Is Predator's move into every aspect of pro billiards really a good thing?

I like that there's another big event but they really need to tone down the propaganda about how great their tables play!! That's something that I'd pay a lot more attention to the more unbiased opinions on here! I really like bank pool but an event like they have should be spaced 6 months apart from the Derby not 1 and they need to space out mixed doubles from Ultimate Pool. Also would like to see ADS showing the entire event schedule so it's not just randomly popping up on youtube.
Propaganda?

No it shouldn't be spaced out. They've had that time block for years now. What there should be is an event like this every other month.

What the F is Ultimate Pool?
 
Hey if their products are really that good, then I guess it is only good.

I really don't like 2 things I see with the 'new' format now though:

1. Ridiculously short shot clocks.
2. Super short sets.

I think both impact the quality, and the scope and range of play, particularly the super short shot clock, which severely impacts what players can do. Now they can only shoot shots that require little or no thought. It is like quantity over quality, and the game is now "Speed Pool'.

I would like to see long sets (9-11 games, or even up to 15 or more for finals), or multiple 6-7 game sets, 2 out of 3). And for the shot clock:

A 45-60 sec shot clock, 90 seconds after the break, with TWO 30 second extensions per game. This what I would like to see. Especially for 8 ball.
 
Well, it seems like a great thing now for sure. I just hope we don't wind-up like that old movie... the one where Stallone goes to the future, and finds out that, in the future, all restaurants are Taco Bell. LOL
 
You’ve been bashing them since you joined this site years ago. Their products are excellent.

Based on what? They never back up their marketing claims.

BTW, look up the definition of 'mediocre'. It isn't 'bad' it is derived from the same word as 'median', which can mean 'average'. They aren't any better or any worse than the average cue, but they tend to be expensive in comparison.
 
I spent 30-something hours on Predator Apex tables last week. They are far more satisfying to play on than the Diamonds I use in two leagues every week. Banks are natural, requiring no "Diamond compensation" to hit the pocket because the rails are correct. You can make sharp cuts to the pockets without fear of the Diamond rattle because the shelves are correct. I watched them switch an entire rail-set from 4 1/2" pockets to 4 1/8" in less than ten minutes. The leveling system seems pretty well designed too.

I know she's biased, but Jasmin Ouschan likes the tables immensely. Alex Pagulayan agreed.

Maybe making the tables with steel instead of wood is a good thing. I'd buy one if I was looking for a new table.
My opinion is the opposite. I haven’t played on their 9’. The 7’ I thought exuded cheap. They play meh. I about cut a finger on the corner of a cushion. I wondered how cloth and rubber can do that. I think Diamonds and Rassons are both better. I think I’d rather have a Valley. Valleys are certainly built more rugged, and the one I played on recently with good rubber played better than the predators. Only advantage of the predator is a better Aramith cue ball. , Diamond, and Rasson also are commercial sized 7’. Pretty sure the SAM/ Predator is home size.

Didn’t play much on the carom table. Can’t really judge it. Verhoeven isn’t exactly worried.
 
Hey if their products are really that good, then I guess it is only good.

I really don't like 2 things I see with the 'new' format now though:

1. Ridiculously short shot clocks.
2. Super short sets.

I think both impact the quality, and the scope and range of play, particularly the super short shot clock, which severely impacts what players can do. Now they can only shoot shots that require little or no thought. It is like quantity over quality, and the game is now "Speed Pool'.

I would like to see long sets (9-11 games, or even up to 15 or more for finals), or multiple 6-7 game sets, 2 out of 3). And for the shot clock:

A 45-60 sec shot clock, 90 seconds after the break, with TWO 30 second extensions per game. This what I would like to see. Especially for 8 ball.
It's an attempt to tighten things up for (so far) what looks to be gouging. (Chinese for not going broke)
 
Based on what? They never back up their marketing claims.

BTW, look up the definition of 'mediocre'. It isn't 'bad' it is derived from the same word as 'median', which can mean 'average'. They aren't any better or any worse than the average cue, but they tend to be expensive in comparison.
Are you kidding? They revolutionized the whole shaft! Everyone has been copying them for 30 years, and always coming in second.
 
Funny thing about the CF shafts is... I heard Josh say that he went back to the CF with the stipulation that they make him one that played exactly like his current (at the time) Predator wood shaft he was playing, a Z3 I think. lol... so the CF he plays is specially made for him I guess, and they modified it so that it hits exactly like his wood shaft.
 
Are you kidding? They revolutionized the whole shaft! Everyone has been copying them for 30 years, and always coming in second.

I'm confused. Are we talking about what they were or what they are. 30yrs ago they made an innovative shaft. A shaft I never liked, but innovative, regardless. Now they are a marketing company--which they were then, also, they had other manufacturers making all their butts.

Now other companies make similar shafts (that I still don't like), and predator outdoes most in marketing.

Predator followed the Apple path--make something new once or twice and develop a fanbase that will blindly buy anything you shove at them.
 
So, from top sponsorships, to cues, to racks, tables, balls... now entire tournaments that sport ONLY their products?
and you left out some other of
‘their’ products that we are
reminded of on a regular basis-
the cloth
the chalk
the bridge
 
and you left out some other of
‘their’ products that we are
reminded of on a regular basis-
the cloth
the chalk
the bridge

that's their business model. they display their product, and because of it they can have events with 400k total prize money. JOY does the same in asia, they sell tables. diamond does it with the DCC.

there are outside sponsors too, kamui, little monster, samsung, etc were on the LCDs the entire event
 
Didn’t play much on the carom table. Can’t really judge it. Verhoeven isn’t exactly worried.
It was not well received, though much of that was result of roll-off, which could be solely due to set-up.

I hope predator gets back into 3c events though. They have a lot of fan players there.
 
So, from top sponsorships, to cues, to racks, tables, balls... now entire tournaments that sport ONLY their products? It seems they are now attempting to establish a monopoly over every aspect of the sport of Pro Billiards? But is this really a good thing?
Well, considering the fact that matchroom hasn't done anything to support the sport or the players in an entire quarter so far this year, my hat is off to predator and I thank them. Their streams are free and good quality, they are including the women, and they are giving fans lots of stuff to watch.

I might have minor complaints about this and that, but they are putting their money where their mouth is. If only they could get rid of their association with WPA, but you can't have it all.
 
... But, did they really have to put the little angry cat faces on the balls? ...
Of course not. And it is more than just the aesthetics of it that is lousy/inconsiderate. With the numbers on only one side of the ball it is sometimes difficult (or impossible) to read a ball's number. And some people cannot go by the colors.
 
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