my head, I can think of Charlie Williams, Gerda Hofstatter, Jasmin Ouschan, Jennifer Barretta.

There's no one out there putting a 314 stick on their shaft to fool people into thinking it's a Predator. If there's a 314, it's a Predator.

could just be a 314 sticker on a regular shaft. I heard somewhere that tiger woods clubs arent all nike but that they all have nike checks on them because theyre his sponsor. Predator could be doing the same thing. They are good at marketing gimmicks

just an idea.

 

[TXsouthpaw]

Predator only sponsors about a half dozen players. Off the top of my head, I can think of Charlie Williams, Gerda Hofstatter, Jasmin Ouschan, Jennifer Barretta.

There's no one out there putting a 314 stick on their shaft to fool people into thinking it's a Predator. If there's a 314, it's a Predator.

i was just throwin it out there Everyplayer in the tourney using a predator shaft does seem a little unlikely.

 

[HeLLFiSH]

The webpage is a bit outdated. It also does not list what equipment they specifically use from Predator, for what purpose. Alex Pagulayan uses Mezz low deflection Shaft now. Read somewhere that Chia Ching Wu uses SW cue as a player and a Joss with 314 shaft to break. They still have Liz Ford listed under her maiden name. I heard from one pro player listed on the page, not naming who, that Predator gave him special edition cue, made by Mezz, and he didnt like the shaft so he had it changed with a single piece maple shaft with matching ring and ferrule size. Technically he still uses predator, the butt just not the shaft, he still uses the BK2 also given to him compliments of Predator.

 

[Nineballchamp]

Predator

While watching the International Challenge of Champions, I counted 5 people using the shafts. Like a nerd, I paused the DVR to review the cues frame by frame.