Joss vs. Predator

PKM said:
Don't you feel it helped you to learn to use English then? Some people seem to think you should learn how to adjust to a cue that has normal deflection, but I don't see why this should be the case.
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The reason appears when you have to shoot pool in a situation where you dont have access to a predator cue. If you can play 100% of the time with a predator then it wont really matter. But if it is left home or damaged, then you may not be able to make the adjustment to a normal cue shaft.

Vic
 
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I've been playing about 3 years now. I started on a Joss cue and that's all I really know. This year I got a predator 314 for it and at first thought it felt great then I realized the next weekend I was having a hell of a time making shots with it. I didn't want to make the adjustments and get used to it so I went back to the Joss shaft. The next month I picked up J Pechauer which I'm loving right now. The guy that runs the pool hall I play at bought a Predator cue around the same time I got my shaft (part of the same deal on how I got the shaft). He normally played with Joss and after a week or two gave up on the Predator shaft and bought a Joss shaft for his Predator cue. So it's all a matter of what you like from what I've seen. Still love my Joss, but I think I'm liking my Pechauer a little more now.
 
Wow, thanks everyone for your input, it really helps me out. I'm going to this local pool store on Sat. hopefully they have some Joss in stock to where I can shoot around with it. If not I'll try the McDermotts.
 
8-Ball Player said:
I am going to purchase a new cue soon at around the $300 dollar range. I want either a Predator Sneaky Pete cue, or a Joss cue. They are both around $300. I am just curious though, it says on this one website that Joss are production cues, when I thought they were custom. Which one would you guys recommend for a moderate player like me. Or what other companies have cues around that range that would suit my needs. I know I need to hit around with them first. But which one of these companies has a better reputation. Please help me out on this, as in all of my posts, if you reply I will give you some green. (Green as in reputation, not money.) :)
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If you go to the following Predator web site dealer location link, you can find retailers in your area that sell Predator cues. Some of them may even have a demo model that you can try out. That's what I did as I own a Joss cue and was curious to try out the Predator 314 and Z shafts too.
http://www.predatorcues.com/search_for_a_predator_dealer.aspx
 
If you dont read anything else in this post.. then READ THIS...

there area number of cues that fit in your price range... most of them are quality made ( joss. mcd, lucasi etc.. ).. for 300 bones you could even get a custom SP from ALOT of cuemakers.... The single most important thing is to hit with the cues...and buy what feels good.... next buy what looks goo.. I know looks dont shoot balls.. but if you love the look then it will be one less thing to worry about while you playing... sounds vain I know.. but really.. you need to be as comfortable as possible.... lastly you said you hit with a viking and loved it right? ... well there you have it.. buy a viking .....
 
8-Ball Player said:
Wow, thanks everyone for your input, it really helps me out. I'm going to this local pool store on Sat. hopefully they have some Joss in stock to where I can shoot around with it. If not I'll try the McDermotts.
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I notice you are in Utah. Next month is the BCA nationals in Vegas. You might want to plan a trip. There will be many vendors there with all the cues mentioned and then some. You will be able to try lots.:)
 
Joss?

I became a JOSS distributor yesterday. Would you like to be my first customer? You find the cue you like, try it out and let me know how much and I will beat the price on a new cue. I read that the shafts were 13.25, well, that is if you want a 13.25 mm shaft. I have 13 mm and 12.75 mm shafts in stock. They also make a 12.50 mm shaft. I can also put any tip you want on it.
Purdman
 
Purdman said:
I became a JOSS distributor yesterday. Would you like to be my first customer? You find the cue you like, try it out and let me know how much and I will beat the price on a new cue. I read that the shafts were 13.25, well, that is if you want a 13.25 mm shaft. I have 13 mm and 12.75 mm shafts in stock. They also make a 12.50 mm shaft. I can also put any tip you want on it.
Purdman
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Wow Thanks, I will let you know.

Rackum, when is that tournament?
 
smokeandapancak said:
If you dont read anything else in this post.. then READ THIS...

there area number of cues that fit in your price range... most of them are quality made ( joss. mcd, lucasi etc.. ).. for 300 bones you could even get a custom SP from ALOT of cuemakers.... The single most important thing is to hit with the cues...and buy what feels good.... next buy what looks goo.. I know looks dont shoot balls.. but if you love the look then it will be one less thing to worry about while you playing... sounds vain I know.. but really.. you need to be as comfortable as possible.... lastly you said you hit with a viking and loved it right? ... well there you have it.. buy a viking .....
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Thank you, I just might, Im going to the pool store in just one hour so Im going to try out everything they have. They have 300 pool cues in stock, so they better get ready to let me try them all. :p
 
8-Ball Player said:
Thank you, I just might, Im going to the pool store in just one hour so Im going to try out everything they have. They have 300 pool cues in stock, so they better get ready to let me try them all. :p
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LOL!!! I love it!!!
 
vicdotcom said:
The reason appears when you have to shoot pool in a situation where you dont have access to a predator cue. If you can play 100% of the time with a predator then it wont really matter. But if it is left home or damaged, then you may not be able to make the adjustment to a normal cue shaft.

Vic
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IMO switching from a Predator to a different cue is no different than switching between any other two cues. Every cue plays different and has a different amount of deflection. Some cues have more deflection than others ( http://www.platinumbilliards.com/rating_deflect.php ), Predators are just at the low end of things. If you look at the chart you'll see that a Predator Z-2 shaft (which is the shaft with the least amount of deflection) still deflects 1.17 inches, and the cue that deflects the most only deflects 2.02 inches. I think certain people just like to justify their dislike for Predator and or all "low deflection shafts" by saying that once you play with one you can't play with anything else.
 
despotic931 said:
IMO switching from a Predator to a different cue is no different than switching between any other two cues. Every cue plays different and has a different amount of deflection. Some cues have more deflection than others ( http://www.platinumbilliards.com/rating_deflect.php ), Predators are just at the low end of things. If you look at the chart you'll see that a Predator Z-2 shaft (which is the shaft with the least amount of deflection) still deflects 1.17 inches, and the cue that deflects the most only deflects 2.02 inches. I think certain people just like to justify their dislike for Predator and or all "low deflection shafts" by saying that once you play with one you can't play with anything else.
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I do agree with what your saying on this post. Shafts do vary in amount of deflection, even if made by the same company. I used to have 2 different Joss shafts and I noticed that one had a lot less deflection than the other. The type and shape of the tip also has an impact on deflection. Thats the one aspect that the platinum billiards defleciton webpage does not explain well. It does break the tips into diameters but in order to make a completely fair comparison, they would have to make all the tips uniform in type and shape. A heavier tip may cause more delfection as it strikes the cue ball. I once shot with a predator that had such a large tip that I could see the ball squirt at least 2-3 inches off the line.

Also I dont think that anyone really believes that once you learn on a low-deflection shaft that you cant play with anything else. As with any sport and skill, practice and knowledge will eventually allow anyone to shoot with anything just as well. But I do think that before choosing a low deflection shaft that a beginer should A) know what deflection is and how it effects YOUR game before you purchase a low-deflection shaft and B) to work on and understand your basics.

Vic
 
8-Ball Player said:
I am going to purchase a new cue soon at around the $300 dollar range. I want either a Predator Sneaky Pete cue, or a Joss cue. They are both around $300. I am just curious though, it says on this one website that Joss are production cues, when I thought they were custom. Which one would you guys recommend for a moderate player like me. Or what other companies have cues around that range that would suit my needs. I know I need to hit around with them first. But which one of these companies has a better reputation. Please help me out on this, as in all of my posts, if you reply I will give you some green. (Green as in reputation, not money.) :)
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I like a joss cue but I suggest you get the predator.
 
My .02

The best playing cue for anybody is the cue they are use to. It doesn't matter who or where it was made. This is what I have been told by one of the top cuemakers in the world. A ACA Hall of Fame Cuemaker. I happen to totally agree with and understand what he was talking about. He was also an excellant pool player.
Purdman
 
Joss are great cues.

Shipping them to their dealers with 13.25 mm shafts never made sense to me, nobody really does that.

If the aforementioned dealer is carrying thinner shafts, smart move imo.
 
I'd buy the joss personally. Can always add a predator shaft later. I like how joss cue's hit, actually carry a old joss shaft with me all the time. Don't have a butt for it right now, but I'll buy another sometime this year.

If you can spend just a bit more I'd look at a schon stl1, send a email to erik lee

www.erikleecues.com

and get you a price on both a joss cue and the schon...he has some of the best deals going anywhere
 
smashmouth said:
Joss are great cues.

Shipping them to their dealers with 13.25 mm shafts never made sense to me, nobody really does that.

If the aforementioned dealer is carrying thinner shafts, smart move imo.
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smashmouth, Dan will ship with the shaft requested by the dealer. Also, you need to be sure you have purchased your Joss cue from an authorized Joss dealer for the warranty to be good. This is due to an increasing number of problems stemming from sales of cues sold on unauthorized internet sites, and from unofficial cue resellers, Joss will not offer support on these sales. A pretty smart move I might add.
Purdman
 
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