I don’t think you will see Predator buying or contracting with Brunswick If that is what you mean. Just a guess. My criticisms above were of the tables. Predator gets better products from other manufacturers iMO. The balls are Aramith and are good. I don’t like the logo and the one number thing, but they are fine. Some of their special edition cue butts are Jacoby. Nothing wrong with that. I prefer other tables and would think American companies could contract manufacture better. Maybe they don’t want to or maybe they’re too expensive. I have no information how they arrived at the choice they did and don’t really care. SAM does have experience with the carom tables, so there’s that.
Is Predator's move into every aspect of pro billiards really a good thing?
- Thread starter Garo 7
- Start date
I don’t know. Brunswick is developing a new table and I don’t know if they are doing that one differently or staying with the same manufacturing. I’m no insider. Is the new Predator Arc going to have a 7’ model? My guess is Yalin could do a better one than the current model.
After playing on the Predators for the 1st time the last 10 days during singles and team events for BCA...my opinion and that of most everyone i talked with is the following...
You couldn't shoot firm into the corner pocket facing,even the back half of the facing and pocket the ball , more often than not it would rattle out. Even on the pro cut pocket Diamond/Rasson the ball will fall with the same shot.
The rails seemed very bouncy and the ball would come off the rail with more speed than it went in.
The balls were nice, but they took some getting used to, (we have a set of cyclops on our table), as the object ball would take spin differently than what I was used to, the less spin you used the better, and shooting very soft proved productive as the ball would roll well with slow speed.
Perhaps a little biased as we play mostly on Diamonds or older valleys around my area in the bars/pool rooms, even some still have older gold crowns... but that is my take on the Pedators from the last 10 days anyhow... granted I played better on them on day 10 than day 1... but I'm sure alot of others did as well.
As far as Predator flooding the sport... Diamond did the same thing not too long ago, ( and I think it was overall good for the sport as a whole, and made other table manufacturers step up their game), and other manufacturers have done the same at their events..in the end it's all about the money and who can offer the best contract. Now it's a wait and see how the community reacts to Predator, and see what the future brings.
You couldn't shoot firm into the corner pocket facing,even the back half of the facing and pocket the ball , more often than not it would rattle out. Even on the pro cut pocket Diamond/Rasson the ball will fall with the same shot.
The rails seemed very bouncy and the ball would come off the rail with more speed than it went in.
The balls were nice, but they took some getting used to, (we have a set of cyclops on our table), as the object ball would take spin differently than what I was used to, the less spin you used the better, and shooting very soft proved productive as the ball would roll well with slow speed.
Perhaps a little biased as we play mostly on Diamonds or older valleys around my area in the bars/pool rooms, even some still have older gold crowns... but that is my take on the Pedators from the last 10 days anyhow... granted I played better on them on day 10 than day 1... but I'm sure alot of others did as well.
As far as Predator flooding the sport... Diamond did the same thing not too long ago, ( and I think it was overall good for the sport as a whole, and made other table manufacturers step up their game), and other manufacturers have done the same at their events..in the end it's all about the money and who can offer the best contract. Now it's a wait and see how the community reacts to Predator, and see what the future brings.
the new predator arc is made in the same factory as brunswick and looks like a GC6 with longer pocket castings. i don't think it will be very different
Yes, ARC is by Yalin. The new GC7 will most likely be also. B'wick has used Yalin as their builder for quite some time. I've heard reports from a couple players that have tested the GC7 and they say it is nice. Mark Gregory was a consultant and scuttlebut has it that Ernesto D. had some input as well.
Oscar mentioned it. Didn’t know if that meant if Brunswick was looking at changing their manufacturing. Guess not.
I feel like Predator took the early feedback on pocket flush-ness to heart, and may even be a little sensitive about it (their emphasis). 
The 20 or so tables I played on had no pocket issues.
The ball-return mechanism is also ultra-quick and very near silent. I'm a big advocate of drop pockets for home use because of the noise, but might have to reconsider if it was this quiet. I'm curious about how the design is different from Diamond and Brunswick's returns, which are slow and loud.
The 20 or so tables I played on had no pocket issues.
The ball-return mechanism is also ultra-quick and very near silent. I'm a big advocate of drop pockets for home use because of the noise, but might have to reconsider if it was this quiet. I'm curious about how the design is different from Diamond and Brunswick's returns, which are slow and loud.
billiards_watch
Well-known member
What does perfectly flush pocket mean? Have any pics?I feel like Predator took the early feedback on pocket flush-ness to heart, and may even be a little sensitive about it (their emphasis).
View attachment 810537
The 20 or so tables I played on had no pocket issues.
The ball-return mechanism is also ultra-quick and very near silent. I'm a big advocate of drop pockets for home use because of the noise, but might have to reconsider if it was this quiet. I'm curious about how the design is different from Diamond and Brunswick's returns, which are slow and loud.
billiards_watch
Well-known member
Not my pics but here pics of Predator tables being "bowed"
billiards_watch
Well-known member
Predator Apex; credit nova2726
I did not think to get those pics. Yours look pretty representative, though.
However, I had no qualms about scratching my cue when cueing over the pockets like . . . some other tables.
Captain Obvious joins up with the StrawmanI would love to make 2k per day.. Just sayin'
I heard guys saying that about the tables, and sure as heck when I looked down the rail I saw the same thing... even showed someone else and they thought it too... could just be an illusion, but I'd like to put a string line from pocket to pocket and see if the side is on the same planeNot my pics but here pics of Predator tables being "bowed"
All the ball return Brunswicks I've played on had return issues. You know, like, "They can put a man on the moon. Why can't they... ...?"I feel like Predator took the early feedback on pocket flush-ness to heart, and may even be a little sensitive about it (their emphasis).
View attachment 810537
The 20 or so tables I played on had no pocket issues.
The ball-return mechanism is also ultra-quick and very near silent. I'm a big advocate of drop pockets for home use because of the noise, but might have to reconsider if it was this quiet. I'm curious about how the design is different from Diamond and Brunswick's returns, which are slow and loud.
Glad you agree.Captain Obvious joins up with the Strawman
Seriously.... best way to show a company appreciation is bash them.. Maybe JC Higgins, Walmart or Harbor Freight should be a sponsor. Hey check out my Chicago break cue.
Bamabox
New member
Anybody who puts money into the game can do no wrong by me. 60 minutes did a piece on SVB a while back, not sure what year, but he was at the height of his power. He said after expenses and 300 days a year on the road his net might be high 5 figures. I know it’s not a major sport, but that’s just a shame. As far as new tables go, Diamond, Predator, Rasson, very much personal choice and how they are set up. I know Jason Shaw chose to go with Rasson return tables in his latest renovation of his hall in CT. I recently started playing in an APA 8 ball league on Gold Crown 2’ and 3’s with old Simonis cloth. Pockets seem 1/2 the size of my 1900 MG Wright, so it’s a real adjustment. But I still love my table. 9’, return table with Championship cloth.
Garo 7
Registered
Well, I noticed the pay-out for 1st seemed quite minimal this year?