Joss vs. Predator

[8-Ball Player]

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.)

 

[Pushout]

Joss is production, but one of the better ones availible. It's one I would reccomend to anyone looking in your price range. I don't like predators. You really need to try a predator before seriously considering buying one. They play WAY different and aren't for everyone.

 

[8-Ball Player]

Joss is production, but one of the better ones availible. It's one I would reccomend to anyone looking in your price range. I don't like predators. You really need to try a predator before seriously considering buying one. They play WAY different and aren't for everyone.

Thanks, I just heard that they play great.... I'm leaning towards the Joss cue, where do you think I should purchase it, online, or in a store??

 

[Pushout]

Thanks, I just heard that they play great.... I'm leaning towards the Joss cue, where do you think I should purchase it, online, or in a store??

Store, so you can try it, if possible. If you know just what you want, there are several online places, and I'm not familiar with them. Never bought a cue online.

 

[8-Ball Player]

Store, so you can try it, if possible. If you know just what you want, there are several online places, and I'm not familiar with them. Never bought a cue online.

Ok thanks, so the main thing is to try as hard as possible to try out a cue before you buy it? That has been my impression on these forums is that the most important thing you can do before you buy a cue is to try it out, hold it etc. Am I right?

 

[Pushout]

Ok thanks, so the main thing is to try as hard as possible to try out a cue before you buy it? That has been my impression on these forums is that the most important thing you can do before you buy a cue is to try it out, hold it etc. Am I right?

Having it in your hand so you can see how it feels and hitting balls with it are important, in my opinion. You might not be allowed to put chalk on the cue in a store, so you should shoot with center ball only. You might want to try one that belongs to someone you know first.

 

[Carpe_Diem]

New Cue

If you are considering a production cue try considering a McDermott. They have great cues in the 300 to 400 dollar range. McDermott has also come out with some interesting new shafts I-2 for example.

I play with a McDermott cue paired with a Predator Z shaft and I love it. I have been playing with it for nearly 4 months now. Keeping in mind the shaft that came with the cue also hit well I only went to the Predator for
the 11.75mm shaft and low deflection properties.

Hope this helps, take care.


Paul.

 

[PKM]

Ok thanks, so the main thing is to try as hard as possible to try out a cue before you buy it? That has been my impression on these forums is that the most important thing you can do before you buy a cue is to try it out, hold it etc. Am I right?

True that would be ideal, but sometimes that's just not possible. I rolled the dice and bought a Viking online for my first cue, I figured it's a reputable brand and I didn't have any strong preference for a particular type of cue anyway.

 

[8-Ball Player]

If you are considering a production cue try considering a McDermott. They have great cues in the 300 to 400 dollar range. McDermott has also come out with some interesting new shafts I-2 for example.

I play with a McDermott cue paired with a Predator Z shaft and I love it. I have been playing with it for nearly 4 months now. Keeping in mind the shaft that came with the cue also hit well I only went to the Predator for
the 11.75mm shaft and low deflection properties.

Hope this helps, take care.



Paul.

Yeah, I was considering a McDermott before but I was thinking about buying one that was only $150. I'll look around some more. Thanks for your input.

 

[8-Ball Player]

True that would be ideal, but sometimes that's just not possible. I rolled the dice and bought a Viking online for my first cue, I figured it's a reputable brand and I didn't have any strong preference for a particular type of cue anyway.

How did that work out for you? I have atually played with a $450 Viking and it felt GREAT!.....Hmm.... Maybe I should look into a viking cue since I have already tried it out and loved it. What do you guys think?

 

[macaframa]

buy the joss very nice cue and really play well with a 314 shaft if u decide you want to try a predator.

 

[vicdotcom]

How did that work out for you? I have atually played with a $450 Viking and it felt GREAT!.....Hmm.... Maybe I should look into a viking cue since I have already tried it out and loved it. What do you guys think?

Mcdermotts have a softer hit than a viking or Joss. Joss has a much stiffer hit in part due to the larger shaft diameter. It has a 13.25 shaft. Personally I like Joss. But if you tried Viking and already know you love it, then I would say try Viking again. The only exception is if you try out a Joss and decide you like it more than the Viking. But really you can not go wrong with either of these 3 companies. I think some of the newer Mcdermotts are made in China now though so I dont know how that effects the quality of the cue.

But for me, My vote would be to stay away from the Predator unless you try it and actually know it may help your game. A lot of beginers try to get one because everyone says it will help their game but they dont know why or how. Others will say that it may hurt the learning curve of begining players.

Vic

 

[trustyrusty]

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.)

Joss felt better to me. But I had been playing with a buddies first. I attached a pic of mine....200 bones, GREAT DEAL! I did sell it to a teammate, and bought another Found mine at a poolhall semi-locally (45 minutes away). This series was made for only one vender (GOBILLIARDS.COM), and only 50 of each, so not everyone has one. Sorry, to ramble, but it was such a good deal for a great playing cue that I can't recommend it enough

 

[PKM]

How did that work out for you? I have atually played with a $450 Viking and it felt GREAT!.....Hmm.... Maybe I should look into a viking cue since I have already tried it out and loved it. What do you guys think?

I like it, it's a good basic cue. One of their low-end models, probably hits the same as some of the higher priced ones, just no fancy design on the butt. I'm planning on putting a low-deflection shaft on it.

 

[Pushout]

Joss felt better to me. But I had been playing with a buddies first. I attached a pic of mine....200 bones, GREAT DEAL! I did sell it to a teammate, and bought another Found mine at a poolhall semi-locally (45 minutes away). This series was made for only one vender (GOBILLIARDS.COM), and only 50 of each, so not everyone has one. Sorry, to ramble, but it was such a good deal for a great playing cue that I can't recommend it enough

Just the kind of cue I was talking about. Just noticed the "50 each", this style, anyway.

 

[trustyrusty]

I could call and see if the poolhall has any of the P-series left....I bought 2 P-29s, but he had a couple of others, and a nice Falcon that I had to choose from for the $200 price.

BTW, that series was produced in 04, but he had 5 or 6 of 'em unhit....like I said though, I ended up buying 2.

 

[despotic931]

I consider myself to beginer (only been playing for about a year) and picked up a Predator based on the idea that it would help my game, it honestly didn't help, but I love the way the cue hits and feels, and paired with a Tiger Sniper tip I feel comfortable putting english on the cue ball even on long shots. I do agree though when it comes to Predator, you either love em, or you hate em...

 

[PKM]

it honestly didn't help, but I love the way the cue hits and feels, and paired with a Tiger Sniper tip I feel comfortable putting english on the cue ball even on long shots.

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.

 

[AMoney]

Viking Cue

If you are interested, I have a very old Viking for sale. I'm not sure what year it was made. It looks very similar to this one http://www.worldclasscues.com/cgi-bin/billiard-supply-store.pl?login=&cmd=ShowItem&Item=VIVM23, but is an older model. I would say it is in 90% condition, one or two minor dings, but nothing major. It has a white with brown spec wrap, and the cue rolls straight. It has Viking's old joint style, not the quick release, which I think feels much better. If you're interested, I would be willing to sell this cue for $225 including shipping.

Let me know what you think,
Alvin

 

[despotic931]

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.

No, I feel this is something that I would have learned with or without the Predator. I feel that each cue needs to be played differently, as each cue itself will play differently. At the moment I own the Predator, and another "Standard Deflection" cue. I play with both. With the Predator I find it is really easy for me to "over juice" the cue ball when using side english, this inturn results in swerve, which is not a good thing (unless you are attempting to use it to avoid an obstical ball). The Predator also is not a zero deflection cue, the deflection is still there, it's just less, so it still must be compensated for. I find that it takes me about 15 minutes to go from one cue to the other and get back up to speed. I'm not the kind of player who uses a lot of side english though, at least not yet...